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Having spent a few nights in Queeny it was time for me to explore the South of the South. Our first night was at Tuatapere, the sausage capital of New Zealand! 5 of us decided to do the last 20k by jetboat and it was the best jetboat ride I have had. Murray was our driver although it was his 3 and a half year old grandson who did most of the steering. A very serious young man who didnt smile once but did tell us off for talking! Once the boat ride ended they drove us straight on to the trailer and towed us through the streets still in our life vests back to the accomodation!
In the morning an apportunity to sheer a sheep, dont ask me why but I had been looking forward to this for ages and it was good fun for us if not the sheep. I dont think I am going to break any records for speed but I didnt cut the sheep although this may be because in some places I gave it more of a trim than a full shear. The crossing to Stewart Island was rough and me and my partner in crime Chrissy had a whale of a time over there. We were there for 3 nights in total and we were given a car to use, offered free accomodation, salmon, free fishing trips, a skydive for $80 (even that wasn't enough to get me to do it) and had most of our drinks bought. I think its fair to say that the locals were friendly!
Next stop Dunedin, home of the steepest street in the world and a Cadbury's chocolate factory.
Back to Queenstown for a week where I joined the Chass club (basically a group of people drinking wine from a box - classy!) After another week of partying I met up with Danny from Gisborne and we did a road trip together which was a lot of fun. We met at Lake Tekapo (or Lake Take-a-poo as some insist on calling it) and from there headed South where we saw penguins, seals and Albatross. I also tried Kina (sea urchin) which Danny pulled out of a rock pool, smashed open on a rock and then ate. I am not in a hurry to try it again....its not right is it?
I have been wanting to go possum hunting since I arrived in the country and I finally got the chance when we had an unscheduled stay with Adam and Angela after the truck broke down. It was midnight on a wet night and although we heard possum we never actually saw any, that didnt matter though....it was always more about creeping about in the dark with a gun for me anyway.
After driving past Mount Cook 6 times and never having seen it due to cloud I was beginning to doubt that New Zealands biggest mountain existed. I insisted that if I couldn't see it I would need to drive up it! We stayed on the campsite and it was really lovely and peaceful except for the sound of the odd avalanche (nowhere near us thankfully). Finally in the morning as we left the clouds cleared and I saw the summit of Mount Cook poking through the clouds across Lake Pukaki and it was spectacular.
Onward to Kaikoura where Danny did his hunter gatherer thing again and went diving for Crayfish for tea, Crayfish are $110 in the shops and these were free! Just as well coz I didnt really like them.....imagine spending 110 bucks to find that out! Kaikoura is on the east coast and in the morning we watched the sun come up over the ocean which was beautiful and I think we were both equally as shocked that I was awake for it!!
After a great couple of weeks Danny delivered me to Saff and Liams where I spent Christmas.
Managed to get 2 new photo albums on!!
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