Day 40, Monday, February 20, 2006 It was overcast and showery as we checked out of our hotel, picked up our rental car and found our way out of Sydney without missing a turn, and all with just a paper map as the GPS could not find the satellites among the skyscrapers. As we headed for the Blue Mountains, we ran into some heavy fog so we programmed the GPS to find Katoomba. Unable to see any road signs, the GPS guided us along streets, around corners and through roundabouts and into town. Being really lost in town in the dense fog, we asked the GPS to find an accommodation from a guide that we had and it directed us right into the driveway. Without it, we would still be lost on the Great Western Motorway somewhere. We feel that we have already gotten our money’s worth from it. Here are a couple of photos of the Blue Mountains in the fog. You won’t find photos like these on any postcard.
Bob’s Blog
Day 39, Sunday, February 19, 2006 The Rocks Market, located at the head of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the site of the original Sydney settlement, operates every Saturday and Sunday. There are a couple of streets of kiosks selling all kinds of souvenirs, crafts, candy, books, junk, you name it. According to the locals, the weather was unusually hot, 30C for this time of year. We decided to spend the hot part of the day inside so we took the ride to the top of the Sydney Tower and later to the Australian Museum which is 175 years old and houses a vast collection. We particularly enjoyed the exhibit about the Indigenous Australians, (they aren’t Aboriginals anymore), the marvelous collection of Australian rocks and minerals, and the special exhibit of Wildlife Photography from around the world. (Dave you would have loved it). I went into a Backpacker’s Hostel to ask where an internet site was that was supposed to be nearby and the lady at the desk was registering a young man from Ireland.
“Do you know the problem with Dublin”, she asked him.
“No”.
“It just keeps Dublin and Dublin”.
Bob’s Blog
Day 35, Wednesday, February 15, 2006 It’s just a short drive from Papakura to Auckland. We checked into our hotel and dropped off our car. We spent the afternoon strolling the streets and harbour area. I had a Hokey Pokey gelato (now that’s different) and this evening we had supper at the Waterfront Café, our favourite seafood spot here.
New Zealand has been everything that everyone has said it was and more. Magnificent scenery, excellent food, pleasant weather and best of all genuinely friendly people, and abundant sheep. Put New Zealand on your list of places to visit.
Bob’s Blog
As we come to the end of our stay in New Zealand, I want to say a special word of thanks to all the hosts of the Bed and Breakfast Homestays who made us feel so royally welcome in their homes and who were unfailingly helpful and considerate in their efforts so see that we enjoyed our holiday here. If anyone is considering an NZ holiday, I can most heartily recommend that they make use of the B&B resources here. In Papakura, Rotorua, Napier, Wellington, Westport, Hokitika, Arrowtown and Akaroa, we came away feeling that we had made valuable friends in the places we stayed. I will put the e-mail addresses of the B&B’s we stayed at, and hope that others will be able to enjoy the same friendliness and hospitality that we so appreciated.
Sharron’s Blog
Papakura:
Karaka Country Garden & Homestay
Hugh & Rae Ross
e-mail: hugh_rae@paradise.net.nzRotorua:
Lake Okareka B&B
Patricia & Ken Scott
e-mail: patricia.scott@xtra.co.nzNapier:
Hillcrest B&B
Nancy & Noel Lyons
e-mail: lyons@lnhb.co.nz
Wellington:
Top O’ T’ill Homestay
Catherine & Dennis Riley
e-mail: top.o.hill@xtra.co.nzWestport:
Havenlee Homestay
Jan & Ian Stevenson
e-mail: info@havenlee.co.nz
Hokitika:
Hokitika Heritage Lodge
Dianne & Chris Ward
e-mail: hokitikaheritage@xtra.co.nzArrowtown:
Old Villa Homestay B&B
June and Arch Flint
e-mail: archie.june@xtra.co.nzAkaroa :
La Belle Villa
Barry and Maureen
e-mail: bookings@labellevilla.co.nz
Day 33, Monday, February 13, 2006 Many thanks to Kim and Joan for their kind hospitality and for showing us around their beautiful area. We hope we can reciprocate in the near future. We had another smooth crossing of Cook Strait and then drove from Wellington to Taihape (rhymes with die happy).
Bob’s Blog
Day 32, Sunday, February 12, 2006 Kim and Joan took us boating on Queen Charlotte Sound in the morning and we hiked a couple of scenic trails. We encountered a group of seals on the trip back. We all had dinner on board the retired scow “Echo“. Great seafood.
Bob’s Blog
Day 31, Saturday, February 11, 2006 Just a short drive north of Kaikoura is a seal colony where a large number of seal pups had their own private pool. We arrived at Picton in mid afternoon and spent another enjoyable evening with Kim and Joan.
Bob’s Blog
Day 30, Friday, February 10, 2006 Still showery, we stopped at a winery north of Christchurch and sampled a number of their products. (We had to do something that was inside). By the time we reached Kaikoura, the showers had stopped and we walked along the beach for a couple of hours. Kaikoura offers boat trips to see whales, dolphins and seals, but with the unsettled weather, we chose not to go out.
Bob’s Blog
Day 29, Thursday, February 9, 2006 Still showery, we toured the Akaroa Museum that tells the story of Akaroa. One of their most notable citizens was Captain Worsley, who accompanied Shackleton on his Antarctic voyage. Worsley was one of the three who made the long voyage for help that saved the expedition.
Tonight we dined at Akaroa’s most famous restaurant, C’est la Vie. Allegedly famous worldwide for its exquisite food, it’s also known for its community table. We were privileged to be seated at it with five other guests, two from Canada (Calgary, no less, and Vancouver), two from Christchurch, just an hour away, and one from England. It was an enjoyable evening. When asked by the proprietor how we had heard of the restaurant, one guest replied that a hitchhicker that they had picked up told them that it was the best restaurant in the world. “We pay the hitchhikers” the proprietor replied. I had roast pork and Sharron chose the catch of the day. It must have been a good day because the catch comprised five or six different fish. And yes, it might be the best restaurant in the world.
Bob’s Blog
Day 28, Wednesday, February 8, 2006 The rain finally caught up with us so we spent the morning at the Geraldine Antique Car and Tractor Museum. We arrived in Akaroa in the late afternoon and in spite of the overcast, the view of Akaroa harbour from the top of the volcano rim is awesome. This French settlement dates back to the 1840’s and still maintains its French flavour and influence.
Bob’s Blog
Day 27, Tuesday, February 7, 2006 This Bungy Jump is just outside of Arrowtown and was already busy at 9 am. Mt. Cook is a majestic sight. Often obscured by cloud, it was at its best today, providing us a magnificent view as we drove along Lake Pukaki. We have had the best week of weather possible along the west coast, into the fiords and into the mountains to Mt. Cook, areas that are often frequented by cloud and rain. The views are exceptional and the colours brilliant and sometimes surreal in the bright sunshine, we have been very fortunate.
OK, I tried to transmit photos from the last few day, some did, some didn’t, some cloned themselves, who knows why?
Bob’s Blog
Day 25, Sunday, February 5, 2006 From Te Anau we were picked up by coach and driven south to Lake Manapouri, taken across the lake by boat, to meet another coach to take us over the Wilmot Pass down to the Doubtful Sound, (named by Captain Cook when he realized that with the strong west winds it would be doubtful if he could sail back out if he decided to go in. He didn’t.) . I rains here over 300 days a year, more than 20 METERS but not today. Sun, seals and dolphins, the pictures tell the story. On the way back we stopped at the Manapouri Power Station located deep within the mountain. The bus drives you through a tunnel, barely large enough for the bus, two kilometers in (Janice, you would have loved it). Water from Lake Manapouri travels down the penstocks driving the turbines and exits at Deep Cove on Doubtful Sound.
Tonight we tried the Redcliffe Restaurant and Bar, Sharron had seafood, I had New Zealand wild venison, wow again. Photos to follow.
Bob’s Blog
Day 24, Saturday, February 4, 2006 We spent most of the day in Queenstown, a really neat resort town where everything extreme is happening. Bungy jumping, jet boating, rafting, canyon swinging, hang gliding, sky diving, you name it. It lies on the shore of Lake Wakapitu, in the mountainous region of the southwest. It has many great shops and restaurants, and was quite busy as this is the last weekend before school begins. We dined at the Olive Tree Restaurant in Te Anau, New Zealand roast lamb, wow. Photos to follow.
Bob’s Blog
Day 23, Friday, February 3, 2006 Again today we stopped at several points of interest along the way and took some short walks. The Kawarau Gorge was very impressive, some youngsters with paddleboards and fins were testing the currents. A big problem here is thieves breaking into vehicles parked at the many trailheads. One guy thinks he has the answer with this sticker.
Arrowtown is a pretty town set in the hills north of Queenstown. It has a variety of small shops, restaurants and bars along its main street. A former gold mining town, it may get a revival. This gentleman found this nugget two weeks ago in a canyon near here after a heavy rain. Sharron and I rushed out to the local stream but all we found were skipping rocks.
It may not be evident on the photos, but the blue sky all over New Zealand is a remarkably beautiful soft colour. I refer to it as Ozone Hole Blue but Sharron doesn’t think the name befits its beauty.
Bob’s Blog
Day 21, Wednesday, February 1, 2006. Just a short drive south of Westport is a seal colony where we were able to watch numerous seals, some with pups, sunning themselves on the rocks. Next we stopped at Mitchell’s Gully, an authentic gold mining area dating to the 1870’s, with miles of tunnels, mini rail track, rusted picks, a large water wheel and much more. Further along, Truman Track takes you on a stroll through a mini rain forest that emerges onto a rugged shoreline. But the highlight of the day were the pancake rocks, an impressive formation of layered limestone. We dined on seafood at the Tasman View Restaurant, on the shore of the Tasman Sea.
Dave. Here is “Harold, the smart sheep“. Note the knowing eyes, the attentive ears, the wise brow. We’re pretty sure it’s him. If he starts trying to fly, we’ll know for sure.
Bob’s Blog
