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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
    Day 12

    Milford Sound

    November 26, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Bags out at 7 for an eight o'clock departure for Milford Sound. Our cruise was booked for 11.00am, so we had a 2 1/2 hour drive with three photo stops.

     The drive includes a 1.2 km tunnel through the Darran Mountains at Homer Saddle.

     Although called Milford Sound, it is actually one of New Zealand's 14 fjords..

     As a fjord, Milford Sound was formed by a process of glaciation over millions of years. If the rocks at top of the fjord sides are rounded, it means they were below the glacial ice level and were worn smooth. If they are jagged, they were above the glacial ice level.

    The village at the end of the fjord is also known as Milford Sound.

     Milford Sound runs 15 kilometres inland from the Tasman Sea at Dale Point and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) or more on either side. Among the peaks are The Elephant at 1,517 metres (4,977 ft), said to resemble an elephant's head, and The Lion, 1,302 metres (4,272 ft), in the shape of a crouching lion.

     Milford Sound sports two permanent waterfalls, Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. After heavy rain temporary waterfalls can be seen running down the steep sided rock faces that line the fjord. They are fed by rainwater-drenched moss and will last a few days at most once the rain stops.

     The cruise took us the whole length of the fjord, out along the southern side and back along the northern side. It is difficult to describe the size and scale of it all.

    The return trip was back to Te Anau then around to Queenstown. We arrived at our hotel at 6.00pm. Two full days here now with lots of free time.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 13

    4 wineries - 21 wines

    November 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Gibbston Valley, Kinross, Mt Rosa and The Church.

     Four wineries with five wine tastings at each and lunch at the second.

     Picked up at 10.00am by Shaun from Altitude Small Tours for our wine tour. We were six people only. We didn’t know much about the day to come except that it was a wine tour. Shaun explained we would visit four wineries, sample five wines at each and have lunch at one of them. As it turned out, we sampled six at one winery.

     First was Gibbston Valley where we arrived with half an hour to spare before our tour and tasting. We sat around a table and Shaun used his Sommelier's smelling kit to 'test' our sense of smell

     The tasting took place in their wine cave. This had been 'dug' (blasted) into the mountain by the first owner. It is a constant 14 degrees C.

     We bought a bottle of riesling and then visited their cheese shop and bought cheese and crackers.

     Next was Kinross where we tasted two of their own wines and one each from four other wineries that they are the cellar door for - Hawkshead, Coal Pit, Valli and Wild Irishman. They are small boutique wineries not large enough to have their own cellar door.

     We had lunch here having pre ordered with Shaun which also reserved us a table.

     After lunch, Mt Rosa and another five wines and then the Church for another five…

     Back at the hotel by 4pm.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 13

    Across the lake for BBQ buffet dinner.

    November 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Tonight's buffet dinner was at Walter Peak High Country Farm which is on the other side of Lake Whakatipu from Queenstown.

     To get there we sailed on the TSS Earnslaw. It is a coal fired steamship built in 1912, the same year as the Titanic. It burns a ton of coal per hour! There's talk of making it more eco friendly - but how???

     The buffet was excellent - plenty of seafood, meats and desserts.

     After dinner, we all walked to the little amphitheatre for a shearing demonstration, but the highlight was Mia, the border collie, herding the sheep back down the hill.

     We set sail to return to Queenstown at 9.30 and were back at our hotel at 10.30.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 14

    A day off.

    November 28, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Nothing organised for today so we can just take our time and take it easy. So, a later breakfast and catch up with washing and ironing.

     Walked down to lakeside and had a coffee before heading into the park.

     Yesterday we received a 10% discount voucher for a fish'n'chip van and we decided that we would get some for lunch and eat it lakeside. What a disappointment! It was awful!

     Ah well, it happens.

    Walked around to dockside, had a coffee and then wandered around the shops before heading back to the hotel. Beat the rain back - it's turned quite bleak this afternoon - just as well we're eating in the hotel restaurant tonight.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 15

    North to the west coast.

    November 29, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Today was just a day of travel from Queenstown to Franz Joseph.

     The seating system on bus tours is that everyone rotates seats each travelling day. This way everyone gets a turn in a front seat. We were up the front today, and what a great scenery day to be there.

     We had lots of stops, the first being not far out of Queenstown at the original bungy jumping site. We stayed long enough to watch the first jump of the day although he just stepped off the platform rather than dive.

     There was spectacular scenery the entire way - lakes, snow capped mountains, waterfalls, driftwood covered beaches…

     As we neared Franz Joseph, there was a little concern that the cloud would be too low for us to see the glacier. It was decided to go in and hope to see it. From the car park there is a walk to the viewing area. Fortunately, the cloud was just high enough for us to see the toe of the glacier in the distance.

     This was as far as we were allowed to go. This viewing area is where the glacier ended in 1908…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 16

    Franz Joseph to Christchurch.

    November 30, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Today we head back to Christchurch via the Trans Alpine Train.

    From Franz Joseph we head up the coast to Hokitika and then inland to Arthur's Pass where we catch the Trans Alpine into Christchurch.

     Had time to wander into town after breakfast as we weren't leaving till 11.00am. Some people had hoped to take a helicopter ride over the glacier, but there was too much cloud.

     We headed up the coast to our lunch stop at Hokitika where we had time to eat and have a look around. There are lots of gift shops and jade shops. There is a driftwood sculpture competition held here every year and a few bits remain by the water.

     From here we headed up into the mountains and Arthur's Pass.

     The train was due at 4.30 and scheduled to arrive in Christchurch about seven.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    1
    Day 16

    Trans Alpine train.

    November 30, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We boarded the Trans Alpine train at Arthur's Pass to head back to Christchurch.

     First part of trip was very picturesque, with spectacular gorges and views. The second part across the plains was through farming country.

     Back to Rydges, Christchurch and salami, cheese and wine in room.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 17

    To the North of the South Island.

    December 1, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Left at 9.00am and headed north for our last couple of days on the south island.

     We had a wee stop at Cheviot. On parking, the coach driver, Tim, informed us that the mural on the toilet block had caused some controversy among the locals - looks OK to me.

     As we approached Kaikoura, Tim pointed out that some rock at the water's edge is black and some is white. Turns out the black was always there and the white was under water till the earthquake of 2016.

    The white rock was pushed upward by the quake. The locals virtually woke up to see white rock where there was previously a bay.

     We lunched in Kaikoura with the option to meet back at the bus and go out to the Kaikoura Peninsula. Here we could climb the hill at the end to get great views or to walk around the base and see seals - we did both. The hill is white rock so is therefore only seven years old!

     Then onwards to Picton where we will spend two nights before boarding the Interislander ferry to the mainland on Sunday.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 18

    Picton.

    December 2, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Trish and Paul walked down to the marina and videoed a stingray lazing in the shallows - talk about being in the right place at the right time.

    We are booked on cruise on Queen Charlotte Sound at 1.30pm. The idea of this cruise is to sample local green lipped mussels and local salmon washed down with a wine.

     This means a free morning to catch up on washing and ironing.

     Dinner with Cathy and Ken & Trish and Paul at Oxley's Hotel.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - Aotearoa
    Day 19

    Straight Across Cook Strait.

    December 3, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    On the bus at 9.45 to join the queue for the inter-islander. Boarding started at ten for an 11.00am departure. We all had to stay on the bus until it was on the ferry and we were instructed to disembark.

     The crossing takes 3 1/2 hours.

     We had heard reports of very rough crossings but today it was really smooth.

     The weather was cool and wet. On arrival in Wellington, we were taken on a sightseeing tour of the city.

     Some people elected to be dropped off at the museum and then walk to the hotel.

     Six people left us today and six new ones joined, leaving the total number at 26.    Read more

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