So this September saw us belting around New Zealand in superfast time! We could have done with at least 3 weeks...4 preferably, as some days were were up at the crack of dawn, driving for 4 hours, seeing a sight, then back on the road for 3+ hours. We’d got a motorhome hired so could put up anywhere anyway and didn’t have to worry about where to kip etc. The weather was pretty good (except one day which caused a major problem! :-@) and had a damn good time - making it all the harder to be back in Old Blighty! So anyway, here’s a brief list of what we got up to…
Thursday and Friday were pretty much taken up by traveling. We flew from Heathrow and stopped off at Shanghai (had we had more time, a couple of days at least would have been spent here, going from last year’s experience of the place!), then onto Auckland, arriving Saturday morning NZ time.
North Island
Sat 13th - Time in Auckland around the centre, the harbour, Maritime museum and the Sky Tower. The Sky Tower was pretty cool - stunning views across the city. Went back up there at night for a meal at the Observatory. Stayed at a hotel just overlooking the harbour
Sun 14th - Went to pick up the motorhome (Frontier 6 Berth) in the morning and then headed up into Northland and to Whengerai and had a bit of time around the town and the bay. The scenery up to Whengerai was stunning. This is our first real taste of what NZ is like and it exceeds expectations. Mountains, lakes, forests… ya know the sort of thing. Went to see the ‘most photographed waterfall in NZ’ just north of Whengerei. Camped up on the edge of the shore… perfect!
Mon 15th - Set off south again, passing through Auckland again and down past Hamilton to stop at Waitomo. Visited the Aranui Cave (riddled with Cave Weta critters!) up in the forest and then to the Glowworm cave. The glowworm cave was pretty stunning - took a boat through the underground river to see thousands of glowworms lighting up the ceiling.
Tue 16th - Traversed across through the forests and farmlands to Rotorua. We could smell the place long before we got there! Reeked of sulfur! First stop was Te Puia: Whakarewarewa Thermal Area - A large area containing an array of bizarre features - bubbling mud, sulfur pools, steaming ground etc. Timed it just nice to see the Pohutu geyser erupt - stunning!
We were camped at Tikitapu (the Blue Lake) but went back into Rotorua and around the Government building and park (it’s more interesting than it sounds!), stopped off to see the Redwood trees and then onto Te Wairua buried village from when the volcano erupted. The Te Wairoa waterfall here was amazing too.
Wed 17th - Started off with a waste of time, and headed to Whakatane to get a boat to White Island - only to find they only run one boat this time of year and we missed it by 15 mins! So trudged back to Rotorua, stopping at Hell’s Gate on the way - the most active thermal area in NZ. This place was bubbling and steaming away like crazy! Parts of the ground we walked over were sizzling like a frying pan - it’s a miracle my boots didn’t melt into gunk! Hell’s Gate also had NZ’s only “hot” waterfall. From here we traveled south to Wai-o-Tapo - this is the most amazing thermal site of all - unbelievably colored lakes and features, such as the Devil’s Bath and Champagne Lake. Carried on south to Taupo, stopping at Huka Falls and Craters of the Moon (more thermal activity).
Thu 18th - Headed over to the Aratiatia Rapids for a ride along the rapids and river on a jetboat! Amazing! I want one! Spent a bit of time in Taupo then headed down through Turangi and into Tongararo National Park and stopped at Whakapapa. Chilled out in the Chateau and took it easy for the rest of the day.
Fri 19th - In the morning, we went ‘tramping’ towards the mountains and around the track to Turangi falls. After lunch, took the route into native bush to see the Silica Rapids and back over the mountains to the village. Later we drove down to the south of the National Park to Ohakune, camping up at the edge of the river, then headed up towards the resort area to meet up with Fitz and Naomi et al at their chalet before going up to the bar later. ::hic::
Sat 20th - Traveled down to Wellington and spent the day in the city, around the centre and the afternoon at Te Papa museum. At night, we went back into Welly to the main bar\restaurant street for a meal etc.
South Island
Sun 21st - The morning around Welly before taking the Interislander ferry across Marlbough Sound to Picton. Didn’t stay in Picton long, and just headed down the east coast to stop in Kaikoura.
Mon 22nd - Woke up to excellent scenery - surrounded by snow-capped mountains on one side and the beach on the other. Jumped on a boat and headed out into the sea - here we saw 4 sperm whales - am amazing sight as they surfaced, sprayed water out of their blowholes and then flipped to dive down! Whoah! And to cap it off on the way back, a seal was bounding along at the side of the boat. After lunch, a lengthy journey over Lewis Pass to the west coast, and stopped in Greymouth. This was a good 5 hour journey across the mountains (with only one gas station half way - panic started to set in at one point!) but amazing scenery.
Tue 23rd - Set off early to get to Franz Josef. Weather was rainy today but I guess it didn’t really matter as we had a walk up onto the glacier. It took about an hour across rocks and streams to walk there then donned the crampons and hacked our way up onto the ice. A fantastic experience.
Another long drive after the glacier as we headed down towards Queenstown. Quite a good drive through the mountains and forests again, but the weather was terrible - heavy rain, which caused mountain waterfalls to come down onto the road. Surprised we didnt get just washed off the side, it was really that bad! Arrived at Queenstown in the evening, looks like a great place!
Wed 24th - Disaster! Yesterday’s rain had been so severe that it had caused a landslide on the Milford Road. We were due to go to Milford Sound today but it’s been cancelled! GRR! Nevertheless, every cloud has a silver lining. I’d hoped to get more time in Queenstown anyway so we certainly weren’t too narked. Went up the Skyline Gondola for views across the town and lake, took a walk into the forests and spent a bit of time in the town - nice place, I could live here :-D Had a trip on the TSS Earnslaw steamer over to Walter Peak and the Colonel’s Homestead and then went over to Arrowtown to see the old goldrush town and abandoned chinese settlements.
Thu 25th - Left Queenstown and headed over to Dunedin. First stop was Olveston House - beautiful! Strange to see something so English over here too. The place is just as it was left inside. Then made our way over to Otago Peninsula and Lanarch Castle - quite a tragic and eerie place in some ways. Spent a bit of time around Dunedin.
Fri 26th - Alas, it’s our last day with the motorhome, so after getting it sorted out we headed up to Christchurch, where we had the night in the Grand Chancellor hotel. Visited Victoria Park, Cathedral Square and went around the city. Ventured back into the hub of the city at night.
Sat 27th - Back into Christchurch, we visited the old Provinicial buildings and Botanical Gardens (3rd in size to Hyde Park and Central Park, apparantly) and the Cantebury Museum. Later that day, it was back to Christchurch airport for a flight to Auckland and ultimatly the flight back home via Hong Kong.
