Jaypatrol

We now look at Rotorua again. This is a city of so many different views and things to do.
This time we take a stroll through the Rainbow Springs Park, where we see Rainbow Trout, Native Birds of New Zealand, including the Kiwi-some of the birds are now extinct.
Next we head off for the Gondola and take a ride to the top to the Skyline Restaurant. The views of Rotorua are spectacular!
While we are there we take a ride down the Luge. This is exciting and there are 3 different speeded tracks to go down. I wasn’t very adventurous and stayed safe on the scenic track.
Then we headed off for the Scenic Flights. A few of our tour group chose to go via the helicopter to see the full view of Rotorua and her surrounds. Arthur and I chose the Sea-Plane to view the city and the Volcano cavity, where the top was blown off with the last eruption. It was unusual to see the blue and green lakes side-by-side whilst up there too.
After our exciting day, we headed back to the Lake Plaza Hotel for Happy Hour and the following Hangi and Maori show. This was so spectacular with the different sounds, colours, chants, songs and dance of the Maori Haka.
The next morning we were up early again and headed off to visit the Te Puia for Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. This was an awesome site.
We experienced the Maori Arts & Crafts, Craft Centre and Thermal Reserve with its boiling mud, silica terraces and famous Pohutu Geyser.
After leaving here we headed back into the bus. Now we skirt some of the worlds largest Pine Tree forests to Wairakei where we visit the place where they have harnessed the natural steam to generate electricity. It was fascinating to see the boiling water run down the gutters there.

Next we head for Haka Falls.

Now we are aboard the bus again. We head for where the Waikato River pours through the narrow chasm to form the Huka Falls. This is such a powerful force of water being fed into such a narrow area. The noise and the colour of the water were breathtaking.
As we came back to the coach, after taking photos and video, there was a cheeky, but thirsty wild ‘chook’ having a drink of the air-conditioner water from the bus. Another light-hearted moment that we captured on film.

We passed Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand that is world famous for its trout fishing.
Next stop we went to a lovely isolated waterfall viewing area. This was such a peaceful place and the views were worth it. I just can’t remember the name of it.

We continued across the Central Plateau with its intensive forestry development and arrived at the Hawkes Bay region and the city of Napier. Napier is noted as the world capital of Art Deco building style. Napier is also remembered as the city that was flattened by an earthquake in 1939. We visited the Hawkes Bay Museum. This is a very interesting city that was totally rebuilt after the quake.
We went for a walk on the beach here too. The sand was black and so much different to the beaches we have here in Australia. But the ocean views were spectacular!
A few minutes drive from Napier we arrived at our overnight accommodation in Hastings at the Angus Hotel.

We are moving along to catch the ferry in Wellington, but not before we get to have a look around the capital city of New Zealand first.
And a beautiful city it is too.
There is much to see in Wellington, as one would expect in the Capital.
One first place to visit when we arrive is Mount Victoria.
The view is awesome. Overlooking the town and harbour with the airport facing out to the sea. Once more we take lots of photos and soak up the fresh, crisp air. And crisp it is indeed, quite chilly.
As we head into the township, we stop off at the Botanical Gardens. And more photos. At least this gave Arthur the opportunity to test out the ‘Macro’ on his new camera. It took some gorgeous photos of the roses. I have added a separate album, just for the flowers.

The gardens were a very relaxing area to get in some exercise by walking around and checking out all the different varieties of flora.

Leaving the gardens, we head into the main business area of Wellington. Here we get to see the ‘Beehive’ and other government buildings.
There is one interesting building that looked like it was a rendered brick or cement one, but in reality it is built solely of timber. Even the chimney’s are not real as Wellington is earthquake prone, these must, by law be artificial. Note that on each level the windows are different in design.
Travelling on the coach back to our accommodation for the night at the Bay Plaza Hotel, we pass the waterside area. There is a lot of reclaimed land in this area and there is plenty of building going on. There is also a new baseball stadium being built.

Later in the day, Terry our coach driver encourages us to go to Te Papa as he highly recommended it. It was worth making the effort, even though we ran out of time to see all that we wanted to. (Another reason to go back to New Zealand). At the entrance to the museum we went downstairs to have a look at the foundations of the building. There is a viewing area so that you can see the ‘shock absorbers’ at the base of the building. It is compulsory for all buildings to have these now because of the area being very prone to earthquakes.
Then we moved into the main area of the museum. Wow! Indeed. There is the usual area set apart for the Maori displays. These were very well done. There was a meeting house there that is built as the original tribes would have built them – with the flax roofing and walls. There was also a Maori boat that had flax sails too.
Another interesting exhibit is the corrugated iron Holden Wagon. Very well done.
We then went back to the Hotel for dinner and a well earned rest.
Next day we headed for the ferry to cross to the South Island and Picton.

The ferry trip was enjoyable. The views as we cross Cook Strait into the sheltered waters of Queen Charlotte Sound and the bush clad hillsides remote bays and isolated holiday homes were breathtaking.
In Picton, we are welcomed by our new coach driver – Gordon.
After exploring Picton we drive onto Blenheim, for more sightseeing.
We visited the Montana Winery for a wine tasting lesson and afternoon tea. Very yummy.
Our overnight accommodation is at Blenheim Country Lodge Hotel.

Bright and early the next morning, we are on the road again, this time touring through beautiful countryside and we get to glimpse our first sighting of snow!
We keep moving and come to a seal colony and there are plenty of them frolicking in the waters alongside the road. There are seal pups there too.
As we get closer to Christchurch we come across Lupins growing on the roadside. These are very pretty and the bus stopped so that we can get a closer look and get some photos too.

As we continue we go through the tunnel in the mountain. The tunnel we went through is right alongside the road. Interesting.
We finally arrive in Christchurch and go to the International Antarctic Centre.
This is a fun activity. There is a room set aside that is a mock up of how it feels like to be at the Antarctic. The room is minus 5 degrees. We are fitted out with thick parkas and covers for our shoes, so that we won’t slip on the ice and then we venture into the room. Whilst we are in there, there is a huge fan started up and it resembles an Antarctic blizzard. Brrr. Very icy. We also get to ‘play’ with some of the props in there too. We were chilled through when we came out.
We finally get to see the City of Christchurch via a tram ride around the city. This was quite interesting. And a good overview of the township.
Then we have some free time to wander around the city. It was good. There is a huge cone-like structure in the centre mall that is the Millennium cone. It is designed to display all the native flora of New Zealand.
Whist in the City centre we had time to inspect the Christchurch Cathedral. Very beautifully designed. But we had to pay to take photos and go through the gift shop to get out. Hmm.
Later that evening we had a Happy Hour in one of our rooms, before going for dinner in the dining room of the Pavilions Hotel where we stayed the night.
Early the next morning we made our way to the Canterbury Plains area. This is of significant interest to Arthur and I as Arthur’s Mum grew up in Fairlie. Her father owned a sheep farm in the area. He also used to fish in the Rakaia river which we needed to cross on the way. We got lots of photos to show Mum what it looks like now as she left there when she was about 12. Also in Fairlie there is a bronze statue of McKenzie and his dog. McKenzie was an infamous sheep rustler.

After leaving Fairlie and we headed to the mountains again. On the way we stopped at the Church of the Good Shepherd. This is set on the edge of Lake Tekapo. Inside the window over the altar, views the lake. I wonder if the congregation heard much of the sermon whilst looking over Lake Tekapo.
As we had to keep moving, we reboarded the bus and start out for Mount Cook.

Mount Cook National Park is such an awesome place. The views were not as good as we would have liked because of cloud cover at first, but while we were there the clouds cleared long enough for us to see Mount Cook and get some excellent photos. There is also a statue of Sir Edmund Hilary there at the Mt Cook Alpine Village.
This is New Zealand’s highest snow capped peaks.
We travel from there around the shore of Lake Pukaki to the town of Twizel and onto Omarama where we stayed for the night at Heritage Gateway Hotel.

We leave the Heritage Gateway Hotel at Omarama and travel down the Waitaki Valley, passing the hydro lakes on the way, to the city of Dunedin – the “Scottish” city. As we descend the mountainous roads to Dunedin, we experience the breathtakingly spectacular views of the city. We stop off at Signal Hill – At the summit of Signal Hill scenic reserve is a lookout, and a monument comprising two large bronze statues that commemorate 100 years of British sovereignty (1840 - 1940) here. Dunedin’s Scottish ties are recognised by the fact that a piece of rock from Edinburgh Castle is incorporated into the lookout.

As we arrive in the city, we visit the Historical Railway Station. Though under maintenance, this has been kept in its original state. It is certainly worth a visit. We arrive early at the Cargill’s Hotel. The rooms are set in beautiful gardens with paths leading through them, so that one can enjoy the serenity and peace. There are lovely Rhododendrons to admire here too. With our early arrival, we have time to check out the many activities in the city. We chose to stroll through the streets and ‘inspect’ the older buildings and churches. We weren’t disappointed. That night we were treated to the piping in of the Haggis. Fun and laughter were on the menu as well as our first ‘tasting’ of the Haggis.
The next morning, as we begin the next leg of our journey, we stop off and visit Olveston House before we leave Dunedin. We enjoy a tour of the house and a step back in history as we learn of the Olveston family and the era they lived in. Very interesting. The gardens are spectacular and there is the original family car housed in a glassed-walled room in the gardens. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take any photos inside the house. But we could in the gardens where we enjoyed a saunter in the relaxing atmosphere. We did buy a postcard book with photos of inside the house as a memento.