THE WEST COAST

My poor parents didn't have much time for relaxing after their 24hrs flight from Germany. We took them out of rainy Christchurch to drive all the way over Arthur's Pass into Hokitika. We spent a few hours in the riverbeds looking for greenstone but we found nothing.






The 6hrs return trip to Roberts Point was a very interesting and challenging track to see Franz Joseph Glacier. It was a bit of an obstacle walkway to see on top of the ice.















In Okarito we had the most beautiful little wooden cottage and we got woken up by keas in the morning. We saw Royal Spoonbills and White Herons on our kayak trip on the lagoon. Our highlight was seeing 3 Okarito brown kiwis. They were fighting, passing our legs and weren't even bothered by us.






On the way to Haast we stopped at Chips Creek for a walk through the dunes and were surprised by jumping hector dolphins very close to the beach. We were also lucky to survive the west coast without rain, what a start for a holiday with my parents.

KAIKOURA

Most people visit Kaikoura to look at sea creatures on a boat, we went to catch them! We decided to go on a fishing trip, the best money we ever spent. It started off with emptying the crayfish pots followed by being surrounded by playful dusky dolphins.

We ankered the boat at about 75m and started putting our rods in. It took literally seconds

to hook on a fish and we did that for about 2 hours. Petra got the biggest catch, a blue cod.

The fillets were cut out there and then and the albatross were fighting for some left overs. We had kilos of cod and 2 crayfish and we BBQed most of it at Louises house in Christchurch.

For more photos of our Kaikoura fishing trip please click here.

NELSON LAKE NP AND PUNAKAIKI

We spent a few relaxing days at Rotoiti Lake. Phil had a 24 hour licence for trout fishing and we also enjoyed the views from the top of St Arnaud range. there were millions of sand flies and we struggled to keep them off us. The eels in the lake were amazing as they all swim towards the light if you shine a torch into the water at night.

We made sure to hit Punakaiki at high tide but it was not enough to make the blow holes "blow". Still, the Pancake rocks are pretty and at least we had 1 of those 2 sunny days in the 7day weather forecast for the West Coast.

There are more photos of Nelson Lake NP and Punakaiki.

ABEL TASMAN AND FAREWELL SPIT

Our first destination on the South Island was Farewell Spit. It offers fantastic views and some awesome rock formation. We were stunned by the water reflection and couldn't stop taking photos. We were also lucky to see 3 white herons on the way.

The day after we planned to walk part of the Abel Tasman Walkway. We had to start as early as 7am and finished at 5pm as parts of the track can only be crossed at low tide. the beaches are beautiful but sand flies make you leave them quickly. It is a very popular track and we may stick to less crowded ones in the future. For more photos please click here.

EAST CAPE TO WELLINGTON

Sunday afternoon we started our exciting trip around New Zealand. 6 weeks in total but it didn’t start all smoothly. We had our car checked in Whatakane before hitting the East Cape. Our starter cables needed replacing.

The East Cape is a very derelict part of New Zealand with broken cars, houses and piers and no one seems to be bothered.

















There is not much established for tourism. No walking tracks into the “holy land"and signs everywhere to point out private properties and no camping. The east cape is mainly populated by Maoris.



Napier instead was a refresher, literally, as we soaked in a hot pool under blue sky. We had time to make a stopover in Waiohine Geoge to step on the highest swing bridge in New Zealand.








As we headed into Wellington, the disaster started. Gears were slipping and short before reaching our hostel the car overheated. Pulling onto the side quickly Phil inspected the car carefully and recognised that the head gasket had blown. Unfortunately we have to say, our Mitsubishi never made to the South Island. It got sold for $61 on Trade Me. We bought ourselves a Subaru Legacy after wasting time and energy in Wellington.


Not everything was bad. Phil caught a massive Barracoutta in Wellington harbour of the pier and we saw dolphins jumping around too. We are still optimistic and for more photos of our first week please click here.

THE END......

We officially finished working, had our leaving party and we are heading of to the East Cape first. We are leaving Auckland this afternoon, the start of our travelling. We will update this site as frequent as we can. Our plan is as follow:

-New Zealand mainly South Island, 6 weeks

-Australia: Cairns to Darwin, 3 weeks

-Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, 8 weeks

-Germany, 4 weeks

LEAVING PARTY FROM WORK

After a nice meal most of us carried on in the pub next door. It was a very amazing evening including speeches, a presentation of a Haka and quite a few drinks. I am sad to leave such a great bunch of people who know how to enjoy life.

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BEFORE

AFTER

LEIGH

We organised a last trip around Leigh to catch some snapper. In case we were unsuccessful we planned to snorkel in the marine reserve to at least see one.

Phil caught 3 all together, but they were not quite the required 27cm.






Sunday morning he even made us get up at 4.30am to sit on the rocks in the rain for about 4 hours.


We still hired snorkeling gear and were amazed how much fish was in there.