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Hello all,
Hope you are OK and relaxed after the Xmas break.
We have now covered the South Island of New Zealand. We spent Xmas Day on the beach near Nelson with Natalie and Dave. We had a great time. Boxing day we spent on the beach in Able Tasman - it was lovely and hot for a change! Then we drove to Blenheim where we hired bikes for a wine tasting tour. We sampled all the delights of the Marlborough region and had an awesome day.
The next day we drove to Kaikoura where we swam and snorkelled with sealions! They were massive! An amazing experience although we did all look funny in our suits and head gear - the water was freezing so we had to wear full suits.
Next day we were off to lake Tekapo. A bright turquoise blue lake with snow capped mountains behind. The four of us went horse riding in the mountains and along the shore line of the lake. We really loved it though my legs did ache the next day.
The following day Lindsey and I drove ahead of Natalie and Dave to Mount Cook to look at the glacia.
Instead Natalie and Dave took a helicopter ride onto the glacier (lucky them!) I was very jealous. they had an amazing time and took some great photographs.
We all met up that night (New Years eve) in Queens Town campsite, the party town of new Zealand. There were lots of young campers. They all look about 16 and wore very tiny shorts showing off their bottoms. Indescent!... or so Lindsey and Natalie kept saying! We were in the more 'mature section' drinking our wine!
New Years Eve
We headed into town around 9pm and found a few bars. We went out to the harbour to watch the fire works at midnight then we went to the ice bar, Minus 5, at 12.15. Although we were only in there for about 30 mins we drank delicious cocktails and had a lot of fun dressed up in all the snow gear!
We were then offered 10 buy one get one free tickets for a bar next door -this topped off our night!
A day later Graham won a jet boat ride in a raffel at a pub we had dinner in, so all four of us went on a Jet Boat ride in Skipper Canyon and split the cost. A fantastic trip, a real speed thrill as the boat goes super fast.
We were very sad to say goodbye to Natalie and Dave the following day, we miss our travel buddies. - thanks for all the fun and laughs! We had an amzing time with you both. New Zealand would not have been the same without you guys!
We headed off to the Milford Sounds and they headed for Christchurch and a luxury hotel! It was a long drive to Milford Sounds - 5/6 hours. We thought about going on a boat trip through Milford Sounds but instead thought that kayaking would be more of an adventure and we would see more.
We had a fantastic time despite a few disagreements about who was steering the kayak! (it was a two person one)
We stayed in a campsite teeming with sandflies - worse than mosqitos - where we got bitten to sh*t. Not a good experience.
After that experience we drove to Invercargill. Unfortunately there is not much there and it rained a lot! Surprise, surprise. So we went to the cinema to get out of the rain. Camping is not as much fun when it is raining.
The next leg of the journey was up to Dunedin. where Lindsey went to a Les Mills fitness club and did Body Pump class. New Zealand is where these classes first started. I drove to see the Royal Albatross Colony but I did not see them because it was too expensive - 30 pounds $45 AUD. Shame.
After Lindsey's class we drove to Moeraki where we camped for two nights. It is a lovely little habour town with only one restaurant/bar so we had an early night!
On our first day there we visited the Moeraki boulders, massive circular boulders that sit on the beach. A great photo opportunity. We went for a long walk that day all along the shore and in the afternoon we went up to a viewing point to see the penguins. Despite getting there early we did not see many penguins though.
On our second day we went sea fishing! We saw dolphins, lots of albatrosses and molyhawks (which are smaller), and it was all included in the price! So I am glad that I did not pay to see the albatrosses in Dunedin. We caught 5km of blue cod that day. We ate fish at every meal for the next three days!
I nearly fell into the sea whilst we were getting off the boat in the habour after our fishing. We had to get a small rowing boat into shore as the tide was too far out. It was so choppy that I swang between the two boats, finally ending inside the rowing boat, luckily!!
The next day we drove to Christchurch where we went to an art galley to see Ron Mueck's exhibition - giant, silicon sculptures of different people. Very unique.
It was our last few days in the beautiful, amazing, exciting and diverse - New Zealand. What an awesome place, so much to see and do for everyone. We had the most amazing experience in this country.
We will blog again soon once we land in Oz.
Lots of love,
Graham and Lindsey
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