Last stop.....Christchurch!

We managed to find a backpackers that had camping at a really cheap rate so that was a bonus. It was Saturday and the earliest we could get our van looked at was Monday. So we spent the weekend cleaning the van and 'decorating' it. All the panels inside were ripped and had ground in dirt and generally made it look like a builders van (which it was in a previous life!) so we bought so very nice leapard print (all we could find!) sticky stuff (like the stuff you get to cover kitchen cupboards) and Rich stuck it to all the panels and the ceiling!! Whilst it was a cheesy print, it worked a treat! We also bought some furry leapard print fabric and I made some covers for the sun visors which were also tatty!! So a few bits and bobs here and there and the van was looking as good as it could! On the Sunday night we met an English couple, Emily and Rob and had many beers and laughs with them and arranged to go out for dinner with them the next night as it was their last night.

We had it repaired on the Monday and all was good, the engine was sweet and would keep on going. The mechanic told us though that it wouldn't get through it's next WOF (warrant of fitness, like an MOT) as the rust on the roof and other places was so bad and it'd cost a lot to repair it. The current WOF was good until April but this did worry us as the mechanic said that if we wanted to sell it we should take whatever is offered. Bugger. Met up with Emily and Rob, and after a few games of pool and some beers at the hostel, we went to a Thai restaurant and had a very nice meal, and a good laugh!

On the Tuesday we went down to the backpackers car market (same as place in Auckland we bought it from) and paid our $65 for 3 days to sit there and wait for customers! Boring! We had to sit by our van all day, along with a load of other travellers selling cars and vans. Day one but no success, one guy test drove it but was put off by a rattling noise, even though Rich explained what it was. Only a couple of vans were sold that day, at around $2000.

Next day was even slower than the first, hardly anybody coming through, most of them were sellers checking out the competition, or Israelies who seemed to come in when people were desperate and offer silly prices (me thinks they had a bit of a network going on) Day 3 and we were getting desperate! It was Thursday and we were supposed to be flying to Melbourne on the Friday!! Some Israelies test drove it in the morning. Then they came back in the afternoon and offered us $2200 if the mechanical check was good. Which it was. Result!! Not as much as we'd have liked, but hey, it meant we didn't have to change our flight and hang around in Christchurch for another week. At around 4pm we had the cash and were vanless. It was a bit sad as we'd enjoyed our little van, but we were happy to be going to Oz to have another adventure.

We checked into a backpackers and got a double room at this very odd place, but it was cheap and they picked us up so didn't care!

Next day we got our stuff in order and got a lift into town, where we sent some stuff home then got the bus to the airport. So excited to be getting on a plane!!

So, there you have it guys, that was NZ. Sorry it took so long to update the blog, but as you'll have seen, we had to race round the South Island!! We are now currently in OZ. Been here since 20th and I'll endeavour to update the blog in the next few days to get it right up to date. Can't do any more today though as I've been typing for about 3 hours and think I've got RSI!!!

Watch this space for further updates!!

Kaz and Rich

The Fox Glacier

After a 400 km drive we arrived in Fox Glacier, camped up had a few beers and some dinner and crashed out. Next day was the half day walk on the glacier that we'd previously booked. We got all wrapped up and they kitted us out with boots, crampons and waterproofs! The walk to the glacier was pretty good, over rocks and stuff. The Glacier walk itself was pretty good too, but man it was cold! OK when walking but the guide (who was a twat) kept stopping to chat to other guides and leaving us standing still (brrr!). So, that was a fun day although thier boots gave me blisters!

Fox Glacier.....tick! Next! The last few days really had been hectic, racing round the south and ticking things and places off!! Next stop Christchurch to get our van fixed (the coughing was still ongoing!) and sold so we could go to Oz. Another 400 km drive took us over Arthur's pass, which was very pretty but very steep, we were in first gear most of the time. We finally arrived in Christchurch about 9 pm and on fumes as all petrol stations along the way were shut!

Queenstown - the home of the Bunjy

We arrived in Queenstown and booked Rich on the Bunjy for the following day. They only had 8am left so that'd have to do. Queenstown has a few Bunjy's, it has the first, which is off a bridge and is 43 metres and it is also home to NZ's highest, 134m called the Nevis. Guess which one Rich picked? Yep, the stupid one!! We also booked us both onto this thing called 'flybywire' (a 'plane' suspended in a valley that you fly around ??) for the following afternoon.

So, Rich said he was a bit aprehensive about his bunjy on that morning, I should think so!! He said he'd be OK so long as he wasn't first, it was the first group of the day and he didn't want to be first out of that group. We arrived at the meeting point and he had to be weighed and stuff. I was going along as a spectator. We got on the bus and drove to the site. On the journey we could hear the driver chatting to someone at the front about the order of jumpers, 'heaviest first' the driver said, we looked around, and Rich was definitely the heaviest!!! Then he was nervous as the pressure was on, there couldn't be any dithering at the platform!

We arrived at the site and there were many 'ohmygod''s going around the bus as everyone actually saw what they were jumping off!! It was a little 'pod' suspended between two hills hanging over the valley, the 134 metre valley! There was no messing around, straight into the harnesses and into the cable car to take us to the pod, I went to the pod too to watch and just going over there in the cable car was scary enough!! So, Rich is all harnessed up and ready to go, 3, 2, 1, go........and he's gone!!! I poo'd my pants for him as I could see the aprehension in him but he was laughing through it, and when he jumped it was as if he was a pro, it was impressive!! He was winched back up with a big grin on his face and I stopped shaking!! Watching the other people do it was fun too, especially this chinese girl who kept dithering on the edge but eventually just sort of fell off!!! Because Rich had done that jump he could get another at a big discount so he booked himself onto the Kawara bridge (original bungy site), a mere 43 metres for the next day!

So, after that we had some lunch then went to the meeting point for the flybywire. A short bus journey and we were there. Now this thing looked scary! It was a sort of plane with an engine that you lie down in and it has handlebars at the front. It's suspended in this valley and you get strapped in, winched up the hill backwards, then you let go and are catapulted around the valley, you control your direction and how high and fast you go all depends on how well you control it as it swings back and forth and round and round. Sounds easy!!! I climbed in and was scared when the towed me up the hill, but when I let go it was great fun, it didn't feel like you were attached, just flying this little thing round. I didn't have much control over it and kept going round in circles, which didn't bother me, I still had fun. When my time was up though, the guys sent me out again to do it properly, which I managed on the second time and got some real height and speed out of it!!! Great fun. Rich, did the best out of everyone, he got really high and went the fastest, he loved it!!

So, after all the adrenalin rush, we had a pint in a bar near our site. It was throwing it down again and was quite cold. We got chatting to an Aussie couple who'd been there a few hours. We then planned to take our stuff back to the van then go for a curry, we took our stuff back then went back to the bar for a pint first. Aussie couple, Cliff and Kara were still there, getting roundly drunk, we joined them and played pool and chatted and drank, and drank more and had a laugh, there was a band on too, which we really enjoyed. We stayed till quite late and ended up buying pie and crisps and stuff for tea, as you do!!!! Hey ho, we've heard curry in NZ is crap anyway!!

Fortunately Rich's bunjy wasn't until noon so didn't have to get up so early. Rich was feeling a bit curly though, I wouldn't have done a bunjy with a hangover (I wouldn't do one without either, but that's beside the point!) But he did, and not just a normal one, a 'reverse elevator' where instead of diving off, as is the norm you turn around and do a little jump backwards whilst keeping your eyes on the guy at the top! Man, that boy is crazy!!

Adrenalin activities done, time to head to Fox Glacier for something a bit tamer!

The Catlins and Te Anau

Following Randy's route, we set off to Nugget point to see the seals and sea lions. There was a viewing platform there as the seals and sea lions were on the rocks at the bottom of this cliff (for want of a better word) So we had a look from the platform but I couldn't make anything out unless I zoomed right in with the camera and then it was shaky. There seemed to be a track down there, and then we saw this bloke coming back up it. We chatted to him and he said it was easy enough if you take it slow, so we thought we'd take a closer look, this block (Wayne from Yorkshire) came back with us too, to show the way. It was a bit scary going down and I sort of had to do it on my bum, using as many points of contact. When we got nearer though it was all worth it to see them so close. They were qute scary too, especially the sea lions, they actually roar like lions. A couple of the bulls were fighting which was a sight to behold, they are really big and can shift across the rocks! When I turned round to go back and saw what I'd climbed down I was a bit worried, but managed to get back up! It was a bit naughty but well worth it! After that we camped up and chatted with some Germans (one of whom gave me a blanket that he'd nicked from his flight for my birthday!) and some Americans who supplied us all with Southern Comfort and Irish Whiskey as it was a cold night.

The next day hooned it down with rain and was really windy again. We'd planned to go to Porpoise bay where you can swim out from shore and find yourself with Dolphins (Hectre Dolphins only found in NZ), but when we arrived it was far too cold to swim and the sea was far too choppy. As we were on a tight schedule we couldn't hang around for a day or so for the weather to change so we headed straight to Te Anau. That was quite a long drive in the howling wind and rain and we were right pissed off about the weather and missing the Dolphins, until Rich almost crashed along this dirt road, the wind almost got a hold and it took some doing to get the van back under control, I was impressed with his efforts. This near miss cheered us both right up!!

When we reached Te Anau we checked out the diving at Milford sound which we really wanted to do. They were booked up all week. Bugger, we could only stay a couple of days. We looked at kayaking and other things to do on Doubtful sound but it was really expensive. Bugger. We were back to being right pissed off again. So bought a bottle of wine and drank that in the van, then decided to go for a few beers, which cheered us right up and ended up having a very silly night!

Next day was wasted though as I had a very bad hangover and couldn't move! So a day wasted and we decided that it wasn't really possible given our time limits to anything around there and so headed to Queenstown, the home of the bunjy!

The rest of our time with Amanda and Randy

New years day was spent mainly sitting around chatting with no hangover (first time ever!), but we decided in the afternoon that we should probably get a move on.

Amanda and Randy were due to leave on the 10th so decided to travel with us for their remaining days and leave us a few days before to hitch back to Christchurch (they'd hitched their way round the south island so far so were old hat at it!)

We decided we wanted to see Mount Cook and so headed in that direction and stopped close by at lake Tekapo to camp. However, the camp site was heaving and was quite expensive even if we could squeeze in, so headed a bit further out to a place called Twizel where we found a campsite that wasn't so expensive. It seems that the Kiwis love to camp over Christmas and New Year!

Next day we woke to ferocious winds, Amanda and Randy had already taken their tent down but we saw a couple that had blown down (hee hee)! After breakfast we set off for Mount Cook, the wind was still howling and rain was coming in horizontally!! A pretty hairy drive for Rich. We had to drive through a flood to get to Mount Cook village and when we spoke to the people there we were told that they were expecting more bad weather and snow below 1000 metres, very unseasonal! They said that if were weren't planning on staying in the village to leave now as the flood would get a lot worse and we'd be stuck. Oh. So we did. With our plans for Mount Cook a bit scuppered we headed for Wanaka. I wanted to go there for my birthday anyway so I could go and see King Kong at the cinema they have there with sofas, waitress service and homemade cakes and the like! So that's where we went, found somewhere to camp and set up for the night.

My birthday! Rich took me out to puzzleworld today which was a crazy place with a fun maze and lots of optical illusions on display and odd rooms and stuff. Next we were supposed to go the groovy cinema but they were all sold out which was a bit disappointing. So, we had a look round the shops and Rich bought me a beanie hat (necessary given the recent weather). Then we went for a cheeky pint, which turned into a couple, then a bottle of wine (we stole the wine glasses!!) and got back to camp a little bit giggly. We'd planned on having fish and chips for tea so when we returned we had that in the camp kitchen. After that was home made apple pie and ice - cream which Amanda and Randy had cooked, then after that was home made carrot cake, complete with 32 candles and party poppers which Amanda and Randy had also cooked. Nice, I was right chuffed!! Of course, some cake ended up in Rich's face (couldn't help it, it had sloppy icing, and I was drunk!!). Can't really remember any more after that! I know I had a good time though and ate a lot of nice things :-)

Next we headed to a place called Omarama and found a really nice backpackers that did camping and was as cheap as chips. It was a great place, out in the sticks, really dark and quiet. Whilst there we took a walk to the clay cliffs we had driven by on the way. We asked the owner how long it'd take to get there and she said about 2 hours. It was all pretty flat and an easy enough walk, only it took us about 4 hours to get there! We had a look at the cliffs which were formed by an earthquake that forced an old river bed up out of the ground to form towering spires. It was all very nice and interesting. On the way back we were a little tired and it was getting late so we hitched! Got a lift from an English guy in a bit campervan who could only take us to the main road as he had no seatbelts. Then a short walk and we hitched again, when a local stopped and took us to town! Nice!

Next day we took a walk up a mountain that was on the land owned by the people who ran the backpackers. That was cool. It was quite a long walk, uphill but not too steep. We had almost reached the top and could see Mount Cook quite clearly in the distance, which was nice, but I had to leave it there as the last bit up was steeper and I'd got an almighty blister on my heel, but Rich, Amanda and Randy went to the top and I waited. They told me the views were awesome but it was bloody cold, 2047 metres according to Randy's Altometer!

After that we went to Omarau, where Randy managed to get us all into a campsite for about $28 (normally about $13 each), he told them that's all we had between us, that boy's got some front, but it works, nice one Randy!!

It was time then for Amanda and Randy to leave us to get back to Chrischurch. We'd also decided that we'd done New Zealand and were ready for somewhere new. The weather had been a lot shit recently and whilst there were still a few more places we wanted to see, we were pretty much done. So, decided to stick with our leaving date of 20th Jan and Randy did us a route round the rest of the South and the places worth seeing and the ones not, so that helped us. We had just under 2 weeks to do the rest plus get back to Christchurch for about the 15th to get our van sorted out and sold.

We dropped Amanda and Randy off at the main road, said our goodbyes and left them hitching with their great bit cardboard thumbs!