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Kia Ora - Aotearoa

November - December 2023
A 31-day adventure by Janette and John Read more
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  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    11
    Day 1

    Off to Queenstown

    November 15, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Left Molyullah about 1.30 yesterday, drove down to Melbourne and parked the car at Andrews Parking. Their shuttle bus driver dropped us opposite the Parkroyal Hotel where we stayed last night.

     After checking in, we walked over to the airport to see where the Virgin check-in is located in order to save time looking tomorrow.

     Up early today and across to the check-in by 6.30. Had coffee and croissant and boarded at 8.00. Left 20 minutes late but arrived on time. I reckon there were only four of us on the plane wearing masks.

     By the time we cleared customs it was about 2.00 (NZ time). Taxi to Glebe appartments, checked in, unpacked a little.

     Started to feel a tad peckish so decided to walk into town. It's very hilly and the walk into town is downhill from here. We were very aware that the walk back would be tough…

     Had nachos at 3.30 (1.30 AU) and a bit of a wander around. We found a supermarket and stocked up with some of life's essentials - bread, butter, Vegemite, muesli bars…

     The scenery here is stunning. - the lake and the mountains. The town is busy and vibrant. There is a really big marathon this Saturday which probably accounts for accommodation being scarce when we first tried to book.

    We have been advised that we may not be able to book in anywhere for dinner on Friday. I've always wanted delivered pizza in Queenstown.

     Haven't done much after we got back except to confirm our next flights and try to work out what to do tomorrow. Looks like the Kiwi bird park, chair lift up the mountain, a lake cruise and maybe take a bus to Arrowtown.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    2
    Day 2

    A walk in the park.

    November 16, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    Up early, had tea and toast and decided to walk down to the lake to book tickets on the 11.00 am lake cruise. Did that, Janette spoke with Denise re where to eat tomorrow. Denise suggested an Indian with lake views. We found it and booked.

     Had time to kill before the cruise so had a coffee in the ice cream shop followed by a walk in Te Kararo Gardens alongside the lake.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 2

    Million dollar cruise for $49.

    November 16, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Had to be on the dock by 10.50 for departure at 11.00. Before we boarded, Peter, our captain, had a plate of goodies to feed to the trout in the lake. The are really big, probably because he feeds them three times a day before each cruise.

    Janette and I elected to sit in the open section at the stern. Turned out to be great views from there for the entire hour and a half cruise.

     The lake is huge - the third largest in NZ - with some prime real estate around its shores. It has several rivers feeding it but only one outlet, the Shotover River. This river is too shallow for all but the jet boats.

     We saw some Crested Grebe on the water. Crested Grebe are a rather rare and unusual species of water bird that is barely able to walk on land. They create floating nests made of weeds and sticks. Nests are attached to underwater debris, but when lake levels change, nests can be lost.

    Jetboats and speedboats have caused them to become endangered.

     Down near the outlet to the Shotover River, there are several 'bushy islands'. Many years ago, channels were marked with wooden posts - some of them took root and thrived.

     The weather this morning was ideal - sunny and mild. Peter commented, “this is the first calm day in weeks”.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 2

    Gondola and Kiwi Park.

    November 16, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    After lunch (seafood chowder, dockside) we walked up to the Gondola and took a ride up to Bob's Peak. It is the steepest cable car in the southern hemisphere.

     Views from the top are every bit as good as promised.

     There is an option to ride a luge to get back down. We didn't do that, we took the gondola down, but we would luge next time.

     Adjacent to the gondola is the Kiwi Park.

     The park's aim is to educate people about New Zealand's native fauna. Unfortunately the Kiwi house is kept dark as Kiwis are nocturnal and no photography is allowed.

     Ones eyes do adjust to the dark somewhat and the Kiwis (the birds that is) are seen as shadowy creatures.

     Dinner down by the lake - Thai.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 3

    Arrowtown

    November 17, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Woke today to cold, wet weather. Walked down to the lake for a coffee anyway.

     Denise and Michael arrived at 11.30 and we headed off to Arrowtown.

     Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town. It is located on the banks of the Arrow River, 19.5 kilometres to the east of Queenstown.

     There are many well preserved buildings that were used by the European and Chinese immigrants who settled during the town's gold mining era which began after gold was discovered in 1862.

     It is well geared to tourism with many up market shops in the old buildings. They are mainly either clothing shops or gold, jade and opal jewellery shops and extremely expensive.

    Booked in for Indian tonight at the Taj on the lakeside…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 4

    Transit ZQN to CHC

    November 18, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Packed our bags ready for the 10.00am checkout. Met Denise and Michael at 9.30 and walked down to the lake for brekky.

     Driven to airport at 10.45 and checked in. Plane to Christchurch on time. Trish and Paul have been delayed two hours so won't get in till about 4.00pm.

     Flew over snow capped mountains most of the way then over the Canterbury Plains as we neared Christchurch.

     Picked up at Christchurch airport by taxi driver courtesy of APT. The devastation caused by the earthquake is still very evident.

     Arrived at Rydges Hotel about 3.00pm.

     Not having had lunch, we were feeling a little peckish so went for a walk down to the tram terminus and New Regent St. Had a coffee and bagel - that should get us through till dinner.

     Trish and Paul arrived at the hotel about 7.00pm and we virtually went straight to dinner.

     Decided to go to the Gondola and punting on the River Avon tomorrow. We will book for the Akaroa French Connection for Monday.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 5

    Another gondola ride.

    November 19, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    After a buffet breakfast in the hotel, we headed off. Plans for today are to ride the gondola to the top of Mount Cavendish, overlooking Lyttleton, and then to take a punt on the River Avon back in Christchurch.

     As we were to travel by public transport, we walked to the bus interchange and took the number 8 Lyttleton bus which dropped us off right at the gondola station.

     This climb is not as steep as the Queenstown gondola. From the top the view is across Lyttleton and its harbour. Lyttleton harbour played an important role in Antarctic exploration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Explorers would dock here and stock their ships before heading south.

     A coffee in the cafe at the top helped the view go down. Then it was time to take the return trip down in the gondola and take the number eight back to town.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    1
    Day 5

    Let's take a punt.

    November 19, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    After alighting from the number eight bus, it was a shortish walk to the River Avon. We walked along the river bank till we reached the Antigua Boat Sheds.

    We were booked in for 1.30pm so, to kill half an hour, we had a cool drink.

     We were given a pre-punt briefing about the dos and do nots of our 'cruise' :-
    # do keep hands inboard
    # don't dangle fingers in the water - the eels will bite them off
    # don't stand up
    # don't rock the boat - the punter might fall in
    # don't fall in
    # if you do fall in, the water is only waist deep

     The punt lasted about half an hour. We went upstream through the Botanic Gardens admiring the very large, old, mainly English trees, and waving to all the people ashore who wished they were us.

     The return trip was a bit easier on the punter as we were now going downstream.

     Both ways we had to dodge some rather incompetent canoeists.

     The hardest part was trying to get out and at the same time retain some dignity.

     A very enjoyable experience.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 6

    Akaroa - French Connection

    November 20, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Akaroa is situated on French Bay at the side of a huge inlet from the Pacific Ocean which was formed from two volcanic craters. Akaroa is the Maori word for 'long harbour'.

     Akaroa was first settled by French whalers in 1840. They liked it so much, they decided they would like to live there. Unfortunately, it took them two years to go back to France and return to Akaroa.

     When they did get back, they discovered the British had signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the Maori chiefs. It was actually signed in Waitangi and then taken around the country for other chiefs to sign - one of those places was Akaroa.

     The choice they now had was between returning to France or staying and living under British rule. They stayed.

     The french influence can be seen everywhere in the style of buildings and french street names.

     It is a quaint little village well geared to tourism. It must get really crowded when the cruise ships come in…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 6

    Akaroa. - dolphin watching cruise.

    November 20, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    We booked on the 1.30pm dolphin watch cruise. It is a two hour cruise and we hoped to see dolphins, fur seals, cormorants and penguins.

     The dolphins are called Hector's dolphins. They are the smallest of all dolphins and are unique to these waters.

     The fur seals are New Zealand fur seals. The penguins are the small and rare White-flippered penguins. They are the smallest penguin in the world.

     The cruise takes people out past the 'heads' into the Pacific Ocean. On the way we saw amazing volcanic rock formations and caves. We were warned several times that we are looking for wild animals and we may see none. Also, if we did see dolphins, they are usually in groups of only four or five.

     Apparently we did see a penguin - it was so small, with only its head showing, that it looked like a little duck.

     A solitary fur seal put on a bit of a performance for us - just lazing in the water and rolling over.

     It was over an hour before someone yelled “dolphin”.

     Sure enough we got tantalising glimpses of one, sometimes two, moving so quickly it was hard to know which way to point the camera, let alone get a picture. I resorted to leaving the camera switched to video in the hope I would catch something.

     These short sightings continued until, reluctantly, the captain said we must head back. At least we had seen some.

     Suddenly there was squealing, the boat slowed, and it was quite obvious that the captain himself was surprised by the number of dolphins we were seeing - possibly ten or twelve.

     Back to the dock in time for a coffee and catch the bus back to Chistchurch.

     The driver dropped us at an Indian restaurant that specialises in authentic Mumbai street food - only complaint - too much food.    Read more

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