Better to travel hopefully ... ?
What to do? To run around like a mad thing in the hope of seeing all the things you want to, or to chill, take it easy, realise you can't fit everything you want to do in the time available and just enjoy what you can?
Fortunately, Iona's chilled approach won the day, so instead of heading way down south, we've been taking it easy-ish for the last week and a half.
After Nelson, we headed down the coast to Punakaiki; home of pancake rocks and rather magnificent blowholes. Weather was kind to us, and we had a fabulous walk in the rain forest. We then took the road less travelled. Rather than heading south to glaciers and fiordland, we took the Arthurs Pass road to Arthurs Pass Village. There's some great walking around here, and we were dead impressed with the sunny walk up to Devils Punchbowl waterfall. Unfortunately, the rain set in that evening, and the next day dawned grey and wet also. Fortunately, we'd taken the precaution of booking into a fab backpackers cottage, with roaring log stove and comfy sofas. That day passed happily doing nowt in particular, but when Sunday dawned with the same weather, we though we'd better get out in the open. So, a couple of wet walks later we were back to the log fire.
Next day was a beaut, and we headed off to climb Avalanche Peak. We got above the treeline and had some fab views, but the going got a bit hairy and Iona suffered some terrible wounds*, so we just enjoyed the view and headed back down.
Looking at the map, we thought the Banks Peninsular would be a good way to round off the hols, and we were right. NZ is a pretty chilled place, and Akaroa, the main town on the Banks, is the epitome of chilledness. More great scenery, more great walks, and some sea kayaking, lying on deserted beaches and even a trip to a sixteen seat cinema meant we headed to Christchurch quite relaxed.
Had a great birthday here. Well, a great birthday except for a terrible round of golf. Fortunately, a plush meal and a bottle of champers bought from our wine tour took the edge off that.
Then it was time to take Iona to the airport. We've had an absolutely terrific time together, and I'm going to miss her like crazy. The next three months can't go too quickly really.
*Slight exageration
Fortunately, Iona's chilled approach won the day, so instead of heading way down south, we've been taking it easy-ish for the last week and a half.
After Nelson, we headed down the coast to Punakaiki; home of pancake rocks and rather magnificent blowholes. Weather was kind to us, and we had a fabulous walk in the rain forest. We then took the road less travelled. Rather than heading south to glaciers and fiordland, we took the Arthurs Pass road to Arthurs Pass Village. There's some great walking around here, and we were dead impressed with the sunny walk up to Devils Punchbowl waterfall. Unfortunately, the rain set in that evening, and the next day dawned grey and wet also. Fortunately, we'd taken the precaution of booking into a fab backpackers cottage, with roaring log stove and comfy sofas. That day passed happily doing nowt in particular, but when Sunday dawned with the same weather, we though we'd better get out in the open. So, a couple of wet walks later we were back to the log fire.
Next day was a beaut, and we headed off to climb Avalanche Peak. We got above the treeline and had some fab views, but the going got a bit hairy and Iona suffered some terrible wounds*, so we just enjoyed the view and headed back down.
Looking at the map, we thought the Banks Peninsular would be a good way to round off the hols, and we were right. NZ is a pretty chilled place, and Akaroa, the main town on the Banks, is the epitome of chilledness. More great scenery, more great walks, and some sea kayaking, lying on deserted beaches and even a trip to a sixteen seat cinema meant we headed to Christchurch quite relaxed.
Had a great birthday here. Well, a great birthday except for a terrible round of golf. Fortunately, a plush meal and a bottle of champers bought from our wine tour took the edge off that.
Then it was time to take Iona to the airport. We've had an absolutely terrific time together, and I'm going to miss her like crazy. The next three months can't go too quickly really.
*Slight exageration
posted by Johnnie at Saturday, February 18, 2006
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