Earth 2010

Campervan Days 4 and 5

Hi-de-hi campers! Two for the price of one today, we’re trying to catch-up so you get our adventures as they happen.

After a lovely sunrise at our ocean side pitch in Kaikoura we drove up to the peninsula to look for seals, but only found one. The colony must be on holiday.

We then set off inland to Hamner Springs, a thermal resort in the mountains. We did not partake of the waters when we arrived, mainly because it was a hot Sunday afternoon and it looked more like Wet’n’Wild  in Orlando than a luxurious thermal spa experience. Though we did have a champagne supper at the campsite: as Julie London says ‘chilli con carne and sparkling champagne…’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day we headed through the Southern Alps to the West Coast. On the way we looked for a picnic spot, but they mainly looked like lay-bys. Eventually we came across the Brunner Mine, an old New Zealand coal mine and heritage site. Famous for its restored bridge across the ‘Grey River’ – that is its name (and it lives up to it). If I’d have known there was a flushable toilet on the site, I wouldn’t have used our porta-loo before we walked down to the bridge. The joys of campervanning; remember its only number ones though!

We continued down to the seaside town of Hokitika. Found our pitch for the night, next to a milk factory this time. We then went for a stroll along the waterfront to sunset point. But alas this is the land of the long white cloud, so there was no sun to be seen, but Paul did find a relaxing spot, see the pic below. Strangely enough we had a wonderful supper at the Café de Paris.

Anyhoo, look at the pics in the album, there are plenty. More tomorrow!

Campervan Day 3

Hi-de-hi campers! Another packed day driving along the highways of the South Island. We drove back to Picton from Nelson, this time along the Queen Charlotte scenic drive and discovered one wonderful bay after another.

 

We arrived back in Picton and had lunch at our favourite restaurant, the deck of the Echo – there is a fab pic or two in the album. Then we made our way to Kaikoura on the East Coast. Kaikoura is famous for whale watching and its seal colonies. We found a lovely pitch right by the ocean. But again the camp was more hi-de-hi than ho-de-ho, but the views made up for it, see the pic below for a camper’s eye view.

At this park we emptied our first toilet cassette – like to keep you well informed. Don’t worry it’s only for number ones.

Anyhoo, more tomorrow. Don’t forget to look at the album, my knuckles are going white holding onto the arms of my seat as we drive along the roads to get these pics.

 

 

 

Campervan Day 2

Hi-de-hi campers! We left Picton bright and early after our first communal shower and set off on the road to Nelson (named after the famous Admiral).

We rattled our way up and down windy mountain roads, and were a bit perturbed at the stream of water that kept zooming across the floor from the toilet/shower cubicle. Needless to say everything seems to have sorted itself out, fingers crossed. Though there was a moment when we going downhill, an enormous roar came from the back of the van like a Tsunami. Thankfully it was just our cases rolling down the aisle – they were too big for the overhead compartments! But fit handily into the shower cubicle, when we are not moving. Kiki is so versatile!

On the drive in Paul’s ever elusive search for the perfect Sound we climbed a mountain, up a single track road and wound our way down the other side to find the perfect picnic spot pictured below. It was called Tennyson’s Inlet and we had it to ourselves. The cheese and jam sandwiches were lovely and we made a cup of tea on the gas stove.

We finally arrived in Nelson and found a perfect pitch right by the beach though the camp was more hi-de-hi than ho-de-ho; shall we say in a 1950s style.

Anyhoo, more tomorrow. Don’t forget to look at the pics in the album we drove over mountains to get them!