LAKE TAKEPO
Jan 17, 2018
We departed Lyttleton on 17 Feb in a Wicked campervan, a converted Toyota. Our first night was at Lake Takepo which is a stunning light blue colored lake, fed by glaciers. We had our first starfilled night. In the evening a group of about 20 Chinese adults and children showed up, pitched tents, had storebought noodle bowls, and quietly departed around 6 the next morning.
QUEENSTOWN, NZ
Feb 18-20, 2018
On the 18th we drove to Queenstown, beautiful day, stopping at Lake Pukaki to catch our first glimpse of Mt Cook. There we had fun chatting with the pilot of a really cool drone. He and his partner also had a really well fit out van that gave me campervan envy. The drone had a 20min battery, and was able to return before running out and home in on the landing pad, or in this case, near to it At least it didn’t go into the lake.
We arrived in Queenstown later on the 18th, located a campground near the city and checked in for 2 nights. We walked around and learned that our interest in the old steamer yacht Earnslaw for a dinner cruise was dashed when we found out she was booked until the end of the week. Chinese New Year, once again, Also, the weather was not going in the right direction so it was doubtful we’d be able to get the fly-cruise-fly tour of Milford Sound, one of the fjords closest to Queenstownt. The drive was too far, the lodging there too limited, so if we couldn’t do the flight, then we’d miss Milford Sound.
WANAKA, NZ
Feb 21, 2018
On the 20th, still raining, we left for Wanaka, reported to be a beautiful lakeside town. Cyclone Gita was rolling in and the rain continued all day. We arrived mid day and searched for a motel room to be out of the expected heavy rains and winds. As we expected nearly everything showed “no vacancy”. A few places we stopped and inquired at suggested, “try the Oak Ridge”. We called and learned there was a room, very expensive!!! but we decided after doing the NZ to US dollar conversion that it was better than getting cold and soaked. When we checked in about 30 min later, there was another guest, then getting the last room. Probably the last room in the area!!! We had a warm room, a hot shower and made our way to the highly recommended (a couple in Nelson) farm to table Ode Restaurant for a wonderful 8 course dinner with wine pairings. A high rated farm to table small restaurant and the main course offered was some wild shot venison (as opposed to the farm raised here!) with a short rib braised for many hours and a section of steak. and of course all the little plops and dabs of special flavorings. They are so committed to only cooking with locally sourced ingredients, that when I said the apple crumble with hazelnuts topped with homemade peach ice cream, might have been a bit better with homemade vanilla ic, the response was, NZ doesn’t grow vanilla!! With the wine pairings, we had a wonderful meal.
FRANZ JOSEPH GLACIER, NZ
Feb 22, 2018
Went to the base of the glacier and hiked up the trail to the viewing area just below it. Due to it’s instability we could not get closer. However, for the afternoon, Thom treated me to an heli flight up to the Franz Joseph and Fox glaciers, with views of Mt Cook and over the divide to the east, and with a short landing on top of Fox. Beautiful, perfect day – sunny and warm, and even on the glacier in a tshirt, it wasn’t cold!!!
OKARITO AND ARTHUR’S PASS, NZ
Feb 23-24, 2018
We’re finally getting this system working – everything is down to who does what, when. I keep the bed in order in spite of the fact that when we drive we have to roll up a portion of it to get the seats upright; and I get things out, and put things away. Thom works on the cooking and dish cleanup in the campground kitchen.
After a brief visit to Okarito, on the coast, we started to head back to Christchurch, and another stay in Lyttleton, stopping part way in Arthur’s Pass, in one of the best campgrounds we’ve seen, very private tent (unpowered) sites – immaculate and well thought out bathrooms/showers, that even have heat. That’s really nice and we haven’t seen that here. Kitchen has everything including dishes and cutlery so we’ll cook our chicken and lamb sausage on the BBQ there tonight, and have easy cleanup. Also have peas and salad, and the hosts have a great garden and have put a pile of onions, kale and apple cucumbers up for use. We’ve even put in an order for tomorrow’s egg supply from the resident chickens.
During the night, when Thom stepped out to answer nature, he nearly tripped over a Kiwi, elusive and nocturnal. It was a female by the sound of her screech. Both were startled!!