NZ BLOG 14 - THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

As they say all good things come to an end. There was a temptation to extend my stay (although Emirates wanted £750 to extend just 3 weeks 😳) but after driving back from Hanmer Springs to Oamaru, it felt like a natural end…also made more final, as Hamish’s parents were visiting, so they could return the borrowed car to Sally in Invercargill, to the Deep South.

Although writing this now, after returning to the UK, being welcomed by unseasonally thick snow ☃️then warming up, to pouring rain ☔️perhaps I made the wrong decision. 🤷‍♂️🥴

So, a solid five plus months exploring South Island NZ (interspersed with family committments of course), ticking all the targets, except Milford Sound and Stewart Island, I’ll save those for next time.👍

Of course, the “explores” in all the different areas varied in depth, one could spend a lifetime investigating the different areas, and still not see everything! 

But what a place, is there really another place in the World, that has such compact and diverse scenery….written before, all due to it being Geologically very youthful….the upside being the geomorphological diversity and wonderment around every corner 😍…the downside of course the continuous and unpredictable seismic activity, and occasional unfortunate consequences. 😢🌋

You cannot have one without the other!

So, conclusions, what are the top memorable elements of my trip (excluding meeting Sienna for the first time, catching up with Becky and Hamish and The Wedding, of course)…..here goes, it’s a toughie…..and in no particular order.

1. LAKE TEKAPO….and especially that very first visit with Hamish, Bex and Sienna as part of our epic drive on Christmas Eve. The first sighting of that unnaturally natural cobalt blue water, with the Alpine backdrop of Mount Cook and Tasman was jaw droppingly unforgettable. 🥰The lake colouration being a result of a combo of glacial melt water, and a huge sprinkling of powder rock (with significant help from the cloudless sky).I returned a few times after, including starting the Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail 🚴‍♂️from there, but that first glimpse will always be special. 

2. NUGGET POINT - The Catlins…..on the whole the Catlins themselves were underwhelming, in the context of how they’d been ‘sold’ to me….a series of forested hills, quite nice, but I wouldn’t rush back….however, the coastline was quite special, and particularly Nugget Point. At its extremity, the lighthouse lookout is a revelation, affording a birds’ eye views of rocky islets, extending into the roaring ocean..dotted with seals, sea lions and even a colony of spoonbills, awash with swirling kelp. 🦭🌊🪨



3. OAMARU - rather inadvertently understated by Becky, but the quirky small town was a very nice surprise….with its diverse offerings, from the almost Gothic limestone (Whitestone) architecture of Thames Street, the Victoriana of Harbour Street, with its offerings of trades, museums, eateries and galleries. Not forgetting the coastal harbour setting and the nightly appearance of the Blue Penguins. Mixed in with Steam Punk and the friendly natives….a lovely part of the country. 😍

4. THE WEST COAST-  How can I exclude my unplanned (always the best) helicopter ride up and down Fox and the Franz Josef glaciers, skirting the shoulders of Mounts Cook and Tasman, with a landing thrown in….if I could also sneakily include the “View of Views” (really, that’s what it is called) of the above from Lake Mathieson….all in the same vicinity.🚁🗻





5. ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK…..ask any Kiwi, and they will all recommend Abel Tasman as a must visit. I left it to my last excursion, but wow, it was worth it…..very tropical like in a temperate / semi tropical environment….with white sandy beaches, an azure blue ocean and a backdrop of rain forest and mountains….it really was stunning. 🏝️





6. CYCLE TRAILS PER SE! After primarily riding road bikes and racing on roads for 12 years, I’d forgotten how exhilarating and pleasant it is to ride off road, and especially on trails…the sound of the tyre over the compressed shale was so welcome. And of course being NZ, most of the trails included dramatic scenery, an example standout being during the Alps 2 Ocean 3 days ride, the single track between Omarama and Otematata above Lake Benmore was unreal, and I had it all to myself. Even squeezed in a couple of MTB days out on the Coppermine Trail at Nelson and the MTB Park at Kaiteriteri. 🚴‍♂️🚵





7. THE WILDLIFE. Perhaps not as exotic as the relatively close neighbour, Australia…but there is still joy in taking my binoculars and camera for a day out, in a new environment. There were still new finds such as the ubiquitous Tui and the Wax Eye, plus the Bellbird and Morepork (owl). Throw in the Oamaru Blue and Yellow Eyed Penguins. 🐧Never tired of seeing the rather Jurassic looking Spoonbill…and privileged to clock the only mainland nesting site of the Albatross. Then there are the mammals…seals galore of differing species. Sea lions, dolphins and even a Sperm Whale….all good stuff! 🦉🐦🦭🐬🐳

8. QUEENSTOWN - Lakes combined with a dramatic mountain backdrop are always a winner for me, but the vistas at Queenstown really do take some beating, possibly a close second would be the nearby Wanaka. 😍The venues for the week for The Main Event of course. Queenstown also attracts those adrenaline junkies, with even yours truly being catapulted down the Shotover Gorge on a jetboat with Jamie, was great fun, although 30 minutes was ample for Abuelo. 🗻🚤





9. CHRISTCHURCH. The only real sizeable city on the South Island, but very pleasant and chilled. 🥰Newly designed and landscaped in the centre after the traumas of the earthquake ten years ago…very interesting to visit the Quake City museum and hear the accounts of locals immediately after the earthquake and then how they reflect ten years later. Also had direct conversation with locals while on the hoof. Close proximity to the dramatic Banks Peninsula and the volcanic crater setting of Akoroa is a bonus too.😍 Also returned with Jamie and Katie, and had two really nice days.

10. FAMILY - Ok I lied. Last and probably first on the list. Casting eyes on my Grandaughter, Sienna, for the very first time in the flesh, was very emotional and the experience will never leave me….I can picture it now. ❤️💕❤️

Chasing closely that experience was The Big Day in Wanaka, seeing Becky for the first time when she was finally ready for the aisle, made this old padre very proud, with several missed heart beats. The whole day was beautiful. 😍❤️😍

Until the next time! 😎👍🥰

                                                                                   MORE NATURE!