Time; how it passes for a little adventurer....

From when i last wrote on the blog last week i was leaving my new paradise of punakaki. From one incredible place to another, continually expectations are met but also exceeded. Finding myself saying how much i love life. Its not everyday you can go from a paradise at sea level, to another paradise filled with mountains and that fresh cool air altitude brings. Driving across and to arthur's pass, once again scenery to take my breath away, stopping for photos. I've taken thousands and yet you still feel like you've never taken enough. Thee vast scenery the south island holds a continuous smile is fixed on my face. Arthur's pass, an exciting drive, one place witch i will long to see during winter. Following on from punakaki the evening at arthur's pass very quiet and relaxing, first thing the following morning, breakfast and off for a morning walk. Because of starting so high up it was not long before spectacular views of the river and its valleys took over highlighting both a rivers lower course and its deposition but its errosional processes upstream, me providing the friend i was travelling with, with a continual geography lesson all the way as i got very excited about the scenery around me.

A 4-6 hour walk was cut down to around 3.1/2 hours as we had a fare stroll on. Lunch being my favorite new zealand hunny sandwitch as we drove across the rest of arthur's pass. Stopping at caves along the way, the karrst scenery around us, the incredible limestone the feautures of weathering clearly displayed. Taking a little adventure into a 500m cave, wading upstream through the river witch has eroded and smoothed the rock as its made its way through the cave. Pitch black head torches on as we self guided our way, entering at your own risk you simply just follow the river, waist high and an understatement to say the initial contact was cold!! I found myself in a continuous circle of saying wow this is incredible and being speechless at the same time not to mention trying to keep a camera dry and not trip over the rocks underfoot, a few near submerges but certainly worth getting soaked!!

Onto the next natural playground, castle hill 10min minutes east, we could have spent all day there. This limestone that has been exposed and eroded; geographers easily excited! this was also where the end scene of narnia was filmed. You can see they must have had a lot of fun! As we certainly did exploring and taking photos. Finding myself saying we have to come back hear nearly everyplace i go! The natural playground was incredible and so from there east to hammer springs. The small town of hammer, mountains in the distance, greenery all over another happy little place to stay. Then onto friday morning, a morning spent at the hot pools and springs! Unusual for me to just attempt to sit for a few hours, it was however very nice, discovering i dislike the smell of sulphur a lot and i am yet to go to rotarua! From the springs to kiakora north of christchurch on the east coast, taking the extremely scenic drive, just incredible how untouched new zealand is and how it should stay like that. Drives alone are amazing, impossible not to stop for some kind of photo. Kiakora a small town with a beautiful peninsula, a large wave cut platform to walk on and explore along with sights of fur seals. Saddly time is always of the essence and unable to stay any longer back on the road. As arriving late in the afternoon meant we had enough time for a short walk, it would be beautiful on a blue sky day, and you are able to see the north island if its completely clear. Driving back to christchurch on friday evening as the sun was slowly setting in the sky the colours that radiate over the horizon once again a very happy day in new zealand. Reaching christchurch, how the time has passed since i was last hear, realising how much i love the small towns rather than large cities along christchurch is really nice however not for driving. Time how it passes buy, i relise how much you can fit into it and how much can be achieved with an adventurous spirit, flexible and willing to see and experience places you can cover alot fo ground. But not just seeing a place to tick it of seeing it becuase of the desire to see all those diagrams that were on paper and now seing them with eyes. Along with seeing te places id like to have as memories of new zealand.

From backpackers the last 3 weeks to now waking up in a house has been a nice change, although much quieter. Spending the day organising thousands of photos and making plans. Its been amazing to have such flexibibility, meeting people to travelling with and taking each day and making it just as good as the previous for so many reasons. The early evening making our way to the city for a rugby match, not going to see a six nations match this year meant i was definitely up for a rugby match hear. The crusaders vs lyons, new zeeland team and south african team in the super 14. Torn between the 2 countries that have grabbed a hold of me, it wasn't a full crowed but you can easily see how amazing the atmosphere could be. The crusaders winning the match however lyons putting in a few scores...i couldn't help cheer them on they were the underdogs in the game. I feel im gainin the full kiwi experiences and it was perfect to end the evening with some sport.

Sunday was another nice day, taking a day trip to a small fishing and boating town of akaroa on the east coast. A very quiet town with a coastal feel to it, a beautiful drive to the town itself as we spent a while walking around and feeling some what like going back in time a little.

Now onto today, in christchurch a beautiful day as new zealand heads into autumn, slowly the leaves changing and the autumnal feel approaching. Walking around the botanical gardens and the art gallery before spending the afternoon drinking tea and making my plans for my last few weeks. Asi now have my departure date for the south island, the bus to picton then the ferry to wellinton next week.

I have covered so much and more of the geography i wanted to see. A small insider of what blogs are to come over the next few weeks; mount cook/tekapo-mackenzie country, leaving the south island, wellington, new plymouth, rotarua, lake tuapo.

and how exploreing is always...completed with a smile :)!