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New Zealand

February 2018 - May 2024
An open-ended adventure by Amanda Read more
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  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 11

    Wellington

    February 15, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Slept in a little today woke up around 9am then cooked some pasta dish for the next few dinners. We left there around 11am and headed back roughly 20km where we had seen a sign last light to Owlcatraz which was a bird sanctuary where Chris was hoping to find a kiwi bird, this place was Chris unfortunatly so we continued onto Wellington. We briefly stopped off Otaki where there was an old railway station, nothing to interesting to see so we left not long after. We then continued down Highway 1 where we saw a sign just out side of Welling to a New Zealand Police museum. We decided to stop in here which we where both glad we did. In side the museum there where cool officers uniforms we got to try on, great insite to the equipment, practices and several murder cases. There where heaps of displays and interesting things to look at. Amanda bought little Oliver a police outfit.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 11

    Wellington Continued

    February 15, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    We then continued on Wellington where we stopped in the main port at Lambton Harbour. We walked along the peer and then ventured into Te Papa which was a New Zealand free museum. We spend hours in here. There where several different stories and areas. They had a large Gallipoli exhabition which was amazing with large human replicas that where 2.5 sizes bigger then a real person. There was also an earth, sea and cultural section. We quit enjoyed seeing the largest colossal squid in the world to be place in a museum. Our feet where quit sore by now so we decided to find a local shower. We ended up at the Wellington Recreational center where we paid for a pool pass which included a spa and sauna. We sent a fair time in the spa, it was so nice to just sit down. We then headed to the local laundromat and waited there while ours wet and smelly clothes dried. It was now time for bed so we had a look at the free camp sites, there where a few in Wellington but they where just in a carpark. We decided to head upto Ngati Toa Domain which was near the brigde into Wellington.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 12

    Wellington - Mount Victoria

    February 16, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    This morning woke up at 8am and packed up and made our way to Wellington where we had a list of things to do. We first headed to Wellington where we mistakenly thought it was the park where they shot get off the road sceen. We where mistaken lol once we realised we then headed to Mount Victoria where we headed down to the spot. This was where they where filmed get off the road screen. It wasnt what we thought exactly, we where lucky enough to arrive when a tour guide was there and we over heard him saying that the tree/vines above bank where synthetic. After a few cheeky photos we headed back to the car and ventured our way.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 12

    Picton

    February 16, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    We arrived on the shore about 6:30. We headed down Highway 1 towards Tuamarina where we cut into Cloudy Bay. We then drove along the bay aswell as up several mountains, the views were absolutely amazing. You could see all the wineries we had past as well as sea and mountains. We continued down a dirt road for 5kms and arrived at our free camp site which was called Robin Hood Bay. It was really nice, several campers were catching muscles in the Bay. A lovely american guy gave us a sample of his muscles which were cookes in garlic butter. We played some cards, planned some of our trip and then watched Swat. Chris would like to add I took up all the bed last night, in my defence the van was on a lean and I keep slipping down.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 12

    Weta Productions

    February 16, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    From Mount Victoria we headed to Weta Productions where we then booked a tour to go through the work shop. Before our tour we watched a half an hour video of how Weta Productions started and also all the movies they have been envolved in. We where both quite surprised at how many they had actually been involved with. After the short video we looked around the gift shop where Amsnda finally bought a precious ring (precioussss with creepy voice) and Chris bought a black arror pendant necklace from the Hobbit movie. We then made our way to the back of the store where our tour began. The tour was Amazing!! It showed us how the props wherw created from start to finish. We also got to hold and try on several props. It had so many large props of Lord of the Rings such as the white orch from the Hobit, the Roborts from Distric 9 and a real life wart hog from Halo. There was also Sarons outfit and the 9 kings armor, they also had methril that frodo wore when he got stabbed. We both loved this place, highly recommend it. After we finished we got photos with the troll statues out the front then hurried off to the peer as we needed to get onto our Ferri to the South Island. We waited in the line for about an hour and a half then drove onto our boat.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 13

    East Coast

    February 17, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Woke up around 7:30 in Robin Hood Bay - one of our favs. We then headed back down the mountain and stopped for breakfast at one of the lookouts. Once down the mountain we continued on Highway 1 for a little and stopped at a beach called Cloudy Bay. The beaches where really pebbled with a lot of drift wood. We walked along the beach for a short while then continued on to Kekerengu where we stopped at a market we saw. This market was a little trash and treasure market. We bought some tomatoes as well as some dvds and cds from a local guy. The cds were pretty rubbish but for a $1 who really cares. After about half an hour of looking we continued on to Kaikoura which was one of the town hit the worst in 2011, the local had told us to go have a look. On the way down the damage was very evident with major road works happening because several cliff sides had fallen away. Roads that were higher up the mountain were no longer accesable. Just outside of Kaikoura we stopped at a local hunting shop. Chris wad having a field day!! He bought a knife to open the oysters with as well a as souvenir hat. Once we reached Kaikoura we parked the car and walked around the local shops. We then found a really good food place called Groper Garage. The food here was amazing!! So fresh and such a good feed. Chris had fish, chips and salad and Amanda had nanchos. We both left feeling pregnant haha. We then decided to take the Kaikoua Peninsula link which took us to Seal Bay and a Seal Colonel. The first stop was a look out and we didnt really see any seals. We continued on down the road where we got out and walk along the rocks on the bay. Here we saw what we thought was a nice little seal. With a few selfies and hangs we then had a near death experience. The bloody seal started roaring at us!! Think he was angry we where standing near him. We were so scared we ran off haha and then headed back to the car.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 13

    Nearlly at Christchurch

    February 17, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Next stop along Highway 1 was Cheviot. Here we did a tourist loop on Cathedral Road down to Port Robinson. We stopped at the bay at the end of the loop and had a walk along the beach. We then headed back up the mountain about 2kms where we stopped at a look out. Amanda wanted to do this loop for this lookout. There was an open cliff side with really amazing carvings which looked like large pilars. If they werent purposely carved into the cliff they certainly looked like they had been. After completely the loop we continued back onto the road where we found a hot shower spot on Greta Valley road. The owner wasnt home so we walked around for a while. We then decided to shower, once we finished we went outside and found the care taker there he just said not to worry about paying him which was a bonus. We then back tracked a km or 2 and headed down Motunau Road where we stayed in a camp site right on the Motunau River. The camp site wasnt to bad here. We played some cards, made some cheese toasties and then watched half of Suicide Squad.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 14

    Christchurch

    February 18, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Woke up around 8:00ish and started headed to Christchurch. We missed the freeway turn off several times so we ended up driving all around the area. When we got into Christchurch we drove around a little and endes up at the Botanical Gardens. We got out and walked around for about an hour. The gardens were pretty good, they had lots of big trees so Chris didnt mind the walk. When we got back we walked around a boat house on the river and noticed they were hiring out bikes so we decided to hire some for 2 hours. We rode the bikes around the botanical gardens, through the park and also to the earth quake memorial which was really sad. After our exhausting bike ride lol we deaded to countdown to do some food shopping. Mind you we ended up buying the shop because we where so hungry lol. We both got their famous chicken sandwiches from the deli. I thought the one Chris got last time was a little yummier however they were still good. After packing all of our food in the fridge we decided to head down to Akaroa where an active volcano is positioned in the middle of the Bay.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 14

    Akaroa Bay

    February 18, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    On the way down to Akaroa we didnt really stop at all only for some photos and a short drive down Summit Road in Akaroa where we stopped at an area that over looked the Bay. When we got down to the Bay just before Duvauchelle we stopped at the little part of the Bay that goes out. The middle of this is actually an active volcano so we decided to climb it. The start part was a little steep, after we got some pictures we climbed down and walk along the beach towards the end where we climbed an even bigger hill. The view from up there was amazing!! On the way down we went a diffetent way down which had a sign saying keep out, dangerous etc. It wasnt at all bad just a little eroding here and there. We then stroll on to the car. Headed back up Highway 75 onto Highway 76 briefly then got back onto Highway 1. We headed on Highway 1 to Rakaia then headed up to Methven. We where now on the tourist root in front of Mt Hutt and Mount Taylor. The drive was amazing with all the mountains on the horizon. We found a free camp site inbetween Staveley and Mount Somers. The camp site was pretty good we had a drop toilet and plenty of room, the views werent to shabby either.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 15

    Lake Tekapo

    February 19, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 -1 °C

    We slept in a little today Chris was really sick with the Flu. After some cereal we where on our way. Amanda had seen the night before a tick on the map so thought we would head there on our way to Lake Tekapo. The tick was an old 1800's cottage - Burnett Quarry Reserve which was situated near Mount Summers off Ashburton George Road. When we got there we drove down a little gravel road to a dried up creek. We walked over the creek and towards the house. There was still an old bridge over the creek and several farming equipment all rusted around the yard. The house was the size of a bedroom and made of solid white stone. Inside the house there where still belongings in an open cupboard, an old fireplace, photos and the top of a bed head. The open roof had a meezemene floor as well. The roof inside was made of straw and barb wire and the outside was tin however we thought that bad been replaced to help keep the cottage reserved. The cottage had such a eerie vibe we didnt stay to long. We then continued down Highway 72 onto 79 and then onto Highway 8. We didnt really stop anywhere here just for a few photos when we got closer to Lake Tekapo. When we got closer to the Lake we turned down Lilybank Road which followed the right side of the lake. We wouldnt have gotten 50 meters before we were stopping to take photos. We stopped about 3 times and got out to take photos. The lake was so beauitful the water was such a bright light bluey/green, we had both never seen a Lake like this before. We decided to follow this road around the Lake which seemed to go on for ever. We got about an hour in and Amanda realised the road was actually a dead end.. oops!! We continued on to the near end as the view was amazing. You could see the large mountains in the background and you could even see some snow on a few. We turned around and by this time the car was covered with dust as most of the past hour was driving on a dirt road. On the way back we saw a guy we had seen on the way down. When we first saw him we where wondering why he was in the middle of know where. He signaled us to pick him up, we both where like should we - yes, no, maybe, arrrh I dont know. Before we know it we had a german guy called Alex in our car. He was actually quite lovely. He was telling us that he was in the middle of know where becuase he was half way through a few day hike however decided to turn around becuase of the cyclone warnings. He had been travelling for a few months now working different jobs, he seemed like he was quite intelligent. We drove about an hour with Alex in the van before we dropped him at his motorbike.Read more

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