Akaroa

Akaroa is the only town of significance on the Banks Peninsula near Christchurch.  Akaroa means 'long harbor' in Maori and it has one, thanks to the area's birth as a volcano, complete with deep and long fissures.  Yesterday we drove from Lake Tekapo to Akaroa via Timaru, Geraldine, and Lincoln. None of those towns were much to speak of and the windy and scary road to Akaroa was one for the books!  Still, we arrived safely and today will explore the town at leisure.

After a lazy start, we ambled straight down to the town. The path, which thankfully has many stairs, is down a very steep slope. We had the town to ourselves, very few shops were open and the tour buses hadn't arrived. It was great, even if finding a coffee shop that was open wasn't to be.  We walked the length of town, really small (less than a kilometer long), and enjoyed the small harbor, the gulls, the boats and a calm, unhurried morning.  We finally found a coffee shop and then wandered some more.  After a bit more exploring and lunch with cheeky seagulls who walked all over the awnings, we trudged back up to the campground and a rest.  Tomorrow, probably more of the same - enforced rest!

We are ready to come home.  It has been a trip full of sights and adventures but it isn't home, doesn't feel like home and will never be home. Unlike Australia, which will always be the home of our hearts, even if that isn't reality. :)

View from the campground

Akaroa Harbor

Quaint old home

The hills keep the clouds at bay

Delivery Service

Little Digger

Keeping it ship-shape

B&B

Felt even out here

Get the Picture?

Walkabout

Fixing it after the quakes

On a bit of a cruise

Aoraki

Aoraki (Mt. Cook) is far more majestic and impressive than photos can tell.  It certainly dominates in a way that few other mountains do, much like Mt. Shasta in California and Denali in Alaska.  Aoraki means "Cloud Piercer" in Maori and it earns that 33% of the time. We were fortunate in that we had a beautiful day to enjoy it.  

The drive up along Lake Pukaki is a long, winding introduction to Aoraki, with both partial and full views of it and its neighbors.  Then, as you near, it simply begins to overwhelm, making humans and our creations seem puny in comparison.

We went on a glacial lagoon boat ride into Tasman Glacier Lake, formed by the Tasman Glacier and its advance and retreat.  We were once agin lucky in that the glacier had 'calved' a huge iceberg three days prior and the lagoon was full of its 'offspring.'  Normally, they only have three small icebergs but that day we had hundreds!

Following a very full day in the park, we drove to Lake Tekapo and camped for the night.  Rather anti-climatic and a poor campground, but still the day was grand.

Iceberg Alley

Along Lake Pukaki

Titanic!

View from the Hermitage Hotel

On the Glacial Lake

Pukaki Reflection

Tekapo Vista

Aoraki and Field

Aoraki

Someday

On the Plains

Hanging Ice

Sir Edmund Hillary

In Memorium

Back down the valley

Such tiny boats

The Blue Berg of Happiness

Blue Ice

Matterhorn Berg

Old Man of the Ice

The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music

Contemplation

Lake Pukaki Blue

Lake Tekapo Blue

St. John's Church, Tekapo

Greetings from Twizel

"Tw-eye-zel," is a strange town built to house workers building a major dam about 5 miles out of town.  It is dead flat and dry, but they have planted plenty of trees and have lots of irrigation, so in 20 or so years, this place will look good.  The outskirts are far prettier, but the town needs time.

To get to Twizel, we left Dunedin, drove north to the Moeraki Boulders, which are interesting, even if the light wasn't much help from a photographic viewpoint.  Then on to Oamaru and then inland along the Wiataki River, which has been dammed for hydro-power in many places, and finally to Twizel.

Tomorrow on to Mt. Cook or Aoraki, as it is known in Maori.

Posts of St. Clair

Moeraki Rock 1

Outskirts of Twizel

Twizel Stream

Moeraki Trio

Up the Wiataki Valley

Maori Petroglyphs

The Cook Range

Dunedin

We had a blast in Dunedin!  First we took the bus in and on Sundays it must take the craziest route known to mankind. I guess the driver wanted to give all of us the scenic tour.  We finally arrived and had a coffee and muffin to fortify us.  Then a short walk down to the famous and most photographed building in the city, the railroad station!  This has to be the most excessive use of Victorian architecture and design in the world. I think they wanted Queen Victoria to be able to see it from all the way in Buckingham Palace. The interior was far more interesting to me.

Afterwards, we sauntered down to the Otago Museum and learned tons about the locals and Dunedin.  After lunch we toured the Dunedin Art Gallery, which had both old (better) and new (not so hot) art.  Looking at my watch, I saw we had ten minutes to find and start the Speights Brewery tour!  We found it with seconds to spare and got two places for the 2 o'clock tour, which we were very fortunate to do as a cruise ship had pulled into Dunedin that morning.

Let's just say the tour was fascinating, but the best part was the end where we had free rein to sample (and re-sample) six fresh-brewed beers and one cider.  We also had as long as we wanted to do so, all in a very nice little bar area, much like a cozy pub.  All I can say is, it was a good thing we had the bus to take us back to the campground!

Tomorrow, Moeraki Boulders and then inland.

Dunedin Rail Station

Pretty neat!

All Aboard!

First Church of Otago

Downtown Dunedin

Best Brewery in Town!

After a few too many

Help yourself!

Brewing away

Quantity in barrels!