Thursday, December 3, 2009

Dunedin

December 1 & 2

While Gerry was golfing in Invercargill (on the 1st) I was checking out an actual rubber stamp store!  A very important thing to do!!  Also did some internet stuff at one of my favorite places.

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If you ever get to Invercargill make sure and stay at the Surrey Court motel.  Neat and clean, friendly people and the bed was soooooo comfortable!!

Then it was time to start heading back north.  We made it as far as Dunedin, only about 200 kms but we got a late start.  We could have been travelling in the foothills of southern Alberta except for the wrong animals in the fields – sheep!

There is another Cadbury plant in Dunedin so guess where we went!  It was all set up with a Christmas display – a mountain of gold-wrapped mini bars.  This time we toured the actual factory and had to follow their safety rules re proper dress.  It was very interesting but unfortunately we couldn’t take our cameras with us.  Saw  a chocolate waterfall that was 2 floors high and dropped a ton of chocolate in about 1 minute.  We did get a photo with our favourite ‘chocolate lady’ and one with a 1919 milk truck and a 1930 delivery truck.

Then we needed to see the “World’s Steepest Street” and of course drive up, turn the wrong corner and have to back up blindly into possible traffic (absolutely no room to turn around) in order to go back down.  Needless to say I was ‘thrilled’.

A photo or two of the historic Dunedin railway station made with Oamaru rock – it’s apparently the second most photographed site in Australasia, second to the Sydney Opera House.

Then all the way down the highway to Oamaru – another trip of about 200 kms.

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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

One for the Guys (Doug, Rick, Fran) and Golfers

December 1

World’s Fastest Indian AND A Couple of Golf Courses

On our trip back from Milford Sound, we watched a movie starring Anthony Hopkins about a Kiwi from Invercargill – Burt Munro.  He had modified a 1922 Indian Scout motorcycle and after setting records in NZ for a number of years, he travelled to the Bonnieville Salt Flats in Utah in 1962 to attempt a world record.  He unofficially ran 201 mph.

While in Invercargill we found the original bike on display in a hardware store owned by Burt’s friend.  Burt had sold it to him so that the bike would be sure to stay in south New Zealand.

The store actually held a museum of old bikes and equipment.

For the movie they built 3 copies of the bike.  We stumbled onto one displayed in the hallway of a retail mall.  (The malls run inside between the downtown streets.)

Gerry golfed two courses in the south of the South Island.  Jack’s Point is just outside Queenstown.  It’s a new resort course & Gerry says “It’s the best course I’ve golfed in Australia or New Zealand”.  It’s right on Lake Wakatipu – the same lake that Queenstown sits on.  He was the 5th golfer out, passed the foursome in front & did the round playing two balls.

The other course was in Invercargill and is the most southerly 18-hole course in New Zealand.  This time he had to start on number 10 as it was ladies league day and he had to keep in front of the ‘girls’!

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Milford Sound

November 29

It was a long bus ride to and from, but definitely worthwhile.  Lots of canyons, waterfalls, lakes,

a one way tunnel,

and even a bird sanctuary.

The cruise around the sound was awesome.  Tall waterfalls,

taller cliffs (the photos just do not do justice to the scenery),

and even some wildlife - dolphins who were frolicking in our wake,

seals sunning on the rocks and another odd variety of mammal characterized by its yellow bottom.

We left Queenstown at 8 a.m. and didn’t return till after 9 p.m. but WELL worth it!!

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Monday, November 30, 2009

Lupins

November 26 & 29

Fields and fields of them.  We saw them through the mountain passes that we travelled on our way to Queenstown and also on our way to Milford Sound.  They were alongside the road, in the river beds and just at the tree lines.  Could see them really well from high up on the bus, but the photos were blurry.  I did get some close ups of some of the amazing colors.

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Queenstown – in the afternoon

November 28

After tea we went for a ‘Million Dollar Cruise’ on Lake Wakatipu.  The million dollars refers to the prices of the homes along the lake front!

There were some willow islands – started growing after one of the original settlers placed posts in the shallow areas to help him navigate through the water – a ‘sail’er, fishergirl, brave swimmers (core water temp is 11),

hang gliders, a paraglider, the vintage coal-burning steamship – the TSS Earnslaw and lots of beautiful scenery. 

We were even able to see our hotel from the water.  When we finally headed home it was time to relax on the courtyard roof to watch the sun go down – it was a beautiful sunset.

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Queenstown – in the morning

November 28

We had fun exploring.  Notice how confident I look!

But it got better as we toured around the harbour.

We were in time for the Saturday market along the waterfront – very artsy and complete with entertainment.

But the really fun market was the one at the Anglican church – they hold it every Saturday.  You can find new, used, baking, fresh flowers, a raffle – then sit for tea (inside or out) while enjoying the entertainment.

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Still on the Road to Queenstown

November 27

It didn’t take us long to get from Lake Wanaka to Queenstown.  No more lakes to stop at.  However we did stop at Arrowtown – an early gold-mining settlement.  Lots of old buildings…

A stone building and terrace…

I even found a place to work…

and Heather, we found lots of places for you to work!  Here’s one…

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