Week 22

Monday 28th of December

Relaxing time @ Wanaka. I love it here! Mum and dad went for a wee walk while I had some "chill" time at the rocky beach. We had fish and chips for lunch (although we didn't eat them the kiwi-way) and after that we went kayaking and SUPing. We got back early, so dad gave it a try on the paddle board. HILARIOUS! The guys nearby thought so too =P He was pretty persistent though. After taking of more than half the clothes (no worries, still had his togs on) he tried again, but unfortunately the waves (and his balance) were not kind enough..
In the evening we decided to drive to Lake Paringa. It seemed like there was no-one on the road (thank goodness since we crossed the longest one-lane-bridge ever!) but at our stop we realized why nobody took the time to get out of their vehicles.. Freaking sandflies everywhere!
Once we got at the campsite, it was packed.

. ***

Tuesday 29th of December

Heaps of driving today (4,5 hours). Our first stop was Fox Glacier where we did an hour walk to get closer to the glacier. You can't reach them, but it was the closest we could get without a helicopter. After the view of the mountains we drove to Hokitika where I bought earrings to match my Christmas Jade necklace. Our final visit: Panakaiki Pancake Rocks (it was around 7 pm. so not many other visitors). Our camp spot was only a few minutes down the road. Since we were in the middle of nowhere and there was nothing else to do, I finally made me my boyfriend. I really hope that the real one looks nothing like this one at all!
. ***

Wednesday 30th of December

Another day with heaps of k's on the program. We had a few small stops along the road like the Truman Track. We drove all the way to Motueka, Kaiteriteri and Marahau to realize that there was absolutely no room left for a big camper. We end up going to a parking lot where heaps of other campers found there resting place and we parked next to a big bus. Apparently these people live in it. They go wherever his job takes them and they live a pretty cruisy life.. Sounded great =D
Mum and dad went for an evening walk (a bit longer than expected) and I just hung out at the camper, reading a book.
. ***

Thursday 31st of December

Kayak @ Abel Tasman. I'm back! And so was the sun (a bit burned as result). We managed to find a spot at the Hooked restaurant in Marahau and then we drove off to Nelson. Heaps of weird people but a very cosy city center. There was a concert going, but I couldn't listen to the Bob Marley like music for too long, so we got back to the camper and we managed to stay awake until 12. I got a cool Bucket List Book and tickets for Mumford and Sons. Thanks mum and dad!

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Friday 1st of January

2.00 punk smashed our (and other small camper) window with a bottle. Call to insurance, visit by the police, moving to another parking lot and definitely not much sleep...
8.30 call insurance again.. Wait, call, wait, wait, call, wait...
13.00 guy can temporarily fix our window with a wooden panel
15.00 finally ready to hit the road again to Blenheim for a Top 10 campsite (no risks for now!) and a plunge in the pool. Brrrr!
19.00 preparing food and off to some good night with HEAPS of sleep.

. ***

Saturday 2nd of January

Sleep in late (8.30) and woke up with rain... =( Damn you! By 10 we where at Blenheim center where the shops were open! Jiha! I bought some clothes for Jack and Grace (heaps of stuff for only 30 bucks =D ) and a turquoise nail polish. On the road to Kaikoura we made a few stops to spot seals (at one point there must have been more than 300!)
and then we did some window shopping (or maybe not just 'window' :P )
We found a pretty cool camp spot next to an Irish pub/resto/hotel where we had a drink and where they had those super cool (but pretty tricky) puzzles. It was very addicting to try to solve them all, but the evening was too short for that.
. ***

Sunday 3rd of January

From Kaikoura to Christchurch. Our final big trip of our journey. We stopped to see some more seals from (real!) close and after I spotted the dolphin watching boats, we could see the dolphins (through the binoculars, but there were A LOT of them and they were very active). By the late afternoon, we reached Willowbank and since the weather was pretty crappy, there was no one crazy enough to run around the park. Some animals were hiding out too, but it was still pretty neat to see all the other ones. We did a guided tour to see the kiwi bird and last but not least we had the Maori-experience. Even though I had seen it before, it was still pretty amazing (and I still suck at that poi-twirling). The meal was delicious as always and the company was not too bad either.
After that we had our final night in the camper (at another Top 10 campsite) and that would be it... Felt weird...