Monday, April 5, 2010
Got up early and finished packing, caught the bus to the airport. The flight was only 20 minutes not counting take off and landing, and of course Air New Zealand fit in drink, snack, and a mint in that short time. Landed in Christchruch and walked to the International Antarctic Center. There was a cold room to mimic the Antarctic conditions and storms, little blue penguins, and a Hägglund ride that was driven to its limits on the obstacle course. For the behind the scenes penguin tour we got a bit closer to them in the enclosure, looked at the ozone and water cleaning machines, and met CC the penguin. Had lunch then picked up the car and drove to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. They had a lot of birds and a livestock area, as well as a large kiwi house. We checked into Coachman Backpackers and had dinner at Mum’s Asian restaurant with Sam and Lauren, who were traveling with a similar schedule but in a different car.
Antarctic Center freezing room
Antarctic Center Hägglund
CC the Little Blue Penguin
Getting ready to drive on the left side of the road
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
We moved the car to a parking garage for the day, and had breakfast at a New York sandwich deli. Hassel Free tours picked us up at the backpackers for the trip out to Mt. Sunday, the location for Edoras in Lord of the Rings. We stopped in Staveley for a tea and coffee break, then drove through some rivers and a cow herd to get to Mt. Sunday. At the top everyone played with the replica weapons and took lots of photos. Stopped at a small building in the valley to have sandwiches and chocolate cake for lunch. Our driver was none other than Hammond Peek, the head location sound recorder for LOTR as well as several other Peter Jackson films. On the way back to Christchurch he told the story of going to the Academy Awards four times, and winning Oscars for Return of the King and King Kong. He was a great guide and had a lot of stories to tell about filming, we really lucked out since he doesn’t do the tours very often. When we got back to Christchurch we drove to the gondola and met the other group at the top.
In front of Mt. Sunday
Playing with weapons at the top
And flags
Hiking down
Us with our awesome guide, Hammond
Top of the Christchurch Gondola
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
There was a craft sale in Cathedral Square we stopped at on the way to the Arts Centre, where we were headed to look for a replacement necklace Heather had bought there a few years ago and lost. Drove on highway 1 to Timaru and had Mac’s Fish and Chips there for lunch. Arrived in Oamaru at 4 pm, just in time for our Little Blue penguin colony tour. Walked around the grounds and peeked in a few boxes to see penguins that stayed home for the day. Went to a lookout down the road and saw a few little blue and a yellow-eye. Checked into the YHA, then back to the penguin place at 6 pm. After it gets dark the penguins return from the sea. The area is lit with orange lights, so we can see them but they can’t see us. The final count was 49 penguins returning that night.
Me, Heather, and Nicole with the car, Sunny
Penguin nest boxes
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Followed a brown point of interest sign to the Whitestone Cheese factory for scones and cheesecake for breakfast. Drove to the Moeraki Boulders and took photos for awhile.
Moeraki Boulders
Turned off the highway to follow another point of interest sign out to a beach, then to Matanka Historic point. There was a short walk then a large field with a few very well cared for and set up historic buildings that were open to walk into. The place was deserted and a really cool stop off the beaten track.
Beach we found off the road
Matanka Historic Point
Got to Dunedin and had lunch at Poppa’s Pizza. Walked around the Botanical Gardens as the sun was setting. Fed the ducks, went to the rose area, and found a wild hedgehog. Took some long exposure photos of the stars after sunset. When we got back to the car it was 7:15 and the gates were locked, there was a sign at one end of the parking lot that said gates are locked at 7:30, and the other end said 7. Since it was a one-way parking lot we had only passed by the 7:30 sign, but we called a security guard who came to let us out. Checked into Central Backpackers and had budget noodles for dinner.
Dunedin Pizza
Dunedin Botanical Gardens
Friday, April 9, 2010
Went to the Cadbury chocolate factory tour. Watched the chocolate being made and got lots of free samples. Heading out on the Otago Peninsula we stopped at the Glenfalloch Woodland Garden, then up a very scenic road to walk around the Larnach Castle grounds.
At the Cadbury chocolate factory
Larnach Castle
Drove down to the Univeristy of Otago’s Marine Studies Centre and Aquarium then to the Royal Albatross Centre for lunch. Went on a tour for Yellow-eye Penguins, one of the rarest penguins in the world with only 4,000 birds left. We watched the sunset at Pilots beach, and waited around for a few little blue penguins to come in.
Yellow Eye Penguin
Sunset at Pilots Beach
Waiting for penguins
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Left at 7 am as the sun was rising and fog was starting to lift. Followed another point of interest sign off the road to the Sinclair Wetlands for some photos.
Sinclair Wetlands
Stopped at Te Anau and spent some time at the internet café and walking around town. We headed down the Milford road and arrived in Milford Sound just in time for our boat trip. We had pumpkin cauliflower soup on the way out to the overnight area. When they anchored down we had the choice of kayaking or a speedboat tour before sunset, I went on the speedboat tour so I could take my camera with me. We returned to the boat and everyone played board and card games while I ran around the deck taking sunset photos. I joined them for dinner and desert, then when I was out taking more photos after dark I heard something splashing around the boat. We grabbed our flashlights and saw a seal was swimming around catching fish. We followed him around for awhile, then went back inside and the three of us played Texas Hold ‘em the rest of the night with one of the employees.
On the boat in Milford
Kayaking
The overnight boat
Our 3 bed area on the boat
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The boat started moving at sunrise, heading out to the Tasman Sea. Got some breakfast and went outside to enjoy the tour of the waterfalls and cliffs. Went right under a 50 story waterfall and next to a huge overhanging cliff.
Sunrise in Milford Sound
We were dropped off at Milford Deep, an underwater observatory. At one time national marine reserves were anything below low tide, and national forest was anything above high tide. So the Milford Deep was build anchored in the area in between. The law was changed after this to prevent anything else being built in national marine reserves or forrests. Saw lots of fish swimming around in the 30 minutes we had down there. On the way back we were followed by several dolphins.
Milford Deep
In the Milford Deep
Fish and black corral (which is apparently white)
We returned to the car to find the battery dead since the lights had been left on. The jumping equipment at the café and booking desk didn’t work, so we found someone with jumping cables and a large SUV. It ran for a good 20 minutes until the car started. We drove straight out to Te Anau to fill up on petrol (gas), then out to Queenstown. Checked in at Nomads and returned the car. Went to subway for dinner and shopping for the rest of the tramping (backpacking) equipment.
Jumping the car
Coming up in part 2: Routeburn Track, Queenstown, Glenorchy, and Arrowtown!
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