My trip around NZ is possibly the most hectic of stage of the trip so far. Since leaving Christchurch I have only spent one night in the same place. My schedule to get around the country and see most of the main attractions in just over 3 weeks is proving to be a real challenge. But the distance between places is proving to be really quite manageable. A couple of hours drive can get you from the east to west coast and vice versa.
On Saturday I night I went out to explore the Dunedin night life on the east coast and was not dissppointed by the bars with live music and before the end of the night even managed to get some dance practice. 
On Sunday I drove north with a short stop to look at the Moreaki boulders and later on to Mount Cook, the highest mountain in NZ, and approx 30kms as the crow flies from the West coast.
On Monday, after a windy night shaking the campervan on a lake side camp site, I went on a 4 hour walk to Hooker Lake, another lake, which sits below Mt Cook, and contains ice bergs from the glacial avalances falling off the mountains. The weather wasn't great; strong wind enough to blow me off the path once or twice, but no great drops to fall into. And rain, which tested my new waterproofs and they passed the test. The summit of Mt Cook was covered in cloud. After this bracing walk I drove back towards the east coast and reached the town of Geraldine as night fell.
Next day, Tuesday, I drove on to Christchurch for a pit stop and to drive around some its suburbs on the coast I hadn't been to when I arrived due to lack of transport. These are the Christchurch equivalent of Beverley Hills. Then afterwards I drove northwards along the eastern coast, where the weather is generally milder to Kaikoura for a half day whale watching trip the next day.
The trip on Wednesday was rewarding as I saw my first two whales (sperm whales) in the wild and the icing on the cake was a fantastic display of acrobatics by Dusky dolphins on the way back to the harbour. I was also smugly pleased to be one of the few passengers unaffected by seasickness due to a heavy swell.
From here I drove on to the North of the island , through Blenheim, arouind where where the famous Marlborough wines are produced. But I chose to forego this wine tasting opportunity and drove on to Nelson on the north coast to be accessible the Abel Tasman peninsula.
Today, Thursday I drove the short distance to Maharua, the gateway in the Abel Tasman National Park, I took a sea taxi a few miles up the coast and walked back to the camper van along the well marked pathways with wonderfull views of the coast line.
Tomorrow I hope to try sea kayaking and more hiking before beginning my journey to the ferry in Picton to Wellington on the North Island
2 comments:
I must say bilbo, it's all looking very middle earth in the pictures - be sure to pick up any rings you find lie-ing around.
lots of love
Tom
Hi Paul,
Ian has been urging me to read your blog, for some considerable time now. He sent the link to my e-mail at school, but it was blocked by the LA, with the warning of "un-suitable site..... " So I thought I'd better read it. And so I have. From the beginning, in one absorbing evening!
Well, I now understand why any employer would want to block such an inspirational account of your adventures, from those who work.
Very best wishes from
Anita Watts- now determined to keep up with the blog!
Post a Comment