Day 4 Back to Auckland

Sorry this is late lol….had a heavy night. We lost Dan and Agnes in Auckland today. They went on another tour and we will miss them. It was a scream. So we all went out on the raz and had a farewell dinner. Good luck Guys. It was a pleasure. See you in Ontario soon. We left Paihia and the Copthorne hotel after visiting the treaty grounds. It was quite scenic, and I went round the hut where the treaty of Waitangi was signed. This first treaty gave the Maori  the rights of British citizens and the protection of the crown.

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We stopped by some decorated toilets BLAH. Sorry didn’t get any pictures lol.  Apparently some Austrian guy stopped here and tiled them all. Very Nice heh heh. From here we went to the Glow worm caves in Waiomio. This was pretty spectacular tbf. Stalactites and Stalagmites every where and the little blighters that glow in the dark where everywhere. No pictures as she would have left us in there if we had taken any lol. Then an Indiana Adventure through the jungle. Phew 150 steps out.

The cardio was going crazy.  Lunch and a quick stop in sandy bay then onto Auckland and the Sebel suites. Done my washing to. nice. (I have to say after staying there twice it will be one of the better places we stayed. )

Welcome to Nigel & Pat, Mike & Janet to the party who we picked up at the sky tower before leaving Auckland

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Day 21 Christchurch

A Nice day to stay in bed……well I still got up for breakfast so BLAH. Beautiful day so I walked around Christchurch to see how its going after the quakes. Well to say its still a mess is an understatement for sure. After 3 years I would have thought that it would have been more advanced than that. Street entertainers and flower booths try to cheer the place up but even the happy Man in the cap who said “Tram ride mate?” couldn’t take away from the feeling of sadness that lay on the city. I suppose a small GDP and population makes it hard too. Ahh well back to the hotel after a few beers via the flower show in the botanical gardens which where very beautiful in the sunshine. Fish and chips for tea and see if i can sort out this web site. And the towers are almost out of fuel to lol.

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Day 20 Homeward Bound

Got up early to take some pictures of the sea. They was still laying the breakfast table anyway. Looked like they’d been busy. We packed Mable for Ron as it was the last day and set off back to the pancake rocks to see if we could get some better pictures. And we did, was pretty impressive as the waves surged under the rocks the pressure forced the water up through the blow holes. The Pancake Rocks that Punakaiki is famous for, are limestone formations that began forming 30 million years ago, when lime-rich fragments of dead marine creatures were deposited on the seabed, then overlaid by weaker layers of soft mud and clay. They look amazing.

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Enough of water spouts, we head off for coffee in Greymouth then follow the mountains through to Arthurs Pass for lunch.The small alpine village is nestled amongst the Southern Alps. One of the worlds most famous train trips passes through here, the tranzalpine express from Christchurch to Greymouth which passes through the Otira tunnel completed in 1923. The scenery is stunning. The landslide protection is obvious from the low huts to the stone filled cages.

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More of those dratted parrots to. We have seen them in various spots around south island and travelers beware. They will destroy or steal anything they can get there claws on. I watched them destroy a car Ariel whist jumping around on the roof and they run off with shoes and clothes or anything colorful left lying around. The Kea are well known for there intelligence and curiosity and I loved the sign that said “If the kea steal anything  it is not there fault but yours”.

From here down the Mountains and back to the Canterbury Plains and the low hills covered in sheep. Saying Goodbye to this country will not be easy. Into Christchurch we roll dropping off Nigel & Pat, Alison, Marge, Mike & Janet at there respective Hotels before we pull into the Chateau on the park unload and say goodbye to Ron & Mable. An upbeat Dinner and bed. Two days to explore before jetting off to Australia, but I feel sad to be leaving.

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We say Goodbye to all those left. Roger & Jenny, Carole & martin, Craig, Chris, Tom & Robin.

Poroporoaki……But I promise I will return one day.