Category: 2022 12 New Zealand
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The NZ Shoutouts, or similar themes…
Since departing New Zealand on February 14th, we have let our memories simmer, hoping to at least adequately summarize the pluses and minuses of our experience. On the “Awesome” side of the ledger: • No eloquent way to say it, other than the people are utterly fabulous. • As you have hopefully noticed, the natural…
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Final New Zealand stats.
Just in case you were wondering, we had 11 legs on the north island, totalling 2462 kilometres (an estimated 2985 km driven including all the extras). On the south island, we also had 11 legs with 3 lengthy side trips, totalling 3017 kilometres (3658 kilometres driven in total). That’s a total of 22 legs and…
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A lovely choo-choo.
We just had to do the TranzAlpine train (I kinda like trains). It runs from Christchurch to Greymouth and back, over the southern Alps. Given that it’s 4 1/2 hours one way, we decided to break it up with an overnight stay in Greymouth, rather than return the same day. The jury is out on…
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Hormonal levels are off…
So, we are here in Greymouth after taking a long train ride (more tomorrow on that). We got to the hotel. Guess what I suggested? “Let’s go to that green area on Google Maps! It’s called King Park.” It’s green for a good reason: What the hell. Let’s do it anyway. All 700 feet from…
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Every paradise has a downside.
The list of reasons to love New Zealand is long. As we have repeatedly showed, chief amongst them are unparalleled natural beauty, a lack of crowding, wonderful friendly people, a lack of animals that eat hikers, the absence of poisonous bugs and of course, PIES! New Zealand is located on the “ring of fire” circling…
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Okay, there is something wrong…
This morning we decided to take full advantage of this foo foo room in Hanmer Springs, after living in very cramped quarters for the past few weeks. Bernie was fine with the idea, given that it was a 4 1/2 drive yesterday from Oamaru. It was going great until mid-afternoon, when…I BECAME ANTSY! ME! I…
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Steampunk funk, a Scottish castle, and marine critters.
Rather busy day yesterday, Feb 5th 2023. Turns out there is A LOT to see in Oamaru. First up was a morning trip on a little urban train out to the Oamaru Blue Penguin colony. This is a highly successful program to grow the population of the littlest penguins on earth. We learned we had…
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Drumheller, a massive dirt dam and a herd of elephants.
The drive from Comwell to Oamaru today had a dizzying variety of geology, topography and environments. At times it was hard to believe we were actually in New Zealand! After a drive through a barren mountain pass that obviously requires chains in the winter (the Lindis Pass), we dropped into an unnamed dessert. It felt…
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A tale of two gorges.
We are in the central Otago region again, this time close to Cromwell and Clyde. This place would be heaven on earth for Mr. Matt: vicious looking mountain bike trails EVERYWHERE! A place for the insanely fit to congregate. When we were driving into the area we passed through Clyde then along the east/northeast shore…
63 and free 