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  • Day 430

    What a camping spot!

    April 22, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    What an awesome first day on the road. We had a slight set back this morning because we couldn't figure out how to get our fresh water cap off the tank. After asking many people and finally ringing the hire company we found out what you assume and feel is locked actually is unlocked so we'd been trying to open it when it was locked the whole time! We filled up and emptied without any further issues and then it dawned on us that we couldn't find our Lonely Planet guide. We decided seeing as we are the closest we will be to the car and the rest of our things that it was worth going to farm to check. Luckily we found it in the glove box and said our definite final goodbyes to the McGraths. We then had another trouble at the petrol station trying to open the cap with the key. It took 4 of us until one woman managed to do it. That's something we might have to practise before we need to fill up again. After finally filling up and with the Lonely Planet guide safe in the glove box we hit the highway towards Fairlie, a route we've done before so we knew already how windy it gets. They do have helpful signs which tell you the speed to take the bends at and I pulled in whenever there was an opportunity to let cars pass. We arrived in Fairlie which of course meant a stop to the bakehouse to get some awesome pies. I couldn't decide on a flavour so we just had to have 3 to share. We had planned to go to the museum here but found out it's $6 to go in and without knowing what it's like we didn't want to risk it especially when museums can be quite hit and miss. We carried on and stopped at Lake Tekapo where autumn had begun to kick in turning the trees in the water a golden yellow. We drove further around the lake where we hadn't ventured last time and sat to have tea and biscuits on the waters edge. It was so peaceful and away from the main tourist area so the change in pace was relaxing. Our plan was to camp at Lake Pukaki tonight at a freedom camping spot which overlooks the lake and Mount Cook. By the time we left Tekapo it was coming up to 2.30 and knowing the camping area gets very busy and has limited flat spaces we decided to drive straight there and just enjoy the scenery for the rest of the evening. We were glad we made this decision because after driving around the area we managed to get a place closest to the lake that was side on to the road meaning no one could park along side us and it was flat enough. By the end of the night the section in front of our van had vans crammed in only a metre or so apart from each other so they probably could see straight through into everyone's windows. The view was absolutely breathtaking. Mist had descended over the alps so the mountains looked mysterious and almost as if they had been painted into the sky. We sat down on the shore watching the sunset over the peaks before making omelettes for tea and playing some games. It's definitely taught us to always have a back up campsite in mind in case we can't get a spot and that sometimes it's worth getting there early and just soak in the surroundings.Read more