We'll be coming around the mountain...

• Pauldebi's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Akaroa

Trip Start Sep 01, 2008 Previous
Entry Trip End Sep 23, 2008 Next
Entry

  Akaroa, South Island, New Zealand
Thursday, September 11, 2008

Today was a day of scenery overload...as have been many others. We hesded out of Hanmer Springs after a long walk through the town. We walked about 3.5 miles and it was exhilerating...so much so we went to breakfast and had the full blown deal. Robbies is the first restaurant we have been to that have brewed coffee and a bottomless cup! It was very American! We ask our server what to see between here and Christchurch and she gave us several recommendations...especially that if we wanted to be by the water, we should head to Akaroa in the French Bay.
We headed to Christchurch for the night and try to keep ahead of the rain and clouds. The weather here is fascinating - one turn in the road and you can be in sunshine and the next, cloudy and dismal. Arriving in Christchurch we drove through downtown and marveled at the architectural structures of the city...but soon realized how spoiled we had become with the quiet of the smaller towns...so we took our server's advice and headed to Akaroa and it is spectacular here. The bay and town are delightful. It is nestled in a valley and as we were coming down the mountain to get here...we stopped at Pettigrew's Road on the tourist drive to take pictures of the landscape below and the multitudes of sheep. I can't describe the beauty.
Arriving in town we found a place to stay for the night that looks out over the bay. We strolled the little town and found a spot for a glass of wine (or 2) and had a late lunch of cheese and bread. It is truly lovely here.
My tip from New Zealand today is how hard it is to get used to WALKING on the left...even if you try to get them to move over...not going to happen. So you let them have their way and move to the left. Oh, and we have stopped taking the cream/milk when we check in...it was not being used. Paul's tip from New Zealand is that the horizontal ledges apparent on most hillsides is the result of livestock grazing on wet ground and creating their own "stairsteps."
Paul has done a wonderful job of driving on the left. It is really tricky to remember.

Post your own travel photos for friends and family Pictures

Wine On The Water	Do sheep see scenery?	Akaroa Bay from Pettigrew's Road	Sheep make their own 'steps'

Slideshow Print this entry Share

Previous Entry Next Entry