Christmas 2010

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Neil & I left home on boxing day, heading for Twizel. Weather started off nice & sunny, slight S.wester giving us a tailwind most of the way there. We stopped in Oamaru for groceries etc, stopping an hour or so later for a fishing licence in Omarama. While there, we checked to see if the kids scratched initials were still on the our original PO Box, 12yrs after engraving the same.

The weather clouded over Sunday evening just as we finished setting up camp at the much improved Ruataniwha motor camp. Its a popular spot, plenty of room for the kids to run around, lots of places to park to. Sure enough, I heard to sound of the forecasted rain on the roof in the middle of the night, that rain turn to continuous by 9am, by afternoon flooding the camping area where I was parked. I took off, visiting the town centre, info centre then spent a few hours catching up with friends in town.




It rain the rest of the day, that night, only letting up when I departed 10am the next morning. I was heading to Timaru, via Tekapo. The rain returned here, turning parts of the highway into running streams. By the time I reached Timaru, parked up and snoozed, the weather had improved, even the sun shone as I collected Helen from the bus station. We planned to stay at Southbridge POP, but approaching Rakaia, the road was blocked by floodwater, so we detoured and spent the night at Methvan Domain motorcamp.

Lovely weather that morning, stayed that way for the rest of the trip. We had an appointment in Chch, after attending to that, we took a slow drive to Arthurs Pass. Stoping at Waimakerari Gorge for lunch, before retracing our steps, looking though Darfield, Springfield, Castle Hill township, did a few walks at Castle Hill Reserve where there were lots of rock climbers trying their best on the many boulders about. We stopped for a coffee at the Bealey Hotel admiring the scenery & Moa statue. Finally came to rest at Klondyke Corner DoC reserve for the night.

Lovely nights sleep, woken to the dawn chorus of Kea, Morepork and Magpies. Following breakfast, we drove to Arthurs Pass, too early for the opening of the Info centre, so we did a couple of the walks, Bridal Veil Falls then the Punchbowl. After looking through the Info centre, we headed east, stopping at Cave Stream to check out the site. Lunch at Jo Seagers in Oxford, finally ending the day at Culverden Domain Camping Ground. Nice sunset that evening.

 


Next day, after another early (8am ) start, we continued towards the Lewis Pass, stopping at Silvia Flats to check the natural riverside hot pools. Coffee at Maruia Springs thermal resort, then a lookover Marble Hill reserve. Im particularly interested in the Alpine Fault and to my delight, just a few minutes walk away was a detailed Info board and concrete wall located at the exact location. I took the few minutes walk to the nearby river gorge, then headed back to the motorhome and drove to the POP at Murchison. It was a hot afternoon, after looking over the town, chatting to the POP residents, I went on a 90min walk to a lookout above the town. 


 


Next morning, up and away early. Stopped at Kawatiri taking in the Tunnel walk… then stopped at St Arnaud for coffee and a look around the DoC info centre. They have a very good 20min Park flyover video on screen, which took my interest. Shame you can buy the video. We spent the better part of an hour here, looking at all the walks available, must return another time for a longer stay. We ended the day at Blenheim Racecourse POP and very nice it is too. The next few days we spent days at Picton, Havlock/Pelorus Bridge and Whites Bay on the last day, before we flew to Akld for my three days work at Mt Eden Prison.





Helen flew direct to Dunedin while I returned to Blenheim, picked up the M/home, staying the night at Ward Beach and finally Ealing before returning home on he Sunday, two weeks after setting off.