South Island Circuit

It was great to finally meet up with Karen and Phil (Tim's Sister and her boyfriend), and after squishing all our stuff into the camper we left Christchurch and headed to Hokitika via Arthur's pass. As we arrived the weather started to go downhill and began to rain - just like being at home. In the evening we went to the glowworm dell, which was quite bizarre - like lots of tiny fairy lights - sorry, too dark for pictures. The next day we carried on to Franz Josef, light rain was now a full on downpour.

We were staying overnight, so thankfully the next morning was bright and sunny which meant that we could actually see some scenery, rather than just mist and rain.

Franz Josef Glacier

View from Lake Mathison

We walked up to the Glacier as close as we could, very amazing, and then continued on to Lake Mathison, which was beautiful. As the sky was so blue, we could see Mount Cook reflected in the water, yesterdays rain was just a memory! We continued on to Wanaka, and the road wound through the most stunning and dramatic scenery - sometimes slightly hair raising in a camper van!

All of us by Lake Mathison

We also stopped at an amazing beach, where people had stopped and made towers out of rocks on the beach.

Beach art at Bruces Bay

We left early the next morning for Queenstown, and the weather was still good. Once there we wasted no time and headed up the mountain on the Gondola/Cable Car - which gave us an amazing view over the lake - we also went on the luge (similar to a go-kart), which was good fun, and left injury free!

Gondola view over Queenstown

Karen & Phil on Queenstown Gondola

The next morning Tim and I went on the shotover jet - which is a jet boat that zooms through the canyon at up to 80km per hour, narrowly missing rocks and performing 360 degree turns - just what you need first thing in the morning to wake you up!

Shotover Jet - Queenstown

We then all had a wander round Queenstown and then set off for Milford Sound. As we neared Fjordland, the weather started to go seriously downhill again.

As we drove down the road to Milford Sound, the sides of the road were littered with landslides - people had been stuck there the previous week, due to the weather. The only upside of the rain was that there were literally hundreds over waterfalls - it was as though the mountains were bleeding.

When we arrived at the campsite, I asked them if it would stop raining the next day, I knew it was not a good sign when people started laughing at me! After a restless night - (how much wind would it take to blow over a campervan?) and despite the fact that it was still raining, we decided to go on a cruise up Millford Sound. Having driven all this way, we thought we might as well! Although we didn't see the beautiful blue sky etc. that seems to be on all the postcards, we did enjoy it - the waterfalls were amazing, and it was all quite eerie and surreal through the mist.

Us - Milford Sound Cruise

Waterfall Milford Sound

We then headed back to Te Anau, which felt like civilisation again. We stayed the night and then headed off to Dunedin the next morning. Dunedin was quite a nice place although we spent most of our time in an internet cafe sorting some bits and pieces out. Again, it flet strange to be in a city so big it even had a department store! Had a lovely last dinner in town and then we were up early again the next morning, as Karen and Phil were deserting us to fly up to Auckland for a couple of nights before flying to the UK.

Sunrise over Dunedin

We saw them off at the airport, having tried to persuade them to come to Bali with us - they declined - most uncharitable of them! It was lovely spending a week with them - the camper will seem empty for the last couple of days!

South Island Circuit

Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand