DOWN UNDER: Waterfalls & Boulders - To Waihola Lk, Oamaru and Rakaia R

' The EARTH Has Music For Those Who Listen '

William Shakespeare

We're running out of travel time now. 

We only had 4 more nights camping after Curio Bay and then just 1 additional day moving northerly towards Christchurch; which pretty much marks the end of our stay in NZ. Once the coastal highway diverts away from the Southern Alps along the South Islands' west coast (and all the National Parks there), the opportunities for many activities, including longer day-hiking are limited. 

Oamaru, appears to have a few things that interest us and there just happens to be, a 3-day Harbour Street Jazz & Blues Festival on right now. We're also a bit road weary and may use these last few days to relax and sleep in, readjust and begin to repack before our flight(s) home, maybe just do touristy sight-seeing trips and short hikes along our way. 


From Oamura we just drove, a night in Rakaia River and then the final night in Christchurch.

SO ... here you go, the map to your right, tracks our route from the south end of the South Island and then along the east coast, there's some text and photos too.

DOWN UNDER: An Old Indian, Ancient Trees & A Sea Cave - To Curio Bay

' We Saw An Old Indian  & Some Really, Really, REALLY Old Trees '

We've come as far south as you can on mainland New Zealands' South Island ...

... and, Invercargill was just a town we had to drive through to get here. 

A brochure told us about this place, we needed groceries and supply and had the time to stop in. The World's Fastest Indian is on display at E Hayes Hardware Store . Remember the movie, starring Anthony Hopkins

For my riding friends ... Tom, Gerry, Gord, Bob, Rick, Mark, Don & Doug.
 

DOWN UNDER: A Million Sheep & A Dozen Lions - To Cromwell and Te Anau

' The Road Must Eventually Lead to the Whole World ' Jack Kerouac

 Soon making a mad dash for Christchurch and the start of our 

' On The Way Home ' leg.  

 

We are beginning to run out of time on this trip and there are still several additional stops we would like to make. Our priorities are wildlife viewing and hikes to see several rare penguins, albatross and dolphins. So, given the very rainy start to this day, we've decided to just drive and move further south and inland as far as we can get. To get to some of those difficult-to-reach, remote places, we may need a boat cruise.

That's US - white camper, orange circle, map below.

Our first stop CROMWELL, is located at a major highway junction that connects either the west or east coasts near the southern end of the South Island. The weather forecast for the next 3-4 days will determine which way we head.

DOWN UNDER: Little & Big Birds - To Fox Glacier

' Our First Time Heli-Hiking! '

We're planning on using the village of Fox Glacier as a base for a couple of days. It's located near the centre of this National Park and gives us good access to all the facilities. We hiked at the villages of Okarito and Franz Josef on our drive through.

WESTLAND / TAI POUTINI NATIONAL PARK

WALKS: Pakihi Walk & Douglas Walk/Peters Pool

In NEW ZEALAND, trails or routes are called tracks, hikes are called walks and multi-day backpacks or treks are called tramps. (Just figured that out, but I'm not about to edit already-published posts to reflect the distinctions).

So, based on that new information ... today, we walked to kiwi territory and a river. 

DOWN UNDER: Worms, Pancakes & Flowerpots - To Westport and Hokitika

' Glow Worms are one of the rarest & most unique animals on Earth and are only found in New Zealand  & Australia '

TE  WAIPOUNAMU (MAORI  for South Island)

DOWN UNDER: South Island, New Zealand - Picton, Nelson, Motueka and Kaiteriteri

Only Russia Wakes Up Earlier

 

To the SOUTH ISLAND ...


FERRY CROSSING
Wellington, NORTH ISLAND to Picton, SOUTH ISLAND

We sailed on the Kaitaki Interislander, the largest ferry in NZ's fleet. Kaitaki is a Māori word meaning ' challenger '. About a 3.5 hour crossing, out of Fitzroy Bay on the North Island and across Cook Strait to Picton on the South Island. From there we travelled westerly for about 3 hours along winding coastal roads to Stoke, a suburb of Nelson. 

First impressions of this coastline ... spectacular scenery!

DOWN UNDER: Tame Birds & Volcanoes - To Taupo and Ohakune

 

Heading Inland & South & Up ...

We woke to a  stunning Whitianga sunrise ...

 

volcanic     end-of-the-earth    apocalyptic

... then drove south towards Lake Taupo; the largest freshwater lake in New Zealand. 

DOWN UNDER: To Tutukaka, Whitianga and Hahei

' Triangulating With Friends ... Across Continents & Over Oceans '

We left Paihai, drove southerly then east a short distance to Tutukaka. 

It's on the east coast near the northern end of the North Island.

  

DOWN UNDER: North Island, New Zealand - Auckland to Paihai

Kia Ora ............ Be Well

 

The NORTH ISLAND


AUCKLAND 

Our longest flight; 9 hours 27 minutes. Also our nicest; Air New Zealand Rocks ... premium economy class, very comfortable seating, probably the highest quality food and wine we've had on any flight. 

We'll only be in Auckland long enough to catch up somewhat, on jet lag (there's a +18 hour total time difference from EST > NZDT) and to pick up a rental car. We'll return here at the end of our trip for a couple of nights and tour the city then.

SINGAPORE - The 19th Smallest Nation

The World's ONLY Island-City State

We didn't leave Dubai on schedule ...

... and, our arrival in SINGAPORE was delayed 24 Hours

The FLIGHT
CAUTION: Mini-rant follows

There's a 4 hour time difference between Dubai and SINGAPORE and this was to be a 6h 30m flight. We were scheduled to leave Dubai 20:00 Feb 5 and arrive SINGAPORE 07:15 Feb 6. We paid for premium-economy class and boarded on time. Due to a repetative technical fault with the aircraft, we spent 5 hours on the plane; either not moving, being towed or just driving around. We were offered water and a few other non-alcoholic beverages, cupcakes disguised as muffins and some peanuts. 

Eventually our flight was cancelled. Along with first and business classes, we were shuttled to a hotel room in the airport by 2:00 am Feb 6. 

This International Group we waited with (clockwise left to right), included travellers from UAE (Bruce), Canada (Helen), New Zealand (June), Philippines, Malasia, Australia (Brad), England, Singapore (Sandeep) and Korea. 

UAE: Dubai - Tallest, Biggest, Expensive, Outrageous

' Dubai Holds the Guiness Book World Record 
... for the City In the World with the Most World Records '

The FLIGHT

        Lisboa to Dubai 

We enjoyed a wonderful experience with a lovely flight attendant on Air Emirates; Anamarija (2nd from left), originally from Croatia. 

Whenever she had any free time, Anamarija sat with us and give us tips on what to do in Dubai. She and several of the other flight crew compiled a list of about a dozen must-do things for us. Near the end of the flight she asked if we would come with her to the rear cabin for a photo. Helen even got to wear part of the Air Emirates uniform, a traditionally styled Emerati veiled hat. With staff like Anamarija it is no wonder Emirates is one of the top airlines in the world.

These pretty ladies are our first Journeymaker Group.  

Thank You Anamarija and Friends ...

 

' Journeymakers  are the people who elevate your travel experience with the passion and enthusiasm for the place they call home and for the interest and kindness they give you, the traveller. '
~

Old Europe - Lee-sj-bo-ah (Lisboa)

The SECOND Oldest Capital in Europe ... Athens, Greece is older.

 ~

LISBOA , ALENTEJO
Pron. [lee-sj-bo-ah]

Here's the view from the juliette balcony of our hotel in Lisboa, we overlook Rossio Square. 

We drove 150 kms from Evora, dropped the rental car off and booked a shuttle to the Internacional Design Hotel. They will also return us to the airport when we fly out. We have a three night stay. Several friends have spent time in Lisboa and they've passed on some tips and recommendations for things to do during the short time we have here.