For Xmas and New Years I headed back to NZ for the first significant time since I headed to Asia in November 2007. After 10 months working in the States it was nice and also really exciting to head back down-under, down-under. After 30hrs of travel from Redlands including some heavy traffic by LAX and via Fiji and Auckland I arrived at Nelson Airport at 5.40pm on Xmas day. Mum and Dad were there to greet me. They are the only family members who knew I was coming and when I got to Oma and Opa’s place they were very very surprised. Especially Lauren (Sis). Ha-ha I was so sure that she had a few ideas I was coming after almost being caught out when talking to Mum and Dad on numerous occasions the months before I was to arrive on skype.
So after having a good time in Nelson with the Family for 5 days including a day trip to Kaiteriteri and Marahau I headed back with the whanua downsouth and got dropped off in Christchurch while they continued down to Timaru. The drive was great and it had been a long time since I had driven the Kaikoura Coast. It is somewhat similar to the Coastline between LA and San Fran. The weather was great and the seals friendly. Well until I got within their big ‘personal bubbles’ that is. It was at this point they would bark at me like a blubberised retarded dog.
So New Years in Chch for the first time in ages. Bridget and I did the whole Strip thing for dinner then hung out in the new ‘Sol Square’. A very cool spot indeed. Well impressed. A couple of bands, great weather and flavored Sake to say the least in some Japanese bar we got stuck in.
Next up was the part of the trip I was looking most forward too. An 8 day road trip round the SI. Bridget and I headed off over Porters pass wishing we had lights to head through Cave Stream. It really is a stunning area, then we had lunch at the Bealy Pub. Sure brought back memories from the many tramping trips which passed through the pub on most occasions when I was at Uni. Good memories. Over Arthur’s down the West Coast to Franz for a couple of nights. The West Coast is stunning. One very good location though we had rain while kayaking there is Okarito Bay. A place I have always wanted to go. And yip we saw a number of White Herons. Lovely birds and the view from a kayak is the best way to check them out.
After a few days here it was through to Wanaka for a night before heading onto Queenstown. One thing I knew but really struck me on this trip was how diverse NZ is. Also how lovely the place really is. It sounds soppy but I guess you realize these things when you are away in the big wide world. That morning we were gazing at a glacier just 300m above sea level in the rain and mist. An hour later we are driving through the likes of Bruce Bay and the rest of South Westland. One of the wettest places on earth. Up over the Hasst Pass and all its waterfalls and then down towards Lake Wanaka and Hawea. Here the climate, scenery and vegetation is stark by contrast. The lakes are turquoise blue and the sheep numerous, not to mention the vineyards and orchards. All this in a day. It really puts it into perspective when you can drive for a day solid in the States and see little change.
Don’t get me wrong the States has some very cool places, many which I have yet to get to, but what I noticed back home is the closeness and proximately of ecosystems and also that none of the scenery is boring. It’s always changing. Oh and the best thing after living in SoCal is it feels like NZ is empty. Geez to think I use to moan about the traffic in Chch. Haha – Its funny to think about it. I saw in the 2hr drive from LAX back to Redlands more cars than I had in the whole trip to NZ combined. Probably many many more infact.
Anyhow we stayed in Queenstown in a great hotel room with a view of the Lake for cheap thanks to Gemma (cousin) working there. Qtown is a great spot and we checked out the view from Qtown hill amongst other spots. Also went River Boarding. Basically it was a 5km stretch of the Kawarau river of numerous Grade 3 rapids. Snds easy. Man it was hard work. Just yourself, fins and a body board. My ankle really got a beating. A highlight was certainly the water slide at the end of the trip that spat you out into the fast flowing gorge. Lucky there was a jet ski to pick you up. Bridge found this scarier than rafting the mighty Zambezi and that was Graded 5+. There is some comfort to having a big rubber thing filled with air to sit in.
After heaps of good food in Queenstown. Man don’t ever let me get the fudge from the ‘Remarkable Sweet Shop’ again not to mention the pies from the Arrowtown bakery. Dam they tasted so good. I should really start a pie shop over here. Minted Lamb and Steak, Bacon and Cheese :-), we headed over Lindis Pass not without stopping in Cromwell to get a real fruit ice-cream. Something I have always done when passing through Cromwell. We drove to Lake Ohau and had a lovely dinner at the Ski Lodge overlooking the lake. The dinner was lamb which made sense after earlier that day having to shoo them off the road when driving up to the head of the Huxley Valley. For hours we keep an eye on the storms brewing at the head of the valley toward Mt Cook Nat Park.
Blue Lake at Mt Cook Nat park was the last stop of the trip before heading back to Timaru. Wow I can’t believe it’s taken me that long to see it. Huge iceburgs had carved off the Tasman glacier. Just how big??? Well in the pictures look out for the boats carrying 15 odd tourists to give them a close up view of the burgs. That really gave the burgs, lake and mtns a huge sense of scale. You feel real small in these locations. Well worth a visit by everyone.
The rest of my time in NZ consisted of time with family in Timaru and a couple of days in Welly catching up with mates. Including an evening at the Syn Bar and the great Hell’s pizza. Oh and Monteiths. Yet another thing I was greatly missing from NZ.
The trip through Fiji back to LA took forever with a 7hr layover. We could not really leave the area either due to the floods so the resort over the road from the airport had to suffice for a few ‘Fiji’ beers. From the plane I could see numerous flooded houses, agricultural lands and roads. Looked pretty devastating.
All up a great trip. It has given me lots to think about but I gotta say NZ is a great spot to have a passport from :-)
7 years ago
