Week 20

Packed all my bags and pretty much ready to go.
Friday was D-day (or A-day for arrival..) My parents left on Wednesday to arrive here on Friday. Since they got here early, I was able to spend the night at Marie's again so I didn't have to wake before the crack of dawn.. It was still early enough!

So that ment, 4 days left with the kids. Just enough time to spoil them rotten =D They even helped me getting ready for when my parents came (washing my car together =P)
We made some muffins, making sure we have an extra batch in the freezer in case mum doesn't feel like baking ;) And unfortunately it got soo hot, we had to eat ice-cream.. =D I will miss them like crazy!

Friday 18th of December

Welcome to New-Zealand!
Woke up at 4, got to the airport by 5, parents got there by 6.30 =S
Once they got there, we had some breakfast at the airport and got our first grocery shopping done. A quick visit to the Botanical gardens in Christchurch, where we bumped into Marie and Maddie! What a lovely surprise =D Afterwards we got to our camper van which we got with a bit of delay. This made us through all our stuff in there and almost race to Akaroa to make it in time for our Black Cat Harbour Cruise. The motion sickness got to mum so she hardly enjoyed the view and after watching to many dolphins dad got a bit of it too. We had our first New-Zealand meal and a local stay on one of the side streets of town. Long live self-contained freedom camping!

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Saturday 19th of December

Off to Christchurch city! The drive was a bit slower this time so we could enjoy the scenery =D
I showed them around and I even got to explore some parts I haven't seen before.
Heaps of street art, remains of the earthquake and contemporary art to spruce up the city center. The one that had the biggest impact on me was the square with 188 white chairs. Each and every single one of them representing a victim of the natural disaster 5 years ago. There were old people chairs, but even a baby seat.

Our next sleeping place was Bealey at Arthur's Pass so we were on the road passing Springfield (long live the giant donut) and Castle Hill where we made a stop to enjoy the view and monstrous rocks. We got to our campsite just before dark and had our dinner around 9.30 pm.
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Sunday 20th of December

We woke up around 6 thanks to 4 kea's who ran on top off our campervan (which is right above my bed!). Luckily dad showed the true hero inside him and chased them away (or he was just curious to see what they looked like ;) ).
Rise and shine for our first hike "the Bealey Spur Track" which I did with Kira before.
An amazing view as a reward and even though I had seen it before, I was still amazed by how impressive it looks up there!
Afterwards we had a stop at the limestone caves (which you can actually walk through, have to add that to my summer-to-do-list) and Rakaia Gorge before we got back to Ashburton. It was only such a short time and I had been gone for that amount of time before, but I already missed them!
Heaps of presents from everyone (a gorgeous book about NZ from Keith and Carol; a gift box from the Scott's with chippies, pictures from Harry and Maddie, a Maori christmas ball and pineapple lumps; and from Kim and Greg a personalized agenda, a jade necklace and a DIY boyfriend --> hilarious!)
In the evening I started in the camper, but end up in my bed in the house :P