Author Archives: Peter Rodgers

By the time we had finished our shopping and left Queenstown the rain has stopped and the sun was out. A rather winding road up the Crown Ranges Pass. At the top we went for a walk and then it’s snowed Bradrona (for breast cancer) Lake Hawea Lake Wanaka Blue Pools Fantail Falls Thunder CreekContinue reading “Day 15 Queenstown to Haast via the Lakes”

The intention today was to do some of the walks around The Anau but the weather has other plans. So apart from a short walk around the lake shore, no more walking today. Sadly it’s been pouring all day and apart from our lunch stop at Lake Wakatipo we spent today sitting in the van.Continue reading “Day 14 – Te Anau to Queenstown via Lake Wakatipo”

Up early this morning as we had to check in for our cruise at 7:30 even though it was after 8:00 before they allowed us to embark. Getting to Doubtful Sound is not a simple boat ride as there is no access by water from Lake Manapouri to Doubtful Sound. First we took a lovelyContinue reading “Day 12 – Doubtful Sound”

The weather gods have decided they don’t like us, the result being rain and cold wind. So our first priority this morning was to find a shop selling umbrellas. Only stop along the way was the Cliften suspension bridge. There really wasn’t much to see upon arriving at Manapouri apart from rain and cloud coveredContinue reading “Day 11 – Invercargill to Manapouri”

Slope Point is the most southerly Point on the South Island of New Zealand and Cape York is the most northerly part of the Australian mainland. As the crow flies they are 4,710 km apart and last year Keiran and I we’re at Cape York. As the distance from Slope Point to the South PoleContinue reading “Day 10 – Curio Bay to Invercargill via Slope Point and The Bluff”

We set off this morning with the intention I’ve driving to Invercargill however because once again we took the road less traveled we didn’t make it and instead here we are tonight at Curio Bay. We took the long and winding road along the coast to Nugget Point Lighthouse with our first stop at TirohangaContinue reading “Day 9 – Dunedin to Curio Bay via Nugget Point”

We had to be at the station by 2:30 p.m. for our seat allocation, which meant we had the morning free to do whatever we wished. So we chose to do the washing, visit the Botanical gardens and to go to the museum but did not time the museum very well as we missed theContinue reading “Day 8 Dunedin and Taieri Gorge Railway”

We’re somewhat spoiled for beautiful beaches at home so couldn’t really get enthused about this stony sandless beach near the Waitaki River mouth We could have driven straight down the highway to Dunedin but that would have been too easy, so instead we chose to go the longest possible way sticking to the coast wheneverContinue reading “Day 7 Oamaru to Dunedin via the long and winding road.”

Well, it was still wet and cold when we woke up this morning, though the hot showers and heater in the van were very much appreciated. As was the wise decision to get a powered site, which meant that we could run the heater. Apart from getting to Oamaru, we didn’t have any firm plansContinue reading “Day 6 – Twizel to Oamaru via Lake Aviemore”

The gods were not really on our side today as the weather was cold and wet and I was quite debilitated with this nasty cold. So no walking for Peter today. Also I slept quite poorly as the doona in the van was quite inadequate. We tried to buy a new one but without success.Continue reading “Day 5 – Fairlie to Twizel via Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook”