Easter holiday trip day five

Although we might not drive until midday, we stood up at six and I had a shower and an instant coffee. After that we packed our stuff and put it all back in the car and waited at the petrol station until seven. Five past a car arrived and parked near the station with a sign: “for sale”. The man who got off the car was fortunately the owner of the station and asked us, if we made a opening party here!
With a full tank, we were ready to explore Akaora. First we walked to the lighthouse, which actually stood on the cape and not at the harbour. By car we reached the southern point of this peninsula and had a fantastic view of the shore and the ocean. There was nothing else around us apart from many sheep.

We also looked for an old Maori church but it was impossible to find it! And after a long time, we went on right to Queenstown. We drove most of the time, because on this part of the road there weren’t very interesting places. It still rained partly and it stopped, when we arrived at Tekapo Lake. It’s a nice blue water lake, which a small church on its lakeside, but for me it was too touristy.

We didn’t have much traffic, though that today is Easter Monday and most of the people were on the way back home, like us. It seemed to be common to travel by car with a boat on the trailer. Today, we passed more boats then one lane bridges on the west coast and there are a lot!
At quarter to five we arrived at Lake Hayes and put out Anna near her home stay and drove quickly to the petrol station in Frankton, filled up and almost in time we arrived at the parking of juicy rental. After we put all luggage and rubbish out of the car and brought back the key, I walked home and the other took the next bus home.
That’s the end of our Easter journey and we have now lots of impressions of the southern island after we drove about 2400 km! The other parts, which we couldn’t visit, are already marked for several week-end trips!

Easter holiday trip day four

On Sunday morning it rained again, but while we drove to Kaikura, the weather changed and we could almost see the sunrise, loomed in the distance. The routes on the East cost are pretty good and before we arrived in Kaikura, we’d seen a big, lazy fur seal colony. Some lay on the rocks and others played or fought and I could unwind while watching them. At nine we arrived in Kaikura and booked our cruise to see some whales. We knew already that the next trip starts at half past nine and we were good luck to catch one of the last tickets.

Of course we saw a whale, but this one was really boring and not interested to show some tricks. Instead he (there are no female whales here – too cold) did twenty minutes the same thing: breathing, showing some part of his back and his nose. Finally he dove under and showed us he’s lovely tail. Unfortunately we didn’t found any other whales and ran out of time, after two hours on the sea. Before we reached the harbour, we found a big swarm of dolphins. They were awesome! Some showed us their jumping skills, other how they could interact with our boat and other ones their synchronous swim style. They definitely saved our day!
We stayed in town and shared an ocean platter with crayfish. It was a bit small for four people, but enough to forget our hunger.

We left Kaikura very late, after half past two and we still had a long we to our destination “Akaroa”, a French settlement. Some kilometres before Christchurch we had driven the first time on a motorway, but that didn’t matter, because on almost all routes you can drive up to 100km/h. More important was that we missed the route which goes around Christchurch and we drove in the centre of this city! Some roads were still closed and we saw some ruins of buildings. We also learned that’s not a good idea to look for cover in a church, they all were heavily damaged!
Finally we found a way out and were back on our route to Akaroa. Unfortunately we lost some time and arrived at seven.

We didn’t book for an accommodation, because there were five backpackers. That was a failure: The backpackers in town were full and in all only three beds left. But there were still some outside of the town. We drove fifteen minutes on a tiny road and were led by some signs to the hostel but we didn’t reach it. We were forced to stop in front of a gate with the sign on it “This track and the hostels are closed for the winter” – dam! In addition the light for petrol popped up and we drove directly back to town. We found another hostel, which wasn’t in our guide, but it was also full. But fortunately, the woman there recommended us a cheap hotel in town in which we finally stayed. We were still in time to ate dinner at the hotel, which is normally only between six and eight. However, the rooms were quiet small but still cheap for 25 bucks each. Anna asked when the petrol station in this street would open tomorrow and the barkeeper wasn’t sure. “Normally at seven o’clock. But tomorrow is ANZAC day, (to remember the fallen soldiers) and I can’t open until one pm. So maybe the patrol station would also be closed, that’s the law”, he replied. We were flabbergasted, because we had to be back in Queenstown at five pm, to bring the car back, and we’ll need six to seven hours driving!

Easter holiday trip day three

On Saturday we stood up at half past five, because we had a long drive to Golden Bay, in the north of the southern island. The weather was still overcast and on the upper part of our way, the visibility was really bad. But finally we arrived at Farewell Spit and went also to the Whakariki Beach. A small path led us to the huge beach with lots of sand – beautiful.

It was almost lunch time and we were very hungry. In Takaka we went in a supermarket and bought something to eat. But it started to rain heavily and there was no place to take lunch! So we drove an hour to the next bigger city (Motueka) and ate under the edge of a roof.
After we all had eaten enough, we went on, right to Nelson and further to Picton. Normally there you have a nice view on parts of Marlborough Sounds, but it was still too cloudy. In Picton you could take the ferry to Wellington, but we wanted to go in the opposite direction. After a Guinness in an Irish pub (Victor drove) we went to Blenheim and stayed in a backpacker, which was similar to the last one but not the same quality and smaller.

Easter holiday trip day two

We stood up at six o’clock, drove to the Glacier parking and walked an hour through the forest to a look out point. There we had a great view of the Fox Glacier. But that wasn’t enough for us and we walked back, drove to Franz Josef Glacier and did another walk. This one was a bit overcrowded and I didn’t get a buzz from walking to the glacier (it was not really exciting), but still nice.

After a small lunch in the village we drove again on the West coast, passing Hokitika, Greymouth and Punakaki, and arrived at the Pancake-rocks (I don’t really know why they call them so ;-)). At dusk we arrived on the beach near Westport and took some good pictures and could hardly see some seals. Our travel guide also described an old lighthouse, so we decided to visit it. Unfortunately it doesn’t exist anymore! We saw just the place where it was and near by a newer one, but it was one big fake! There was just a small flash light to attract insects and tourists. We went on until Murchison, where we found a really good accommodation: The old bank. We had a complete house with two bedrooms, a big living and dining room, a kitchen and two bathrooms for 25 bucks each.

Easter holiday trip day one

This Thursday morning was really excited. First of all we had a fake fire alarm shortly after the lesson had started. Secondly we left school in the break and went to the airport to pick up our car. Despite my reservation, which I did two weeks before, the car wasn’t booked and this kind of car wasn’t available anymore. Unfortunately I couldn’t proof my booking and that I asked twice at the phone if the car is booked. After all we could rent a newer car, which cost normally ten bucks more a day but we had to pay only five more.
We had enough time to familiarise with the car. For everybody who doesn’t know that we drive here on the left side, you know it now. First lesson: drive out of the parking lot. It started pretty good but when I wanted to take the flash lights on, to signalise in which direction I want to drive, I put on the window cleaner! This will happen a few times more, especially when I’ll have to react quickly.
With lots of baggage, more bags with food and after lunch we (I, Victor, Vincenzo, and Daniela) picked up Anna at her home and drove to Wanaka and then to Haast. We took pictures, did a little walk down to the river and arrived finally in the evening in Fox Glacier. It was by no means unusual to pass a one lane bridge on our way to the West cost! In addition the sky here was overcast and we couldn’t see the sunset.

In Fox Glacier we stayed in a backpacker, which I had booked two days before. There were just a few people and we had a bedroom on our own. I was very surprised to meet Gregor (a student from Germany) there, but I should have known it better. The first time I’ve met him was on top of Ben Lomond, then when he moved in and, on the next day, out of Victor’s home stay (his room was in the basement!) and now here. First he had other plans but finally he joined us and we’ll take the journey together.
For dinner we had grilled sausages, rice and beer. After we decided which way we would take tomorrow, we went to bed early.

Easter holiday trip

Today is the last day in school this week. At lunchtime we'll get our car, pick up Vincenzo and Daniela and buy some food in two world. After that we'll drive to Anna and pick her up at home.

I'm sure this will be great!

4rd week

On Tuesday was a BBQ at Victor’s home stay. The reason for this was to help the Thai students at school to meet other people, because they were normally all together and speak Thai instead of English. Before dinner they played a game, in which they had to find out who lives in Europe, on an Island, etc. In a nutshell, it was pretty noisy.
However, there were lots and lots of sausages and sliced bread, different salads and of course some local beers. After all had eaten enough we watched a movie about the south of the Southern Island on a big screen, in the basement of the house. That was pretty impressive and confirmed us to make a trip to Milford Sound in May. After all Victor’s host parents drove us home in a mini bus. They seemed to me very friendly, but I heard that this was an extraordinaire day at this home stay and didn’t reflect the normal life there in any aspects…

Thursday, 15th of April was New Year. Ok, not the New Year we normally celebrate but the Thai New Year. So it was quiet different and also a bit funny for us no Thai speakers. They celebrated with splashing water at each other until they were completely wet. (Un-)Fortunately we were a bit late and missed the big splash and were dry enough to stay in town and went on with our study group, this week we were at starbucks café, where we discussed our homework.

On Friday after school I stayed and watched the film “Despicable Me”. It’s an animated film about a super villain, who has to adopt three children to rich his aim, and of course they changed his life. It was quiet fun and for the first time we had popcorn and something to drink. After the film I took the next bus to Frankton, put my school stuff in my room, changed my clothes and took the next bus back to town. In the bus I met Anna and at the bus stop in Queenstown Joan and Victor. Together we looked for a good restaurant for dinner. We had some ideas where to go and at the end we went to "Ballarat Trading Company". I had a sirloin steak and we all enjoyed our meal with a glass of wine - delicious. We didn’t take any desert (or pudding) and walked through Queenstown to the next pub. Surprisingly there was nothing on (at half past eight ;-) ), so we moved on and passed Patagonia, where we couldn’t resist to buy an ice cream. It was quiet windy and when we finished eating our pudding; we went to cowboys, a nice pub in wild western style. You can play pool there or even riding a mechanical bull! But when time went on it became crowded, so we left the place, went to Winnies, just to see that nothing was on there and walked further to Buffalo. It was alright and about half past ten, Romana came a last time to town to enjoy going out in Queenstown. Unfortunately Joan wanted to catch his last regular bus at ten to eleven and Victor and Anna their bus at ten past.
So Romana and I went to Dux sub-culture, where Carina and her friends already rocked the place. A live band played well some good cover songs and it was just awesome. When the evening went on, Sabrina, Mana and one of his brothers joined us and we went to Winnies (again) where was now a bit of a party. Romana had to say goodbye, because she wanted to catch the bus on Saturday morning to Christchurch, where she’ll start her New Zealand trip. Carina knew a club at the steam wharf, where se had gone earlier this evening and they told her, she should come again after twelve, then it would be like a atomic explosion! Well, when we arrived at the place, it was like after an atomic explosion, almost dead and nobody there.
So we went to Buffalo (again), danced and played pool. When the girls disappeared, we left the club and found them outside coming back from Ferg Burgers, where they recharged their batteries. We passed the world bar (strange music) went into skyline bar (a bar, nothing more, boring) and tried to come into cowboys again, but we couldn’t and didn’t find out why not. So we went to the mini bar, which is in the opposite of cowboys. The bar is, like its name, really small and nothing more like the first floor of a house. It was ok to spend some time there until the night bus took me home at three o’clock.

If you could imagine, I didn’t save the world on Saturday morning, I slept in. xD
Then I listened to music, did some exercises in the workbook, read…, but I’m sure you don’t want to know this.

Sunday started even earlier, at six o’clock. I don’t know why, but I was a bit tired and didn’t get up quickly. In fact of that, the bus drove away, when I was leaving home. Fortunately I had enough time, so I walked to the bus shelter in Frankton, which wasn’t a big deal, although it was raining. Of course the bus to Wanaka wasn’t punctual and we (Victor, I and Vincenzo) had to wait. It was a small bus, which could take the smaller and shorter way to Wanaka and we arrived at half past eight. The weather was still bad and we decided not to take the glacier track, instead we would walk along the lake. But before we could start with our walk, I needed a real coffee (not an instant one) and Victor and Vincenzo a second breakfast.

Vincenzo stayed in town, because he wanted to visit a museum and so only Victor and I walked on. Along the lake were many coloured trees and so it took us longer because we stopped very often to take pictures. Some parts of the track were quiet boring and we had to walk on a gravel road or even beside a road. We had the chances to take a track around or up to Mt. Iron, but Victor wanted to go straight back to Wanaka. We arrived there at quarter to two and asked at the information centre how we could go to the plane museum. The woman at the desk told me that the museum is closed until August, but there is also a toy museum which has some real planes and vehicles. It didn’t sound so bad but there is no bus to the airport, where the museums are. In fact Wanaka has no public transports at all! So we walked through the city, which is really small and has no really centre, and met Vincenzo again on the beach. That’s the best part of Wanaka, because all the shops are at the other side of the street and at the beach are no buildings. We enjoyed the afternoon with beer and crisps (and Camembert!).

At 5 pm the bus came and we all left Wanaka. On this time the bus took another route over Cromwell, which is longer and not so exciting, but it didn’t matter because we all were tired.

42 Robertson St, Frankton

3rd week

I summarise the whole week in one part, because I don’t want you fall asleep while you reading my blog.
On Monday after school I played pool with Victor, Andrea and Romana. Despite the fact that Romana had played pool the first time here in New Zealand, she played very well with Andrea and we needed a third match to find out who played better.
It was one of the last days for Andrea in Queenstown and so we walked down to the beach and enjoyed viewing the beautiful panorama.
The next days were quiet normal and nothing special happened. On Thursday we went on with our study group. This time we studied at the airport after we found the juicy desk (local car rental) to book a car. The airport was the right place to study. It was calm, enough space on the tables and in a break we could watch the planes starting and landing.
Friday was finally good enough to go paragliding again. On the second flight there was a quiet strong wind, so I could soaring in front of the take off place for a few minutes- Awesome!

On Saturday I rent a bike and did a biking trip with Victor and Romana to Moke Lake. Victor had his own bike, which he bought this week, and Romana used the one of her host mum. Unfortunately it wasn’t very suitable for biking and had a baby seat on the back! xD
The first part of our trip was on the board of the lake and it went up and down. Then came a first steep part of the total 350m altitude difference. After that part the street changed to a gravel road and went slightly up to the highest passage of our trip so far. Actually we were now higher than the lake and we could easily drive down to the lake. The view there was magnificent and it was almost quiet around us.
After the lunch we decided to take an other way back, though that Romana had to go back to Arthurs Point, which is higher located than Queenstown. Firstly the way was comfortable and went slightly up and down, on the same gravel road. Then it started to go up and down more steeper and the road changed to a path with smaller and bigger rocks on it. Most of the path were so narrow, that you touched the ground with the pedals, when you wanted to bike! So we walked and on some places you had to carry your bike, because there was no other option.
Despite of that it was a great journey and we finally came to Arthurs Point.
Just in time I arrived at the bike store, to give my bike back at half past five. I went home by bus and after dinner I fell asleep quickly.

On Sunday I woke up at half past six, but not of the fact that I couldn’t sleep, no, it was because my alarm clock rang!
The reason of this early Sunday morning was that I met Victor at quarter to eight in Town. Together with his home stay mates (Vinzenzo and Daniela) and some girls from school (Sabrina and Carina) we wanted to climb Ben Lomond (1500m difference). After we bought something to eat and drink in the local bakery (really good) we started our walk at the gondola station. It took us over an hour to go up to the upper station, but because the gondola started to run after nine o’clock, we had to wait for Sabrina and Carina. They both have the annual pass for the gondola (like me) and didn’t want to walk up when they could take the gondola for free.
We walked about 3 hours from the Gondola Station to the summit of Ben Lomond. Normally we walked together, but for the last part we split up in pairs, so that everyone could walk in his own speed. I and Victor had the aim to stay on the top at midday. We increased our speed and reached the top at three to twelve-yeah! I was very hungry and the first thing I did was to eat a banana- I’ve never eaten a so tasty banana before! ;-)
On top we had a full 360 degree panorama. We could see Queenstown and most of Wakatipu Lake. Furthermore we saw where we biked yesterday, because the track went around Ben Lomond. It was also a bit windy up there and I was glad to have a jacket with me.

The way down wasn’t a big deal, but I would remember it the next few days, specially my thighs. In total we needed eight hours to stand again in Queenstown, inclusive all the little and bigger breaks. This evening I was even more tired and I went to bed at 9 o’clock.

42, Robertson St, Frankton