Back on line!

Well, it has been a while, but we have finally arrived at accommodation which offers free internet access. The last hotel - a Hilton in Queenstown wanted nearly 30 dollars (£17) for 24 hours robbery with violence! Hence the dearth of blogs. Still,we can catch up now.

Last Monday (18th) when we were in Golden Bay in the very north of south island , we were booked onto the Farewell Spit Eco tour, so it was an early start. The spit is a nature reserve and a very long natural sand bank that travels out into the Tasmin Sea over 38klm and the only way to see it is by one of the Eco tours. We drove right along the 32km beach in a 4 wheel drive Bedford bus, stopping to see the different wading birds as well as some sleepy seals, dozing after a busy night fishing! The driver was a great tour guide as well as a talented driver in sand. At the end of the spit we stopped for a free refreshments and cake provided by the tour company.

Hopefully there will be some good photos to pass around when we get back. We stopped on the way back at the Old Mussel Inn (a bit of a tin shack really) and John had Mussel pie - a first!

Our next day we travelled down the coast to Pukaki  Resort which was a very nice motel complex, but again, right on the beach with magnificent mountains behind. We walked along to the Pancake rocks, a geological hiccup which was quite unique - wait for the photos! The weather continues to be very warm so the sun cream is being used all the time.

We were only there one night, so the next day we travelled further down the west coast stopping off in Hokitika which seemed to be a centre for jade carving. Fabulous pieces = fabulous prices!! A Chinese lady was buying a lovely piece which was originally 20,000 dollars (£15000) but was discounted by 12000 (£8000) - it's another world.
Passed through a few old gold mining towns, but which are pretty quiet now. All the culverts and streams we passed over have names - McLennan culvert, staircase creek and which were quite dry, but which will be roaring torrents in the winter.
We arrived in Fox Township and booked into our motel. The views from the apartment terrace are stunning - middle earth it is!