Now in the 9th day of our awesome holiday and still no fish or gold have we discovered yet. However, we still have time as we are heading from Hokitika today through to Shanty Town and we have all the gear, pick axe, buckets, scales – just kidding but we do have a gold pan all oiled and ready to go.
Briefly, we have had an amazing nine days, picking up our van in Christchurch, driving through to Rolleston on our way to see the Wrigley’s we stopped at the Rolls Inn for something to eat, however there was no food but Paul did manage to head dive down some steps in the Inn, while gazing around. Lucky there were no broken ankles or arms and true to form I tried not to laugh too much. Then onto afternoon tea at the Lyn and Bill’s – lovely place and then on to Lake Tekapo where we stayed our first night. Opened the back doors of our van and just soaked in the view. Apart from the odd coffee spill and losing a couple of the precious browns we are managing the gypsy life quite well. We now have a place for everything and as long as we both know where that is all is rosy.
Loved Queenstown where we met up with Keri, Paul and Fergus and enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of Keri’s brother, Antony. Went up in the Gondola and Paul Snr came down in the Luge – he’s living dangerously! From Queenstown we travelled out in a Steamboat to Walter Peak Station, an amazing old farm, stayed three hours, Devonshire tea…ing in the front of the homestead just gazing out over Lake Wakatipu. Camped at 12 Mile Bay that night. Little Fergie is an amazing traveler, just takes it all in his stride and striding he nearly is!
We headed for Arrowtown – another magic place and met up with the CEO of the Little Brown Kiwi Camp! – Paul and Keri’s friend, James (Jimmy). Further on, on our way to Wanaka for the night we stopped for a drink at the infamous Cardrona Hotel – one of our highlights to date. Not wanting to monopolise the Bene’s Blog I will adjourn now and return at another date to tell of travels to Glaciers, panning for gold, whitebait sandwiches and Wayne Baxter etc. Take care until we converse again.