This is really our blog of what happened, Its for us so some of this may not make 100% sense to you reading it.
We are not going to bore you with all the photos but just some of the best.
Sorry its taken so long but when you have 9000 Images to look through it will take some time. Also we have had rather alot on recently.
If you have Google Earth (Broadband Needed). You can see all our photos on the map by clicking here. Or you can just use the versions we have here.
Quick Jump to Sydney | NZ | Tokyo
Dec 6th (Thursday) (pics)
Leave work and grab bags to head for overnight stay in "Holiday Inn" , Near Heathrow which Rob picked for guess what? (Yep it has a Chinese restaurant!)
Dec 7th (Fri) (No Pics)
Depart London Heathrow at 1115, Take off slightly delayed due to air traffic control.
12.5 hr flight to Singapore. Arrive 0750 local. Crew tell us we can leave bags on board. Singapore airport disagree & so departure delayed while they offload everyone’s hand baggage, which we have to collect + then go through security (for the second time). We go for a walk about to get circulation going in our legs again. We find the “cactus garden” outside where it is wet + muggy + very unpleasant .32c and 99.9% humidity. (well it seemed that way)
Rob has a smoke.
Take off again around 0915 + Sarah is pleased to discover only another 7 hrs to go. They will make up the lost time due to security issues.
Land at Sydney at 1930 get through quarantine, Customs and straight to taxi rank.
Taxi to hotel Rendez vous in “the rocks” arrives just after 2100
After finding some local wildlife in our room (Cockroach!) we go for a wander.
Trying to find a pancake bar. Give up + buy bread, ham, salami, cheese and snacks. Head back to room.
Walk down to see the opera house + harbour bridge. Have a stroll around the area. Sarah leans on a wall + discovers more wild life (cockroaches!!!!), freaks out + so we move on.
Get to sleep about midnight.
Dec 9th (Sun) (Sydney pics)
Sarah wakes up at 0715 Rob sleeps until Sarah wakes him up at 0920
Contintal buffet breakkie at hotel.
Go for a wander, take piccis of Opera house + bridge. A tourist couple (Indian) ask pointing at the Opera house "What is that?" (Bloody tourists)
Walk around to Opera house _ wonder though a bit of the botanical Gardens. Sun is Blazing + very hot in full sun.
Walk back + get the mother of all ice creams. Strawberry + coconut 2 scoops (could have had 3!!!!)... Yummy
Back to hotel to collect harbour cruise vouchers then wander along George Street to find the Sydney Tower. Lots of very different + imposing buildings.
Can't get to close to the tower.
wander back towards harbour + have drink.
Do boat cruise of harbour, Take loads of piccis, Thunder + lightening storm. Raining as we come back in.
Sarah buys some pink Fizzy from a specialist Aus wine shop. It's peeing down with rain now.
Out for a meal 1830, All sarah wants to do is sleep!! Had not a very nice veal + pizza.
Strolled down to harbour again to soak up the atmosphere + for Rob to have a smoke. Sarah lays back staring at the sky and sees a huge fruit bat fly over. Rob doesn't believe her, says it must have been a seagull! Until we see another few hundred fly over that is! (might let her have that one.)
Stroll back to hotel to discover 2 bats in the tree opposite.
Go back out at dark to take more pics with Rob's camera. See some HUGE cockroaches!!!!
Back to room for relaxing bath bubbles and bubbly. Sarah's happy!
Left Sydney, taxi driver forgot to shut boot properly and forgot to start the meter!!!. Supposed to take off at 0925 were about an hr late but made up some time on the way to Christchurch.
More forms to fill in and cross-questioning at Christchurch. Where are you staying tonight? Can I see your proof of intention to leave? Where is your husband? How long were you in Sydney?
Make it through Customs quickly after dumping "illegal cheese" from our suitcase!
Apex rentals collect us from the airport and we collect our sporty red Ford Focus.
500 yards from leaving rental place we stop at traffic lights behind a trailer full of sheep.! How appropriate!
With little help from Sarah's navigation (no its not left its stright on Rob, trust me!) we arrive at the Country Glen Lodge about 1600
Found local shop for essential supplies, ie Lindaeur Fraise, Sauvignon Blanc + NZ Beer!
Just about manage to stay awake to go out for a meal at "Sophie's Cafe" Rob, however was not looking altogether human! Sarah enjoyed her steak with blue cheese and bacon. Rob left half his Burger! He must be tired!
Return to room, manage to stay up almost an hour, both dropping off in the chair so give in and go to bed.
For the last few days both of us, at varying times have been suffering from jet lag. It's a really weird sensation, feels like you are swaying. The room is not spinning you are! It's like being drunk but you remember it!
Dec 11th (Tue) 2 (NZ Pics)
Both up at 0800 have a cuppa, bacon sarnie and pain au chocolate. leave around 0930 for Akaroa. Stop on the hill top on the way to take piccies of the amazing view. It's strange, to the right it's totally flat like Norfolk, to the left is mountainous, like Wales! The colours are amazing, everything's green and lush with turquoise skies. There are strange looking limestone erosions in the rock face.
Arrive at Akaroa, which is a sleepy little place, with a few shops and bars. Sarah spotted jewellery shop and guess what, bought a pair of mother or pearl earrings and 3 pairs or paua shell earings!!!!!
Drive back up to hillside views and have a drink.
Stop at Barry's cheese factory and taste some cheese and buy some lovely nutty Maasdam.
Head back to motel.
Leave about 1400 by foot. Walk into Christchurch central. Wander about and into the Cathedral.
Go to Botanical Gardens to see lots of ferns, Acers, bonsai trees. Stop for a panini and drink & return "home". Have a shower to cool off, Its been VERY hot today, especially walking around so much.
Sarah sits on balcony with a cold NZ beer and writes journal since 10th
Go out for Chinese! Return to motel to sample Lindauer Fraise, Yum Yum.!!
Dec 12th (wed) 3 (NZ Pics)
Restless night due to heat and noise. Starts raining in the night!
Set off about 1000 to head for Lake Tekapo.
Stoped in hick town where barmaid and manager both up the duff (by their brother?!?) Sarah asks for 2 white coffees, and they say "Flat white?" Sarah laughs and asks whats that? I just want a coffee with milk. They do not see the funny side, so Sarah just says yes that will do.
Onto the lake passing LOTS of wonderful sights, Many long straight roads surrounded by perfectly trimmed and flat Leylandia or similar. Passed a few Ostriches. (the Focus can go faster than them! Just!!...When they are stood still!)
Reach the lake (Tekapo) and more exclamations of "WOW" are said repeatedly. We are gobsmacked, it is indescribable beauty. The crisp turquoise water, The rust orange hills and the snow capped mountains behind, topped off with blue sky and snow white clouds. Words cannot describe.
We stop for a quick drink and snack and e-mail friends and family with some pics.
From here on, unbelievably the views just keep getting better and better. Lots of "oh My God's'" and "Wow's" later, We reach the Lake Pukaki visitor centre (Which answers our question of which lake it was) We must have stoped every few minutes for photo opportunities!
It tooks us about 2hrs to drive from lake Tekapo to Twizel, a journey that we understand should take 25 mins!!!
Lady in visitors centre asked where we were staying in Twizel and we said "Heartland lodge" and she said "oh are you!!" like it was a good thing.
Arrive at Heartland Lodge around 1715 and are greeted by an amazing looking house and sign saying "Heartland Lodge welcomes Rob and Sarah"
Jim (ex welshman, Cardiff area) and Mary (Definite Kiwi) welcome us. We sit and chat about plants and gardens, the UK, etc.
Join Jim and Mary for a meal and when a truck passes Jim exclaims, "oh look Mary a truck" Mary replies "Oh really Jim, a truck?!" This is truly the middle of nowhere! 2hrs to nearest big supermarket!
Meal of Venison Steaks, sweet potato, courgette and tomato bake. Steaks were "RARE" but very nice.
The room is huge and lovely with a huge bath with spa.
Surroundings so peaceful and trainquil, Just birds tweeting softly.
REMIND US WHY WE SHOULD GO HOME?
Dec 13th (Thur) 4 (NZ Pics)
We wake to the sound of rain. Last night Mary and Jim said "oh its doesn't rain here, We haven't had rain in 37 days!!" looks like we brought it with us!!
Eat a massive brekkie of 2 large pancakes with bacon and maple syrup and fried banana for Sarah. Scrummy!
We leave around 1030 to head to Queenstown.
After passing more mountains than we can remember, varying from grey, then browny orange, yellow to black. We stop at Arrowtown, an old mining community. We sample some local fish & chips and then head off.
Arrive Queenstown around 1600 and head into town to the Info centre to find out where our B&B is.
It's just up the hill the direction we came in from.
We meet our hosts Maria (Dutch) and Jo (Swiss) who we sit and chat to over a cup of tea and a fruit ring cake.
They let us choose our room as it just them and us in the house tonight and a Chinese couple in the annexe. We chose the biggest!
The views are as were on their web site, if not better. We are in awe, Once more!
1815 went down town, booked up our TSS Earnslaw Steamer ship trip for tomorrow.
Had a drink and then went to "Hell" for a pizza
Back to room at 2030 ish to soak up the view, take some photo's and chill out.
Dec 14th (Fri) 5 (NZ Pics)
Brekkie of Sausage, bacon, and swiss rosti. Depart after 1000 into Queenstown, Stop for coffee on the quayside. Wander into a shop for Sarah to buy more paua shell jewellery (Its reduced by 50% so you can buy twice as much!) Sarah forgot to wear earings today (Yeah right!) and a NZ cap, in case there was any doubt we were tourists!
1140 checked in for our TSS Earnslaw trip to the high country farm. Sailed across in about 30mins, was quite cold and windy.
Did a farm tour, fed some sheep, deer and Scottish highland cattle. Sarah had a cuddle with a little lamb, well quite big actually!
Stopped for afternoon tea with cheese scones and picklets (dropped scones) with raspberry jam and a cuppa tea.
Continued farm tour, got up close and personal with some very big and fluffy sheep. Saw a bit of sheepdog rounding up and chasing. Watched a sheep being sheared in less than a minute!!
Returned on Steamboat.
Walked to Skyline gondola and on careful consideration we chicken out. We thought it was the wise choice! We didn't feel we'd be missing out as it wasn't the clearest day!
Stopped for a cuppa then wandered around some touristy shops.
Stopped in favourite bar for a few glassed of Sauv Blanc, was delic so asked which it was... Whitecliff Sacred Hill 2007
Sarah bought new raincoat as momento of NZ ($59 = £20)
Found Fergberger, recomended by lady on plane. Had a HUGE burger each and sat on waterfront to scoff it. Sarah threw a bit of roll to an appealing little bird and within 2 seconds we were surrounded by 20-30 seagulls! Sarah tried and failed to chase them away, despite here very red burnt nose and forehead! Rob carefully blew up his paper bag, Twisted the end and POP!!!! Seagulls Gone!!! Rob and Sarah in hysterics!! Locals not so impressed!
Buy some of the lovely Sauv Blanc.
Return to B&B. Have a soak in bath then retire to balcony to admire the view and chat about our adventure so far. Cant wait for tomorrow!
Dec 15th (Sat) 6 (NZ Pics)
(SARAH GRUMPY DAY!!!)
Get up early to have brekkie, Leave for Milford Sound about 0900.
Over brekkie we are shocked at Maria's "Eeeny meany miny mo, Catch a n***** by his toe!"
Get to Te Anau after about 1hr40 (should be 2hr30!) Continue on. The journey is long and windy with dramatic mountain backdrops with HUGE waterfalls trickling down them. We go through a tunnel which slopes down steeply and is quite eerie (15mins wait for traffic lights to change) after stopping to take piccs of snow capped peaks and the parrots that peck at the rubber on cars! Two land on our car at one point and one managed to take off the aerial in one twist of the beak!
Get to Milford sound around 1325 and head to the Real Journeys desk once we have found it! We managed to get on the 1400 boat (we were booked on the 1500)
The Sound is formed from where huge Glaciers were, which then moved out to sea. The valleys then fill with water. The surrounding mountains are immense and there are a few very impressive waterfalls.
We go out almost to sea, where it gets very windy and the boat sways from side to side, Rob is NOT HAPPY!!!! and hides at the back of the boat!
We get back in off the boat around 1545 and stop for a cuppa before heading back.
Stop off at lots of places on the way back. Sarah maxed out a 2Gb memory card before we even got back to Te Anau! (that's 650 photos!)
Arrive back at Te Anau about 1830. Go straight to the liquor store for vino and beer. Priorities!
Check into motel then go to supermaket for supplies and pick up battered sausage and chips. We are feeling anti-social and tired tonight.
Dec 16th (Sun) 7 (NZ Pics)
Get up and have leisurely breakfast.
Walked around part of the lake to wildlife reserve to see some native birds like Kea (the green parrots ) and Tahake, Also some green Parakeets. Nothing too impressive there.
Went into town and found an internet cafe to send some more e-mails. Stopped for chilli beef nachos and a toasted sarnie.
Boat trip to Te Anau Glowworm caves 1400
Girl on boat mentioned that introduced wildlife was taking over native wildlife such as the flightless Takahe bird, once thought extinct until found in the mountains here, being taken over by rats, possums and squashums (the possums you see on the road!)
Visit caves, entrance very low have to duck down as you go through the entrance path.
It's noisy and dark (Waterfalls)
Get put on a Punt to go into the largest cavern where there are lots of greeny / blue lights (Glowworms), Rob is NOT HAPPY. Lots of holding on to my arm very tightly. NEVER AGAIN he states vehemently as we emerge.
Sail back into Te Anau for about 1615. Leave for Wanaka.
Return trip to Queenstown warranted lots of stops for Kodak moments. What a surprise!
We take the short cut through the Crowne Range to get to Wanaka. We go up a windy hill with amazing views back down, so green and luscious. (also used by the local Scooby boys to test out their cars it seems. Lots of hairpins with rather alot of rubber on them, we see one hurtle past, the smell of HOT brake pads and unburnt fuel from the exhaust catches Rob).
Eventually start going back down but luckily there are now hills on both sides so not too scary! We see lots of birds of pray, some sheep and deer.
Pass a small hick town called Cadrona, From here the road is much better, long and straight mostly.
Soon arrive in Wanaka and find our motel easily. Check in and find nearest "Betty's liquor store!"
Get Indian takeaway which is quite pleasant.
Dec 17th (Mon) (NZ Pics)
Get up at 0930
Go out to Puzzling World which has some strange optical illusion rooms! Do the maze at which Rob gets grumpy and frustrated. Make it out just before it rains.
Have a drive through Wanaka town and stop at supermarket for supplies for lunch, brekkie and snacks etc.
Back to motel for lunch and to do some much needed washing.
Ventured back out at 1600 and visited local Vinery "Rippons".
Sarah tasted 8 Wines (Osteiner, Gamay Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Jeunesse Pinot Noir and aged Pinot noir, Jeunesse Riesling and Gewurztraminer) Bought a bottle of rose and sauv blanc! Rude not to!
Gorgeous puppy welcomed us and stuck up pretentious couple were there, did tasting, talked rubbish and then bought nothing.
Went for a drive round town to look at local eateries and stopped for a local lager (Cadrona Gold) in a posh bar with balcony over-looking the lake. The beer was lovely.
Back to motel for a rest. Sarah and Rob both seem to have belly cramps! Delhi belly!?!
Get Thai takeaway, chicken fried rice and chicken noodles with lemon sauce, both yummy.
Quiet evening reading / watching TV.
Rob goes out to have a smoke at 2230 and calls me out. There is a possum sat under a nearby lamp, looking right at us. looks cute, like a cat with big ears. It runs away and has quite a long body and tail.
Dec 19th (Tue) (NZ Pics)
Sarah woke up to v.swollen lip in middle - large cold sore!
Both slept until alarm went off at 0930. Had cooked brekkie, bacon and sausages.
Drove towards Haast to find Thunder Creek Falls, stopped lots of times on the way for photo opportunities (Lakes Hawea and Wanaka) we will be doing the same route tomorrow but will be pressed for time then.
Find Thunder Creek Falls, it's a few mins walk through a gnarly, mossy, funky forest. Is worth a visit, quite impressive.
Stop at Fantail falls on way back is quite good also.
Go back to motel for quick snack then drive down to Lake Wanaka and sit on beach, reading and soaking up some rays.
Go for a cheeky beer and head to supermarket to buy our supper!
Back to motel to pack up and relax and read.
Rob cooked yummy beef escalopes and sweet potato hash cakes for dinner which we had with yummy tomato and onion bread.
Dec 20th (Wed) (NZ Pics)
Left motel at 0900 to head off to Fox Glacier. Stopped at salmon farm for coffee.
Arrived at Fox Glacier around 1330 had small snack of sausage roll and share a huge choc chip shortbread biscuit.
Checked in for our half day "fox trot" at 1240 and collected our hiking boots.
Departed on a small old type bus, the Glacier was only 10 mins away and when we arrived we were given some history on the Glacier and how it has shrunk substantially in recent years. Only about 7 years ago you could pretty much step straight onto the Glacier. Now its a 500 steps walk up through rainforest to be able to access it!
We walked and we walked up and up, up large steps, through rocky area where the guide had to check for avalanche risk before letting us through, over waterfalls and even up a ladder and around a trecherous cliff face with at times a sheer drop to the right. Rob and I were very unsure of whether we could do it. The ladder was OK, it was about 15 plus steps and surrounded by trees. It was once you got to the top that was the problem!! Very narrow paths and steep drops down. We clinged onto the chain for dear life.
Finally made it to the Glacier and put on our crampons. Had a good walk round on the ice which made our feet rather cold!! Sarah was too busy taking pictures and not looking where she was going and missed a step.
Rob shoted "STEP" from behind a little too late and Sarah stumbled and scraped her knuckles across an ice face. The ice won! Sarah's DNA is now on Fox Glacier!
The guide (Rich) was surprised when his mobile phone rang and tried to answer it intrigued to see if it worked up there! It did not! His colleague said something to him in passing and Rich said "sweet as" A common Kiwi phrase it seems.
As we were making our way up through the rainforest (To backtrack a bit) it was warm and damp and raining finely, Not true rain we are told, its because of the moisture in the rain forest it collects and forms clouds above. Also we kept hearing sounds like thunder. Which was the large cave at the terminal face collapsing, piece by piece. It was quite dramatic. There was some concern for people's safety as apparently some people had been standing in the river and the collapse of these huge clumps of ice had caused a surge of water. Anyway, after some time trekking about on the glacier, up and down hand carved steps, over crevasses, etc, we head back.
Seems a lot quicker on the way back but no less scary! By the time we reach ground level we are in rather a lot of pain!
We return to the bus and the driver from hell speeds us back to where we started. We get off the bus barely able to walk and queue for our certificates as proof we did it! Well we deserve it after all that!!! It was worth it but exhausting.
Stop for a quick drink to recuperate, it is now 7.15pm. We then head on to Franz Joseph which is about a 30 min drive. Find the motel easily and check in. Motel is lovely, large tastefully decorated room with a decked balcony overlooking the snow capped mountains. The owner/host is very obviously gay and is lovely and welcoming. Gives us local recommendations, chats to us about our plans etc. He gives us the keys to the spa to keep all night and says he won’t charge us and it’s compulsory to take a decent bottle of wine down there! You don’t have to tell Sarah twice!
We go out and get a takeaway pizza and Sarah buys some chilled Lindauer Brut Cuvee. We scoff the pizza and head off to the spa with bottle of fizz in tow!
The spa is just gorgeous, 40*C and so relaxing, just what our aching muscles need!
Return to the room and poor tired Rob is in bed by 9.15pm! He’s definitely exceeded his exercise quota for the day/week/year?
The bed is lovely and big and comfy. Perfect.
Dec 20th (Thurs) (NZ Pics)
We get up and have brekkie to leave by 10am check out time.
Head to Punakaiki. Stop of at Hokitika on the way to take some picci’s of the beach and have a wander and a cuppa. There are some lovely huge native trees with bright red flowers all over. Stunning.
Stop at Greymouth (the ‘shit tip’ as described by host of Alpine Glacier Motel) just to refuel and go round the “New World” supermarket for supplies. (Lindauer only $7.99 in here!! A bargain at around £2.70!)
Arrive at Punakaiki Resort and Hotel at around 3pm and check in. Room is spacious and lovely with decked balcony overlooking the Tasman sea.
Drive up to Pancake Rocks and wander round (as fast as we can after our glacier walk!). It is very impressive, we watch a few blow holes where the water sweeps in from the sea and blows out the top of holes in the rocks.
Have a look in craft shop and Sarah can’t resist a six drawer unit hand crafted from wood. It is just beautiful and resembles a maple leaf in shape. We also buy a tree fern item for Rob.
We intended to stop at a local tavern to suss out what food they had there. There were no car parking spaces but someone is heading out to their car so we wait. A girl and one legged man get in, followed by someone who is either drunk or ‘special’, and another, heavily tattooed hick girl who looks like proper trailer trash. We give up on that space and see another pair of girls reversing. They stop about half way and don’t seem to be going any further! We decide we no longer want to go to this hick tavern, it’s too weird!
Drive back to hotel and book into restaurant for 8.30pm.
Sit on balcony catching up on this log since yesterday as we were too knackered last night!
7.30pm go back to Pancake Rocks to take more picci’s as its now high tide. A bit disappointing, no big enough waves but we got a few shots of the water spurting out from the blow holes.
Meal in restaurant is lovely, 3 cheese risotto and home made breads and dips, then chicken in a creamy Galliano sauce for Rob and Sarah had Salmon with asparagus on a sweet potato rosti with a lemon butter sauce. 2 hot chocs with Baileys to finish off, and melted marshmallows! Yummy! Tummy wasn’t too happy afterwards though!
Stuck the TV on to check out the news to discover that there had been an earthquake 50 kms off the East coast of the North Island, which caused damage in Gibson.
So there was a freak hail storm causing damage in North Sydney while we were there. Then bad flooding in Franz Joseph, causing them to close down the glacier there until after Christmas! Next the earthquake in the North Island. Should we be worried?!? Nah!
Dec 21st (Fri) (NZ Pics)
Up early to depart by 10am.
Saw bird that we thought was a Kiwi when we were leaving the hotel, turns out to be a Weka bird, similar to Kiwi but the day time version (Kiwi’s are nocturnal), and they have a slightly smaller beak.
Stop for pancakes, fruit, cream and maple syrup in the Pancake Rocks cafe.
Stop at the Truman Track a few mins up the road to do a 15 mins walk through rainforest to a beach with caverns.
Depart 11.10am to head for Takaka/Golden Bay. Is a long day of driving. We stop in Takaka to check at the info centre how to find where we are staying, and stock up on supplies at the only supermarket for miles! Sarah is rather surprised to be asked for ID, “are you kidding me, I’m 32!”, should be flattered I suppose!
Finally arrive at our B&B “Adrift” at about 5.15pm.
Check in and instantly fall in love with the place. Rob says “have we found heaven?” I reply “I reckon we have!”.
Our Cottage number 1 is definitely the best. Secluded and overlooked by no-one. Whereas we had to walk in front of the 2 rear cottages to get to ours!
The Cottage itself is amazing. Superb modern kitchen area inc dishwasher! Lovely bathroom with double spa bath, the smell in here is just gorgeous and apparently there is underfloor heating too!
We have our own private walkway to the beach and a few lovely tree ferns right in front. It truly is a piece of paradise.
Think we might not bother going out to eat, it’s so beautiful here and we have the biggest gas barbeque ever!
Our breakfast hamper is delivered featuring home made bread and jams, bacon, eggs, mushrooms & tomatoes!
Have a spa bath to ease our still aching muscles!
Dec 22nd (Sat) (NZ Pics)
Had a lazy morning, got up late and had leisurely breakfast. Went out about 12.30pm and went to Farewell Spit. You can only actually walk on the spit as part of a guided tour, due to the protected nature there. We walked up a hill to a viewpoint overlooking the spit and Golden Bay.
We then did a 45 min walk, across farm land, to a beautiful golden beach the other side of the spit. Well worth the walk, it was fabulous, golden sand and turquoise waters. It was also damn hot! We strolled along the beach as there were supposed to be fossils there. Suddenly we saw a large male seal in the distance sitting on the rocks. We move closer to try to get some photos, and as Rob was sanding on a rock, he whispered, “there’s another one down there!”, just to the left of the rock we were on! He walked round in front and took some pictures, she was more bothered by the flies all over her than by our presence, luckily as Sarah was getting ready to leg it up the beach!
We strolled back across the farm land, past sheep and cows.
Stopped for an earl grey in the cafe overlooking the spit and soaked up the atmosphere.
Drove to Collingwood, hmmm, not much there! Another hick town!
Drive to Takaka (25 mins from Collingwood, 15 mins from our B&B) to the supermarket to get supplies for our planned BBQ. Had an unfortunate incident in the car park where we literally bumped into a heavily tattooed, rather large, local guy in a big rig! No major damage just scraped the driver side rear wing on our car and knocked the bumper a little. Luckily we took out collision cover! His car seemed unscathed, just bumped his spare wheel really.
Anyway, we later enjoyed out BBQ, our first ever in December!
Running out of clothes so we did a load of washing.
Went for a walk on the beach after 10pm to look for penguins. Owner of B&B had shown us 2 blue penguin chicks kept in a breeding box in front of their house! After waiting around for a while in the cold and the dark we were rewarded by seeing a few hedgehogs and luckily saw a penguin and managed to take a few photos before leaving him be.
Went back in and had a late spa bath to warm up.
Dec 23rd (Sun) (NZ Pics)
Got up late again and had lots of cups of tea!! Had some toast and home made jam.
Basically spent the day sunbathing, taking pictures of birds eating bits of biscuit we kept throwing them, having a quick dip in the sea, oh and reading and drinking some wine! Well I had to start drinking up!
Had late lunch of mushroom omelette and bacon butties.
Couldn’t be bothered to go out to eat so we stayed in and nibbled on crisps and snacks!
Dec 24th (Mon) (NZ Pics)
We sadly set off for Nelson. Saw family pussy cat as we were leaving.
After a slight detour (we forgot to bring our directions to all the B&B’s!), we found our B&B and checked in around 2pm.
Drove to Nelson and stopped for a drink. We weren’t too impressed wit Nelson.
Back to B&B to chill out for a bit.
Went down for Christmas drinks (Lindauer!) and canapés at 7pm. Played throw the squirrel with Alice the Golden Retriever.
A German family were also there.
Then we had a traditional turkey dinner followed by a delicious fruit pavlova.
Next nice strong cheeses, home made chocolates and rather too many liquors! Sarah samples most, several times! Port, Amaretto, Berry Liquor & Kualua!
We were made to wear hats from the crackers throughout the meal (the Germans didn’t even know how to pull a cracker, they were trying to untie the ends!), and forced to listen to Christmas music! Otherwise it didn’t feel like Christmas at all!
Dec 25th (Tue) (NZ Pics)
Sarah has a stinking hangover funnily enough! Rob is grumpy as Sarah has been snoring all night!
How bizarre, it’s Christmas day and the sun is blazing!
Have a subdued brekkie where the host comments on how much quieter we are compared to last night! Then retire to our room for a power nap and for Sarah to recuperate some more!
Went out about midday to Rabbit Island. Sat and ate our picnic of turkey rolls, ham rolls, onion quiche, Pringles, little choccy bars etc.
Surprised to see a car pulling a trailer loaded with a super sized gas barbeque!!! Lots of people there had the same idea and had tables full of food and booze!
Went for a short walk along the beach, Sarah had to chase after her cap that blew off!
Return to B&B and go for a quick swim in the pool. It is pretty chilly but we have to do it just to say we went swimming on Christmas day!
Chill out and sleep and watch crappy Christmas films in our room.
7.15pm go down for our Christmas BBQ. We have delicious prawns, steak, lamb, and various salads and garlic bread. Followed off by strawberry Cheesecake.
Sarah goes steady on the vino tonight! Phone home to wish everyone a Happy Christmas.
We think it’s a bit strange that our hosts Gill and Ian live apart. He travels all over and commutes to Southampton! She stays out in NZ looking after the B&B. They might be getting a puppy soon so we might have to go back!
All in all we had a lovely stay and nice food and company.
Dec 26th (Wed) (NZ Pics)
Leave for Blenheim. Stop in Picton where there is suddenly a freak hail storm! Stop to get some Kentucky chicken and chips that we eat in the car! Lots of thunder and an incredible amount of rain and hail stones. Water is soon running down the streets like a river!
Stopped off at Pelorus Bridge for a coffee and Sarah cuddled a calf chained up nearby!
Arrived at B&B about 3.30pm and met hosts Marilyn and Phillip. We have a coffee and glass of wine, well we are in the wine region now, and a chat. It is raining and miserable and cold and I am still in shorts!
Meet for drinks and nibbles at 6.30pm, followed by salmon served with green beans, fennel and new potatoes smothered in butter. Followed by plum and cherry crumble. Rob got the Esther Rantzen look (like sucking on a lemon!).
Retired to bed at 9.30pm, watched crappy film “starship troopers” until 12.30pm and then Sarah couldn’t sleep. The room had an eerie feel about it, something sinister and Sarah couldn’t settle. (Rob later tells me that Phillip told him the next day that the Maori’s had savaged the locals near here and hung their heads from a nearby tree! Could possibly explain the sinister feeling!!!)
Dec 27th (Thurs) (NZ Pics)
Up at 8.30am, have brekkie outside as the sun has come back. Grapefruit and orange slices in some fruit syrup, followed by scrambled eggs on fried bread & bacon Is lovely but very rich.
Met Jess the dog, a big boxer mix. She is mental! Came running into our room, good job she is not aggressive!
Depart with Phillip, around 10am, for our half day wine tour. We go to Wither Hills, where the surroundings are stunning, golden mountains and fields of green vines. The wine was good too! Also visited Mapua wines, Fromm winery, Cloudy Bay and Spy Valley. Sarah sampled lots of Sauvignon Blanc, Guwurztraminer and Pinot Gris, also some Muscat, fizzy “bubbles”, and some Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah.
Back to B&B by about 1.15pm and have a cuppa before departing.
Head off to Hanmer Springs, Sarah struggles to stay awake! Could be all the vino for brekkie, and the lack of sleep!
Stopped at the Store, before Kaikora, for a coffee. Then stopped at the seal colony near Kaikora and took lots of picci’s.
Stopped in Kaikora to re-fuel and got to supermarket.
Continued on and journey seemed to go on forever! Stopped in a pine valley at approx 4.15pm to eat our Ciabatta pizza bread, bought at the supermarket.
Arrived in Hanmer Springs at around 6.30pm and found Greenacres motel easily. Checked in and chilled out for the evening. 3 pussies found us, one came over to say hello, quickly followed by the other 2. Nellie first (black and white and a bit nervy), then Sam (big white fluffy) and Cinders (black fluffy). Played with Cinders with a twig, she’s mental!
Dec 28th (Fri) (NZ Pics)
Woke up late, didn’t set alarm. Had just finished our brekkie of fresh rolls and pork sausages when the owner went past asking if we needed anything (about 11.15am).
Went to the hot springs and spent 2 hours soaking and relaxing in various pools, inc smelly sulphur pool! Didn’t stay in that for long! Some went up to 40 or 41* C. Got out around 3.30pm and bought some boysenberry and choc ice creams from local shop.
Had a look round gift shop and bought a fern shaped ceramic ornament.
Returned to motel for spaghetti on toast! Spent afternoon relaxing, Rob watching films, Sarah reading.
Went for a quick walk early evening. Played with cats!
Ate leftovers and Sarah drank as much as she could! Got to bed 11pm ish.
Dec 29th (Sat) (NZ Pics)
Up at 8am and had some toast and tea. Cinders came for a goodbye cuddle and play.
Packed up and checked out of motel. Left around 10am and had a depressing drive to Christchurch. Sarah was tearful, we don’t want to leave this beautiful place!
Found Apex rentals OK and sorted the paperwork. They dropped us back to the airport for about 12.30pm.
Paid our fun tax of $25 each to leave the country! Then went through to departures. Could only afford half a cheeseburger each as we had changed all our leftover NZ dollars to Aussie dollars.
Departed Christchurch around 3.30pm and had an uneventful flight to Sydney. Arrived on time, approx 5pm. Had 5 hours to kill in Sydney airport with no smoking facilities! Found a leather sofa and mostly chilled out there and read. Sarah spent last Aussie dollars on a bottle of red and a bottle of Trology fizzy (well it was recommended in the Quantas in flight mag!)
Suddenly in the departure lounge we experienced what it is like to be in the minority! We are one of maybe 4 or 5 Western couples!
Sarah typically gets the seat where the TV is buggered. It has error messages as soon as we get on! Food is the worst we’ve had on flights so far! Chicken in a miso sauce and lamb something that was horrible. Breakfast was cheese and chive omelette and bacon or fish! Rob sleeps quite a bit and we swapped seats so that Sarah could watch a film, “Knocked Up”. Sarah gets a few broken hours sleep, people keep banging into her arm in the aisle, even though arm is within my seat area!
Arrive in Tokyo at almost exactly 6am, the airport only opens at 6am apparently, which explains the wait at Sydney and the late flight!
Go through immigration and have photo and finger prints taken!
Go to info desk and discover we can get a limousine bus direct to our hotel for Yen 3000 each (approx £12) but next bus not until 8.45am. Sit inside for hour and a half, Sarah drops off to sleep and wakes herself up with a twitch!
Bus to hotel takes about 90 mins, can’t believe how immense Tokyo is, when I can manage to keep my eyes open that is! Went over Rainbow Bridge and eventually stopped outside our hotel. Looks lovely, don’t think you can actually see the top of the building! Girl takes our bags and tells us to go to floor 25!
The hotel lobby is on the 25th floor! We check in about 10.30am and go to our room. 3208, on the 32nd floor!!! OMG! The view is spectacular! Awe inspiring! We look directly down onto a smaller building, only about 9 or 10 stories high!) and the rail track for the Shiodome JR line.
We freshen up a bit and decide to head out to explore to save falling asleep and regretting it later!
We just wander down the main street outside the hotel, totally in awe of the place and the size of the buildings. We looked about for somewhere to eat and most places only had signs in Japanese! So we were attracted to one not far from hotel that had descriptions in English as well! Called Lions Bar, it was really atmospheric inside and had a sumo wrestler at a nearby table (Sarah had to sneak a picci!). Everyone else was Japanese, I suppose a good sign we’d picked somewhere good! Had simple meal of fried chicken and chips, croquette potato on green bean sprout salad, garlic bread and 2 large beers to wash it all down with!
Strolled back to hotel and Sarah had a power nap! Rob promised to wake her up at 3pm latest but woke up before. Felt groggy and awful but forced myself to get up.
Gathered selves together and went for another wander. Went under railway bridge and found Shimbashi square and a HUGE electronics store. Sarah tired so we head back. Tempted to stop at KFC but head back towards hotel and find the Rose and Crown Victorian pub! Have chicken with mushroom and cheese sauce and chips, a large beer and a blue lemonade which Rob reckons is THE MOST REFRESHING drink ever!
Retire to hotel room and are asleep by 10.30pm, both exhausted!
Dec 31st (Mon) (Tokyo Pics)
Had delicious brekkie in hotel, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, pasta!, pancakes and maple syrup with fresh fruit and the most melt in the mouth pain au chocolate ever! Yummy!
Head back to Shimbashi for Rob to have a proper look around the huge electronics store we found yesterday. There were 6 floors of cameras, gadgets, DVD drives, computers etc. Every person we passed shouted something in Japanese (Welcome, we think!), was difficult not to laugh when about 10 people on the same floor did it as we walked past.
Looked lost in the street looking at a map so a Japanese man with a young child stopped to ask if we needed help!
Found nearby temple/shrine that we can see from our hotel window. Had a wander round. Also visited Tokyo Tower which is supposedly 13m taller than the Eiffel tower but doesn’t appear to be so when you are stood underneath it. Also walked through the park next door where some beautiful red Acer trees were just dying off.
Stopped for a delicious but sickly maple latte coffee then headed back towards hotel. Walked past the hotel we were originally recommended and are glad we are not there, it was only around 8 floors high with no nice views and in not such a nice area.
Jumped straight onto underground (after working out which tickets we needed!) to head to Shibuya (Tokyo memories for Rob of bright lights and huge pedestrian crossing, the bits you always see in films etc).
Saw famous statue of dog, very sad story about a man and his dog. The dog always waiting for him there when he went to work for the day, one day he didn’t come back as he had died and the dog continued to wait there for him every day!
Visited love hotel area! ‘Rests’ or ‘stays’ are available! There are pictures of rooms lit up and you chose which you want. If the light isn’t on it is not available!
Head to TFI’s for dinner, only place we could find with an English menu! Rob enjoyed a burger, Sarah’s pasta was wrong one on the first attempt and smothered in garlic on the second!
Head back to centre to take photos, particularly of the central crossing which is something to behold!
Back to hotel for bath and recuperation. Went down to lobby for 11.15pm to get a seat for the Jazz band and free bubbly!
Countdown to New Year a little average and disappointing. We expected fireworks from the tower at least but all that happened was that the tower changed colour from orange and white to blue flashing lights for a while. The 2007 on the tower also changed to 2008.
Back to room for Sarah to finish her bottle of Triology fizzy bought especially at Sydney airport! Got to sleep about 3am after lots of talking about life in general.
Jan 1st 2008 (Tue) (Tokyo Pics)
Got up and had brekkie, not quite as nice as was lacking pancakes!
Lots to do today. First went to Asakasa to visit the Sensi-Ji temple and Chingo-do shrine. OMG, we got on the subway and it was fine, plenty of room, suddenly I can hardly see Rob sat down nearby and there is no room for my bag on my shoulder! As we depart the train it is like nothing we have experienced before. People everywhere, no room to stretch out elbows! A constant stream of people moving slowly forwards in one mass, stopping is not an option! It is quite frightening, people pushing and shoving their way through, almost panicked!
It is even worse once we reach Sensi-Ji temple, we could so easily have been separated and lost each other! Agree to meet at last place we saw each other if that happens! It was horrendous. Lots of tacky stalls selling bits and pieces including sweets and biscuits. I would have had a browse had it not been so chaotic!
Queue to temple at least an hour deep and not moving quickly! Decide not to even attempt it as lovely as it looks! We skim round the outside and find some smaller shrines and Buddha’s and the 5 story Pagoda.
Wander further and accidentally stumble across Chingo-Do and take some picci’s of the weird Racoon type God symbols and dragon.
Head back to metro asap! Can’t wait to get out of this chaos! Depart at Imperial Palace and take picci’s of the palace in the distance and the famous bridge (Niju-Bashi). Walk through the huge gates and realise we are heading in the wrong direction for the East Gardens! Head back in correct direction and get a shot with Sarah in her Gert lush T-shirt with the Imperial Palace behind. Get to East gardens 10 mins later, with sore feet, only to discover that it is closed!
Decide to head back to hotel, a few underground stops away, so we can check in for our BA flights to make sure we get seats together. Good job we did as appeared to only be 2 seats left together!
Have a quick cuppa and a rest to recuperate, Sarah could easily go to the land of nod at this point but resists the temptation.
Depart again at 5pm to head for Shinjuku, the red light district and electric road! Is v cold, only 7* and we are feeling cold and tired.
Wander back streets and take photos, all feels completely safe. Lots more love hotels in this area!
Return fairly easily to hotel and eat in Rose and Crown favourite pub again! They run out of blue lemonade!
Back to hotel for bath, chill out, and preparations for our departure tomorrow.
Jan 2nd (Wed) (Tokyo Pics)
Get up early for brekkie and leave the hotel at about 10.30am on the limousine bus back to the airport.
Check in and discover that the flight has been delayed by 2 hours, which we are told is due to weather conditions in the UK affecting the incoming flight but turns out to be a technical problem with the plane, so they had to find another.
This was the worst flight we experienced. The service was very random and slapdash and the food was appalling. Give us Quantas anyday!
Arrived safely at Heathrow, “cheers drive”, and were collected by Rob’s parents. We weren’t too chatty on the way home, and just about managed to stay awake. We were even too tired to get a Chinese and ended up going straight to bed!
Well we’re home and we’re tired but we can’t say we are happy to be here, it is all a bit of a crash back down to earth!
Common sayings
Sweet as. = Its good
Sick = Its very good
Flat white = White coffee
Short black = exppresso
long black = Black coffee