The English Abroad

Makes you proud to be English doesn't it. Makng the most of the last few hours of New Zealand time before a return to airport life and the flight to Nadi.

Another Day Another Beach

Our time in New Zealand is coming to an end - hard to believe that 4 weeks has passed so quickly. Patua Beach has been the latest of our beach conquests and it rewarded us with a dramatic sunset (no it is not the campervan on fire although after so many nights spent in it the novelty has started to wear off). Off to Fiji in the next days for some pampering and improved personal hygeine.

Will a Campervan Float?

At Baylys Beach the road goes along the beach - but it does say 4 wheeldrive is recommended. Did it float ? Answers on a postcard please.

A Hunky Trunk

The biggest and oldest Kauri tree in New Zealand - over 2000 years old and too big to fit in the picture. (The cardboard model in the foreground is provided to show the proportional dimensions).

A Life on the Ocean Wave

We spent a very pleasant 24 hours on board the "Rock" cruising round the Bay of Islands. Dolphins, midnight kyacking, catching red snapper (see the tiddler caught by red Buff man), snorkelling and sharing a cabin overnight with complete strangers was all part of the adventure. And there was a bar on board as well.

Sun, Sand, Sea, Surf and Seals

If you ignore the mountains and spectacular lakes then all you are left with is a stunning coastline with a variety of different beaches from small secluded coves to huge expanses of sand that you can drive a coach over (literally). And you might even find a seal happy to pose for you or the occasional albatross.

From South to North

We left the tranquility and beauty of the South Island for the relatively busy and more business like North Island. The ferry journey from Picton to Wellington was strangely nostalgic as the ferry had seen an earlier life as the Pride of Cherbourg and we had travelled on either her or one of the "Pride of ...." sister ships at some time in the past when crossing the English Channel to France!

Although we have worked our way to the less developed Northland the North Island does not have quite the same stunning natural assets as the South and everywhere is much less relaxed and more hum drum. The weather remains kind to us and the only rain so far that we have seen is NZ has been a couple of light showers when we have been in the camper van so it has not interfered with our travels.

I think Andy has become blase about the scenery we have seen some stunning Lakes and waterfalls. Though busier it is still far less crowded and much more laid back than home.
I swam in a river with a hot spring parts of which were too hot to sit in!!!

We took a short walk from a Car park described as railway loop it didn't mention the railway went through a very long dark tunnel lucky for us James had supplied us with a wind up torch.

We spent a lovely weekend on a huge beach with surf and lots of Kiwi families no tourists or backpackers. I think the 6k on a unsealed single track road put them off.

A Call From Home

After being without a phone signal we got a text at lake Mathison. Hard to believe Emily working a night shift as we enjoy sunshine in these wonderful surroundings.

From Hell to Heaven

From Haast we journyed to Lake Wannaka which when we arrived was basked in sunshine a far busier town than we have encountered so far but you can still park by the lake for free. We found the campsite a couple had told us about while we were in Haast. Andy wasn't sure about the drive down the dirt track but it was worth it. It was remote direct access to the lake stunning views of Mount Cook as the hot water wasn't working we were charged $12 for the night(£6). We went for a walk, swam in the lake, came back and found they had tarmaced the road.

Act in Haast Repent at Leisure

Haast was such a bad place there are no pictures, It was the campsite from hell. Described as Haast Beach the only things it had that had anything connected with a beach were sandflys with insatiable appetites for human blood. The desolation and futility of the place affected the local people who were the most miserable we have encountered. We also drove a round trip of 52k to see penguins but saw only the roadsigns warning about them and we arrived at the much publicised fish and chip shop on the beach at Jackson Bay (or was it really Dunwich) as it was closing. Only one night and time to move on to happier times! But every cloud has a silver lining and that evening when we were hiding from the sandflys in the campsite kitchen we met a couple of teachers from Surrey who told us about a good site at Lake Wannaka which we were travelling to the next day. And they were more than right !

Fox Glacier (Mints)

Smaller brother of Franz Josef but with better product marketing - the shop near Fox Glacier sells the mints of the same name to support the local community centre.

Wow!

wow




Wow New Zealand is so stunning it takes so long to get anywhere as we keep stopping to look at things. After Arthur's Pass we stopped on the coast to recover and wash our clothes. The next stop was Franz Josef Glacier I would like to say the photo is Andy and I but after Avalanche Peak he refused and I couldn't face a day with 18yr old backpackers. So we have seen a glacier it was really strange a flat walk to it and a temperature of 30 degrees (why doesn't it melt). The journey to and from Franz Josef was spectacular but sometimes scary Mount Cook seemed to appear and disappear.