So we have now technically been on two honeymoons- our own and now Jase & Kerryn's....
5 days after the ironman Jase & Kerryn tied the knot. Personally Shannon & I thought this was no mean feet- getting married and an ironman in one week!
Off to the South Island for 2 weeks with a shocking forecast ahead. It is a relief that not only the UK has iffy summers but also the forecasts are often wrong!
Our rough route
Nelson- Wine & Abel Tasman
As if the wedding and post IM celebrations were not enough it was good to start the trip with some wine tasting. Abel Tasman is the smallest national park but worth the visit. Hugging the North East coast of the South Island you enter the park by sea taxi. Choosing a 4 hour route we were dropped off at one of the beaches. With limited development, the path really is peaceful and very picturesqe. You can canoe & camp but these options were not even contemplated.
Nelson - Hokitika
Hills, wind, windy roads and rain. Welcome to the endearing aspects of the West Coast. Trying to find a camp site in the pouring rain we were warned that they expected snow- this is supposed to be the late summer. Leaving the campsite it started hailing. A motel was the preferred choice. To be honest- we found a local bar and that was about all we found in Hokitika.......
Hokitika - Franz Josef Glacier - Fox Glacier
Glacier walking was perfectly timed with the end of the rain- though Shannon and I were woefully under prepared. Doning all the rented kit we heading towards the mighty glacier- one of only a few that are still growing (I will spare you the details). That is, with about 30 other people. The views really showed why that film (Lord of Rings) was made in NZ. We deliberately avoided going on film location tours to see random tree stumps.
On to Fox- a lovely small village at the base of Fox Glacier and overlooked by Mount Cook. A better place to stay with a great feel to it- a bit like a small ski village. It was also one of our nights under canvass. Not thinking that being in the mountains and near glaciers may indicate a cooler climate we settled for the night - we were freezing in Kerryn's childhood sleepover sleeping bags. Perhaps not the best choice after having to scrape ice off the windshield of our rental car.
At this point I should add that there were two tents- J&K needed some QT to themselves.
How cold!!! It was to temper the nights spent camping for the rest of the trip.
Wanaka- Arrowtown- Queenstown
All the normall activities of - the shotover boat ride through the canyon, river sledging, gondola, along with a stop at the Cadrona Hotel between Wanaka and Queenstown.
Arrowtown is a small town close to Queenstown and is the closest you will get to a historic place. Founded during the gold rush it has kept the old street feel yet introduced all the modern tourist shops- coffee shops and galleries.
The day trip to Milford Sound was long but worth it- not only for the boat ride but also the dramatic views to get there. It was however, where the sand flys came into their own. Unfortunately Shannon was the group decoy so the rest of us got out relatively unscathed!
Christchurch- Blenheim
The most english of towns in the south island, with the River Avon running through it. The touristy punt through the town was fun but a bit short and can not be compared to the trips in Oxford or Cambridge.
Heading north to Blenheim and more wine tasting, Hamner Springs offered a brief detour. Warm springs but most importantly water slides for the kids. After a few dumby runs, Jason was to win the time trial (though this was due to greater weight I am sure).
Staying at an Alpaca (soft-fur llama) breeding farm was the perfect base. When not wine tasting the update on the mating progress of Ferrari, the frisky male alpaca, provided much amusement. We think that Ferrari had lost his mojo due to the pressure caused by Syllvester, the "benchwarmer" or "first reserve" male, keeping a watchful eye on him and the two young ladies he had been given to entertain. Latest news is that Syllvester is still preventing Ferrari from performing his duties.
Hunters, Scott Allen and Cloudy Bay were but a few wines savoured. An evening at Whitehaven should not be missed.
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