So we headed off on a road trip for our 10 day summer and Christmas holidays combined into one. Our corolla did about 2,000 km's on a loop around the south island dropping in on Dunedin, the Otago Peninsula, The Catlins, Invercargil (bbrrrrrrrrrrr!), Milford sound, Queenstown, Wanaka and Mount Cook. It was a fantastic 10 days and great not to have to carry big backpacks. We camped most nights. Boy did we get a lesson in camping off the Kiwi's. They come to the campsite with every luxury - BBQ's, TV's, microwaves, fridges.......... !
A few highlights of the trip had to be seeing the penguins on Sandfly beach on the Otago Peninsula, kayaking the Milford Sound and meeting the cousins and friends along the way.
at beautiful lake Tekapo
Hooker and Tasman glaciers at Mount Cook National Park
We did a 4 hour tramp up the Hooker glacier valley, shown here.
There was some beautiful landscapes along the way and lots of long straight roads!!!
Meeting my cousin Pip in Wanaka (third cousin once removed!!!!) and Gabby (honory cousin!!)
wanted at Arrowtown goldrush village, near Queenstown!!
Old steamer leaving Queenstown!
Jeanette meeting up with her friend Mari and Kathryn
the road to Glenorchy!
We spent a day kayaking on the beautiful Milford sound.
Jeanette's stitches!!! a fight with a tin of tomatos. I can add removing stitches now to my CV!
sunset on at the lake, Te Anau
Cathedral Caves, The Catlins
Kiwis going on holidays!! Every other car had a kayak and bike sitting ontop of the car! (in this case a boat.
St. Clair's beach, Dunedin (yes the sun does shine in Dunedin, sometimes......)
on a penny farthing at Settlers museum, Dunedin. Needed to work off the calories after the visit to the Cadbury's factory.
Taking a break from penguin watching at Sandfly beach, Otago peninsula.
more photos of Sandfly beach
our car overlooking Otago Peninsula
more Otago peninsula
our tent and car in Dunedin!
Jeanette at the Moreaki boulders (just after her phone went for a swim in the Pacific)
Watch out for that rock Brian (Castle Hill - Arthur's Pass)
Cool rocks at Castle Hill
Maybe Frodo and Samwise are somewhere around here!
View from our room in Punakaki
Lovely room at Punakaki
West Coast - a bit like Ireland, eh?
Our 3 hour trek involved my first NZ river crossing
thank god the river was low otherwise this would have been our bed for the night
We kayaked this river Easter Sunday morning and then walked above it, gorgeous scenery
Pancake Rocks
Hokitika Gorge and Brian on the bridge, I wanted to get a photo of just him on the bridge and loads of people arrived just as I had the camera ready and the sandflies had their starter, main and dessert on me while I waited for them to leave, and they didn't!
Maximum load 1 person - Brian and Greg braved it and survived
Waterfall near Lake Kaniere, maybe Dorothy Falls
Lake Kaniere and Mt Cook hiding behind that cloud in the distance
Otira Gorge Bridge (designed by Brian's firm Beca) scary looking construction site
Road to the West Coast, somewhere around Arthur's Pass
