20 JAN 2010

TE ANAU

LOVING NEW ZEALAND-GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.
STAYED FOR A COUPLE OF NIGHTS WITH A FRIEND IN CHRISTCHURCH,DID A DAY TRIP TO AKOROA-SPECTACULAR SCENERY.LIKED IT THERE SO MUCH THAT WE BEGAN OUR TENT TOUR HERE.PICKED UP THE RENTAL CAR-SO MUCH EASIER AND NICER TO DRIVE THAN THE CAMPERVAN.ALSO DOUBT OUR OLD CAMPERVAN WOULD HAVE MADE IT UP SOME OF THESE HILLS! WE BOUGHT A TENT IN CHRISTCHURCH-NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS A DISASTER WHEN WE TRIED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO PUT IT UP-IF IT WASNT FOR A NICE DUTCH COUPLE WHO BASICALLY DID IT FOR US I THINK WE WOULD STILL BE PUTTING IT UP NOW! WEATHER IN AKAROA WAS WINDY AND VERY LOW CLOUD-WE WENT TO THE TOP OF ONE MOUNTAIN AND WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE CLOUDS! AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS WE MOVED SOUTH AND ONTO OAMARU-FAMOUS FOR ITS WILDLIFE AND ESPACIALLY PENGUINS.WALKED ALONG THE LOCAL BEACH AND CAME UP CLOSE WITH SOME SEALS.WE CAME BACK TO THE SAME LOCATION IN THE EVENING AND SAW 5 YELLOW EYED PENGUINS RETURNING FROM THE SEA.DOWN BY THE HARBOUR WE THEN SAW OVER A HUNDRED OF ONE OF THE WORLDS SMALLEST PENGUINS-THE BLUE PENGUIN.CAROLINE WOULD LOVE IT HERE THE WHOLE TOWN IS PENGUINS,PENGUINS,PENGUINS!
AFTER A COUPLE OF NIGHTS HERE WE DROVE TO DUNEDIN.IT ODDLY SEEMED BIGGER THAN CHRISTCHURCH BUT I GUESS IT WAS JUST SPREAD OUT MORE.LOVELY BEACHES AND BAYS,SANDFLY BAY WAS OUR FAVOURITE.WEATHER STILL A BIT DRIZZLY WITH LOW CLOUDS BUT STILL WARMER THAN THE UK!! WE DROVE UP THE WORLDS STEEPEST ROAD (AS SAYS GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS) BALDWIN STREET WHICH WAS AN EXPERIENCE.MIMIS FAVOURITE THING ABOUT DUNEDIN WAS OUR MORNING TOUR OF CADBURYS WORLD-A CHOCOLATE FACTORY.FUNNY TO SEE MIMI HAD THE SAME EXPRESSION AS THE LITTLE KIDS DID WHEN IT CAME TO FREE SAMPLES OF CHOCOLATE!
AFTER TWO NIGHTS WE DROVE FURTHER SOUTH ON TOWARDS THE CATLINS-VERY BEAUTIFULL.DIDNT STAY HERE BUT STOPPED OFF AT SEVERAL GORGEOUS PLACES.SURAT BAY AND NUGGET POINT WERE STUNNING-DIDNT SPOT ANY SEA LIONS BUT DID SPOT SEALS WITH PUPS AND PENGUINS ON THE ROCKS.CONTINUED ON TO TE ANAU WHERE WE ARE NOW.WEATHER BROKE INTO GLORIOUS SUNSHINE YESTERDAY BUT MORE LOW CLOUD AND DRIZZLE TODAY.SAW LAKE MANAPOURI THIS MORNING AND PLAN TO GO MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING LATER IF IT STOPS RAINING.WE HAVE A NICE TENT SITE RIGHT NEXT TO LAKE TE ANAU WITH MOUNTAINS ALL AROUND US.WE HAVE EARLY START TOMORROW AS CRUISING MILFORD SOUND.PICS TO FOLLOW.