Farewell land of the long White cloud

Crumbs chief - fourth day and no blog - I am such a slacker.

Okay here they come .....

Day one - post tent home - need rest if day to recover from the fact that we could have bought a new tent for what that cost - and despite what Martyn says it was all down to the tent and sleeping mats and nothing whatsoever to do with my bucket of cookies!
After that drove up to glacier land stopping at various points along the way for short, sandfly ridden, photos. As usual stunning scenery. Last NZ ice cream in Haast and then on to Fox glacier.

Day two - hike Fox Glacier - obviously not a local but have now picked up enough of the lingo to get by.......hike was sweet as and truly awesome! See picky for small sample of what we spent 5 hrs gazing at (well actually we have better views but the staircase to get up to the Glacier was the best one on the blog camera!

Slight delay on dinner as we discovered that the fridge Martyn had proudly put last nights leftover mince in was actually a freezer - quite appropriate given we'd spent the day on the glacier!

Day three - drive from Fox glacier to Arthurs pass - in the rain - lots of foggy mysterious views but still stunning. NZ must be so sorry to see us go that it was crying! Stopped for a picky at the top of Arthurs pass only to lose half an hour watching three Kea amuse themselves with various other tourists cars - wasn't quite so funny when the Kea also decide we needed to stay in NZ so started trying to eat Sherberts windscreen wipers! Wasnt quite sure how we would explain that to rental company!

Day four - rain stopped and we headed back to Christchurch having been woken by more Kea scrabbling on the corrugated iron roof of our chalet :)
Currently sat in airport waiting to go through to departures......please dont make me go.........

Ah well, from the land of the long White cloud to the land of kangaroos and wallabies we go. See you in Sydney!!!

Adrenalin laundry

Is our all new game, but more about that later.

Our steamboat trip last night was very cool (well warm actually being as i spent most of the journey in with the stoker!) You could walk on gangways in the engine room and they has schematics to show you how it all worked. Martyn called me a petrol head but then had to correct this as it was of course a steam boat (I mean der come on husband) in the end he decided to settle for me being truly my fathers daughter (which is reassuring!) - it was ace dad and we have video - much better than the diesel (pah) train we were supposed to go on a while ago!

And it came with a free sheep shearing demo as we arrived at the farm at Glenorchy in time for the end of the farm show and the boat crew said we could sneak down and watch - bargain!!

All this excitement resulted in a late night so it was quite hard to get up this morning - even with the very helpful and loud alarm that went off. Martyn lay in bed and mumbled 'wassat ?' I said 'earthquake alarm' got up, checked the corridor, decided earth was not moving and everyone else still in bed so went back to bed only to turn round to find Martyn trying to use iPhone to work out what he was supposed to do. Ah bless :)

Later on someone told us it was a firealarm which was a bit disappointing in a way.

This story is all the funnier for the fact that at least three other people have told us stories about being woken up by the alarm in Queenstown, none of which we remembered at the time of course!

So having had a small adrenalin rush start to the day we set of up the gondola which whilst very steep was quite a calm start. Of course once you've gone up you have to come down. We vetoed the luge as it didn't actually get you down and we'd done one already. Bungee jump was out too and it was quite breezy so I was saved from my mad paragliding fancy! What did that leave? Only the steepest zip line in the world!!!!!! Waaaaahhhaaaayyyy

Zip a de do dah, zip a de day, my oh my what a wonderful day!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee

6 zip lines, 2.5hrs, jazz hands, a cannonball and two upside downers later we were at the bottom (and Martyn has the video evidence I actually did those things - of course being in charge of camera he stayed upright and declared it good fun and not too painful - very important for blokes when in harness!!)

So off we zipped ('scuse the pun) to Fergburger for lunch - yummy but ate waaay too much. Then drove over mountains to Arrowtown which is a pretty little gold mining place. Wandered the shops very slowly attempting to let dinner settle but still had to sit in car and read paper before I felt better!

Pootled rest of way to Wanaka where we are staying tonight and where we have discovered 'adrenalin laundry'.

I swear everyone else staying here has chosen tonight to do laundry - the machines were all in use and we left our room and checked twice, just as we were about to check a third time two blokes wandered along with bags full of washing - I kept an eye out on one laundry, Martyn ran to the other, baggied a machine and waved me over, load one sorted, quick 300m dash to the other laundry and quick, machine free, load two underway.....seriously, if it's got to a two load situation this is drama - no washing = going commando from this point on and it's a bit nippy here now - very nice but there is definitely a little chill in the air sometimes.

Currently in phase two of adrenalin laundry - will the driers be free before the laundry closes for the night? Got one lot in so there is hope for clean and dry pants.......will we be drying the second lot in the car tomorrow I wonder ..... Oooooh the suspense....... 'Who needs White water rafting or skydiving?' that's all I can say!!!!

It's cookie time

Yes well, having got all sad about saying farewell to our little tent yesterday we got to the post office today only to discover that apparently it is Sunday so strangely post office not open. Needless to say tent is with us for a little while longer. Got some very odd looks from people as we stood outside post office wondering why it wasn't open before we saw sign saying 'closed on Sundays' and put two and two together - doh :)

Pondered walk around Te Anau and then decided we'd rather come back and do all of one of the great walks (but NOT Milford having experienced just a few sandflies whilst still miles away from the part of that track that is called 'Sandfly Point')

So off we went in Sherbert (who now has a clean bum as Martyn washed him yesterday) to Queenstown - the adrenalin capital of the world!

Not quite sure what we're doing here being two of the most risk averse people we know but hey - maybe the 'Queenstown' thing will happen and you'll get a blog update about us doing something crazy......although all the (much younger) people in the streets here are either covered in sticking plasters or bruises so maybe not. It definitely won't be skydiving given the bruises on the legs of one girl. Paragliding is out (I did quite fancy that for some reason) as I watched them come down and felt sick! The jetboats are a possible but Martyn has already mentioned a lack of head support. Which leaves....... Ah yes, perfect..... The TSS Earnslaw steam ship cruise across the lake. Much better. Apparently it has working engine room you can observe. Am currently sat waiting for our launch! Friends suggest 8pm sailing but we think it must have been summer when they were here as sun is rapidly fading!!!

This afternoon we strolled up one mile track to a power house and dam and then watched some completely insane mountain bikers go down the hill. Then we meandered through the shops and a DISASTER of epic proportions occured. You see Martyn drove me straight past the Cookie Time factory/shop near Christchurch and I had been doing really well with weening myself off them but then we came across the Queenstown Cookie Time shop. Oh dear!

Paddling along

Yes, probably our last kayaking for some time and we finally feel we've cracked it! Sum total of zero 'marital harmony moments' and at times we actually looked like we knew what we were doing! All that plus swell from boats making large splashes along the front of the boat - very exciting! The only slight confusion came when our guide asked us to head for the 'yellow boo-eee' - phonetically typed! We weren't sure what this was (neither was another couple with us). After a while paddling we realised he meant 'buoy'!

We were kayaking in Milford Sound for 5 hours and it was stunning but wet so no blog picture - sorry!

Left at 6:30 am which we felt was quite impressive. Journey there was interesting 2hr drive mostly in dark on very wiggly road. Now we've been on some roads in our travels and been on some roads in the dark on our travels but that is the closest either of us want to ever come to car sickness. So feeling slightly 'ughy' we promptly climbed aboard sea kayak (as you do) immediately felt much better.

Of course climbing aboard was after battling the sand flies which were AWFUL. Even Martyn thought they were so bad that he asked me to protect him as he changed into his thermals and kayaking gear. This resulted in me doing a hilarious 'wafty wafty' dance all around him as he changed (sandflies do not like breezes). Rest of group found this very funny, I was humiliated but Martyn was not bitten. Did he do the same for me? Did he heck as like. He was too busy applying DEET to the remaining uncovered bits of him which by this time was just his hands and face. All this while I did the quickest strip and redress ever achieved by a human being!!!

Scenery was stunning - just like the postcards but a strange thing happened at the end. Despite yesterday being on board a cruise ship with 100 other people we both agreed we preferred Doubtful Sound. There was always somewhere on the boat that no-one else was and, the stillness and quiet when they turned the engines off was indescribable. In contrast Milford, being more accessible had 3 cruise ships which went past at least three times each and numerous sea planes, scenic flights and helicopters over head!

Despite this we still viewed a pod of bottlenose dolphin (which is very cool from a kayak) and three fur seals!

Drive back was much better as we could a) see and b) stop off and take photos (which Martyn did with avengeance - I feel more keep delete approaching!) Seriously a beautiful drive and another picture perfect day!

Back to Te Anau in time for trip to pictures - very special cinema. This guy spent 5 yrs flying helicopters and made a film of the scenery. Couldnt find a cinema that would show it so built his own! Cynically Martyn and I decided if it took him 5yrs to film and he got 32 mins of film he either wasn't very good or he was not very efficient and lining up shots. It was a stunning piece of film though (but then it would be as the scenery is) it was nice to see it in the different seasons though! Biggest seats ever in the cinema.

Back to little cabin for dinner and a big re-pack of the bags. It is time for our little tent to go home. This makes us quite sad. He has protected us from thunder storms and mosquitos, kept us warm in the cold and and provided shade from the sun. We shall miss him and hope he makes it home safely.

Oh dear - have just realised I have assigned a gender to our tent. Definitely losing it.,......

Cruising along

Realised yesterday that we only have 7 days left in NZ. This led to two things
1) realisation that we will have to come back - not enough time in fiordland and we haven't touched Abel Tasman or done a great walk (but have done many other great things!)
2) frantic booking of things we thought we could fit in before we go to Oz.

That used up most if yesterday afternoon (well that and a small nap did anyway!)

Today we went on a wildlife cruise of Doubtful Sound which was very spooky as the cloud came down but it cleared in the afternoon so we could see how stunning it is. Made it out to the Tasman Sea and Martyn took loads more photos - thank goodness for digital cameras that's all I can say - we'd need to remortgage the house if we were doing this trip on film!

On the way back we took a trip down to see the Manapouri power station which is built underneath a mountain. Now you will remember that Martyn is not a fan of caving so I was a little surprised he suggested this but apparently being as a bus fitted down the long 1 in 10 entrance tunnel that was 2km long it was okay! Personally I think his desire to see large engineering type gadgets over ruled the whole 'deep underground' thing!

Just on way back across lake Manapouri now and then on to Te Anau.

What's that R2?

So many birds that sound like R2D2 and now we know what they are and have seen them too!

We left for Stewart island two days ago across the Foveaux Strait which is notoriously rough - only a 2m swell so not too bad. Arrived at 1030am and regained our land legs by walking from Halfmoon Bay up Fuschia walk, down Raroa walk to Golden Bay, around to Davis Bay for lunch (gentle breeze = no sandflies - bargain) and then back to Halfmoon Bay. Booked Ulva island trip but decided against spending money on Kiwi spotting trip. Afternoon nap an a wander around the two shops , oh and an ice cream of course!

Up early next day - caught ferry to Ulva island at 0830 and were bird spotting by 0845. Fantastic - weta, saddleback, cockariki, robin, kereru, bellbird, tui and kaka. Great time meandering through temperate rainforest with a really good guide who showed us all the trees and plants as well - umbrella moss, filmy fern, rimu, totara, lancewood, miri (with sap that i tasted - bit like vegemite but we had no cheese so Martyn didn't have any!), Easter orchids and anothe orchid, very cool.

Back to Stewart Island for lunch and then a walk to Horseshoe Bay and back before a fish n chip supper (ooooops, did have meal planned but hey ho!)

Attempted self guided kiwi spotting at 9pm but didn't see any. Could hear them though so they were out there!

Ferry back to the south island this morning across a millpond - apparently there is a north westerly due this afternoon so it will be a bit rough - glad we came across when we did, it's only an hour but methinks that could be a very llloooonnngggg time across the strait if rough !

Anyway, now tootling up to Manapouri via Tuatapere - sausage capital (we'll be stopping there then!) ready for doubtful sound tomorrow!

11 days left in NZ

Crikey its going quickly , cant believe only 11 days left and so much still to do so we sped up a bit today and have booked in a few things towards the end so we dont miss anything....) today though was a bit of a travel day...

So, at the crack of dawn (7.30 - now Martyn is exaggerating as even I know this is not quite the crack of dawn!) we woke up at our friends house in Dunedin remembering that we had a ferry to catch tomorrow. The best laid plans went slightly to waste as we couldn't find the right key to lock their door with on the way out - never mind.

We zoomed off to Nugget Point - named so for when the light shines just right, the rock formations look like nuggets of gold - no gold today, but a cool see-through floor at the top by the light house - K held on tight as apparently it was scary.

We headed next to the Petrified Forest, which was actually a beach which used to be a forest but when the volcano blew and there was a flood the trees all became impregnated with silica and were hence fossilised. Had to get there within 4 hrs of low tide to see it though and we were slightly delayed due to a visit to the Lost Gypsy Gallery which is in a bus and is basically a guy fiddling around in a shed/workshop making things out of rubbish! Needless to say my scheduled 5min quick stop became 45mins at least and it was very cool. We both twiddled many handles and said 'oh wow look at this' quite a lot.

Anyway made it to curio bay and the petrified forest with about 10mins to spare so got to see cool trees. There was a moulting yellow eyed penguin on the beach which everyone else was focussing on so we had the rest of the beach to ourselves!

Car picnic for lunch and then on to Invercargill to shop for food and sleep.
Found yummy bread and two savoury swirls to have with our soup. Had to laugh - Martyn chose the savoury swirls. Took me a while to work out they were vegemite and cheese. Martyn does not like vegemite. Except apparently with cheese (he was quite surprised when I told him it was vegemite!) but hey he likes fish now as well apparently! Don't worry though I'm holding out as I still do not like sprouts!

Had to cook soup in bowls in microwave. Didn't realise microwave was 100W more powerful than the cooking instruction listing. Didn't read instruction to cover the bowl. Dinner delayed somewhat by needing to clean microwave. Exploding soup made cooking a bit more interesting though. As usual we were laughing too much to be efficient with our clean up. French people cooking dinner at same time did not seem overly amused!

Oh and campsite has unisex toilets and showers - thats quite interesting, but then so was the long drop toilet I had to use today - an unexpected breeze caused another burst of hilarity. I leave you to imagine the rest!