Brighton n’ Rock.

We couldn’t have travelled 19000km and just driven through Brighton. Sally wanted to stay and who was I to pass up an opportunity of a weekend in Brighton (eye-eye lads a dirty one me thinks). Alas it was a Wednesday! We did stay however, in a colourful campsite on the edge of town. Brighton as you will see is not a very large place, in fact to say it was on the edge of town is slightly misleading, conjures up the wrong impression. Gives thoughts of grandeur.  A campsite, a general store, a school, a fish & chip shop, a club (not one the kids to“get down” in) and a  beach. But what a beach!!

Thats pretty much it.

Brighton was a good place to stay, close to Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula. We had a good look around the city and botanic gardens and took a very windy, winedee drive to the  Peninsula to see the Northern Royal Albatrosses. The only place you can see them, according to the man at the end who asked me for $40 per person, for the privilege. Needless to say,  I wasn’t about to do that!  Fortunately Albatrosses are birds and luckily for me, flew over us a couple of times. They really are huge.

We have been away from England for a couple of months now and my head is now vacant of nearly all the normal everyday thoughts. ie; When is the mot due on the car. Does it even have one, must check? That sort of thing. Interesting, they seem to be being replaced by more inquiring thoughts almost educational thoughts.

Travelling around not just this trip but all of the holidays we have had I always look at rocks, stones, cliffs even mountains and realise I know very little about them. If I could (and maybe I will) I would like to know much more about them than I do. I sort of always say to myself that it was to do with pressure and age, that’s what caused them to be like that, but I know its far more than that really. What makes coal, coal (plants but). Quartz, Quartz. Granite, granite. Limestone, limestone. And what the bloody heck made the Moeraki Boulders if it wasn’t aliens.

Is it a ball?

Is it an alien?

Leap of faith

Forty four save all!

“Still Chillin”

No Doubt!

A couple of days in Invercargill, a couple in Bluff. The sun shone occasionally,  the wind blew lots and lots and the temperature dropped but we are at the Southern tip of NZ. After all its only another 5000km to the South Pole. We had a good trek around Bluff headland overlooking the coast to Stewart Island, 35km would us got us their but the crossing on the ferry across a very, very rough straight was all the encouragement we needed to keep us firmly on the ground.  Time enough to sort out a few snaps for your amusement.

New Zealanders get on with it, they don’t make a big song and dance over everything unlike the red-taped life we seem to insist on back in the UK. Just imagine these!!!!!!

Here about a 10km section of road to Wanui Falls had had dozens of land slips on the edge of the road. But still never closed it.

Moving house! Lock, stock and barrel. Try this in the middle of Worthing!

Give Way. To oncoming traffic “Too bloody right.”

Nearly all bus stops and public loo’s are painted, works of art.

Invercargill is a typical Sottish town, as the name suggests. Laid out with a greenbelt through the middle, a large park, part of which is formal. Neat orderly street plan, a clock and a library to be proud off. Very Victorian! We loved it. Mind you I do feel that they may have imported a few red tape bureaucratic safety officers to visit some towns before us.

This was a noted attraction in the town with free public access and has stood here since 1888 and now it has deemed to be unsafe as have many buildings in NZ since the earthquake in Christchurch.

Earthquakes are a real and tragic threat which New Zealanders have had, and still do live with everyday, but it seems odd to close buildings which have stood for so long because they might collapse and injure if a quake struck them. It clearly will not be practical or economic to earthquake proof them for future use without ruining there appearance. Now its closed what will become of it? Makes me wonder if these sort of actions by local or national governments are driven by real concern of people or is there money to be made?? Thats my rant over with and on a lighter note.

Who would of thought that Sally would drag me along to a Truck Parade! (Quite amazed since we saw this line up we have seen a few of them on the road.)

The forecast for Tuesday is good so we took the plunge again and brought the tickets for an overnight trip to Doubtful Sound in Fiordland. Sales, try to convince us that it won’t matter if it rains as it adds to the magic of this awe inspiring area. The water falls will be spectacular with rain. Sally and I aren’t sure? We want sun so we can see the mountain tops. Not rain, we’ve seen enough water falls!! Springett luck holds! The morning is fine and reasonably still. The Sound is truly magical, steep sided mountains rise from dark brackish waters of the fiord clad in a layer of rainforest up to about 700m where the snow tipped rocky crags take over.

Sheer faces of twisted rock, bare slopes where tree avalanches have wiped the slate clean for another 70 years. We headed West to the very entrance of the Sound. Out to the Roaring Forties where the sea came alive with the wind and the wildlife. We saw a colony of Fur Seals and the rare Crested Yellow Penguin, Kea and Kaka the rainforest parrots.

I kayaked for about 2km in Crooked Arm a fiord, off Doubtful.

The Navigator, our berth for the overnight cruise was a taste or luxury that we have been missing. On a par with the Orient Express I imagine. The morning came early aboard the ship but with it came some rain. Someone must of ordered it as it gave us the mysterious wonder of the fiordland too.

“Still Chillin”

Mt. Cook to Bruce’s Beach

 

 

View over Lake Hawea

I thought it would be unlikely to top the last post, for the sheer beauty and excitement that we are encountering as we make our way through New Zealand. I heard people say that, “the South is so picturesque compared with the North”. Up to now I felt this was unjustified. I didn’t think the Coromandel could be bettered. The helicopter trip started my doubting, but these were Alps and really inaccessible generally, only becoming wonderful backdrops for our photos. It was the drive on from Franz Josef, that made me realise that the Southern Alps and surrounding mountains are far more than a backdrop. They are magnificent, majestic, they simply are, New Zealand!

 

 

Wanaka

 

 

Bike trek around Lake Wanaka

 

Clutha River

 

Spring in October!

 

 

Queenstown. The adrenaline hot spot of the Southern Hemisphere. I actually thought I was up for anything, actually everything! But I soon realised 1. I am not as young in body as in mind. 2. There is a limit to my budget. 3. As Sally pointed out that I would be doing all of these things own my own as her budget is not to be squandered on these testosterone driven activities, but she’d prefer comfy beds in hotels, hair do’s or massages. Seriously the things they have come up with. Bungy we all know about, how about flying fox wires (treetop zip-wire trekking) honestly they call it Eco-exhilaration or canyon swinging, which essentially  is bungy side ways. White water rafting through the longest man-made underground water shoot fed by the wild waters of Shotover River. Parapenting I don’t even know what that is! Any ideas welcome? I did however have a go at a Jet Boat on the Shotover. Thrilling without having to get off anything. The boat is powered by 2 V8 400litre per minute jet engines, producing about 700hp each (info. for all you petrol-heads out there) That means in layman terms they go flipping fast. If I didn’t know any better I would say the pilot/coxswain was deliberately aiming at the rocks!!

 

 

The weather has turned on us again. Change of plans is in order. We were headed for Doubtful Sounds in the Fiordland to do an overnight cruise/road/cruise trip, its gotta wait for sunny, still days. A tall order at this time of year! (Come on Springett luck don’t let us down.)

We have headed for Invercargill, home to the movie “The Worlds Fastest Indian” a must see movie! All I will say, so I don’t ruin it for everyone is, its about a motorbike hence the picture.

Plenty to do here until the sun sparks up again. Til then you know what’s coming!!

 

” Still Chillin “

Ever South

Its getting colder!!! Freedom camping becomes – “Where can we get an electrical hook up camping”

Camping Ground at Lake Rotoriri, The clouds move in!

“The wind starts to blow”

The man from the north is looking grumpy!

A bit more Springett luck has come our way!

We arrived at Frans Josef a small township at the foot of – – – You guessed it! – – – Frans Josef Glacier. Not a hill to be seen, heavy rain, mist and strong winds welcomed us. A storm is on its way!! Undeterred we sat out the bad weather,  forcing us to partake in things like eating, drinking and generally lounging about in the hot spa’s in the area. Still we booked it anyway and just hoped for good weather in the morning.

 

SUN   —– BLUE SKY —–   Perfect  weather for a morning helicopter flight through the Southern Alps. First up the valley of the Fox Glacier then gain a bit of height to cross  between the east/west divide, around Mt Cook, down a section of the Tasman Glacier before landing for a while. Good time for photos and sucking in a lung full or two of freezing mountain air. Take off again and make our way back down the Frans Josef Glacier and back for a nice gentle landing.   Wow!!! What a ride that was. Apologies if I put a few to many photos on but I’m sure you’ll understand.

 

“”

 

Fox Glacier

 

The pilot

 

Mount Cook

View North

 

View South to Lake Pukaki

 

The Tasman Glacier, 24Km long

 

Proof we’re off the ground

 

” Wow “

 

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” Awesome “

 

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” Thumbs up “

 

” Ditto “

 

icebergs in a frozen lake

 

Frans Josef Glacier

Feet firmly back on the ground and a nice cup of tea!!

 

” Still Chillin “

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Island.

 

After our unexpectedly smooth crossing we arrived at Picton, travelling through the Troy Channel and Queen Charlotte Sounds, just spectacular. Any nervousness I had was all due to Matthew Wright, Author and Professional Scare-mongerer, asked which ferry we were on, the “Aratere” I piped up, “oh”, he said, “That’s the one they welded together and added an new middle bit. Much safer than the other two which have front loading doors and in that sort of sea I know which I would prefer. A plane.”

 

 
  Drove off the ferry, turned right to find we were within 500yds of complete wilderness. After 30 mins of driving up and down really tight hairpin roads we were stopped by a fireman informing us about an accident ahead. Still no worries. “Just take this dirt road for about 7km” into the setting sun with loads of dust in the air, sharp bends, drop offs you wouldn’t believe and on coming traffic!!!! — Terrific!!!!! — Phew survived it! With a little bit of Springett luck!!

Stayed in a very picturesque National campsite at Pelorus Bridge just outside Havlock, near Nelson. This was newly renovated as christmas 2011 there was a flash flood, submerging cars, tents and the shower block.

Drove on to the Abel Tasman National Park, again we were lucky with the weather, took a lovely coastal walk on one side of the park and a waterfall trek on the other.

 

Onwards and ever North to Puponga where we spent a lovely long weekend with Terry  and Lizi, not forgetting Jay & Billy their handsome horses. We were lucky with the windows in the weather every time we ventured out over the weekend the sun seemed to shine, even though brief.

Cape Farewell- The most Northerly point of the South Island.. The wind sure did blow!!!

 

Unlike the drive from here to Westport which was dreadful. DULL….. DULL The weather not the holiday! Very difficult to see inspiring scenery through thick clouds and heavy rain.

Held up at a campsite at Punakaiki until it cheers up! Cheered up the sun has got its hat on again, but for how long I wonder……. Bush walk today turned out to be most unusual, as we were ambling along the path we met as you do a couple and their kids coming in the opposite direction, the usual “Hi, how’s it going” Struck a bit of conversation, to find we were going to end up where their car was parked and they were going to have to walk back along the road to fetch it. Bit of a joke, I said “Give us the keys and I’ll drop it back to where we started our walk.”!!!…..ONLY in NZ would get the reply. “Cheers!! Here’s the keys then.” Thats what we did, can you imagine that ever happing in the UK! We met them in the pub and had a laugh or too over that.

 

 

” Still Chillin”

 

19th to 2nd Oct NZ

Today is Tuesday 2nd October and we are crossing to the South Island and needless to say the wind is blowing. The crossing is going to be rough I think! (3rd Oct, How wrong I was, calm and sunny even if a bit chilly) After leaving the Coromandel we headed South visiting Rotorua, a tourist hot spot because of the amount of thermal activity around the lake. Hot bubbling mud and geysers. Last time we where in NZ we visited all the must see’s.

As a town or city it is a little bit seedy not somewhere we wanted to stay. We drove on headed for Taupo, staying at a holiday park with its own thermal feed plunge pool. Ahhhh a warm bath at last!! Lake Taupo is the largest inland lake in the North Island with amazing views of the National park which includes Mt. Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe. I had imagined I might fish or we would take a boat trip. Not to be, but I did play target golf in the lake and very nearly funded this whole trip, if only the hole was a little bit bigger I surly would have won the $10,000 jackpot.

Onward to Napier, what an interesting town/city. This town/city thing I should explain my confusion. In the UK we give city status if it has a cathedral, Sally and I have decided that in NZ to attain city status it has to have a drive-thu McDonalds!!! We went to the botanical gardens, did a walk through the art-deco streets and climbed the Te Mata peak just out Hastings looking back over the Hawkes Bay.

Decided to stay at a “free campsite” that night & went to the i centre to get some info, only to discover in Napier Borough you need a “responsible camper ” sticker (at a cost of $170), every single van in the park had one, so we thought we’d better not risk the fine & drove off to find somewhere else to stay for the night, it was quite late by now. Geoff drove for a while & we came across a lane, thought that would be ok, just got to the end when the biggest 3 dogs you’ve ever seen came running out of a field, okaaaay won’t stay here then!! There was no where for Geoff to turn around so he had to reverse all the way back up the lane. Drove on some more still no where suitable, it’s getting dark now!! Then I saw a layby, off the road, plenty of space, & even a couple of piles of gravel to hide the van behind….perfect!! Cooked dinner had a drink, played some cards, settled down for the night, when Geoff decided he wasn’t happy about staying there, so off we set again, me refusing to get out of bed!! Geoff finally found a lane that led to a campsite area, only 140 yards away from the gravel pit!! Oh well tomorrow we’ll pay for a camp site!!

Time to visit friends, Katie, Nick and boys (Max and Zac)- in Fielding.

The Fry’s Brent, Jo and girls (Ashley and Kayla)- in Lower Hutt

along with Judith and Matthew also in Lower Hutt. (Matthew you need to upload your photo)

Fielding is a smaller town on the way down to Wellington, we drove through the Matawatu Gorge only recently opened again after landslips which destroyed parts of the road.

The Gorge is a gap between the Ruahine Mountain range and the Tararua Range but where the descending Pacific Plate meets the Continental Crust of the Austrailian Plate. Fraught with danger for us the intrepid explorers of the open road. We stayed one night with Katie and Nick and invited ourselves back the following w/end. Onward again to Lower Hutt. Met with Judith and Matthew, “Judith” if you are reading this I have to say your 30Kg comment absolutely cracks me up when ever it comes to mind. Te-He. A lovely meal in Petone, authentic Turkish what else in NZ. Matthew also writes on a blog of his own and as an author of 30 books or so I hope he won’t be to critical with mine. Sally sends Christmas letters to all our far away friends. Judith neglected to tell her she moved 4 years ago!!! Hope the people in her old house have enjoyed them!!! We have also met a smashing young couple from Northern Ireland who are in another camper, keen to sample some of the local wines. We stayed in Porirua with them and we all sampled the local wine, red, white & cider!! a good night,also learnt a lot about the situation past and present in Northern Ireland. After a days tramping (a walk) to Butterfly creek one of Sally’s places that she remembers as kids, her and Jason used to go for days out, dam building etc. It is a great place on the East side of the bay of Wellington. Well maintained with paths and bridges all over the place unlike in the days when Sally went there with her family.

“Sally here”

The next day we met Mr Harris, my old class teacher from Hutt Valley High School, he hadn’t really changed much, it was great to catch up on old times, I had an old class photo & he was able to tell me all the kids names & what most of them were up to. One of the Maori kids Phil Proctor, played for the All Blacks and is now involved in the coaching team! One of the girls Katriona came back to HVHS school to do her teacher training, her & Fred married, she now teaches at the school and after lunch we were given a tour of the school by Katriona. It was brilliant I remembered quite a few buildings my old classroom, hall & the gym. We also met Ms Hannan who was my social studies teacher & is still teaching!! We were also allowed to go into the archiving room & I found my old year book plus another class photo from 1977 which me, Judith, Jo, Brent and Katriona were in, we’ve not changed a bit!!!

It was quite a surreal day but I loved it! We spent the evening with Jo & Brent & their girls showing them all the pictures from school and had a great evening reminiscing.

“STILL CHILLIN”