NZ BLOG 5 - CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR 2022

 Quality family time over the festive period from 23rd December 2022

After returning from the Catlins and Dunedin, we ran into Christmas and New Year….so although I now have wheels, my exploits consisted of day trips away in the car or with the bike, and to spend time with the family. ❣️

WAITAKI VALLEY AND WAIMATE

This included one rather lengthy road trip, including the huge limestone morphs parochially named the “Elephant Rocks”, quite impressive, then just down the road in Duntroon (in the Waitaki Valley) I popped into the rather grandiose named “Vanished World Centre”, affectively a geology exhibition. I made the mistake of informing the chap that I had a geology background, but some 40 (aaagh!) years ago, and that I'd forgotten most detail. As it was quiet, he offered to walk me around, in order to explain the geological detail, kind of him, but I didn’t really have two hours to spare. Fortunately I was rescued by the arrival of a family that needed his attention. 🙌

Pushing cynicism aside, it was interesting to understand why NZ is so seismically active with the Pacific and Australasian plates pushing against each other….also that many think NZ is simply an island in the Pacific, it is actually a continent (Zealandia), but with large parts submerged. The rise and fall of the sea levels were well illustrated through geological time….including the inception plate known as Gondwana Land. 🌋

Moving on down the valley I popped by the pre European Māori paintings, but I wasn’t impressed. Not sure if my expectations were a little high: a Van Gogh or Picasso perhaps? 🎨

Crossing the Waitaki river at Kurow I then headed over to a small town called Waimate, parking up at an eco reserve (fences to keep predators out, and traps galore - mainly for rats, stoats and possums (although they call hedgehogs “Pests”)). A nice walk initially through the “bush” (trees, trees and more trees….see later day out!) but thank goodness eventually opening up into some relatively lofty views out to the coast.

In fact it reminded me very much of the scarps on the South Downs in England. So, nice views at the top over the coastal plain and Waimate…and also joined by a fairly rare NZ Falcon. 😍

PALMERSTON BIKE RIDE

Hamish, being a local for one but also a tour guide for a number of years, has been great for recommending places to visit…and this was another one.

Halfway to Dunedin, about an hours drive, I plotted (with Hamish) a 60 plus k bike ride, mainly on gravel…but a cracking ride, just unfortunate it was quite overcast, until of course I finished the ride! So, I must return…., interesting morphology there, and I’ve tried to research this, the area seemed to have a series of extinct volcanoes, certainly typically conical in shape….but the 535 page geology thesis 😳 I found was just a little too much for me to thoroughly investigate! Great ride all the same though….👍

BUSH, BUSH AND MORE BLOODY BUSH

The Kiwis seem to love their bush walks! Affectively immersed pretty much permanently in trees. Maybe it’s the escape from the Summer heat, what else, I'm not sure, I don’t understand it! 

So off I went to Herbert Forest, about 30 mins south of Oamaru, and chose a near four hour walk. “Superb walk” I was told….90 mins later I’m still in trees, nothing but trees….no views, one semi decent waterfall, at times quite difficult under foot, and had to cross a stream 13 times (exact cos it was stated in the flyers, I didn’t count!). 🤪

Just as I was getting cabin fever, I crossed a forest road…thank goodness for Google Maps…I took it, knowing it was heading sort of in my car direction, and within 30 mins I’d escaped!😅

So when I see, “bush walks” now, I’m wary.😊

The irony being, unlike the UK, lots of quality looking walking areas are on private land, so access is denied. Quite frustrating riding and driving around seeing some lovely looking challenges, but there is no access. 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

PENGUIN NIGHT

Oamaru is quite well known for its Blue Penguins, some 200 plus each night after sunset, make their way out of the ocean to their burrows and nests. However, also nearby, and at approx two hours before sunset, the very rare, and much more shy Yellow Eyed Penguins also return from a days fishing to nearby Bushy Beach. 🐧

I arrived at Bushy, just after seven, and joined the enthusiasts scanning closely the sea ebb - I left just after nine, and saw a grand total of three! Which apparently is quite good, because often none are seen. Giving a German mother and daughter a lift back into town, they shared a not uncommon view that the $36 fee to watch the Blue Penguins (with differing prices for priority seating!) was an unattractive proposition, nature should be free!

So with them, I joined about 30 others on the north beach by the harbour, as some of the Blue’s were unaware of a contract to exit only at the paid area, although the vast majority were at the “zoo”….suffice to say, particularly as Bex could get me a ticket for half price, next time I may succumb, because by 1030, and getting very cold now, we saw a grand total of ONE! 🐧

I may return….to both sites!

THE FISH WIFE

Over New Year, we had a family day out, down to Moeraki Lighthouse, to view the birds and seals, but then popped into the fishing village itself after…the third time I had visited, and on each of the previous two, the highly recommended takeaway, The Fish Wife, was closed. But not today…so, quickly checking the online reviews, the recommendation was fresh (from the sea that morning) Blue Codfish and Crayfish. The codfish was really exquisite, and the crayfish was nice, if a little rubbery, but not sure I’m comfortable eating crayfish (plus crabs, octopus, lobster et al), from my scuba days, seeing them living and breathing under water….and what natures delight they are! 🐟🍤

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

Christmas and New Year were very pleasant with the family, next year when Sienna is another year older and more understanding will be more interesting though! Typically Kiwis have ham for Christmas Day, but Becky managed to source a turkey from somewhere, and a lovely meal it was too….although the highlight of the day was the Sticky Toffee Pudding made by master chef Abuelo LOL por supuesto! 🥧🤷‍♂️

A family road trip ensued too, with a first stop in Timaru, an hour north, firstly to order a pearl wedding bracelet for Becky, then visit the local rides fair. Abuelo volunteered to be the cameraman rather than partake in the tea cups ride, see photo!

Hamish thinks nothing of super long drives, so I guess, not so surprisingly, decided to take me for a first visit towards the Alps, arriving at Lake Tekapo some two hours later, to the most stunning views, with an azure blue lake with the backdrop of Mt Cook...really spectacular, see next post for my personal visit.

In total we drove for 7 hours!! 😳

Becky and Hamish went out early on NYE with Abuelo solo baby sitting for the first time! Then Bex swapped with me, and with our bikes, Hamish and I went to Scott’s first where there was a live band playing covers, and also a full pipe band. They do love their Scottish heritage. 🍻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Chatting to a guy at the bar, dressed in Victorian gear, he turned out to be the World Penny Farthing Hill Climb Champion (self appointed after a local race 😂)….as only a multiple national champion, he had trumped me - we laughed and had our photo taken. He did try to persuade me to join his local cycling club, with a membership of………….two! A Penny farthing club of course! 😊

With 20 mins to go we decided to go to the local gardens where there was more entertainment on….again a band, a piper at midnight….then everyone immediately went home! 😳 Getting “double header” pints in was a mistake, as we slowly finished them off, bewildered that the night ended minutes after midnight…..think we should have stayed at Scotts!

Holiday season over, time now to do some solo exploration!