Didn't realise we were being driven double-headed, how exciting
Backpacker's hostel where I stayed in Wellington. Lovely old Art Deco hotel
Wellington railway station
In my element, leaning out of the outside observation car
Back in Hamilton
Irish guy, Don, in guess what......yes, an Irish bar. He had an overnight bus to Wellington to catch. I had to stay in Hamilton for the night, as it was a sunday, and no buses to Graham's place in Tauranga. So a few hours to kill. Don't remember leaving, I guess he got the bus
Back in Tauranga and standing on top of Mt Maunganui next to survey station
View from top
and again
and again
Back to Auckland tomorrow (monday) and then Sydney and hopefully catch up with Mike Windsor's mate Charles, and Shaun and Doreen, although I've emailed them but heard nothing back yet
Bungy jumping off the bridge. The guys were having an hour's break, so I decided I didn't have time to do a jump. I would have done one........not really!
View to river below
On bridge, thinking about doing a jump
Queenstown
And again
Drive across the Pisa Range between Queenstown and Wanaka to miss out main road
Lake Pukaki with Mt Cook in the background
Lake Tekapo
Herd of Alpacas
Back to cell for Thursday evening, early start in morning to get train from Cristchurch back up to the North Island
Beautiful country....a lot bigger than I thought.Took 6 hrs to drive from Christchurch to here. Had a pint in a bar overlooking the lake. Then took an Indian take-away back to the motel room; as I always say...."when in Rome". Off to Queenstown tomorrow; bungy jumping?...probably not And in the evening
Wanaka Lake in the afternoon
RiverWaitaki
Oops, don't know how she got in here
Hired an old Nissan Bluebird with 200,ooo km on the clock. It was very cheap....strange that.View on the way to Wanaka
Outside, showing the old main gate
View from the lobby of the hostel
Backpackers hostel. An old prison. So your room is an old cell.
Nice scenery on the journey to Christchurch. Had a nice bottle of Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Subtle aromatic flavours, which seemed to whisper a sweet "hello" Pretentious, moi?
"Kiwi Rail"engine that took us to Christchurch. Did you know New Zealand railways are a narrower gauge than back home? I didn't either. Isn't that interesting
Picton railway station
Arriving at Picton
View from ferry approaching Picton. New Zealanders are some of the most friendly people on earth. Strange accent though. Anouncement on ferry "no smoking on the ship...pessingers who want to smoke should go on the outside dicks"
Leaving Wellington on the ferry to Picton on the South Island
Mt Ngauruhoe. Last erupted 1926 Both these scenes used in Lord of the Rings
Multi-peaked Mt Ruapehu, active volcano near the lake
Hamilton to Wellington. Left Tauranga and got bus to Hamilton; unfortunately the bus arrived late and the train left early, so missed the train. So got the bus.This is a view of Lake Taupo on the way
Over 12hr flight from Santiago to Auckland. Arrived at 4 in the morning and hung around drinking loads of coffee until I phoned Graham (used to work at Warners; emigrated about 8yrs ago) and got the bus to Tauranga on the Bay of Plenty, where he lives. Also contacted Barry another ex Warner man, who lives close by. First day of rain since I left UK....first day chilling out having a few beers and early night to get rid of jet lag. Following day went to Rotorua with Barry, Joy and a couple of their friends, Ted and Sylvia. Passed through some lovely countryside on the way to the Maori Park. Weather superb View as you enter Te Puia Maori Centre, Rotorua
Bubbly mudpool
Geyser
2 old geezers, Barry and me
Touristy bit with the Maori welcome
Hot springs
A bird
Graham, me and Matt the Maori, outside Graham's house
Me with Joy (Barry's wife)
Barry and Joy are looking after this beachside pad.Lovely dinner party with copius amounts of wine and delicious food....thanks Joy!
View along beach (Papamoa) outside the house with Mount Maunganui in the background, which Graham and I are climbing next week when I get back from the South Island. Getting train tomorrow morning (sunday) from Hamilton to Wellington, on route to South Island
This part was the tedious bus trips to get from Bariloche to Mendoza in Argentina, then across the Andes to Santiago. 26 hrs altogether on 3 buses, but was about a tenth of the cost of flying.Left the camera in the hold, so no pictures as we crossed the Andes. Usual mountain scenery. Hairy moments as we descended from the highest point on the route down the steep winding road without barriers, with the Chilean driver driving like a maniac. Got into Santiago at 4 in the afternoon absolutetly knackered and quickly found a hotel.
Santa Lucia Park near the hotel
Entrance to the park at the foot of the Cerro San Cristobel...which was where I had wanted to go to the top of the hill, to the statue of the Virgin Mary, where you are supposed to have a fantastic view of the city with the Andes as a backdrop. It would have meant a trip on the funicular railway. But guess what? The municipal workers decided to strike the day I arrived for 2 days....so the entrance was blockaded by strikers and no-one allowed in Bloody strikers
View of Cerro San Cristobal from Santa Lucia park, which I was hoping to get to the top. Growing more fond of Chilean wine. Off to airport in the evening to catch flight
Didn't realise we were being driven double-headed, how exciting
Backpacker's hostel where I stayed in Wellington. Lovely old Art Deco hotel
Wellington railway station
In my element, leaning out of the outside observation car
Back in Hamilton
Irish guy, Don, in guess what......yes, an Irish bar. He had an overnight bus to Wellington to catch. I had to stay in Hamilton for the night, as it was a sunday, and no buses to Graham's place in Tauranga. So a few hours to kill. Don't remember leaving, I guess he got the bus
