Monday 27th February (Day 22)
Well what a difference a few hours can make. The morning started with bright sunshine and all the hills had reappeared. We packed our bags and emptied and cleaned the waste and then drove out of the camp site and parked up in a picnic area next door. A walk through the woods and hills followed for a short time and then back along the river (very cold water). We could return the campervan to the hire company any time today up to 4.00pm. A quick consult of the map and we opted to go to a nearby beach for a walk. We drove to a town called Kaipoi where we purchased some hot pies and then drove about 5 miles to Kairaki Beach where the Waimakariri River meets the Pacific Ocean. After the light lunch we strolled along the sands for a mile or two. We then decided to return the campervan and go into Christchurch. By 2.35pm we were at the depot to hand said vehicle back. The hand over was, well, a shambles. By 2.50pm the campervan had been checked and all was ok and we had our cases loaded in a vehicle for a lift to the airport to catch a cab into Christchurch. We then waited over 40 minutes for someone to take $180 from us for mileage tax and then another wait while the driver appeared. They seem to have insufficient staff or, more likely, a poor process to compete the tasks required. Anyway at the airport we got a cab to our hotel, back to the Cotswold Heartland where we started almost 20 days ago. We dumped our bags and walked into town where we bumped into a couple we met in Haast and chatted for a while. After a that we strolled a while around the city before returning to the hotel for a lovely meal and then had a quiet night in.
Tuesday 28th February (Day 23)
The day started in the hotel restaurant with hot croissants filled with ham and melted cheese, absolutely delightful. Then we had to make our way to Christchurch airport. We decided to catch the bus which involved a 600m walk to the bus stop with heavy bags and back packs. (Our sons would be annoyed as they would have got a cab.) Then self-check in and onto the departure lounge. We were looking out at the plane we were likely to be going on, a turbo-prop Bombadier, which was quite small. We were a bit confused as we had not been checked for knives, liquids or anything, and we were not going to be as there is no security on internal flights here/ (Is there in the UK?) One hour later we were landing at Wellington International airport. Again a small airport. To get into the town and our hotel we caught .......the bus. Alighting at Willis Street and finding our hotel was only 200m away, according to the map app, but actually finding it was a task in itself. A local, who works in offices under our hotel, thankfully helped us. We were quickly seen and straight in to our room, where we dumped the cases and went back out to source lunch, which we had overlooking the harbour. Suitably satiated we walked along the harbour and watched people jumping off a wharf into the water, well it was around 25 degrees. Next we went to the Te Papa Tongarewa museum. This is meant to be one of the top 500 places to visit in the world! High praise. It is over four floors with a central 'hole' up the middle. We started in the Gallipoli exhibition which really brought this WWI campaign to life. After over a year of fighting to gain control of a couple of hills and with thousands killed and injured the allied forces left quietly in the dark of night. The detail on the huge soldiers was amazing and down to Peter Jackson's technicians. Next to the volcano exhibition. Here there were three solidified rocks from the Mantle, outer and inner core. All roughly the same size. The mantle could be lifted quite easily; the outer core with some effort; but for the inner core it was allI could do to raise it a few inches. Next to a mock up of a house where you experienced an earthquake. On the other floors were Maori exhibits and much more. It was a great three hours and more time could have easily been spent there. Also it was very child friendly and, best of all, free . Top 500 places to visit? Maybe, but not sure as it is a big statement to make. Back to the Travelodge Hotel to discard camera and have a rest while sorting out where dinner was to be had. We settled on 'The Old Bailey' pub where we had an ok / average meal which filled a hole. Another walk along the harbour at night (they are still jumping in the water) and then back for a good rest / kip.
Wednesday 1st March (Day 24)
After a fairly good nights sleep (even on the 19th floor we heard the 5.00am dustman). We got sorted and walked to Cuba Street to an Irish Pub Murphy's where we had a cooked breakfast with tea for $26 (about £15). A good start. Then we walked a short distance to the i site where we went on a walking tour. Two and half hours around the city that was really good. On the way to the i site I noticed one of the 'greenmen' for crossing the road looked like Carmen Miranda. I asked the walking guide about it and it is indeed her. She stayed here for a while before going to Sydney. On the tour we saw and learnt a lot about Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, although originally Auckland was. New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote, in 1893. The main person 'pushing' for this was a lady called Kate Shepherd. All the 'green man' crossing lights around parliament have her instead, which is a nice touch. At one point we went into the 'Old Bank Shopping Centre', formerly the HQ of the Bank of New Zealand. Here, on the hour, we saw a clock that was mechanical and did a small show. The clock looked like it belonged to the original 1800's building. There was no way we would have known it was there and what it did without this tour. It was only about 20 years old and we would have missed this 'show' had our attention not been drawn to it. Another fact was that Wellington was the first City to be electrically lit. Another town in NZ also installed lights but these had to be individually turned on and off. This was solved by chickens! Each lamppost had a chicken coup and chickens. At night they settled in the coup and their weight turned the lights on. In the morning they left the coup and it turned the lights off. Good lateral thinking? The tour finished at the old St Paul's Cathedral, a stunning, fairly, small, wooden building. It eventually became too small and a 'new' St Paul's was built that wasn't finished until early 2001. It. Isn't a patch on the old one. During WWII the American forces went to this church on Sundays as the locals fed the roast dinner afterwards. As a result they donated the US flag which is displayed but it only has 49 stars. Next a rest and people watching while eating fruit for lunch. It is such a lovely day if I had laid on the grass I am sure I would have been asleep quite quickly. A short walk brought us to the cable car which for $8 took us up to the top of one of the hills, where the university is. From here we strolled down through the the botanical gardens which, although March, is still in bloom as it is still late summer here. Back in the city we entered the old government building to look around which is made of wood, although it looks like stone. Then is was another well earned sit down overlooking the harbour with a G+T. By now we were quite tired so a real rest for a while back in the hotel was in order.
Thursday 2nd March (Day 25)
The day started overcast as the forecast stated, because of this we had planned for a walk up Mount Victoria which overlooks Wellington. We strolled through the town and into the arts district before finding the path up to the lookout point. On the way we detoured as this area was used by Peter Jackson for some of the opening shots of the Lord of the Rings. We eventually found the 'Hobbit Hole' which, to be honest, was quite underwhelming. Anyway, onwards and upwards to the lookout point. It did afford a great view of the city as well as South Bay and away in the distance the airport. We then strolled down to the Oriental Beach, the only part of Wellington with sand. A stroll back into town, with a coffee and cream cake stop, before picking up a roll for lunch. This we ate sitting on the harbour wall watching the 'comings and goings' of boats, paddle boarders, swimmers, joggers and others. Next was a visit to the Wellington Museum. This is over four floors and has some different aspects of New Zealand history, one of which is the biggest shipping disaster in NZ history the 'Wahine' which sank in view of, and close to, Wellington in 1968. It foundered in a storm and fifty one people lost their lives with people on the beach helpless to assist. From this museum it was off to parliament for a guided tour. We arrived to find the 3.00pm tour full but booked ourselves on the 4.00pm. To while away the time we went to 'The Backbencher' pub. This pub has large models / effigies of politicians and sportsmen And is quite unusual. 4.00pm saw us on the tour of the three buildings of parliament. By the time we finished the sun was shining. It has not been cold today but very grey. We then did some shopping for tomorrow and made our way back to the hotel for a rest for a short while. For the evening meal Chris chose the 'Crab Shack'. (Motto 'Have you got crabs? We have!') We had, without doubt, the best meal since leaving home. We had a sharing starter of hot bread rolls with with crab and sweet corn, Indian pumpkin and a roast pepper hummus. Chris had green lipped mussels in white wine and garlic (about four or five times the size of European mussels). I had paella with tiger prawn, the mussels, crab, squid and chorizo. It was really good. We then returned to the hotel to pack before checking out tomorrow morning.
Friday 3rd March (Day 26)
So on to the next stage of the 'grand tour'. We checked out and got a cab to our hire car company, Hertz. No record shown of us hiring from them shown! A search of the system eventually showed we should pick up a car at the airport, despite our confirmation being for central Wellington. The lady was most helpful though and within ten minutes we were off in, what turned out to be, a lovely to drive, Mazda 3. Our next stop was Taupo, about a 250 mile drive. We drove a bit further than this as I took a wrong turn but the bonus was we saw some lovely countryside! We stopped for a coffee and later for a picnic where we were surrounded by dozens of spiders; big orangey things that just did not move. They were on all the trees, the picnic tables, eveywhere. Off again and a drive across a desert with volcanos to our left. These active volcanos erupt without warning; but not today thankfully. Next a brief stop and walk to a lake for no reason other than we needed a bit of a walk. Then the last leg up the side of Lake Taupo which is the largest freshwater volcano crater lake In all of Australasia. At Taupo we followed some instructions to find our stop at the Tauhara Sunrise Hotel. What a gem! We had the Honeymoon Suite, with his 'n' her showers, his 'n' her wash basins, a spa bath with a full width window that opened giving a view over the lakeland stars (at night). Then TV, log fire, BBQ and much more. The hostess had even booked a restaurant for us, if we wished to use it, as the town is very busy due to an Ironman Race tomorrow and the town is very busy. Nothing was too much trouble
; indeed there was even a bottle of red and white wine for us. We drove into town and had a great meal at the restaurant before returning to sit in our lounge and look at the stars and town lights reflecting on the lake. Magic!
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Saturday 4th March (Day 27)
Well what a great nights sleep and then to wake up to such a view. Over to the main house for a lovely cooked breakfast and a chat with the other guests and our hosts. Then we drove for about 90 minutes to Matamata which is where Hobbiton from the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) was filmed. This is a fascinating tour for anyone but for LOTR fans it is unmissable. The information from the guides, who are fans, and attention to detail that Peter Jackson ensured took place is amazing during filming was amazing. By way of example he shipped the correct breed of sheep for the filming as the local ones were not an English breed. Two hours flew by and it finished with a pint of ale in 'The Green Dragon'. We then drove back and just outside Taupo walked to Huka Falls, another great waterfall. New Zealand is full of them. Next we went into the town to watch some of the competitors in the Ironman race finishing. They started at 7.00am and this was almost eleven hours later, they had to finish by midnight. Eventually it was back to paradise, or Tauhara Sunrise, where we had a drink and chat with the hosts and guests before retiring for a tapas type tea and bed. However, before bed we had a spa while looking at the Milky Way and lights across the lake.
Sunday 5th March (Day 28)
A sad day as we had to move on. Another good breakfast by our host Becky and then our goodbyes. We then had a 90 minute plus drive to Waitomo; the glow worm caves. Here we went on a brief tour of the caves on foot before a boat trip across a lake with thousands of glow worms above us. Then another couple of hours to our next stop at Rotorua in the heart of the thermal activity and on the man fault line. The Novahotel was a very bland building but right on there lake. However, inside it was a real surprise. Having settled in we went to the tourist (i site) office to sort out things to do tomorrow. This was followed by a short drive to a couple of lakes, one blue and next to it a green one. Then to a third lake with the idea of getting a water taxi tomorrow (£60 for a short trip, blow that I don't want to buy the damn boat). We returned for dinner and then a lovely soak in the hotel thermal pool before retiring to our room and make contact with our boys on FaceTime and have a good sort out of our cases.