Mark and I are making good use of
our camper van and are
enjoying this particular style of traveling. We work first thing in the
morning, drive to our new destination(s), do some sightseeing or exploring, run
some errands in between, freedom camp based on where we end up that afternoon,
and are exhausted after dinner. It’s a little bit like living on a boat,
except, we don’t have to worry about the weather as much and we can just step
outside to visit places. But, we still go grocery shopping, cook our own meals,
buy diesel (way more than on Irie!) and are careful with water and electricity.
While we knew it would be relatively cold in New Zealand
(escaping FP’s heat was one of the reasons we wanted to come here in the first
place), we didn’t expect or realize it to be as chilly as it is. Yes, we have
become wimps after eight years in the tropics! Although, sleeping in a metal
box when it is freezing outside and seeing your own breath when waking up in
the morning, would be considered cold by most. It is ironic, how in French
Polynesia we wanted to stick our head in the fridge, because it felt nice and
cold, and here, we want to do the same, because the temperature in the fridge
feels nice and warm!
Enough talk. Here are some photos of our first week’s camper
van trip in New Zealand’s South Island.
The Banks Peninsula:
 |
| Monument, palm trees and French street names in Akaroa |
 |
| Decommissioned lighthouse in Akaroa |
 |
| Akaroa's big, protected bay |
 |
| The Banks Peninsula near Christchurch |
Lake Tekapo:
 |
| Lake Tekapo |
 |
| Church of the Good Shepherd |
 |
| View of Lake Tekapo and surroundings from the Mt. John Observatory |
Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook NP:
 |
| Along the drive to Mt. Cook National Park |
 |
| Hooker Valley Walk - snowy peaks |
 |
| Hooker Valley Walk - swing bridge |
 |
| Hooker Valley Walk |
 |
| Hooker Valley Walk - 2nd swing bridge |
 |
| Hooker Valley Walk - Mount Cook and the river valley |
 |
| Hooker Valley Walk - popular trail with amazing views |
 |
| Hooker Valley Walk - end destination: the glacial lake |
 |
| View over Lake Pukaki and Mt. Cook from our free campground |
 |
| Camper view at dusk |
Lake Wanaka:
 |
| Salmon farm on the way west to Wanaka |
 |
| Peaceful Lake Wanaka |
 |
| Lake Wanaka and the resort-like town, seen from the top of Mt. Iron |
 |
| Visit to our friend Garth's parents in Alexandra |
Mark and I are making good use of our camper van and are
enjoying this particular style of traveling. We work first thing in the
morning, drive to our new destination(s), do some sightseeing or exploring, run
some errands in between, freedom camp based on where we end up that afternoon,
and are exhausted after dinner. It’s a little bit like living on a boat,
except, we don’t have to worry about the weather as much and we can just step
outside to visit places. But, we still go grocery shopping, cook our own meals,
buy diesel (way more than on Irie!) and are careful with water and electricity.
While we knew it would be relatively cold in New Zealand
(escaping FP’s heat was one of the reasons we wanted to come here in the first
place), we didn’t expect or realize it to be as chilly as it is. Yes, we have
become wimps after eight years in the tropics! Although, sleeping in a metal
box when it is freezing outside and seeing your own breath when waking up in
the morning, would be considered cold by most. It is ironic, how in French
Polynesia we wanted to stick our head in the fridge, because it felt nice and
cold, and here, we want to do the same, because the temperature in the fridge
feels nice and warm!
