So we left Christchurch and headed in the direction of Wanaka. Stopping off at the Cookie Time factory to buy two packets of their discounted broken cookies (delicious) and also some fruit products from the Barkers factory shop in Geraldine. The plan was to get to Mt. Cook by the evening, but like all good plans this one was subject to change! We got to Tekapo…

… there’s an observatory there and we decided on spec to go on the tour. Unfortunately the weather clouded in who while we waited until after midnight to go on the tour it didn’t happen. We did get an impromptu lecture from the lady there which was great. She had the most ridiculously powerful laser pointer I have ever seen. I swear if you shone it in someone’s eye you’d burn it out in no time. How much fun would one of those have been in school? ;)

Next it was on to Mt. Cook itself via stopping it at Glentanner to see Orla – a friend of my friend Carole’s from Ireland. WE arranged to go on a tramp on Stewart Island together.

This happened to be the weekend that NZ was mourning the passing of Sir Edmund Hillary. It’s hard to appreciate just how much he means to NZ. I guess he really put the place on the map. Everywhere we went the flags were at half mast. The exhibition in Mt. Cook (well worth going to) was free for the weekend – and the 3D film (not so good) was half price.

We went for a short walk to Kea point too – just a nice hour long walk with great views off the glacial lake and up to Mt Cook (which was stubbornly still hiding himself in cloud).

It was a *very* windy night parked behind some matagauri bushes. Our camper van is one of those flip top things where the roof pops up to make a sleeping space. It’s *definitely* designed for a family with parents and a kid or two… as there was very little space (or height) for my toes! But anyway.. I had visions of the top of the van being clean ripped off by the wind.

It wasn’t though… you can all relax ;)

The next day it was on to Lake Hawea North of Wanaka for a night. On the way we stopped at the Clay Cliffs…

… before heading on to Lake Hawea.. This was also the wonderful introduction to sandflies for my parents. Honestly, before then they were going to sell up in Ireland and move out to the Promised Land. Repeated exhortations (yes I’m trying to improve my vocabulary) not to scratch the bites wasn’t always heeded. Oh well.

There’s a nice legend which goes something like this : The Gods created Fiordland and it was so beautiful that they knew humans would never want to leave – so they created sandflies. How kind.

The next day we did another short walk and had a lovely sunny (at last) drive down to Wanaka.

Right.. just a quick update.. and will re-post with pictures ‘n videos ‘n all sorts of exciting things (to keep the short attention span people interested – Dec ;)

After leaving ChCh headed to Mt. Cook. Checked out the cookie time factory (worlds largest cookie) and Barkers shop (yum fruit products) before getting as far as Tekapo. There we were going to have a short stop – but instead opted to go on an observatory tour. Unfortunately the skies clouded over so we didn’t get to do it.

Then on to Mt. Cook. Stopped off to see my friend Carole’s friend Orla in glentanner. Missed a free helicopter flight ‘cos of more bad weather. Sigh. Did organise to do a tramp on Stewart Island with her though. Then onto Mt. Cook village. There’s a newly opened Sir Edmund Hillary exhibition – because of his death it was free for the weekend – and very interesting it was too. All of the flags around NZ are flying at half mast – he was a *very* important figure to NZ – hard to over estimate.

Next to Wanaka – well had a night in Haast pass first and did a short walk there. Also mum and dad’s first proper introduction to sandflies. Personally I feel they were on the verge of moving out until they met them! Then into Wanaka – dragged them up Roys peak for the view. Mum made it 2/3 of the way – dad managing to make it to the top for the spectacular views. I think they’re going to do some training before venturing out this way again! Also the obligatory cinema session (plus delicous homemade ice-cream and cookies). We saw ‘Priceless’ a french film with a actress from Amelie in it (who’s name I temporarily forget!). Really enjoyed it though :)

Then a night on the crown ridge road between Wanaka and Queenstown (windy night), before going to Arrowtown and on down to Te Anau.

Once in Te Anau dad and I got our briefing on our 2 day kayaking on doubful sound – which was great fun. Fiordland is a funny place – we had beautiful sunny weather – but in a way it would have been better if it was lashing rain – as then you get all the waterfalls. Still, a great trip.

After that it was on to Milford for a cruise, and stayed in Gunnes camp for my birthday – great spot. Finally mum and dad dropped me off at Bluff where I will meet shortly with Orla and off to Stewart Island for a 3 day tramp. Or that’s the plan.

So unfortunately all too soon it was time to leave the sounds and head south to Christchurch. The drive along the coast is very scenic and our excellent driver stopped off to let people take pictures at one of the seal colonies. It’s really quite good – even on the national bus carrier they stop off and give you a running commentary of interesting things along the way. I’m sure they do this in other countries – I just don’t remember it!

Had a nice day around ChCh and booked mum and dad into my two favourite places in Akaroa for the evening. They’re off to C’est la vie for dinner and a really cool hostel called the Onuku farm hostel where they will stay in one of the stargazers for the night. The stargazers are these low roofed chalet/huts where one third of the roof is perspex so you can look up at the stars.

I was really lucky to get back in time to say goodbye to Jana and Julian who left today for Germany. It was a really nice party – as you’d expect because lots of people are going to miss them. One more place to visit when I’m next back in Europe!

As Maaike hasn’t stopped raving about how wonderful the hostel she is WOOFING in is, I thought that I should check it out and see the truth of the matter.

The hostel is called Hopewell, and is set in native bush deep in the Marlborough Sounds. To get there you can drive two odd hours to the end of a road – or (as I did) catch a water taxi to their jetty. It was a 50 minute taxi ride from Havelock – or a 40 minute (but two taxis’) from Picton.

I’m not quite sure whether it is formally the best hostel in New Zealand – but it certainly is up there, no doubt about it. When you arrive either Mike or Lynley (the owners) get you a fresh pot of tea / coffee… It’s just the little extras (of which there are many) that really set it apart.

There are kayaks and bikes to rent (for $10 a day or something super cheap like that) to explore the area. They have a lovely hot-spa which looks right out over the sounds.

One of the highlights for me was definitely the mussel night they had. They owners have their own mussel farm and every few nights they harvest them and put on a feed for everyone. Completely delicious – and made even more so by the fact that it’s all free! So yes, thank you Maaike for the encouragement to come and see the place. It really was wonderful and I would definitely recommend that if you’re in the area you make the effort to spend at least a couple of nights there.

So slightly going back in time here (how cool is that?) But just a couple of pictures from the one walk we got out on while up in Palmerston North. It was with two friends of my Aunts who had visited my parents in Ireland (and had embarrassing pictures of me from when I was about 6, no copies sorry)

It was along a nearby gorge – a 4 hour walk… good for working off the Christmas over-indulgences). The friends were in their 70s I think.. but certainly walked the legs off us. Sigh!

We also spent a day in Fotxon – a nearby town. Can’t quite remember why, but they built a windmill there – pretty interesting to walk around it and see the workings. They also had some displays on the windmills in The Netherlands and how they’re set up to drain the place.

After that it was time to leave the N.Island and catch the ferry down to Picton. It’s a beautiful crossing coming into the sounds.. well worth doing. The drive to Nelson (well, Mapua) was lovely too – it really is a stunning part of New Zealand. We were staying in a Bach (holiday home) of May – one of my Aunts friends. Lovely place.

The wonderful surprise was that we’d just arrived and I got a call on my mobile from Morgan – a great friend from college who is here touring about with his lovely girlfriend Becky. They were just finishing on the Abel Tasman (kayaking and walking) and were driving past Mapua – so we all met up for a drink. It was just SO great to see them. Unfortunately our touring plans won’t allow us to meet up again so it was just wonderful to see them up in Nelson. Hopefully Graham and Myra will convince them to move out… ;)

Spent the next few days exploring the area. I took my parents and my Aunt out to the Riverside Cafe for dinner. Unfortunately I don’t have any pics of the place – nor from the hike Dad and I did on the Abel Tasman because my battery is completely useless. Not sure whether it’s a short curcuit in the camera – or just that the non-canon replacement batteries suck – but either way I get to take about 5 pictures and it gives up. Harumph.

We did walk up to the Centre Of New Zealand.. which conveniently happens to be situated on the top of a hill in Nelson! Hmmmm. Still, it gives nice views.