Week 3

Hello from Raglan, surfers paradise. But that's for week 4.

Week 3 was our last week in the campervan. It was a sad morning the day we returned it to the depot, we'd definitely bonded during our brief time together. Anyway the sadness didn't last for long. We flew to the north island where it was goodbye Maui (name of motorhome), hello room service and mains water supply - yippee!

From Wanaka we snaked up to Franz Josef in the pouring rain, ideal conditions in which to appreciate this temperate rainforest area. The glacier here, which stretches down to the rainforest was pretty impressive, but we decided to give the helichopper rides - which take you up and onto the clean white bits - a miss.

Exiting Franz Josef meant the big drive north and east back across the main divide of the Southern Alps, which saw Yvette doing some extended stints at the wheel successfully negotiating tortuous mountain passes, one lane bridges and multiple rail crossings ! Our stop for the night was Hanmer Springs, a popular and posh thermal springs resort. The next day we sampled the hot and slightly smelly pools, giving us a taste of things to come in the volcanic north island next week.

For our final adventures before leaving the South Island we chose Kaikoura, as a base to do their famous Whale watching trip. Sadly, we brought some nasty British weather with us, which meant the sea was too rough and the trip was cancelled. So we headed back to Christchurch first thing, and got in an afternoon of wandering around some quality teashops and bars.

It would seem the windy weather was the precursor of Cyclone Wati which has covered most of the country particularly the north and east with torrential downpours, which has somewhat foiled our plans for a relaxing few days by the sea-side. But as ever we have managed to find other amusements for our final week down under (and to the east a bit) .................