it ‘‘twas a hot day

Can’t wait for the 5th of January to fly out to New Zealand.

Here is the link to our brochure.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1ButO9uyCiQ9jPgnZGyR8dbF71BqJQ7O0/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword

And so the journey begins in Brisbane

So a big warning for travellers, Auckland airport is not in great shape at the moment; call it a Christmas bulge or a midlife spread. Our flight arrived at at 3 pm and it took over 2.5 hours to find our way through customs. We still had \240fun in the long waiting \240lines, with the travelling circus, which is our family. And more than that, I sense we now \240have greater insight into the rate of movement of the Franz Joseph Glacier (day 6).

After picking up our hire car, a diesel powered IMAX, we made our way through the rain to \240our first night’s accommodation, the Verandahs Hostel, a quaint inner city backpackers.

Hannah blessed us with a yummy chicken and rice dish. While James cleaned up, Kym and I together Kate, Amy and Eli, ducked over to Viaduct Harbour and went for a short walk. Getting a park was relatively easy at 10 pm.

After breakfast in Auckland we walked up Mount Eden, an extinct vulcano.

We then drove to Hobbiton via Hamilton and then to Opal Springs and a two hour hike to spectacular Waiere Falls, well not all of us. Kym and Katelyn relaxed in a 37 degree pool.

Today we travelled down to Rotorua.We had breakfast in James, Hannah and Katelyn’s cabin! Thank you to Hannah who cooked breakfast!

Katelyn and I swam in the 37 degree pool while the others went on a bushwalk! Very hard!!

Petrol from $2.5 to $3:00 a litre! Very dear!

We went to Rotorua markets, saw them selling sea urchins which involved a 6 hour drive and 4 hour dive!

Finished the day with a Māori concert and a hangi! Delicious food!

Today we woke up from our bnb in Rotorua to a cooked breakfast! Pancakes and eggs made by Bryan! After that I drove for awhile! We travelled all day and arrived at Wellington at about 4pm.We drove for 6 hours today! \240We stopped at lake Taupo- so beautiful! During this time we saw the big boot \240We dropped off our luggage and then went to Victoria lookout- it was very windy and cold- 15 degrees. After that we bought dinner and then went to the city on the hill church- it was great! The pastor told us that one of the ferries have been cancelled and that cyclone hale is about to hit the north island-4m swells! Quickly saw the rose garden in Wellington- but it is quite cold! So we will see what happens at 8:30am tomorrow!

Here are some photos!

Today we are travelling from the north to the South Island! We woke up at 6am to get ready! We stayed at a backpackers called the Dwellington and ate a communal \240breakfast in the kitchen. Then we drove to the ferry! Cyclone Hale is to hit the north island of NZ \240tonight! It’s a heavy to storm rating for the ferry today!!’ Some of us have taken sea leg tablets and some have not!! Some of us are getting sleepy!!!! Guess who?

Hannah, Eli, Katelyn and I. Hannah and Eli slept on the ferry! Bryan and I watched the magic show! Hannah was slurring her words!!

We saw seals in their natural habitat!

We arrived at hot springs caravan park and then travelled to hammer springs water park! Finished with pizza for dinner!

Sizzling bacon and eggs and the waft of James cedar and Tobacco shampoo greeted us at breakfast! Thanks for cooking \240breakfast James! We ate breakfast at Hanmer \240springs this morning and journeyed along Lewis pass to see snow on a few high \240mountain tops! Couldn’t stop due to the windy, hi igh mountain roads! Made a stop at Reeton- the west coast!

So refreshed after our amazing sleep in a Luxury American barn!

We drove past fantail falls- gorgeous waterfall and the blue pools walk- but decided to stay on schedule! There are so many gorgeous blue rivers around here. \240Then we went to the kiwi house and viewed some kiwis and their NZ lizard called the Tuatara.

We drove around Lake Wanaka- and Lake Hayes.

After a 4 hour drive we grabbed some food from countdown and James and Eli cooked a fabulous Japanese curry!so delicious- with apple pie and ice cream for dessert. We are staying in another air bnb with amazing views over the lake!!!

Exhilaration! Speed! Picturesque views! Racey manoeuvres! Competitive speed! Pleasant chairlifts!

The shot over jet was an exhilarating experience! The driver said to Amy that she should be a voice actor for horror movies as her voice was so genuine!

Then the gondola, the 6 luge rides and the chairlift! Eli went on the boring track once! Some bumpy luges! Bryan \240 James and Amy caught some air time! The last ride was everyone’s fastest ride. Some dangerous drifting by Eli- and he took out Amy- she reminded him that it wasn’t dodgem cars!

Meanwhile kate and I went to a cafe and had sparking water with fries and sauces!!!’ We had a quick look at the markets and watched the singing buskers dog and then lined up at ferg burger to get everyone’s lunches! It was a long line!

After lunch we went to Arrowtown to S Chinese hold mining settlement and then grabbed groceries from countdown for a s so paghrttis bolognaise dinner by Amy and Bryan! We to bed around 10pm as it was still light!

Watch the shotover jet ride here:

https://youtu.be/eQ0dpzbFDAs

Pancakes for breakfast! No gas! Left over bolog. From last night and a 8:30 departure! Driving to Milford Sound for a 2 hour cruise!

Dolphins and seals! Such an awesome cruise!!! Bryan went under a waterfall on the bow!

Bryan and I had coffee after an early morning walk, This was an \240antler cafe explaining the deer the Yellowstone National park in the United States sent to TeAnu . They were optimally protected \240until they multiplied and became a pest. Then \240hunting began to control \240their numbers at the turn of the century.

We enjoyed a \240cooked breakfast . Visited the \240bird sanctuary and then went on our way to Dunedin via Gore for fish and chips.

The best fish and chips we have ever had!

Arrived at Port Chalmers, \240just outside the Dunedin city centre- it was called buffalo lodge!

Very weird and alternative!!!!! Phew- only 1 night! Eli and Hannah described it as creepy!

Then we walked around a few streets and then drove to Omm? m bay. There are yellow penguins and sea lions \240which live here and signs everywhere! We didn’t stay late enough to see them. .

We ate \240Chinese for dinner and then played cards before going to bed around 10pm. It is still light at 9pm in New Zealand.

Leaving Dunedin and the eccentric buffalo lodge!

Eggs were the favourite for breakfast! Some left over Chinese from last night, plunger coffee and porridge.

Then we drove past the Otago University, the botanic gardens, the railway station and then drove to Baldwin St.

This is the steepest street in the world- we played the song running up that hill afterwards!

In 1989:someone roller skated up it and in

2008:someone \240pogo sticked up it

It was very steep!!!!!!!!

Now we are on our way to Oamaru on our way to Christchurch! Meeting Ian Reilly in Christchurch!

Sirens in Port Chalmers and Te Anu!

Interesting Facts

Toowoomba has a population of 108 000 and all of Dunedin \240has a population of 106 000

New Zealand has a population of 5 000 000 Sydney has a population bigger than NZ!

There are 28 million sheep in New Zealand which is a ratio of 7 sheep per person!

Love your family- wear a seat belt

Mistakes happen slow down

Have a rest drive fresh

Ki ora

Allow more time on nZ roads

Christchurch- 4pm- 386 000 population

Today- our last \240day! We enjoyed a Christchurch sleep in. We had such a fabulous time last night meeting up with an old friend-Ian and his family. He showed us a suburb affected by the earthquakes where blocks of land and street signs still exist- just without the houses. Then he showed us the cardboard cathedral, the library and the renovated cathedral. We had dinner together at the markets. It was so cold! We had \240burgers for dinner!!! They tasted so good- lots of garlic!!

We visited a berry farm to pick our own berries and then visited a one world supermarket and grabbed some food. After that we showed James the state library. Then it was time to return the car and catch our flight home. Time to declare!!! We were so grateful to have Desley pick us up. It was a memorable and fantastic holiday!!!

Sleeping in at Christchurch!!!!