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Thea and Lizzie's travels
So New Zealand... Our first impressions of Christchurch were good it seemed a really nice place with lots of character! We stayed at one of the best hostels so far right in the centre of town which was great. It would be a lie to say that we busted a gut in Christchurch seeing as we went to the cinema times in as many days- sometimes a bit of home comfort goes a long way! We had to stay in Christchurch for six days as we had decided to hire a car and there were none available any sooner. We had some lovely meals and found some great cafes! Though before you come to the conclusion that we barely got of our arses in Christchurch I would point out that we took a gondola up to the nearby mountains and had a good stroll! It was so nice to be back in mountains again, the scenery is something else. We also took the traditional tram ride around town, stopping of at the art gallery for a quick peep. The cathedral also was beautiful and the river and parks were lovely too. We picked up the hire car on the 1st of march- which to my (Liz) dismay was an automatic, not impressed!! From Christchurch we drove to Dunedin and spent night one in the car- I would just point out that it's not an estate and the seats don't fully recline- it was shall we say cosy, though we have soon got use to it!! Though we slept surprisingly well!! Dunedin is a really lovely place and went up in our estimations when we found a Scottish shop where we could buy chocolate wafers bars and 'ironbru'!!!! The museum and art gallery were again really good and it had a very student feel to the place. We went to a small village just outside Dunedin called portabella and went out on a boat trip to see the Albatross birds- which was really good as we got up close and we also saw the fur seals and penguins!! It was also in Portabella that we had one of the best meals so far (it would be fair to say that we really aren't starving at the moment)! We also visited New Zealand's only castle that day which had some priceless views. We headed next just north of Dunedin to a small town of sorts called Outram, it was here that we went to the national rodeo finals and had in my opinion one of the best days of the trip!! It was so cool, plus lots of hot cowboys to top it off!!! It wasn't the most relaxing experience, and was pretty cringing at times, seriously don't know how they do it!!
Next main stop was Queenstown which had a very ski resort feel to it. We didn't actually stay long here as we were planning on ski diving at fox glacier and bungee jumping really didn't appeal! The drive to Fox Glacier was pretty spectacular, you are literally driving right through the middle of the Southern Alps, plus we did the bluck of the driving at sun set. The only downer was the weather which was pretty s***ty and over cast. We walked around Lake Matheson which was great but due to the weather you couldn't see the reflection of Mt Cook which was a shame! We also went on a glacier walk which was really good and it was strange to get the crampons back on again after so long but it soon came back to us! One of the main draws for us however was the hope to do a ski dive over the glacier and though we had booked to do it and the weather had cleared we had a rather major set back in that the instructor was in Christchurch and wasn't planning on coming back that week- not impressed but we soon got over it! We drove straight to Punakaiki which was the smallest place so far with literally two cafes and a pub! It was here that we were booked on to doing a horse trek which proved entertaining!! It was a nice morning but strange for me as I was put on a 14.2 hh Arab pony - not really Sam like! Thea was looking pretty good actually and never had a smile off her face! It was going so well in fact that we decided it would be nice to stretch our legs along the beach, so Thea got put on a lead rope and I had sole responsibility for her and Bear (her pony) which I took very seriously! Now I kept to my side of the deal keeping hold of Bear and Thea it seemed could not even managed the small task of staying on, she didn't even have to steer, I had that covered! So it wasn't long before Thea gracefully stacked it well and truly!! Though I don't know what she was complaining about as she landed on her bum and therefore had a soft landing!!!! (Thea: this is such a falsehood! Liz was supposed to be looking after me and had she been doing her job properly I would not have fallen off! I am blaming her entirely, and would like to add that my fall was indeed very graceful.) So yes moving on.... We also walked to see the famous pancake rocks here which excited Thea, really starting to see just how much Thea loves her Geography!! We drove from here to Abel Tasman area and had a few nights in a car park which was great until we were rudely awakened on a Sunday morning (early) after a late one by the flee market people, not impressed!! We also got to watch some rugby which was a treat, what was that Ireland BEAT Scotland!!!! We did do a walk around the national park which was a really nice day but boy are we unfit!!!! From here it was on to kaikoura which was a really nice sea side town with a slogan that was very true, 'where mountains meet the sea'! We had an amazing time here and were so lucky with the weather! We went Whale watching and saw three Sperm Whales and Charlie the seal and a pod of Dolphins and many a wandering Albatross! We also went swimming with wild seals, which was so good and to top it we went swimming with wild dolphins too!!! Both were so special as we were in their natural environment and it was all on their terms, they were not fed or anything like that! They were both so playful and had a real interest in you and if they hadn't wanted to see you they really didn't have to, plus they were more than aware that they had the upper hand and were constantly testing you in the water!! The two days we had in Kaikoura were a real highlight and won't be forgotten in a hurry! From there it was a short drive to Picton to catch the ferry across to Wellington! Picton seemed really nice and the crossing was pretty good! Oh but Thea did try and ditch me at Picton when I went off to the loo- (no surprise there!) and she had driven nearly on to the ferry without me and could see me running after the car and didn't even stop!!! To end, all that is to say is that South Island had been amazing and we have loved every minute of it and the driving has been a treat and the scenery really is as good as everyone says it is!!!
We would like to take this opportunity just to share the new insights we have discovered of each other: Liz: 1. Thea's abandonment of me when I am choking, on two occasions now I have been choking and Thea has simply been laughing at me, in one instance when a had orange juice coming out of most edifices and all I wanted Thea to do was hold my orange juice while I was choking, seeing as I was spilling it, she refused to do it, making a god almighty fuss about it and then complaining for hours of the smell- there's sympathy for you!! 2. Thea's lack of understanding that some people do not have her bladder of steel and so consequently do have to pay a visit or two to the loo at night! 3. Thea likes to blame me for when her things go walk about in the not so tidy car and that the so called tidy Thea is not as tidy as she in fact makes out!
Thea: 1. Lizzie has found a new love of curbs on our trip in New Zealand; she often likes to rub up against them and has even managed to force our hub cap off. 2. She had taken to trying to get into any white car that she sees claming that it is ours regardless of whether it is or not. 3. She enjoys asking for directions and then paying no attention to the answer, usually leaving us to drive aimlessly around the streets of New Zealand. And 4. I am not that untidy, she keeps hiding my stuff and claiming not to know where it is and you all know how much I hate orange juice!
Liz: all I will say is that the white cars all look the same how am I to know! And why would I want to hide Thea's clothes??!!!
Hope all is well at home love Liz and Thea xxxx
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