South as far as we can go........................
We left the Chubby Balls on Tuesday, following a day on the beach, temp 25C and everything is really sunny. WE arrive in Christchurch and pick up the hire car and the weather is similar. The drive to Dunedin is good looking at the east coast of south island. Dunedin is the proverbial stern Scottish town, I didn't fall in love with it and neither did Chris. The accomodation was different to say the least. We spent 2 nights at "The Levianthan" across from the famous railway station. The hotel bar was full of Kiwi Truckers and the evening dinning arrangements were extrememly "canteen" like (basic but cheap). We think we had the best room in the house (it had carpet all the way to our door-I'm not joking-the rooms through the door after our room only had a boarded floor!). It was a great room, triangular in shape with windows on 3 sides, and the bathroom had a spa bath-we could have fit the whole of the back lane in-marvellous. We got up early (for us )to be greeted by more sunshine-shorts on then- by lunch time it was persisiting down and a bit cool one might say. We viewed the city by foot, then did 50 miles of the south coast scenic route (all before lunch), then had a trip on the Gorge Rail, which took all afternoon. (it took them over 30 years to build it, and by the time they finished, the motor was king and not long after it was closed down-now just a tourist thing.
Thursday saw us set of for Invercargill on the south coast via more of the scenic route. What a great trip, beautiful isolated beaches, rugged coast, sea-lions, dolphins and yellow eyed penguins as well as jurrassic forests, which had been fossilised. Just wait for the pics!!
By the time we arrived in Invercargill the weather had turned decidedly yuk! Howling gales and torrential rain then snow forcast for the next day-thats the shorts back in the suitcase then-where's that shop for a bob hat and mitts?. The weather was unrelenting for Thur night and really cold Fri, when we set off for Queenstown. We travelled up the valley passing snow storms as we travelled. When the clouds eventually lifted a fab view was worth the wait. Snow capped mountains, rising from the lake side. Queenstown is the place to be (especially if you are under 30 or kids at heart). We're happy then! but they still go to bed early-its 9.30pm and once this blog is posted we'll head off for a nights kip (bizarre!!). Mrs stay up all night in bed before midnight, whats the world coming too?................
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