South Island - Part One

After a lot of planning and waiting the day of my great kiwi road trip has finally arrived. Over the years I have explored a lot of the North Island but have neglected the South Island. Before I head to the UK I felt it was time to show the South Island some love.

It was an early morning start to catch the ferry from Wellington

Soon I was over to the gateway of the South Island – mighty Picton!

I was officially in the South Island and it was time to get busy and drive. I made my way to Kaikoura for a late lunch and stopped off at the Fur Seal Colony at the peninsula. Unfortunately no Seals were to be seen. Hopefully I’ll have better luck further south near Oamaru.  So instead of a picture of some cute seals, here’s my driving map:

I then drove on the inland road to Hanmer Springs and have since renamed it “The Gauntlet”. Why, I hear you ask? On my way though a particular stretch of road I counted more than 50 insects hitting the windscreen and meeting their maker. I’ve never seen anything like it! I then arrived at Hanmer Springs and checked into the Hanmer Springs Backpackers.

A bed was all I needed and I even got a free pass to the Thermal Pools! So off I went and relaxed in the hot thermal pools for a few hours surrounded by tall pine trees and dark wooden buildings. This is what I imagine the Swiss Alps to be like! Hanmer Springs is a beautiful, quaint little town and instantly made me feel on holiday and relaxed.  And a BIG shout out to Hanmer Springs Backpackers for not only the free pass to the Thermal Pools but also for the free dinner of Indian from the local restaurant!! After dinner I spent the night chatting to some English and German backpackers about their travels.

I then got up early and drove down to Christchurch. I drove through the CBD where there is still so much devastation a year on from the February quake. I decided to make my way to Lyttelton for my morning coffee and took a quick walk around. I snapped this picture, which I though was quite ironic, destroyed buildings in the foreground and then a group of expensive yachts in the background.

I then went back into the CBD and walked through the new Cashel Street container mall which is brilliantly designed, it really does look bright and vibrant, just what Christchurch needs.

Much of it is still Red Zoned so the CBD area feels like it’s still in mourning. There’s not much life apart from workers either repairing or demolishing quake affected buildings.

After lunch it was time to head inland to Methven, I drove out to Rakaia Gorge

And then drove up to Mount Hutt which is a gravel road, nothing like our flash Mt. Ruapehu roads (hehe), to take a photo of the Ashburton Region below me

Tonight I am staying in The Brown Pub which is in the centre of Methven so I am having a pint of Canterbury Draught and watching Sky Sports… when in Rome.. haha. I might even participate in a Poker night tonight.. will let you know in my next post!

And here's the drive to get here: