Thursday 28th February
I had to go in to work early for a rollout, leaving in the dark and before Bhavni.
At 3PM I left for the airport and parked at the pick up / drop off point outside the international terminal. I had to wait a while for the parents to appear (usual dilly daddling). It was a struggle to fit the suitcases in, but we managed and then drove home. I left them to their own devices as I went back to work as it was the last day for Christine – Maternity leave. After an hour or so I went back home and caught up, before Bhavni arrived and we sat down to have Daar Bhat and Sweetcorn Shaak.
After dinner we all got in the car and had a drive through town and across the harbour bridge, before going back home (even with my detours).
Friday 1st March
Both Bhavni and I had to go to work, so we left my parents at home with the keys and had drawn maps of where to go. They were going to be busy for the morning sorting out their clothes and doing other mundane tasks as well as making some food. Though after they went for a walk to Newmarket and did some shopping for sweaters there, coming back home after 4 hours. In the evening after Bhavni and I came home we finished our packing after food and then headed out to Mission Bay, about 7.30pm. We got there, parked, and had a wonder around until it got dark, after which we headed back home and finished our preparations for the next day.
Saturday 2nd
Waking up at a reasonable time in the morning, we all got ready, had breakfast, loaded up the car and were headed to the airport for around 8am, where we parked in the Park and Ride, parking the car really conveniently just outside where the bus leaves from. The bus just arrived after we got there and we were at the airport near 8.30am, where we checked into our jetstar flight. As no-one was hungry we went through the security and sat in the lounge – finding some of the posher chairs there.
Not a bad flight to Wellington and a smooth landing (cant be that windy). The Golum statue in the arrival area was very impressive. After claiming our bags, a person from the car rental company (Ace Car Rentals) turned and showed us into the pick up van. As he was not too busy and there was a bit of traffic, he took us on our own mini guided tour, going past most of the center. At the car rentals we picked up our car (a Suberu legacy estate) and made our way out. Well not so far as parents had spotted a bowl in a shop just outside (did I mention shopping?) so we had a quick look (though did not buy it) before going to the hotel – The Rydges and checking in. I was not sure about the parking – it said valet – I could not figure out where to drop it so went round the block 3 times while Father went and asked (it would have been 2 times but Father tried making me move into a space suitable for a mini not an estate).
We had been upgraded to the top floor (14), with not too shabby a view – Bhavni and I could see the harbour, whilst Parents had a city view – and we got to our rooms and quickly got ready to go out. We walked down Featherston Street and further into the city aiming for Cuba Street. There were quite a few stops for shopping on the way though. We had a walk up and down Cuba Street to look for food and had lunch in a cafe there, not far from the Bucket fountain.From here we went to the Botanic gardens – but since we walked past the tram, we started walking up the hill – Lots of complaints later we got to the top of the road and to the actual park. At the top were the old observatories and a nice look out point over the city.
Asking directions for the best way to see the botanic gardens, we were told to follow the path with the flowers. This path wound down through the botanic garden and all the different areas, over the course of an hour of gentle walking and looking. We eventually ended up near the parliament buildings. We had a good look outside them (they were closed by this point for the public), with the weirdness that is the Beehive and the nice main building. From there we headed towards town again and booked dinner at the Great India restaurant.
We went back to the hotel and picked up a bit of food from the New World in the train station next to us, then rested for a while before we wend out for dinner. Initially we got put in a corner next to some people who looked like they were having a stag do, but we changed table and had a decent (though too spicy) Indian meal. We went back to the hotel for and retired for the night (the views were cool from the room).
Sunday 3rd
Having a partial lie in, we headed out at 10am, heading towards the center again. We had some breakfast in a cafe called “Arizona”, which had free coffee and tea (though they charged us initially). We had some mixed breads and Father and I had poached egg on corn bread. From there we headed to Te-Papa. Initially we stuck together through the beginning, but decided to split into 2 groups and meet later. We ended up spending quite a few hours inside, with a lot of time spent on the first floor, which had lots of natural exhibits – marine life and volcanic information. Our allotted time had passed, but we had not even made it to the next floor – but parents had not either! So we all carried on up to the next floors.
Eventually we emerged back out (after the obligatory photo under the trolls from The Hobbit). We walked past the waterfront and through the end of the Sunday market before going towards the I Site (with the guys doing more shopping – ahhh). We had a stop in the Art Gallery, which definitely had some weird exhibits – and we watched a quite disturbing one.
Heading back to the hotel, after a quick refresh we got the lobby to get our car out for us and we headed to the top of Mt Victoria for the lookout point. The viewpoint had really great views of the city, but the wind had picked up, so the parentage retreated to the car quite quickly.
We drove back into town and as it was near 6pm, parked. We had a bit of time before we wanted to eat, so whilst wondering towards the restraunt we had chosen to eat in, we came apon an Indian Polo bar. They had seats outside around fires in the center of the tables, (and they turned on a brazier next to out table), so we sat down, had some drinks and some peanuts in the shells (which we swept onto the floor).
For dinner we went to a Mexican restaurant (The Flying Burito Brothers). They did not have a table ready, so we had a seat at the bar, and the parentage had a jug of margaritas whilst waiting. Nice dinner, after which we went back to the hotel for an early night.
Monday 4th
A pretty early start with us having to be up at around 4am to get out of hotel for around 5am. This is because we had to arrive at the ferry terminal at 5.30, to catch the Interislander. After checking in, we sat in the car at the loading queue, in the dark. We were loaded on (finally seeing which craft we were on) and went and chose our seats – initially in the main area, before we went to the front. Bhavni and I had a wonder watching the dawn break, and us leaving the cloudy city behind for the clear skies of the straight. We wondered back in and had Thepla and tea for breakfast. Bhavni and I spent quite a bit of time outside looking at the views, with the parentage wondering out now and then also.
Arriving in Picton, we made our way back to the car and offloaded. We drove directly down the SH1 to Blenheim, where we found our hotel – Chateau Malbrough – quickly. We tried our luck checking in, but the rooms were not ready, so the hotel staff took our bags in and said that they would give us a call when the rooms were ready. The sun was out with blue skies and we went for a walk into town, through the nearby park. They found some more shops on route (sigh). We got a phone a while later that our rooms were ready, so we headed back to the hotel and got refreshed and changed for lunch.
We made our way by car to Wither Hills, where I had booked lunch for us (a week before). We were seated outside (after a bit of confusion about us being a different group) – it was a little fresh but pleasant. Whilst the food was ordered we did a wine tasting. Most of the wines were really nice and we picked a nice one for lunch – a 2012 S Blanc. For starters father and I had some soup – delicious, with breads for the rest. We had pasta and nice salad for mains. Bhavni decided to order a desert – a rich chocolate cake with a fresh berry semi-fredo – devine.
Whilst relaxing there, father sat in the sun on the soft bean chairs, and we examined the grape variates on show in the front, before going to barral vault for a look around then at the top of the tower.
After leaving and going for a little drive around the area in a round towards Spring Creek, we found that the air museum that was recommended to us was closed, so instead we went to Villa Maria and got the parentage to do another wine tasting there.
Getting back to the hotel, we had some time so Bhavni and I went for a walk, whilst coincidently so did father (finding out a little later). We tried to book into a Japanese restaurant but they were having a event on, so the hotel recommended us another local Italian restaurant. We got ready and headed out there. It was definitely a local place, with it full of people – we ordered some pastas (no pizzas), with quite generous portions.
Tuesday 5th
Waking up to a beautiful day again, we met outside the rooms for breakfast in the hotel just before 9am, at “Quench”. It was a nice restaurant, and I had poached eggs on sour dough, whilst we ordered bread and preserves for the table. Weirdly for Bhavni’s dish of muesli they ran out of bananas so they substituted preserved pear on the food without asking.
We checked out and started our drive down the SH1 to Kaikoura. We had some really nice costal views on way there and stopped a number of times to take some photos (with the Kaikura mountain ranges slowly appearing). On the way we stopped at a seal colony just on the side of the highway where there were a number of seals around.
Arriving at Kaikura before 12, we went directly to the whale watching station to “check in”. The woman behind the counter was quite strange, not wanting to answer questions nicely, just repeating the same sentence (though the woman next to her seemed to know what she was doing). We had nearly an hour before we need to be there for the safety briefing, so we drove into the main street (well the only street almost) and had a wonder around, looking at the beach and the shops.
Getting back to the whale watch station, (after a few walks back to the car to get forgotten items such as sunglasses and sun cream), we watched the intro video then loaded onto a bus to the actual boat.
We grabbed some seats (as pairs as people really rushed in), and were away soon – the boat was really fast, and the sea had a small roll to it, so some people were a bit squeeze (one especially was very unwell). Within 5 minuites we came accross our first sperm whale whale – a local, the boat stopped and we went to the top deck for a really good view of the whale breathing and then diving with its tail out of the water.
The boat then moved on as another whale had appeared, just a minute or two away, which was another local. We also watched this one breathing and diving.
We were quickly ushered back to the seats as there was another whale, just a minute or two away, which turned out to be a visiting sperm whale. That was 3 Whales already.
We then went back to our seats as there was another whale on the horison, but unfortunately it disappeared on the way there. However another treat came into view – an orc
a, which we followed for a while watching it dive and resurface.
After that we headed inland for a look at seal rock and some coastal scenes, before heading back to shore, where we got the return coach to our car around 4pm.
From Kaikura we then carried on the SH1 to Christchurch, which was around a 2 hour drive (with a little pit stop on the way). We went straight to the accomodation for that night – Terra Vie apartments – which were right in the centre on Bealey Ave. We were on the 2nd floor in No 10. Quite a nice apartment with a lounge and two rooms.
We got ready and then headed out for dinner to the Bhodi Tree for Burmise (which I had booked a week ago), and on the way back went for a shop to get some breakfast for the next morning.
Wednesday 6th
We woke up and after having breakfast, including cereal, we headed out. We left the car at the apartments and walked to the city centre, down Columbo street until we had to go around the red zone area. We eventually made ourselves to the container city area, where they had made the shops out of shipping containers. From there we went near the hospital and into the botanical gardens having a quick look around the closet areas.
As we left the botanical gardens we saw that the flower show (a bit like the chelsea flower show) was on, so it was quite busy in that area. We would not be able to go in due to lack of time and the entrance fee, so we carried on in the increasingly hot day (it reached 30C) along the park then up Bealey Ave to get our car.
We then started out drive south towards Dunedin via the SH1. By the time we reached Timaru we could see the cloud increasing and looking much cooler, and eventually it started drizzling. During the drive Bhavni suddenly woke up and said we had to stop at the Moeraki Boulders (south of Oamaru). We parked, then had a 10 minute walk on the beach to the stones there. Im sure on a hot day with the sun shining in the beach, the boulders (roundish 1m large stones) are more interesting, but with the biting wind, it was nice to get back to the car.
We then had a search for a bathroom incident, but on the plus side I got 2 twirly wirly bars. From there it was plain sailing to Dunedin, where we went to the motel – the Adrian Motel, checked in and had a cup of tea. For dinner Bhavni had phoned up the Etrusco, which was an Italian restaurant near the city centre. The place was full and busy, but it had a really nice ambiance. I ordered a gnocci dish – as usual not the best, but however the rest of the pizza and pastas were really good. We were treated to some opera singing by a person sitting on a table not far from us.
After dinner we bought some ice cream and bread from a supermarket and went back to the motel. We all tucked into the ice cream and even though it was mother who wanted it in the first place, she hardly ate any.
Thursday 7th
We woke up and had breakfast in the apartment, bread, tea and cereal (as well as some Ice cream in wit). After checking out we headed into the city centre, parking right at the Octagon. We had a look at the city hall before walking to the train station – probably the most iconic building in the city. We went inside and took some photos before seeing the nearby church. On the octagon there was an AA branch, so we headed inside to organise a trip to Milford sounds for the parentage. As we had to head out we left the booking to the lady there so we could collect it later.
We had to drive all the way to the end of the Otego peninsula, which turned into a windy road round the coastline. It was meant to take the best part of an hour, but we managed to do it in around 30 mins – no wonder Bhavni was a little queezy. We booked into the Royal Albatros tour and had a look around the exhibitions as we had a little time before the tour at 11am. For the tour there was a short film before we headed to the viewing room up a hill. The room had one way glass so that we could look out over the nesting area. All the adults were away at the time, but the chicks were there, huddled around in the cold. After a while an adult came and flew around the area.
After the tour we got back into the car and drove back to Dunedin. We took the high road this time, which afforded us some nice views and took us past the castle. We did not go in however as the castle was $40pp. We went back to the AA and picked up the tour confirmation for parentage, before we went to Baldwin Street, which is the steepest street in the world (with a 35% grade). We parked at the bottom and all of us walked up to the top. It was amusing watching cars climbing the street.
After getting back to the car we headed down the SH1 and onto the SH8. Our first stop was the town of Lawrence, where we had some tea and a stretch. We were told by the information guide to have a drive to the old mining area – Gabrials Gully – a place that was full of miners in the gold rush days. We drove back to Lawrence on the unsealed spur road giving us a nice view back. We carried on the SH8 to Alexandria.
We had a stop in the town, where an Indian farmer from Hamilton got talking to the parentage. He was on his way to Wanaka with some friends from the south. After saying bye, we took the road up past initially to the famous clock on the cliffs over the town to the lookout point there.
Back on the road, we passed the dam on the Clutha river. Bhavni and I got out for a look and a couple of pictures. Unfortunately we forgot there were sandflies, so we had some in the car by the time we got on the road. Fortunately none of us got bitten! Carrying on the road we passed the whole of the flooded valley and even saw the road that disappeared under the water.
We got to Queenstown by the late evening and checked into out rooms. Getting ready quickly we headed out into Queenstown for dinner. We initially went into the Thai that we want into with Shelina and Anish, however the restraint had a peculiar smell which was off-putting, so we made our excuses and went into a neighbouring Mexican restaurant. The food was ok, but the fillings were a little strange. We went for a quick wonder around town, parentage slightly tipsy with the Margarita that they had, before going back to the hotel and calling it a night.
Friday 8th
A later start today. We did not have to get up so early and we had decided to meet for breakfast around 9am in the room, with some bread that was bought yesterday in town.
After breakfast we headed into town to the Gondola, finding great parking quickly (unlike the last time). There were still queues to get the tickets, but they were not as bad as last time, so we were soon on out way up to Skyline. We spent a while up at the top with parentage taking photos. We in the meantime worked ourselves to the other side near the lifts to the luge and sat and relaxed for a bit before getting parentage there (as well as Bhavni taking some different photos). Bhavni and I decided to go for a walk on one of the tracks up at the top, whilst parentage went to the lounge for another drink. It was not a massive walk and within half an hour we were back (with weird fruit drink still in hand) and caught up with the parents and headed down.
We had a little time in the morning so we had a wonder around the town before we got back in to the car. We took the SH6 and turned into the Amisfield Wineary, where we sat for a late lunch. We had a twist on brucheta with courgetes and some breads with wine. The sun was fierce and we had to move initially as we were to much in the sun, but even in the second table we had to bunch up. Bhavni and father amused themselves at one point by sitting on a tractor and taking photos. After food we did a small wine tasting and got a bottle of wine.
After the winery we drove into Arrow town in a while stop viewing of the old town street before going to the crown ranges road. We stopped for some photo opportunists on the road up before continuing on to Wanaka.
We got to Wanaka, it was busy. There was a farming show on the weekend so lots of people had come down – it explained the farmer we met in Alexandria staying in Wanaka. We were still early and the weather was nice, so we went to the Indian restaurant that we had been to before with Miten et al – the Spice Room – and booked dinner. The lady remembered me (wonder if she remembered the fire).
We had dinner and aferwards we got in the car and drove back over the Crown ranges to Queenstown. It was a clear night and I wanted to stop to see some of the stars as the sky got dark near the end, but it was a little bright still and no-one else was that interested. In the end we went back to the hotel and called it a night.
Saturday 9th
Well the parents had gone away early for their “musical” – Milford Sound, so we were on our own. We got up and ready, having food in the room, so we were leaving the hotel at around 9.30am for our epic drive.
Our first stop was Gore. It was a little early for lunch, but we took a break and had some tea at one of the cafes there, the weather had turned grey and cloudy and it was threatening to spit. After some fun with roundabouts and filling up some petrol, we carried on the SH1 towards the Catalans, turning from the road to Invercargil towards Fortose.
At Fortose we took the sea side road rather than the inner road – stopping at a little cafe/info center. After only a couple of km, the road became unsealed. Our first stop was at a turnoff and another few km of the main road at Waipumpa point lighthouse. Getting there we saw some sea lions on the beach. They were a lounging on the beach and every now and again making noises.
From here we headed back to the sea road and carried on to slope point, another 6km down an unsealed road. Slope point is the most southern point of the south island and we had to go from the car park and around some farmers fields to get there.The cliffs there were quite sheer and the sea looked powerful. After posing for some photos we made our way back to the car and continued on.
We stopped next at the fossilised forest area – time for ice cream in the cold. We went down to the beach area, where we just could make out a yellowed eye penguin from a distance. This was one of the areas that there is a colony of them, but it was not the best day to see them.
Time was getting on so we did not stop much and started to make our way towards Balclutha. We stopped for a chip stop in Owaka as I thought the shops would be closing soon. Bhavni drove most of the way from Balclutha to Queenstown, only swapping back at the start of the lake as she insisted that she would swap when we had the major left turn. There was no left turn but she did not believe me!
We got back to the hotel and parentage were back. Whilst we got freshened up, we sent them on investigation to see what the food was like at the hotel. Unfortunately there was not that great a choice, so we headed out and went to “The Cow” in town, having the pasta, pizza and garlic bread.
We picked up some supplies for breakfast before heading back to the hotel. Bhavni and I went for a little walk close by and did some star gazing, though not perfect, you could still see alot.
Sunday 10th
The day dawned looking beautiful and we had breakfast in parentage’s room, meeting for around 9am. We went on another trip – this time carrying on on the 6a to Glenorchy. We had to go past the end of Queenstown, which we had never been to before. As we carried on and participially after turning the corner of the lake, the mountains in front of us got bigger and more rugged. We stopped on the way for a couple of pictures, just in-time as when we left a few other cars pulled up to take the shots.
At Glenorchy, we parked up in the town and had a walk around the town. There were a couple of shops of interest, but not alot, so we went to the pier and posed for some more shots. We had a tea (Bhavni had some ginger tea to stave off a cold), at one of the cafes there.
Driving back to Queenstown, we stopped at another look out point and went down on the river bank there for a bit – luckily no sandflies. Back in Queenstown we parked and had a wonder around as we had some time. Finally we stopped at the Patagonian Chocolate cafe and ordered some churos, whilst most of the other tourists were going crazy for the ice cream. After we stopped at one of the waterfront bars and had some drinks – I got a text and had to confirm, but our plane was delayed by 30mins – superb outcome nothing better then relaxing rather than flying back. We also had entertainment as some people were singing on the lawn.
Eventually we dropped the car off and checked into our flight. Mother got a window seat near the back (we asked as it is always good getting a view). We got to Auckland and after collecting our car we drove home. Mother got the whip out and without a break there was dry fry potato and puri on the table for dinner.
Monday 11th
My holiday over, I had to go to work. Bhavni was off still, so she stayed at home and did some cooking before going with them for some Shopping.
Tuesday 12th
Bhavni had her last day off. She and parentage went to Rotarua to see the geysers and then do the mud bath that Shelina recommended. Apparently father drove and was a bit silly with his speed control. They were home a little late, but they had done the prep before going, so we had samosas for dinner.
Wednesday 13th
Bhavni and I bath had to go to work today so we left the parentage to their own devices. They went shopping (the normal). After I got back from work, we went and visited Sue (with some somosas), sitting out in her garden for a good hour. We had lasagna (which mother had made) after picking Bhavni up from work.
Thursday 14th
The parents were leaving today and were awake early (though they did not seem to understand that we have alarms and are not teeny boppers!). We were at the airport before 6.30am, dropping them at the drop off and pick up point. After saying bye, we went and parked in the short term parking and said bye once again whilst they were queueing up quickly.
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