Pies for lunch today. I've never seen such a variety of fillings. Dinner by the lake tonight.
Photos are mostly from the terrace of our apartment and nearby.
Malcolm.
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Queenstown text
A short trip from Te Anau to Queenstown today. Is there ANYTHING a true thrillseeker can't do here? Found Fergberger's - looks like the place to eat - queues out to the street.
Te Anau text
Another excellent meal at McKenzies to round off our stay at Lake Tekapo.
On the road trip to Te Anau, we stumbled across A J Hackett Bungy at Karawau - had to be done, didn't it? In a day or so, you can see the photos on www.bungy.co.nz code AJHK111290307617.
More stunning scenery at Te Anau -Milford Sound tomorrow.
Malcolm.
Milford Sound Text
A great trip today: Te Anau to Milford Sound by bus, then a boat trip through the sound (which was called a Sound by mistake, it is actually a fiord, but the Kiwis can't be a**ed to change it) out to the Tasman sea.
Incredible glacier rock formations and waterfalls. Snow still laying about.
Filled our water bottles from a mountain stream. Delicious ... and cold!
Malcolm.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Lake Tekapo Text 2
Went to McKenzies for dinner last night. Superb; Linda had stone - grilled surf and turf (cook it yourself at the table and I had TWO lamb shanks, mash and veg. So tender, I sent the knife back unused.
Went for a walk to the top of Mount John where there is an observatory. As you can probably tell by the pictures, it was cold and a bit wet when we set off, but we were carrying jumpers and coats by the time we finished.
Visited the local church after lunch. Who needs stained glass windows with a view like that?
Malcolm.
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Lake Tekapo Text
A long drive down a crowded "State Highway 1" today - see photos. We passed a tanker after a mile or so, then did not see another vehicle on our side of the road until a car caught us up 100k later!
Arrived at stunning Lake Tekapo with its oh so blue lake and snow covered mountains.
Too cloudy to do the observatory trip, but maybe we can do that when we get to Queenstown.
No trip booked for tomorrow, so a lazy day ahead maybe.
Malcolm.
Kaikoura 2 photos
As you see, the weather was pants after such a lovely day yesterday.
Went for a walk to the viewpoint in the morning, and dropped off Phoebe's trackable at a cache there. Hope it gets home.
In the afternoon, we went to see a colony of seal pups.
After that, out to sea (very rough) to see a whale. Didn't dare get out my phone to take pictures of that - needed both hands to hang on to the handrail.
Now need to pack after a fish (hoki) and chip supper - off to Lake Tekapo early tomorrow.
Malcolm.
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Kaikoura Text
An early start today so as not to miss the Interislander ferry to the South Island at 08:35. Have to dump the car - Good riddance!
V windy on the crossing, but soooooo beautiful. Can't imagine what Milford Sound is going to be like if this is just a ferry.
100 mile drive to Kaikoura on SH1. These roads are like our A roads (not dual carriageway, think A21 to Hastings. But they have good overtaking lanes at regular intervals, and EVERYTHING is moving at the limit - 100kph (62.5mph). And they are EMPTY!
Kaikoura is a picture postcard town. Blue sea, snow topped mountains, beach - the lot. And it's 29 degrees and sunny.
Malcolm.
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Wellington Text
Well, the Hangi feast was superb - great food and a Maori show - Haka and all that stuff. No pictures of that I'm afraid - too dark.
Set off for Wellington and stopped off at Huka Falls on the way, pictures to follow. As you will see, it was raining when we left, but by afternoon, 300 miles further south, we found the weather in Wellington to be spectacular.
A rather rushed tour of the museum followed - well worth a visit.
Getting everything repacked fir the ferry crossing as we have to dump the car - real pain!!!
Have booked restaurant for dinner by the harbour, which is beautiful (picture to follow).
Malcolm.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Thermals Text
Went to thermal village in Rotorua. Still smelly. Saw geysers (two old ones together) see pictures to follow.
Ate HUGE beef sandwich for lunch.
Now on the bus to go for a Hangi feast.
Malcolm.
Rotten Rua
OK, so it is Rotorua, but it smells rotten - sulphur pools, etc.
Drove from Auckland to here via Waitomo glow worm caves. Apart from the caves and the glow worms, which were interesting though not spectacular, we were encouraged to sing "Silent Night" by a slightly crazy tour guide. I think we were supposed to be demonstrating the acoustic properties of the underground concert chamber.
Photos to be sent separately; fed up trying to figure out how to get both into one mail.
Malcolm.
Try again
An early start today after a cracking good day yesterday, finishing with fish and chips in restaurant 35 (latitude) over the water on Pahia.
Went dolphin watching in the sunshine (see pictures below) and 29 degrees. Then back Auckland for a visit to the Sky Tower, shame we were too late for me to do a jump.
Pub dinner then back to hotel to repack bags so we can find stuff.
Early night, as we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.
The other picture is of State Highway 1. Explains why it takes two and a half hours to do 150k. National limit seems to be 100 kph and the Hyundai i130 automatic couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding.
Malcolm.
Malcolm.
Monday, 21 November 2011
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Stardate 20112011
Arrived in Paihia to find it also very quiet; a couple of dozen yoofs on the beach, although it was 29 degrees.
Got to the hotel - have been upgraded to a suite, although I would be pleased to own it as a two bedroom apartment. It's huge. They knew of our anniversary, so had decorated our room accordingly - champagne, red rose petals on the bed, and a collage of the family and us (I secretly posted photos a few weeks back). Will we get the collage back home (see photo below)?
Photos:
A weird tree in Auckland
By the river in Whangarei
On the beach at Paihia
The room
The champagne
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