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Hi everyone, Bex here!
Since Chris's last blog, we have arrived in New Zealand and have spent the last 7 days exploring the south island! Sorry our blogs are slightly out of sync but we are writing them as and when we get the opportunity.
Having spent a glorious weekend in Sydney, Quantas delivered us to what appears to be the most beautiful country we have visited so far! We arrived in Christchurch to a fancy flashpacker B&B called lilac rose which not only provided us with our own onsuite bathroom (Inclusing roll top bath), King Size bed and use of a garden Jacuzzi, but nestled very nicely only a 10 minute cycle ride from Christchurch CBD. Chris and i quickly freshened up from our flight and borrowed the B&B's bikes to explore the city centre. It was a beautiful autumn afternoon in NZ and we cycled alongside the railway tracks through to the Botanical Gardens to reach the city's museum which apparently had a special display which detailed the communities response to the Earthquakes in Christchurch which have destroyed much of the CBD area. On the ride into the city we quickly noticed the damage caused by the earthquakes and it's very sad to still see piles of rubble and roped off areas everywhere. The museum was really interesting and we spent most of the afternoon looking around. The following day we picked up our campervan from Wilderness Motorhomes...WOW, What a beauty! We LOVE her and have nicked named her Nessie. We were not sure if we had made the right choice, re picking the right vechicle and company to go with, but from the moment we set our eye on our very own VW Transporter camper, we knew we had done well! Nessie is a modern van and is perfectly spacious and equipped. Chris and i were so excited, we set off straight away and popped into a supermarket to get stocked up with food and drinks. On the first evening we drove near to Lake Tekapo and camped in a DOC campsite which are really basic campsites which just offer toilet facilities but are generally in conseravtion areas which offer great scenery and nature spotting opportunities. We had a great first night and you couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces. The landscape here so far has been incredible, the most beautiful lakes, rivers and mountains i have ever seen. Every corner you turn you are faced with a view so amazing, i spend most of the journeys when i'm not driving in silence, just gazing around me and trying to take everything in. I think Chris is quite enjoying the peace and quiet.
Since being here, we have driven further south on the south island and visited Mount Cook (highest peak in NZ), Wanaka, Queenstown and Milford Sound. We have been on several tramps (hikes for us English folk) and i'm happy to say i feel as though i am getting some of my fitness back after piling on a couple of pounds in Asia. Most tramps are at least 4/5 hours long and are fairly challenging, but most we both feel great after completing a good walk! The Rob Roy glacier walk in Wanaka has been my favourite so far, a steep 6k uphill walk to a spectacular viewpoint of Rob Roy Glacier. It was beautiful!
Whilst in Queenstown, i tried to convince Chris to do a Skydive for his bithday but we have agreed to wait until we reach the North Island as it will be closer to the actual date and also a bit cheaper. I have however, managed to get Chris on a horse. We both went on a 2 hour river trek through some of the land used in the Lord of The Rings films. It was beautiful and both Chris and i got great horses. We trekked along rivers and mountain trails and the leader even let me go off on Stirling (my 15,2, grey Throughbred) to have a few canters on my own. It was great, and i loved being back on horseback. We both enjoyed the trek but my thighs ached so much the next day.
In an effort to conserve our money, the last few nights we have been parking Nessie in cheap forest campsites. The night of the Australian Grand Prix, we ended up looking for some where to stay after dark. We didn't really know where to stay, so we headed up a major road on the way to Milford Sound and just looked out for a road sign directing us to a campsite. After about 25 minutes we came across a DOC campsite, which in the dead of night appeared OK. Surrounded by woods, the spots where you could park we small but OK. It was to dark to tell. I was a bit spooked out, in the middle of no-where so we cooked something to eat and theb made up the bed. Within 5 minutes of turning out the lights i was sure i heard something. 'What's that!?' i asked Chris, 'nothing' he replied, 'it's probably just something outside, just go to sleep!'. After closing my eyes, i quickly sat back up after hearing a bag rustling and a squeek! The lights can back on and i have never seen such terror in Chris's eyes! haha. 'Could it be a possum?' i asked Chris but he scoffed at my question and said 'no way!'. Any way to cut the story short, somehow, 3 mice had managed to find their way in to our Nessie! It took us nearly an hour to get rid of 2 of them, and we just couldn't find the last one. At 2am in the middle of no-where we were mouse hunting, and i was so miffed off and scared how many more were plotting to get in, we left. We drove back in to the city and found a hotel which kindly let us in. We payed for a room, with the intention of cleaning the van out in the day light and finding that last damn mouse! After a good night's sleep we emptied Nessie out and found nothing. We are pretty sure, the last intruder had found it's way out. We have brought a trap just in case. Anyway, it's fair to say, i haven't slept quite as soundly since that night. (2 nights ago!) We are due to be driving North West tomorrow to visit Fox and Franz Joseph glacier's. Will blog again soon.
Much love, Becci xx
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Dave and Jen Hi Guys, we are just back from our not such a long holiday in Spain and really envy you in NZ, but itis good to see that you are eating real food again, nothing quite like B on T. lots of love Ma and Pa B