Hi to you all. Well i've embarked on a five week fact finding tour of the South Island. This will benefit those of you that decide to utilise my services in the future. I departed Wellington on Wednesday 25th April and will be traveling in a clockwise direction. That's all I know. I'll be introducing myself to tourist operators and accommodation providers along the way.
When I left Picton I traveled up through Waikawa Bay and headed North East up along the Port Underwood Road. It was 1st gear in some places and unsealed. Whites Bay was the nicest place along the way. The original telephone cable entered the sea here and came out in Lyall Bay. I'd recommend a visit to Whites Bay, though i'd be coming in from where I exited into SH1, at Tuamarina.
On SH1 south of Ward is a place called "The Store" in Kekerengu. I have stoped here lots of times & I "highly" recommend it as a place to stop for refreshments and a relaxing time. Great photos you'll take here. Beaut sea views etc.
Night 1 & 2. I'm staying in Kaikoura. My observations of Kaikoura is that the business's making the money are the ones that are involved in the Whale Watching & Dolphin Watching/Swimming. It seems that's all touristy people want to do there. There seems to be an abundant amount of accommodation, some of it looked in poor shape. Opposite where I stayed, a motel that is 90% finished seems to be abandoned.
I recommend "Sunrise Lodge Backpackers" (near SUBWAY) to anyone wanting somewhere quiet & clean to stay. Very reasonable at $28 a night!!!
Friday 27/04 I was at South Bay, Kaikoura this morning. There were about 150 dolphins frolicing in the sea about 100-200 metres from the shore. That's the most i've ever seen!!! My drive to Hanmer Springs was delightful. I took the Mount Lyford route. Mount Lyford lodge is the largest log building in NZ, it's quite impressive and would be a great place to stay in the heart of the winter, with all the snow around. The route was slow & winding, but i'm in no hurry. I never went over 70kmph and no one overtook me!! Quiet as!! The Autumn colours were at there best on this route.
The weather so far has been amazing. Little wind & stunning blue skies.
Night 3 & 4 i'll be in Hanmer Springs staying in Hanmer Backpackers. I won my accommodation here on TradeMe. One nite cost me $10, the other $5.50!!!! This place is great value!!! Free bananas, icecream, tea & perculated coffee. Edwins the gaffa & has the clients interests at heart. Once again I recommend this place. Clean & tidy. Nice clientelle. Nice fire.
I've awoken, Saturday. It's chilly & overcast today, i'm gunna give the tourists a thrill today & head to the hotpools and expose the body!!! No 6 pak on this frame!!! I was mistaken for George Cluney & Mel Gibson!
Sunday I woke up real real early. Headed of in the dark!!! Called into Christchurch to view the earthquake damage. It's huge. I headed down SH1, it's petty boring country driving, in my opinion. Just straight road.
I turned off and had a nosey in Moeraki. A nice seaside villiage. Stoped at Waikouiiti (you know where I mean) racecourse and had a look around. Further down turned off & took a coastal drive through Karitane.
I've arrived in Mosgiel, the Wingatui track 2kms away. Have made here my home and gunna base myself here. I stayed Sunday nite at a motel $95
You know the saying " If you don't ask, you don't know" and/or "it pays to be cheeky" Well I combined both, in a nice way? I offered the Fine Establishment $500 for two weeks stay. They accepted!! Win Win for all concerned. Yet to find TUI on tap!!
Friday 4th May. I'm glad i'm not a duck. Lots of guns around this part of NZ. There's gunna be some "holy" ducks around here!! Today I went into Dunedin and found the "Worlds Steepest Street" Baldwin St. I can say i've walked to the top of the Worlds steepest St. I have to admit i'm happy no one was filming the ascent, lungs were screaming out for oxygen., After the descent, legs went "jellylike" It was a funny feeling!
I then went to "Olveston House" Dunedin's Historic Home for a one hour tour. Very very impressive & recommend this experience to anyone visiting Dunedin. $17 and worth every cent.
Then Larnach Castle. New Zealands only Castle. Thanks to the family that have restored it. Beautiful Gardens. It was a nice drive around the waters edge to get there. Entry $24
Sunday 6th. I went for a drive out through Port Chalmers. The Otago Harbour is a very very narrow shiping lane. Lots of bird life. I ended up at the Spit in Aramoana. Lovely white sand beaches, well patronised with walkers. I said earlier I walked up Baldwin St, well i'm aching today, my calves are killing me!!
I went for a drive to Middlemarch, unusual looking hills on this route. Roads were steep in places. Not much happening in this neck of the woods. I'd say it would be pretty cold here in the winter, about 600 metres above sea level here. One pub. The "rail trail" starts or finishes in Middlemarch. Lots of unusual "schist rock" on the route, looked very different to what i'm used to seeing.
The weather since i've been away has been unbelievable. Stunning blues skies all but one of the days. Only one day of rain. Weather has been overcast the last few days, but no rain. Not that cold either. No wind.
I met a bloke in the Pub, (Unlike the Dodgy ones I know back home in the Olympic, Ha Ha). The colours of three time Wellington Cup winner Castletown are framed and hang on the wall here. I'm off to Forbury Trots this evening with Craig Buchan, trainer of Race 1, No1, Southland Reflector. Looks like it's got a good show (on paper), Blair Orange drives. It WON!!!
The weather is amazing, blue skies every day and just a zephyr of wind.
The Catlins are beautiful. I went to Cannibal Bay, Kaka Bay, Nugget Point lighthouse/lookout. Gawked around in Owaka. Found the teapot house etc Done the touristy things, all at my leisure.
Called in for the night at Invercargill. Arose and went into the hardware shop that has all the vehicles, including Bert Munroes motorbike. A must see if you in Invercargill. Then down to Sterling Point in Bluff for the photo of the sign!!
Then back up to Invers, out through Riverton (you can buy the Bowling Club & your own wharf here, 100 metres apart!) Great scenery. Lovely views. Called in to Cugar Bay. Weather outstanding.
Stayed the night in Tuatapere at the Waiau Hotel. Great value $45 included cereal, yoghurt, etc and a full cooked breakfast.
I left Tuatapere and headed up towards Te Anau. Manapouri a nice little township. I intended to stay the night at Te Anau Downs, but the place I knew as "Grumpys" had alredy closed for the winter. In Te Anau, lots and lots of businesses had signs on them "Closed till September or October.
I'll write daily, so follow me around this beautiful island.
Smithy.
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