David's moving toes

New Zealand Christchurch Jan 2020

Stopped two nights at Top 10 Caravan park in Christchurch. Good spot. Takeaway Thai dinner from nearby.
10 mins drive into Christchurch and three hours free parking in Botanical Gardens.
Gardens and museum excellent.
Rest of Christchurch quiet because of lack of chinese tourists, cold so buskers hard to watch and still with lots of damaged buildings from the earthquake.
next day drive through the tunnel to Lyttleton port with town on mountainside. Street market great and young girl ballet dancing in front of band. Drive back over mountain to Christchurch and New Brighton. New Brighton end of coast to coast race but otherwise dreary.
Good flight back to Melbourne and just got 11.10 bus to Broadmeadows then trains home.

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Ivan Maugers speedway bike after his fans in the US gold plated it

Capt Scotts supply list for Antarctic expedition

Christchurch art gallery

Christchurch cathedral

Lyttleton street market

End of coast to coast race from Greymouth

Capt Scott statue sculpted by his wife

New Zealand-Greymouth, Arthurs Pass

Not much in Hokitika for us. On to Greymouth and got a cabin at TOP 10 which was superb. Walked to CBD which was very run down.
Next day drove up coast about 10km to miners memorial then turned back. Coal mining town just north of Greymouth. Waitangi day event at park in Greymouth, Chatted to Faithful Christian from Gloryvale Community. Chatted to Hangi man as steam came from food in natural ovens in ground.

No accommodation in Greymouth as Coast to Coast race starting next day.

Drove up to Arthurs Pass spectacular mountain road. Gave 3 guys a lift who were walking length of New Zealand and had been trapped in a hut bu floods for three days. Gave them our left over pizza.

Stopped for a 2 hour walk on Beale Spur.

North of Greymouth

Greymouth mini car

We gave a lift and pizza to these guys who had been in mountains for days because of storms

New Zealand Franz Josef Glacier

Pouring down in Wanaka and reports that road closed between Haast and Franz Josef by landslide. Petrol $2.51 per litre for 91. Luckily a local said go to McKeweons $2.15. Picked up two hitchers Taylor and Ilias. They were going to work at the place we were going to stay Rainforest Retreat in Franz Josef. Torrential rain through mountains to Haast. Fine for 30 mins while we had a break then more rain. Landslides being cleared and we just got through.
Resort was fun. Lots of backpackers, kitchen and spa. Cleared and evening and we went with Christina to see glacier. Road closed and bridge over raging torrent of a river.
Next morning raining again but road open to glacier. Two good walks towards glacier but couldn't get close because of flooding.

To glacier during brief break in storm

Early social distancing

New Zealand Queenstown Wanaka

Gave three guys a lift from Wanaka to Queenstown. Great drive through mountains and along lake but lots of rain.Stayed in a cabin at QBox. Cabin nice but site very crowded. Had a Fergie burger which was fun. Walk along lake and botanical gardens. Dominos pizza dinner.
Drive over high mountains past cordoba hotel to Wanaka.
Cabin on really good caravan park on edge of tow, Sun came out and walked along lake to winery but closed for a wedding. Really clear and gorgeous view of lake and mountains.

Lake Wanaka

Storm north of Wanaka

New Zealand TeAnua Milford Sound

Beautiful drive from Invercargill to TeAnua. Coast and Mountains. Cabin on big caravan park. Reception advised numbers were well down as Chinese could not come because of Corona Virus.
One day drive to Milford Sound and back was magic.
2 days later the road was closed by flooding.

New Zealand-Invercargill, Bert Munro

Visit ED Hayes hardware shop. Big shop with lovely staff and the story of Bert Munro. In his 60s on a 1920 Indian motor bike he set world land speed record for this size of bike. Visited local Beach where Bert used to ride his bike.
Cray boiled for 15 minutes and divine

Bert Munro world speed record bike

New Zealand Invercargill, Bluff

4 hour drive from Dunedin to Invercargill via Caitlins. Lots of rain and not great views from car.
Stayed at Genuine Kiwi Experience a superb bed and breakfast run by Chris.
Buying a bottle of Pinot in Liquorland and Debz the manager gave us a Cray her hubby had got that morning.

Great walk at Bluff and view across to Stewart Island.

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Stewart Island to the south

New Zealand Oamaru, Dunedin

Jetstar Melbourne to Christchurch. Arrived 5.30am so walked 3.5km to Hitch Car Hire. Picked up old Mitsubishi Outlander 4 wheel drive. Great car put petrol consumption and fuel price led to big petrol bills.
First stop Oamaru and Red Kettle backpackers. Steam Punk HQ was wonderful and town a nice old place.