Buckingham Court Motel Christchurch

... day, we walked the whole island and saw numerous rare and protected birds - including the Weka, which are one of my favourites because they look like a cross between a chicken and a duck and are very friendly. They chattered at us quite a lot and had no problem coming right up to us and prodding us about - we came to the conclusion that this was probably why they had become rare!

We also got followed by a New Zealand robin for the majority of the time, not quite so rare, but ...

... a campervan now.

We're in a really nice hostel with lots of people from all over the world - America, Brazil, Rumania, Ireland. All are very friendly - most young but some older (not quite as old as us though!!). Dave has already lined up tickets for a rugby match on Friday with Des and Igor! Boy he's a fast worker!!
Love to all!

... a community run campsite at Rakaia Gorge – at one point I was the only person there so was considered being dishonest and ignoring the honesty box but I was then joined by a couple who were on the committee so did the honourable thing and paid up. They had been in a secure part of the site and suggested that I move beside them as they were worried about me being in the public space on my own – very kind of them so I felt it only fair that I stumped up.

Next day I ...

... hostel for the evening.

We're getting ready for our tour to start in the morning. We found the Holiday Inn where they will pick us up at 10:30 tomorrow morning. This will likely be our last post for a few days as it sounds like we will be out in the wilderness for the next couple of days. We will post again when we are in Queenstown (Thursday) and look forward to sharing our tramping stories.

Cheers!

Today, we had an outreach team meeting, and we found out that the contacts in Malaysia fell through, so we will be going to Thailand instead. Apparently there is a really strong YWAM base in Thailand that we will be partnering with. Also ...

... and the sausage capital of NZ! We went down to Bluff the Southern most place in NZ, having now been at both the extreme ends of the SH1 main highway that covers the country. Bluff is also famous for its oysters which we had a few off whilst there. We went on through the Catlins at the bottom of the South Island, with many coves, bays, lighthouses and waterfalls. We went to a beach famous for sealions, but the tide was in so we had to walk through some scrubland, there were no sealions at ...

... that he even starts when you turn the key so we knew it was going to be a good relationship. (n.b Moby Mojo is presently 'sat in the corner' with his battery disconnected in Melbourne thinking about what a naughty boy he has been.) Rockin. Off in the van (at over 80 kmh!!!) to Akaroa, a little volcanic peninsula. Amusingly we chose this destination just as we left Christchurch in the van!

... kiwi beer, Mac's Gold and its sisters that cover such a large spectrum that would satisfy any taste: lager, pilsner, white ale, red ale, summer ale, dark, you name it. We have to give credit when it's due: New Zealand might have slow and inefficient services, but they do have some of the best wines and beers. And we aren't insinuating that there is any relationship between the two ;-) In Christchurch we took a walking tour of the city and learned a bit about ...

... with our million bags and got the shuttle to the airport. getting on the plane there was a man dressed completely in gold lameé. We're talking shirt, tie, waistcoat, jacket, trousers, shoes ... all gold lameé. Fancy. We overheard him tell some one he was a DJ. That doesn't give you an excuse for bad taste in fashion young, I mean, old man!! After an hour or so... TOUCHDOWN... back to the North Island for more fun and frolics!

... arrive at our Holiday Inn City Centre in Christchurch,
literally right in the middle of pedestrian only streets and around the
corner from "The Cathedral", stores and cafes, so it was definitely a
good location. The city didn't have that much nice architecture, every
building was no more that a couple stories, maybe for earthquake
reasons, and ...