TravelStream™ news feed for member mr_shankley on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/mr_shankley en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:46:55 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196231700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196231700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196231700/tpod.html Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:46:55 -0500 New Zealand family holiday - Mum, Dad, Yas and Macca.

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Wanaka, New Zealand

The clouds parted overnight and we had a fantastically clear view of what could well have been Mt Cook. Having never seen it before (always covered in cloud) we just guessed it was one of the taller ones and took a picture of it.We piled into the hotel and set out for Wanaka, over a stretch of road where nothing ever happens. There are next to no towns to drive through: the road was only completed in 1965. There were some magnificent cliff sorts of things dropping into the sea, and some lake sorts of things preventing water from flowing, for a time, into the sea. All pretty spectacular stuff.Haast is a place of note, probably to say that we're glad we changed our minds and didn't stay there. They were nice enough to give Gavin (at a cost of course) his last taste of whitebait until he next visits the West Coast of NZ. Yum.Haast Pass beckoned, but of course, we had to stop at Thunder Falls, which Yasmin was reluctant to attend, because we told her it would be noisy: "I don't like loud, Daddy". But then she was reluctant to leave, once she'd been convinced to attend: "Can we visit another long waterfall Daddy?"Of course we can.And not too far up the road was Fantail Falls, where Yasmin and Mckayla played with other people's cairns. They built them higher, for a while. But inevitably, as night follows day, children must destroy any tower they come across. Unfortunately they got to two fine specimens before we could prevent the carnage. But them's the breaks.Having passed Haast Pass, it was past. Couldn't resist that.Next stop: Puzzling World, where we had to sit through Mckayla meltdown in the hotel for five minutes before entering. Once inside, as predicted, there were numerous meltdown moments trying to extricate the kids from the place. It didn't help to point out to Yasmin that she hadn't wanted to leave any place we'd been to that day, but had enjoyed each new place more. "But I don't want to leave this place, Daddy."Especially for a trip to the supermarket.But we finally found our way to the parking lot, where we were able to play once more on the slippery dip and trampoline. Yay! What an end to the day.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196404260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196404260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196404260/tpod.html Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:32:34 -0500 New Zealand family holiday - Mum, Dad, Yas and Macca.

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Dunedin, New Zealand

The Mediterranean Market is just across the street from the caravan park, and it beckoned. In fact, our visit the previous evening was thwarted only by the inconvenience of opening hours. That 6pm close really aggravates sometimes. Especially when the ordinary supermarket is open 24 hours.But this morning, opening hours did not prevent us from partaking of the glorious produce on offer. We got some pancetta, French bread, olives, blue cheese, and camembert. Look out rustic lunch, here we come.We drove round Queenstown looking for the exit - it is harder than you think. There are plenty of signs telling you how to get out of the place, but they are all unhelpfully telling you about places you don't want to go to, in directions that make no sense. Fortunately, we deduced the correct exit on the second attempt, and headed off in the 'wrong' direction towards the 'wrong' town before that town's turn-off appeared later on.We stopped at Cromwell for fuel, and to check out what an idealised 1990s town would look like. Apparently it was relocated when they put the power station lake in place around that time. It was a sight to behold. I'm not sure if it can be described, but just imagine everything you know that was built in the 1990s and put it in the same place. Pretty bland and contrived.After Cromwell, we passed Clyde and Alexandra, before finally settling on Roxburgh for lunch. We found that Lake Roxburgh was quite suitable for the rustic lunch we had planned. As an aside, we also stopped at Clyde dam lookout, but nobody wanted to get out of the car, so Gavin had to take a self portrait in front of the dam. He was impressed by the ingenuity of it all, even if nobody else was.Lake Roxburgh was formed by a dam, but the dam doesn't seem to impede the flow of the water very much. The level of the lake above the dam is quite high, but the river flowing beneath had a current that could sweep you out to sea in a matter of minutes - metaphorically (the sea is too far away for that).After lunch, we drove through to Lawrence, for the largest ice-creams in living history at the 'Corner Store'. The whole thing cost $5.10 (cash only) and they even gave us a frequent ice-cream card, where you get your sixth free (they'd scratched one off for us). If only we were hanging around Lawrence for another six days. But with a population of only about 475, there wasn't much to keep us entertained, with the exception of watching the roaring trade the 'Corner Store' seemed to be doing. Profit is all about margin x volume, or something like that. Maybe they'll go out of business soon or something.We arrived in Dunedin just in time for the lighting of the Christmas tree (is it that time already?). It was very festive, but we were hungry so we headed down the street for some Thai at Thai Over, and afterwards watched the tree flicker and glimmer in all its majesty - reminding us of Jesus.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196163120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196163120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196163120/tpod.html Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:30:35 -0500 New Zealand family holiday - Mum, Dad, Yas and Macca.

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Dunedin, New Zealand

What a foolish thing we did this morning by suggesting to the kids that we might McDonalds for breakfast this morning. As you may or may not know (can't remember if we told you) we've had no access to actual cash for pretty much the whole trip. We've had A$100 that we brought with us changed to NZ$, but we can't access our cashcard, and have relied solely on credit cards for the whole trip. If you can't put it on credit, you don't buy it. Well, in Australia, McDonalds universally accepts credit cards. Not so in New Zealand. After placing our order, totalling $25, we discover they don't take cards. Helpfully suggesting that they eftpos, the cashier was flabbergasted when we responded that we don't have any cash. We did have $10, which we converted to coins when we purchased two hash browns for $3.20.Of course this wasn't good enough for the kids, who didn't realise the sacrifice we'd made by pawning our last $10 note for the benefit of some greasy bits of potato stuck together from the scraps of last night's chips. So, two tantrums ensued. Tantrums are OK when you are actually denying your kids something because it is for their ultimate benefit. You can grit your teeth and bear it. But when the tantrum is over a massive sacrifice you've already made, it galls. Really GALLS.The tantrum never really ended, as we walked/dragged the kids back up the street towards the Art Gallery, via the hotel, which was parked in the 60 minute section of the local 24 hour Countdown supermarket. If it worked once, surely it can work again? Retrieving the jacket from the car to avoid the "It's cold, I want my jacket" tantrum from the equation, we briefly stopped at a local credit-card accepting cafe so the parents could eat something. Unfortunately, the kids ate most of the fruit bagel with cream cheese and jam, and drank most of the hot chocolate, but it looked filling. When we had a sip, we endured another tantrum. That's OK, we needed the energy to endure the tantrums that we brewing.The art gallery was pretty good, and the better for being free, and while Yasmin had started to calm down to enjoy the art (especially the video performance art of the man unsuccessfully pulling the table cloth from under a fine dining setting, and a melting ice-cream (oh the injustice - won't someone just lick it?) Mckayla didn't enjoy it much at all. Fortunately though, Mckayla had progressed to the silent tantrum (provided she was left on the floor) and this provided Gavin and Deborah some opportunities to actually see things.We then walked down to the railway station, which looks a bit like a ginger bread house, apparently, but is quite well appointed, with an interior as lavish as the exterior. It was there that we stopped for a real meal of Scottish fry-up at Scotia, including haggis, black and white pudding.The thing that kept the kids placid during the lunch was the sight of the Cadbury factory, which they knew meant chocolate. Thank heavens for marketing.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196652300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196652300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196652300/tpod.html Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:26:12 -0500 New Zealand family holiday - Mum, Dad, Yas and Macca.

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Dunedin, New Zealand

While there is no specific town in the Otago region with that name, there is a peninsula. So we set out to see what it had to offer. Windy roads are par for the course off the beaten track in New Zealand, and 10 minutes out of Dunedin satisfies the description. It is only 28km to the end, but it took us about an hour to get there.At the end is a special treat for ancient mariners. Yes, the only albatross colony on a mainland (NZ counts) in the world, an hour or less out of Dunedin. We saw plenty of albatross mostly sitting in their nests incubating eggs, but we did see one flying around, which was quite a treat. Apparently though, some on the tour didn't think so, and were complaining the whole time about not seeing anything worthwhile. It was as if they expected the rangers to go out there and prod them until they took off. We saw one flying around, and given they only leave the nest every two to three days and then only in high wind conditions, the fact that any of them are ever visible is a treat.One of the Americans decided that it would be a good idea to interrupt Gavin's very engaging and pertinent conversation with the guide (about albatrosses) to pointedly ask where the penguin tours was, and if there would actually be any penguins visible. How rude. They think they own the planet.On the way back to town, we stopped in at Lanarch castle, which was pretty enough but it was a nightmare keeping Mckayla from touching anything. I'm not sure we were too successful, but there weren't any witnesses, human or machine, so I think we got away with it.Back in town, we went to Speights and took the 4pm tour. This is the first brewery tour we've been able to take since we first unsuccessfully tried to take a 7 month old Yasmin into tours in Launceston (Boags) and Hobart (Cascade) on our Tasmanian experience in 2004. We've for one reason or another missed tours at all towns we've visited since, and so Speight's was our virgin experience.It was a worthy experience, and the tastings at the end were great too. The kids got malt flavoured ice-cream, which made everything good for them.Afterwards, we walked back to the octagon to have dinner at the Hungry Frenchman. Deb enjoyed her last NZ crayfish, while Gavin had baked scallops. Unfortunately Dunedin seems to be the town of the interminable wait, as we've now waited an hour for our meals to arrive at two restaurants from three experiences. Crikey.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196662680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196662680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196662680/tpod.html Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:19:41 -0500 New Zealand family holiday - Mum, Dad, Yas and Macca.

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Oamaru, New Zealand

This morning our aim was to get to Oamaru,which is only an hour and a half's drive. Instead of taking the 'motorway' out of town, we decided to instead take the scenic route along North Road. It went over the hill instead of around it, and was very pretty.We stopped at a small town by the beach, Mateaka - or something. It seemed quite ramshackle, but that was the charm of the place, apparently.Enter the boulders on the beach. Very exciting. There seems to be quite a growing number of tourists looking at things. At least the things that we are looking at now. Some of them are annoying to be around.We arrived at Oamaru and drove around the town looking at all the exciting things it had to offer. We ended up in the gardens, which had quite a passable playground. We supped there, and played. After this, we went to Whitestone Cheese Factory and picked up some delectable treats that we were assured would be transportable to Australia.Checking in at the car park, we then did some grocery shopping, and then headed over to see the Hoihoi penguins. We got very close to one, which had decided to set itself up right next to the fence. This seemed very strange, as they are reputedly very shy. But this one didn't seem to mind Mckayla doing her regular thing right in front of it. It was the only one we saw, but as it was so close and we didn't have binoculars, we couldn't have asked for more. We even got told off by someone for being so close! Aren't we lucky. The penguin didn't seem to mind. It was standing up when we left, being shamed away by the woman, and when we returned, people still milling around, it had decided to bunk down for the evening. Maybe they are starting to get used to humans? Surely not. Wash your mouth out you uneducated anti-environment bastard!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196824560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196824560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196824560/tpod.html Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:17:58 -0500 New Zealand family holiday - Mum, Dad, Yas and Macca.

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Akaroa, New Zealand

A day driving awaited today. But there were some significant playgrounds visited, so we can tell you a bit of a story about those.We vacated Oamaru at around 10:30, leisurely departure you might think. But when there are only two showers per gender to share amongst 25 campervans, there can be quite a bottleneck.Anyway, we got away, that's the main thing. We were the last to go, and they were mowing the lawns around the hotel just before we left. Perhaps it was some sort of challenge: they even lifted the power cord to get that last piece of grass.Our first stop was Timaru, where we drove through the mostly pleasant town and down to some sort of harbour foreshore park. The problem was that we drove into the park itself, and right into the amphitheatre. They called it the Sound Shell, but you know what I mean. After receiving quizzical looks from the grounds staff, we exited by the way we came in (it did have a speed limit sign at the 'entrance'), and parked across the street.They had a lovely and fragrant rose garden, a two storey waterfall, a carnival area, and importantly, a playground. But the playground had some sort of paedophile, who was engaged in watching the activities of the children of another gentleman who were playing in the paddle pool. We kept an eye on him, but he seemed only to be interested in watching, and kept a safe distance the whole time.We enjoyed the leftover cheeses, olives, smoked mussel pate etc, effectively using up the last of our food stocks. Yay! Not wasteful at all, we deserve some sort of medal. Or something.After Timaru, it was drive drive drive, until we reached the pleasant town of Tai Tapu, on the way to Akaroa. This was because we couldn't find the Raiki Gorge park mentioned in the guidebook. We enjoyed a brief coffee and slice, before continuing the drive towards Akaroa.When we got to Akaroa, the kids were asleep so we just parked on the waterfront and enjoyed a brief respite from their shenanigans. Unfortunately the handful awoke first and we had to entertain her while the other slept on.Finally, we decided to head over to the camping ground, where we enjoyed a fantastic view as we drove in. Unfortunately, the spots with views were taken long ago, and we had to take one with minimal views. But at least the playground has good views, which is the location where this entry is being composed.Once play was complete, we went back into town for dinner at C'est la vie. A very quaint French restaurant (what else in a town of French descendants?) serving escargot, French onion soup and duck a l'orange. The kids were very good, earning praise from the maître'd.  This we considered high praise because we thought they were acting up. It just goes to show the expectations we place on ourselves versus the perception others have. Great kids! We took them for an ice-cream after as a reward.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196910300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196910300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196910300/tpod.html Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:14:23 -0500 New Zealand family holiday - Mum, Dad, Yas and Macca.

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Christchurch, New Zealand

The Banks Peninsula was formed by the explosion of two or three volcanos, so in true Bowman fashion, our trip was not complete without a trip around the rim, complete with posed photos with craters in full view.Also, there was some unfinished business. Around 25 years ago, Gavin was photographed on one the rims outside Lyttleton, and there has been much discussion of recreating the event with the second generation.So we drove around the Akaroa rim first, being the closest to Akaroa. There were some grand views to be had. There were even some pleasant photos. We met Phillipa and Conrad from UK, who took a lovely picture of us and a crater.Round the crater, and then down across the lake, we came up again to the Lyttleton crater, driving up to the Kiwi Sign. Unfortunately, this was NOT the location of the fabled 1981 family portrait atop crater, but we took a photo anyway.Back down at Lyttleton, we enjoyed a burger at the Irish Pub, while Mckayla had a mini pizza. Yasmin had chips. Then it was time to head on over to Christchurch, because we had to clean out the hotel and hand it back to the people.Pretty exciting interlude ...At the hotel hire company, Gavin discovered that the damage would cost $812, $712 of which will (hopefully) be borne by the insurance company. The damage was confirmed to consist of only broken plywood. But apparently plywood is expensive in New Zealand.Being sans vehicular motel, we legged it out of there a couple of blocks or so to the New Zealand Lone Star, which is a little different to the Australian version. Still a steak sort of place, but a bit nicer. The kids enjoyed fish and chips (again) while we had a fajita plate to share. On returning to the stationary motel, we realised that we only had five hours before we had to get up again.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196329440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196329440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196329440/tpod.html Sun, 02 Dec 2007 04:46:54 -0500 New Zealand family holiday - Mum, Dad, Yas and Macca.

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Queenstown, New Zealand

Millennium Walk is what they have renamed the Waterfall Creek Walk at Wanaka, and already it sounds a little dated to me, a little too, how shall we say, passé, kitsch? But it was a nice enough stroll around the shores of Lake Wanaka. We have a few photos to prove that we were there. Of note was the increased intensity of the breeze, which some would label gale force, but you can't very well call it a gale force breeze, can you? So let's just say the breeze had picked up a bit and it was starting to get a bit fresh.After this pleasant stroll in the breeze, we decided to head on over to Queenstown, via Cardrona. It was quite a pleasant drive along a back-country road, but it gave some impressive views, some of which we can share with you.Once in Queenstown, the breeze had picked up to such an extent that we bunkered down in the hotel for lunch, on the shores of Lake Wakitipu. Maybe it was about to tip over. Probably not, but it sure felt like it.After lunch, we decided to take the gondola up to the top of the hill overlooking Queenstown. It offered some pleasant views.At the top, the real excitement began. Apparently, if you are 110cm, you are allowed to go by yourself, but poor Yasmin is a little less than that and Mckayla ... well, she didn't even approach the sign's bottom. But never fear, children are allowed on the luge at any age provided they are accompanied by an adult (but not carried in the womb of said adult).So, the luge beckoned, and Gavin and Mckayla were first cabs of the rank. They took it very slowly, applying the brakes every time there was some sort of squeak of fear. It seemed to work a treat, and so when it was Yasmin's turn, Mckayla threw the requisite tantrum to make it more appealing. Each had two more turns on the scenic route, before Gavin selfishly (but under the guise of being fair to the kids - you can't give them an uneven number of turns) took the last ride by himself on the advanced circuit. Unfortunately, without any practice or opportunity for additional turns, his last ride with Yasmin was probably faster.Everyone then enjoyed a well deserved hot chocolate or ice-cream, overlooking the suburbs of Queenstown below.Once back on solid ground, we all headed out for dinner in the rain (first real time rain has actually threatened to stop us doing something). We ended up choosing something fairly innocuous, inane, and not worth remark.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196220660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196220660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196220660/tpod.html Tue, 27 Nov 2007 04:39:46 -0500 New Zealand family holiday - Mum, Dad, Yas and Macca.

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Fox Glacier, New Zealand

This morning ... wait, there was no this morning this morning. We drove to Franz Josef glacier in the morning, arriving around midday. So there isn't much to tell about the morning in Hokitika except to say that the single lane bridge really comes into its own on the West Coast. Some even share the lane with the train. And that the rain falls mainly on the West Coast plain...At Franz Josef glacier, the weather fined up enough so we took a brief stroll up the hill to the constant refrain from Yasmin that her knees and ankles were too sore for her to walk. Of course this was a ruse, but we didn't know it was also code for 'I'm about to crap my pants.' If only we were masters of linguistic subtlety, or at least craftsmen of the olfactory. But we saved the day, just in the knickers of time.The views were good enough. Almost makes up for the mounting pile of soiled underpants.After Franz Josef glacier, Fox glacier is the next sight, and for us, it was no different. First stop was lunch, and the only venue available with a park seemed to be the caravan park, so we checked in. On leaving, we left the table in the spot to reserve it on our return.It was time for a stroll around Matheson Lake, where on a clear still day you can get a view of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman reflected in the lake. Well, it was neither still nor clear, but it was a fine walk. We pushed Yasmin around in the stroller, because the track notes indicated it was wheelchair accessible all the way. It isn't.Fox glacier beckoned. So we drove to the viewing area, and Yasmin wouldn't walk the 5 metres to the viewing platform without whingeing. But at least this time, she decided to save her pants. It is the little victories that count.On our return, we discovered that someone had moved our table and taken our spot. Predictable really, you should have seen it coming too. But we got back at them. We are parked, sandwiched if you will, between them and the other car - our power cord doesn't even touch the ground.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196068440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196068440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mr_shankley/new_zealand_07/1196068440/tpod.html Tue, 27 Nov 2007 04:24:17 -0500 New Zealand family holiday - Mum, Dad, Yas and Macca.

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Hokitika, New Zealand

This morning, we went to see the seals. Yasmin asked if there was going to be poo on the ground there. Of course there will be, we said, thinking of seal poo. But we went there just last week, was the retort. Of this there can be no doubt: when Yasmin remembers something, she remembers it. Kaikoura poo on the seal walk was of the bovine variety Yasmin. These seals are different.Indeed they were. Mckayla was awake, for one. They were also close enough for us to see them attacking each other. 'Attacking' is a nice way of saying that they were putting the moves on each other. Or to put it slightly more accurately, the males were putting the moves on the females. You can tell the males from the females because they are about three times bigger and they throw their weight around.Punakaiki was the next stop, where we enjoyed pancakes. Limestone pancakes. Yum. There were some salt water syrup being sprayed all over them, too. All in all, an impressive display, but as Brad would say, 'water ingression!' was an issue, and we took photos at our peril.Greymouth was our lunch destination, but when you talk about parks, 'barren wasteland' is something Greymouth has in spades. We were lucky to find anything: certainly the park we found was lush enough and with lovely play equipment, but the number of advertised 'parks' we had to drive past before seeing it was criminal.We quickly stopped in at Montieths' brewery only to discover it wasn't tour time for another hour, so we skipped it and headed out of town to see if Hokitika would be more welcoming.Well, Hokitika doesn't have a brewery to speak of, but they have whitebait sandwiches, battered scallops and kumara chips. We ate like kings (kings who dine out at the local fish and chips shop). Unfortunately, Hokitika is all but closed from 6pm, so we didn't see the jade craftspeople at work.Fortunately, Hokitika does have one shop open until late, and we looked at some of the final product of those Hokitika crafters. Can't say that the jade looks like it is really worth all the fuss, but it certainly looks nice enough (but the price?).Finally, Hokitika Sunset Point beckoned being, as it was, close enough to sunset to make it worth a trip. 30 seconds later we were there, and wasn't it a pretty sight.
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