New Zealand 2017 # 2

Fellow travellers,

South Island NZ

Since we last wrote we have taken the Interislander ferry to the South Island and visited a couple of wineries in the Marlborough district. 

Marlborough Vineyards

We then free camped at the sports ground in Renwick. There was a limit of 10 campers, but when we woke up there were 20. The following night we were at Marble Hill Conservation area near Springs Junction where the ranger told us “there currently seems to be a thing about free camping”. 

Hanmer Springs

We found it very cold there without the electric heater but a couple of hours in the spa pools at Hanmer Springs the next day got us warm and happy again. Bobbie found a heated swimming pool there, but it was too cold after the 37 degree C baths, and only managed 1 lap.

Little Blue Penguins

It was then on to Christchurch and the International Antarctic Centre (for NZ, USA and Italy) and its tourist attraction with penguins and a simulated Antarctic Storm room, as well as displays and films of Antarctic History. We skipped some of it, as we had been to Antarctic albeit 12 years ago.

The autumn (or is it early winter?) in New Zealand is spectacular. 

Akaroa NZ in Autumn

We then spent 2 days in Akaroa southeast of Christchurch in a campsite overlooking Akaroa Harbour which was mist/cloud covered most of the time. The harbour is surrounded by red and yellow trees on the green hills with multi-coloured houses scattered throughout. Sailing boats rest at anchor off the shore, and tidy shops run along the foreshore. If it were not so cold and windy, we would be tempted to take up residency in this original French settlement. Unfortunately, the French arrived a few days after the English to claim the land as theirs.

Hedges of NZ

We are fascinated with the hedges which surround the fields here. They are often over 10 metres high and most all are neatly trimmed. They are made of pine trees, poplar trees, and many assorted deciduous varieties. Often, they hide vineyards, orchards, or simply fields. They also are not always rectangular, some appear as sculptured animals, and some triangular.

Pied Shags on Oamaru's Old Wharf

The next stop was Oamaru further south, and the first night we spent the early evening watching a colony of little blue penguins return to their nests. There was also the sound of some penguins nesting in boxes on the edges of our campground on the harbour.

Bobbie got up early the next day and went for a swim in the town pool. It is indoors and heated to 27 degrees. 
We then visited the Steampunk HQ and wandered the streets of 19th century Limestone buildings including Banks, Churches and the Wool store. The old buildings were basically abandoned after a financial crisis, and have only survived by being re-purposed by entrepreneurial shopkeepers.

On to Dunedin tomorrow, with another stop for penguin hunting.