Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hi from the South Island!
We are now on the Akaroa Peninsula, just outside Christchurch and have had many, varied adventures in the South Island. Some thoughts/ experiences:
-Abel Tasman national park is a beautiful area ~ we went on a catamaran up the coast, stopping at a few little bays with golden sand before disembarking at Bark bay and hiking for 4 hours through beautiful native bush. Part of the hike back involved a choice of going around an inlet (1 ½ hours) or across the inlet as the tide went out and judging how deep the waterwas - we only got water up to our nether regions! We were picked up again and taken back to Keiteriteri ( see why Malcolm thinks people here stutter?). It was a really nice day!
-The same area, Marlborough, has lots of wineries and some excellent sauvignon blancs which we only thought it was our duty as good tourists to try out!
-Roast lamb and mint flavoured potato chips! Again, being good tourists...
-There are many public toilets, especially in towns and at the beach but the award must go to "ExecuLoo" ~ when you go in and lock the door, a voice tells you the door is locked and will automatically unlock in 10 minutes then music starts to play. There is a recess in the wall and when you place your hand there first you get soap then water then a drier. When you unlock the door a voice tells you the door is open then the toilet automatically self-cleans!
-We really lucked out and had a brilliant sunny day for our cruise on Milford Sound ~ went under 2 waterfalls, one with a rainbow at the waterline, saw fur seals and amazing scenery
-Have seen 2 species of penguins ~ yellow-eyed penguins so close you could touch them and watched 50 blue penguins ( which weigh only 1 kg) waddle out of the surf up the their nests - pretty amazing
-The Shotover Jet boat at Queenstown ~ 360 degree turns at high speed, a jet boat that zips really close to rocks and cliffs as it only needs 10cm of water, 85 km/hour through a narrow gorge ~ soundlike we had fun??
-Roadside stalls with fresh strawberries, peaches, plums, corn, apples and plums ~ yummmm
-Earlier, when the kids were on holiday the campground were full of HUGE tents with families. Now, it is NZ retirees and us foreigners and the campgrounds are rows of campervans and occasional motorhomes. The campsites are pretty small but the facilities are great ~ usually have big kitchens, BBQ, internet, laundry and TV lounges and very clean.
-There is a motto we have spotted on signs "Be a clean Kiwi" and have to say it must be working ~ there is almost no garbage along the roads and the campground s are immaculate.
-New Zealanders talk funny! They camp in "tints", live in "New Ziland" and as my cousin's husband said, when there is an accident on the motorway, you need to look out for all the "rubber knickers" on the road! You need to stop to "have a squiz at" sights, try not to step on dead possums which have been "bowled over" on the road and turn off the radio when you have "had a gutsfull" of the talk radio host.
-Many of the native species of animals are threatened. We haven't come across mosquitoes, however 92 of the remaining 347 biting sandflies have takena liking to Malcolm's lower legs and he now has a southern hemisphere star map of bites!
-We are surviving the campervan!!The best way to describe it is "very cosy" but really, once we got a system organised and can now move easily from "daytime " to "bedtime" mode, the likelihood of a murder/suicide has diminished.
Hope all is well with you,
Love, Malcolm and Elinor
- comments
Francoise Orr Wow! What a trip, I wish we could share some of those adventures. I laughed a lot when I read about the "Execuloo", who spends 10 minutes in the loo? Take care and continue to have a fantastic trip.
Alison Brings back great memories for us - all except for the camper van that is! Have you had Blue Cod yet...yummm, goes especially well with Sauvingnon Blanc.
joanne Glad to hear from you. At coffee the other day we were talking about you and wondering when we might hear. Have you talked to Andreas yet. Have fun, sounds like you are! we saw those funny toilets in Surfers Paradise!!!!
Trish Great to hear that you have found some sun- was a bit worried when you left Auckland in that violent weather. Sounds like you are seeing all the right places and having fun.Pretty stunning country isn't it?! Look forward to seeing you back in Auckland at some stage.
Janice Wow,, sounds incredible, and brought back so many memories of my 7 months there forever ago! I'm definitely love to head back to visit friends and introduce Brian to it's many wonders!! Continue to mega enjoy!
Christine Good to see you are catching on to the idiom, but I'll tell you what, you've got a lot more to catch up with yet! Glad you are enjoying yourself so much, hoping the weather is going to be good enough for fishing on Sunday Malcolm! Maybe catch some blue cod, although we've some in the freezer already for feed when you get back. See you soon :)
Terrill I am envious ... you have seen 2 species of penguins!! I love penguins, they are just the best darn bird. Glad for the development of the campervan system, sounds like sharing it is somewhat like renovating a house with your partner .... very risky. Just a quick note, Agassiz Library has a nomination for 2 business excellence awards - Peoples Choice and Best Non-profit. I will let you know how it turns out. Ag Library almost on the map too it seems! See you soonishly, travel on.
Barbara Hi Guys, Just heard about the Earthquake.....are you ok ?
John & Alice Wow an earthquake. Hope all is well. Let us know all is well when you get a chance.