Freejan

Ok so no problem with bank. Onwards and upwards! We were now into single track bridges country and a competition was set up by driver to see who got the nearest to the correct number – adding that there were thousands. As the driver had the bad news that he had to drive on to Queenstown as soon as he arrived in Wanaka, we never knew who won but a girl from Chile said she fell asleep after the 23rd she counted. We had gone over a ‘shared’ bridge the day before – trains and traffic – fun! Our next stop was at Ship Creek where we were all bitten by sandflies as we went Aw! Ooo! at the beauty of it. We looked for green gemstone which all people are allowed to do in NZ. All people can walk on all beaches and forests – even private if there is such a thing with beaches and forests. The national parks protect the flora, fauna and animals ( except possums it seems!). We entered the Haast region and our next stop was Thunder Falls Creek. The pale milky blue of the river, the tropical ferns and trees and the huge waterfall were a sight to behold! The walking to these places was not easy for me but very much worth the effort. We moved towards Aspiring Nat Park and Hobbit land. The hills were spectacular. My next mission, should I wish to accept it was a walk down to the blue pools. Now the walk was 15 min there and 15 back but we had to go over one of those wobbly bridges that only hold 15 at a time. Anyone who knows me in a wobbly bridge situation will know i showed great courage as we got 15 of us on the bridge and a stupid man came on the other way! I shouted go back but he wouldn’t and obviously had no clue about my panic! I am pleased to say I live to tell the tale! The blue pools gathered as rocks made the pale blue glacier water narrow as it went on down the valley. The pools were deep blue and sparkling and some daring young things jumped off a bridge there into the icy pools! Brrr! As we approached Lake Wanaka with a lot of ooing and arring the landscape became browner. Still mountainous but not as green.We passed Lake Harea and swung into beautiful Wanaka!
New Zealand uses 98% renewable energy and is a nuclear power free country – I will move here! Near Milford and Doubtful Sound is an underwater power station they are very proud of. “Totally sweet” as they would say round here!
Today has been a chilling/shopping/ emailing/ facebook catch up and blogging day. I have done a load of washing, dried it and even ironed my very creased trousers ready for creasing on departure day! I sat by the lake to eat a mandarin and remembered the lovely bbq and sunset cruise we had last night. We had joy we had fun we had mandarins in the sun!
My itinery is almost, and i use these words cautiously, sorted. Tomorrow i will book room for Te Anau where i also need to book a Doubtful Sound trip. Mega bucks but not as expenaive as flying over glaciers! I can’t believe how important being online is when travelling alone. Thank goodness for progress! I have a twin bedded room in a quiet hostel (Holly’s) all to myself. What more could i want on a birthday tomorrow?!

The time in Franz Joseph was spent mostly trying to get an email connection to Stray Travel who keep sending me the wrong itinery! I got on the bus Sun morning only to be told by Happy, our driver, that i wasn’t on the list! – well I’m here i say. He phones Stray who say all ok. From one aspect they are very good – often you wouldn’t know about places to stop between stops for the night and I have seen some beautiful sights. But and I know i shouldn’t start a sentence with but, but, their office organisation is a mess. Enough of my frustrations!
As we drove to Franz Joseph the landscape changed from rugged beaches with crashing waves to huge hills and tropical vegetation. One interesting stop was the pancake rocks. Stunning rock shapes all in layers like a pile of pancakes! The walk down to them was wooded and covered in a lot of New Zealand flax.
Franz Joseph and the Rainforest retreat seemed sort of Swiss or a typical hilly/mountainous ski resort. It is a centre based on the glacier there which is moving 7 times faster than it should, due to climate change. It is a worry for locals with a living based on tourism. I went out to do a bit of shopping and bought myself, at great expense, a poncho type jumper made from possum (very soft) and merino wool ( to give it strength). Very light and very warm in an air force blue colour. After another attempt to use wiffy I gave in and sat in the hot tub with a lovely young man from the Isle of Man who was on holiday from working on a farm in the north. I then showered and got ready for the pizza fest in the bar. I was early so had to have a beer while i was waiting! I had made friends with a couple of lovely girls called Claire and Nicola from just outside London and a lovely woman from Dublin got on the bus at Greymouth and sat next to me. We all stuck around together. The pizza fest was a real blow out – garlic bread, chips, a free drink and all the pizza you could eat for $18.50 – £9.50. Went straight to bed after that!
We left FJ and as I turned my mobile on I got a text from the bank saying they were sending me a new debit card as requested and it would be with me in 2-3 days. Luckily Claire had free calls to UK so she let me use her phone. Someone had swiped my card details but it had been investigated and no fraudulent action had taken place – thank god! I spent a stop at Lake Matheson doing that instead of enjoying scenery! Anyway, phew! No problems.

Arrived in Westport this afternoon in the rain. It is still 20 degrees but is marginally better than the 30s! I am getting into this backpacker lark! When I've travelled before i have never shopped and cooked for myself in ... [Continue reading this entry]

Well has life been one mind blowing whirl for a couple of days. I was not sure where I was or where I was going. T'wd seem i was going to Kaikoura from Christchurch. The driver (Mossie, as in mosquito!), ... [Continue reading this entry]

First shock was the temperature! 23! Just right. I found a taxi from airport $55! - much more expensive than Singapore when it was $20. Apparently taxis are expensive here - still only £26 so not too bad. I got ... [Continue reading this entry]

Strange day today, knowing it's my last here but yet in denial. It's been a lazy Sunday of sorts.Caroline not working but Julee doing 10-4 in the restaurant. Who'd be a chef in this weather?! Mind you down to 30 ... [Continue reading this entry]

Another lazy day with girding my loins for the flying solo bit of my trip to come on Mon. I keep going ppff! with my lips as heat influences my pace. I have washed up and put 3 loads of ... [Continue reading this entry]

Had a quiet day as Caroline and Julee are both working today. Been in touch with Stray travel - the bus that takes me round New Zealand, to check about my route as i was worried I couldn't do the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Slow start due to a bad night. Can only put it down to the two small bottles of beer i had last night. Despite drinking gallons of water at 35 degrees alchohol does not go down well. I got up ... [Continue reading this entry]

Now in touch with blog people as having problems uploading photos. I can upload from Caroline's tablet - hence picture of her and Julee, but not from my phone. Got up 9.15 with tea from C as Julee goes ... [Continue reading this entry]