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  Aukland, New Zealand
Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Day 13 - We arrived in Picton around midday after one of the most scenic drives of the trip. From Nelson we travelled towards the town of Havelock. It's such a pity we couldn't have spent some time there, it looked lovely with breathtaking views. The photos never do these places justice. From Havelock we took the Queen Charlotte Drive which is the scenic route, so very windy with some steep hills for Stubby the van. We ignored the black smoke coming from the rear and concentrated on the views! We would highly recommend this route to anyone coming to NZ. After a quick coffee, oh and a look in the estate agents windows! we drove onto the ferry. The sun was shining and a slight wind blew so we knew we were in for a gentle crossing. Not at all like the one Liz endured 35 years ago!!! We finally arrived in Wellington around 4.30pm and made our way to the campsite just outside of town. The traffic was murderous, not at all what we have been used too for the past couple of weeks.

Day 14 - Our day in Wellington had been one that Liz had been looking forward to for some time as she wanted to revisit where she and her family lived in the early 70's and also check out her old school. But unfortunately the day didn't get off to a great start. Liz had been feeling unwell for some days and finally gave in and visited a doctor in Wellington city. He diagnosed an ear infection and bronchitis! So more antibiotics for Liz! He also gave us the unfortunate news that with an ear infection people shouldn't fly, so as not to burst their eardrum. Not good news. We then tried to change our flight by a couple of days, with no luck. If we miss the flight we miss the cruise which is the next big leg of our journey.
We got on with the day after a bad start and went and found Liz's old house in Wallace Street in Newtown. It appeared to have just been sold - we would like to have known the price! After a few pic's we took the walk to school just by memory - not bad for the old gal! The school looked a bit different - new buildings added - but essentially much the same. A few pic's down memory lane and then back to Stubby and off to the city centre. We had promised Josh a ride on the cable car which ascends to The Botanical Gardens - again essentially as it was all those years ago, but a bit re-vamped in terms of the trams and terminus. At the top they have a cable car museum and Liz and Josh were able to demonstrate the old method of sitting on the outside and dangling legs over the side - Health and Safety would turn in their graves!! We took a walk around the gardens - excellent park for Josh - then made our way back to Stubby which was in a car park at the waterfront. We were all a bit tired from the day and were debating where we would camp that night when a knock on the camper door came. A very pleasant lady from Bristol enquired if we were camping overnight in the car park as she wasn't keen to be on her own! We didn't realise it was a possibility but decided to give her company. We chatted for a long time discussing our various travel plans - she was travelling alone after the death of her spouse, and spending a whole year on the move - made us feel like novices!

Day 15 - Woke up in the car park, said our goodbyes and set off on the long journey North, with Liz having to pop antibiotics and other tablets at a rate of knots. We spend 5-6 hours on the road and reached Taupo by early evening. Great site, but long drive.

Day 16 - More motoring, this time up to Auckland so that we can just stop, rest up, and prepare for the flight if Liz feels she can do it. Another long days' driving - tough on everyone especially Josh but he seems to get on with it - and the weather has turned very wet and windy, still we have been very lucky for most of our time here.

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