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Hello there folks! Don't worry we haven't forgotten about updating you all, we've just been so busy seeing some of the beautiful things in new Zealand. We've uploaded some great new pictures for everyone to check out so just head over to the photo album area and click on the NEW PHOTOS folder! Here's an update on what we've been up to for the past week:
Wednesday 6th June
Spent today mooching around Christchurch. Last night's accomodation was so comfy that we overslept and we didn't get into the city until 12p.m.! I had my hair cut for $10 - BARGAIN! The city of Christchurch is gorgeous and looks alot like England - like Cambridge without the cobbled streets. The buildings are lovely and some look like the ones down De Parys Avenue in Bedford. There are some impressive statues around the city, which is set upon the river Avon. We spent the night in the library, gathering information, then chilled out in a quaint little pub opposite that was offering 2 for 1 on house beer. We sat with a pint watching a great duo sing a collection of classics ranging from Johnny Cash to Muse.
Thursday 7th June
We left the Jailhouse today and were transferred to Ezy Campervan Rentals to pick up our Jucy Campervan. It's a really lovely van, much nicer than our wicked one in Oz and it's navy blue with a pretty lady in a dress painted on each door and the interior is pristine. We then did our weekly shop, $115 ouch!, at Countdown Supermarket (no Richard Whitley lookalikes on the checkouts unfortunately). Drove North for a while before finding a spot by the river to camp at. Made dinner inside the van on our little grill, which was like heaven after cooking so many meals outside in Oz! It's so cold that Darren and I are wrapped up in bundles of clothes and have a hot water bottle to share! Spent the evening listing all the wonderful things we wanted to see in the South Island whilst drinking some Bundy and Coke.
Friday 8th June
We decided that instead of heading North we wanted to drive South to see some snow! We turned the van around and headed back through Christchurch and into a stunning skiing village called Methvan. We emailed mumma Frost and rob details of attractions in the South Island then set off again, stopping briefly for a few photo opportunities of the stunning landscape. we managed to find a nice rest stop next to a river and stayed there for the night.
Saturday 9th June
We ventured on a lovely walk today up to some waterfalls. The walk was just over an hour each way and the final destination gave us some fantastic views of some short, yet extremely pretty waterfalls, cascading in white shimmering tones before splashing into the pool below and instantly changing from white to crystal clear. Back at the camper van we followed the road and saw a sign to "Lake Clearwater", which sounded interesting so we followed the road. 30kms later we arrived at a gorgeous lake surrounded by beautiful green hills. Aptly enough the lake water was clear and we stopped there to eat a bowl of cereal whilst taking in the view. As the maps that we have aren't very detailed I knocked on a door of a local's holiday home to ask if the road cut back through to the Highway. I was promptly invited into a warm home where five people offered their advice on our forwarding journey. Although we had to go back on ourselves to get to the highway we were told to first continue on the road for 20kms until we would come to a dead-end. This we were told was where 'Edoras', the city from 'Lord of the Rings' was filmed. I got back into the camper and relayed my experience to Darren and we travelled along the bumpy unmade road with everything shaking, through the stunning scenery, where we could see the snow capped Southern Alps in front of us and a lake beside us. 20kms late we arrived at a station called Mt Potts and the area was instantly recognisable as the location of 'Edoras'. We spent an hour taking photos and picturing Aragon and the hobbits wandering across the amass. After travelling back across the bumpy road and along to the highway we found a campsite in Mt Somers which was only $15 a night, for a powered site, so we indulged in leaving the heater on all night as the temperature dropped to -6degrees. If it stays this cold then we are going to have to stay at campsites, instead of the dodgy free campsites with no power points!
Sunday 10th June
We left Mt Somers (after experiencing the most freezing cold shower in history) and drove to Peel Forest, an important Maori Conifer Forest. the first walk we set off on only last 30 minutes and took us to a huge tree. We then decided to do a longer walk, so we found a track leading to some more waterfalls. As there was no car park nearby Darren parked on the verge and we headed off to the falls, which took over an hour to get to. These falls were just as impressive as yesterdays. When we descended the track we got back to the car, started the engine and guess what??? That's right, bless him, Darren had done a West Coast and had got the camper stuck in the soft verge. Thankfully some lovely Kiwis were passing by and they stopped in their 4x4 and pulled us out back onto the road. I laughed, but Darren didn't find it as funny! We drove then to a town called Geraldine and rented two DVDs, "Click" and "Borat" to watch on the portable DVD player that came free with the camper hire. We ended up having a great night in a free campsite huddled up with a hot water bottle and laughing at the films.
Monday 11th June
We took the DVDs back then headed south through Temuka to Timaru. We had a good look around Timaru which is a lovely town, set on the seafront and boasting a gorgeous huge rose garden. We purchased a "Lord of the Rings" Location guide and we have decided to spend the next week wandering around the south island hunting down the location sights and searching for Aragon! We drove through Fairlie and stopped to look at the picturesque Lake Tikapo. In the waters of the lake you can see the reflections of the surrounding mountains and hillside. The really old "Church of the Good Shepherd" looks amazing sitting on the shoreline. Unfortunately it had closed a few minutes before we arrived so we didn't get a chance to go inside the church. A few minutes down the road we came to Lake Pukaki which is a larger lake than Tipako and is equally as kind on the eyes. After taking many a photo we stopped at a campsite in Twizel with power and spent a nice warm night in the van with the heater on full blast continually! The temperature reached -9 tonight!
Tuesday 12th June
We had a late start this morning, both of us reluctant to leave the warmth of the van to get washed and ready to go. Firstly we headed into Twizel and hunted down the location point for the "Pelannor Fields", where the biggest battle scenes for "The Lord of the Rings" were filmed. We then took the gorgeous drive up to Mount Cook in the early afternoon and stopped at a place called Hermitage which as basically an area for a plush hotel resort nestled in the incredible snow-capped Southern Alps. We headed through the snow on a 2 hour walk to Kea Point, which offered excellent views of Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand. Trudging through the snow felt strange, especially as only four week ago we were in Darwin complaining about how hot it was! So far my thoughts on New Zealand are that it is probably one of the most visually enchanting places in the world. The ice capped mountains are enormous and contrast with the crystal blue waters and the trees (the conifers are green, the trees with berries on look red and if the bare trees are plain brown). The rivers in New Zealand flow more violently than the those in drought stricken Australia and the edges of the rivers are trimmed with ice. We both feel like Bilbo Baggin's relatives stomping through the jagged countryside. We stayed in another campsite in Omarama and borrowed a heater, as I accidentally smashed the one that came with the van on the floor- whoops!
Wednesday 13th June
When we left the campsite we headed to the Lindis Pass to Tarra. There we found the location point for Arwen's flight to the Ford (yep, another film scene), where Liv Tyler's character rescues Frodo. The area was lined with pine trees, set in neat rows, which looked stunning against the tussock brown fields. We later arrived at the gorgeous skiing town of Wanaka and took some photos across the lake towards the Southern Alps. It is hard to describe the setting in words, but the scene looks like the sensation of peace realised. We travelled to Glendau Bay and treble Cone and took more photos to stick into our "Lord of the Rings" Location Book diary. Needless to say that we saw a few more filming locations. After leaving Wanaka, where we could have stayed for a few days if we had the time, we headed through the Crown Range and stopped at one of the oldest pubs in New Zealand, The Cardrona Hotel. the interior of the pub was really oldie-worldie, complete with a boars head hanging on the wall above a fire which raged in the hearth. We sat on a cozy sofa beside the fire, taking advantage of the warmth being emanated. The pub looked right from a scene out of "Lord of the Rings" and although it wasn't used in the film you could imagine 'Striker' sitting in the corner puffing on a pipe! The evening was spent in a campsite in Arrowtown. Thankfully we managed to buy a new heater today so we didn't freeze during the wee hours.
Thursday 14th June
We travelled back up to the highest sealed road in New Zealand - the Crown ranges pass. We did a 2 hour return trek up to the summit of the ranges and from the top we were blessed with 360 degrees across to Queenstown, the Kawarau river and over the nearby mountains. We could picture the pillars of the Kings on the river and the Fellowship wandering across the jagged landscape. After our walk we drove to New Zealand's first ever bungy jump, AJ Hacketts, from where we saw a poor boy get bungy'd into the river. Afterwards we drove a short distance up a moutain pass to Chard Farm vineyards from where we had a great view of the 'River Anduin' and the location of the Argonath (pillars of the kings) in the Lord of the Rings. Then we took a drive down to Arrowtown, which used to be a highly successful gold mining town. Arrowtown is stunning with great buildings and we had a good time wandering around the 'Ford of Bruinen' a location from the Lord of The Rings where Liv Tylers character Arwen was filmed fleeing from the Ringwraiths as she transported Frodo to the safety of Rivendell. We also had a look at the old Chinese miners cottages before finding the location of the 'Gladden Fields', a location used in the film to show King Isuldur being betrayed by the One Ring. Afterwards we drove to Queenstown and had a look around the beautiful city with it's lights reflecting on the surrounding lake. We called mum, who leaves for Oz tomorrow!
Friday 15th June
We spent today looking around the wonderful city of Queenstown, probably one of our favourite places in New Zealand so far. The Lake here is gorgeous and the city overlooks the aptly named Remarkable Mountains. We bought a polarising filter for our camera so that we can take even more impressive looking photos. Queenstown is full of great looking bars and ski shops so we will spend the rest of the day window shopping and then hopefully enjoying a beer this evening in the Rattlesnake Bar! We will update you all again soon, take care of yourselves!
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