We spent 7 weeks in New Zealand and spent a large proportion of that time living in a tent, which turned out to be a fantastic decision. We spent a good chunk of time in each of the North and South Islands and loved both. It was a brilliant trip with the usual ups and … Continue reading Visiting New Zealand: Some hints, tips and general observations
New Zealand
Rafting, Warren the seagull and bidding farewell to New Zealand – Geraldine, Peel Forest, Rangitata River and north to Christchurch.
After a late night chatting with other guests we had a fairly slow exit from Fairlie and were probably not on top form, as we drove 10km in the wrong direction before realising and turning back. We were headed to the town of Geraldine, where Caro was unreasonably excited about the dual attractions of a … Continue reading Rafting, Warren the seagull and bidding farewell to New Zealand – Geraldine, Peel Forest, Rangitata River and north to Christchurch.
Mount Cook National Park
The drive up to Mount Cook / Aoraki National Park is stunning. The road winds along the edge of the incredibly blue Lake Pukaki backed by mountains, it is breath taking. On our approach it looked as though the mountains had been superimposed on to the scenery it was so clear.The village of Aoraki is … Continue reading Mount Cook National Park
Boulders, Steampunk and Richie McCaw – Invercargill to Kurow
The very un-Bavarian Bavarian motel had everything we needed; a powerful hot shower, a comfortable bed and our own cooking facilities allowing us to keep watching Harry Potter in the morning whilst also indulging in pancakes and taking full advantage of our rapidly dwindling calorie deficit.Upon leaving Invercargill, we spent the next 3 days bouncing … Continue reading Boulders, Steampunk and Richie McCaw – Invercargill to Kurow
An exhausting and exhilarating three days on the Hump Ridge Track – Fiordlands National Park
As a result of our continued and increasing enjoyment of hiking, we have been very keen to do a multi-day walk and New Zealand, with its gorgeous countryside and abundance of tracks, is the absolute ideal location for this. Unsurprisingly, these tracks are hugely popular with locals and tourists alike, with some huts being booked … Continue reading An exhausting and exhilarating three days on the Hump Ridge Track – Fiordlands National Park
A not-so-old heritage trail and preparing for the big hike – The Catlins
Continuing our drive along the Southern Scenic Route, we made our way through the Catlins which make up a large part of the south coast and are often heralded as one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand. The scenery is certainly very pretty with large swathes of undulating farmland and stretches of rugged … Continue reading A not-so-old heritage trail and preparing for the big hike – The Catlins
A Dunedin Art Attack and a Papatowai Scrap Heap Challenge
From Milford Sound we drove straight across the country to the east coast as we were a couple of days ahead of schedule due to the weather earlier in the trip. With time to spare we thought we would drop in to Dunedin, which hadn’t made the cut previously, before heading back to the south … Continue reading A Dunedin Art Attack and a Papatowai Scrap Heap Challenge
The astonishing natural beauty of Milford Sound
We left you last time with the tantalising prospect of our free camp in Lumsden, which centres around a renovated train station in the middle of the small town. The pitches are on either side of the platform and the whole effect is completed by a couple of restored trains and carriages. Unfortunately, at the … Continue reading The astonishing natural beauty of Milford Sound
A delightful respite from the rain and more beautiful views up to Glenorchy and the Routeburn Track
After two days of very little exercise and poor weather we were both feeling a bit cabin feverish and decided that the best thing to do would be to go for a run. So we found ourselves back in Wanaka, far sooner that we had ever intended, limbering up for a jog around the lake. … Continue reading A delightful respite from the rain and more beautiful views up to Glenorchy and the Routeburn Track
And it rained and it rained and it rained, then it stopped for a bit, then it rained again – West Coast, New Zealand South Island
We woke up to the all too familiar sound of rain and with no visible prospect of it letting up anytime soon. We bundled our wet tent in the car and set off south of Hokitika, hoping the rain would clear to allow us to explore. We had a brief respite to visit Lake Mahinapua, … Continue reading And it rained and it rained and it rained, then it stopped for a bit, then it rained again – West Coast, New Zealand South Island
The Rolling Stones 