north Island and back to Christchurch.

well after the south island we headed from Picton to the north Island. on the 20th of august.
The 3.5hr ferry trip across from Picton was nice and calm and we even got a few nice views of the surrounding bays.
After arriving in Wellington we wasted no time and drove north to lake Taupo, going past mount Tongariro ( Peter Jackson's version of Mordor from J RR Tolkien ) although it was sat in clouds when we past so we didn't see much of it. After a day on the road we decided to have takeaway for dinner so we went to the Chinese although it's not exactly what i have become accustom to.

The following day we went past the rest of lake Taupo and visited Huka falls on the way up to Wai-o-Tapu park which consists of a number of thermal springs and bubbling pools spewing forth among other things H2S which gives it that distinctive rotten egg smell.
We went on to Rotorua (sulpher city) and then on to Tauranga where we stopped that night.

From Tauranga on the 22nd we went to Auckland which neither of us thought that much of although it has a wonderful museum with lots of info on the Maori history in New Zealand. A trip around the Victoria Market is also worth while and a few gifts were picked up before negotiating the disastrously feeble road network to retreat south.
The road system appears to be designed and carried out in good British form being over budget and time and seems nowhere near completion. (well done)

From Auckland we headed south and drove down the picturesque west coast to New Plymouth where we arrived and found that the rain which had followed us all day had caught up and decide to continue until the following day, The hostel was however really nice and the fish and chips for dinner from across the road went down a treat.
The next day it was still no better and Mt Taranaki / Egmont had to be experienced from the pleasures of the free museum which gives a full 360 view of this mythological mountain of Maori legends which created and raised the land around it into the New Plymouth area.

We set off fully informed from the museum at new Plymouth and headed to a little town just north of wellington by the name of Plimmerton. The hostel had great sea views being all of 20ft away from the beach on the other side of the road, and was a great springboard to launch into Wellington and onto the ferry to Picton the following day.

We were back once again at the Sequoia lodge in Picton, The one with the free chocolate pudding and again as before the weather was crap. in fact so much so that the road to the south was washed away, as was some poor souls cows. well not all of them but a good few went for a swim from which they would never return. So needless to say the road was out and plans of getting to Christchurch and stopping long enough to do the whale watching were looking decidedly dubious. That's what over two months rain in two days can do to things. However all was not lost and a second night and a second helping of chocolate pud was had as we awaited news of the road opening, and had to dry the car out from the flooded car park where it went for a small paddle the night before. ( I said i was going to put it in the ocean but the rain got to it first)

All was not lost, we made it to Kaikoura later on the 27th and were rewarded with a great sunny day which allowed us to see a few seals drying themselves from the soaking they would have had the past two days.
The sea was an ugly brown from all the rain run off and floating debris and we found a nice hostel to stop at until we could go whale watching the following day.

The morning of the 28th came and we were greeted by great views out to the south Alps and rolling surf of the west coast, we spent about 3 hrs on the water and spotted two sperm whales which made the day well worth while. That afternoon we headed back to Christchurch via a nice little town known as Sheffield sat in a very pleasant spot about 56km west of Christchurch in a spectacular place with great vistas. After the small detour we arrived and then prepared to fly out on the following day.

There was just enough time on the 29th to drive up and around the port hills south of Christchurch for some magnificent views of the city when the low clouds permitted, before we handed the car back and awaited the flight to Melbourne, which i can report landed safely with all on board and no bags were lost en route. Hurrah.

Now we just have to sort out what were going to do in Oz for the next three weeks.