I have been in Beijing where in the middle of the day you can look at the sun without shading your eyes. The chance of seeing stars is so remote there, and in some other parts of the world that going somewhere to see the Night Sky is high on the bucket list of many folk. If this is you, then the place to come is New Zealand. My friend Ewa Jermakowicz was recently in New … [Read more...]
Christchurch to Picton – try the Inland Route
For a year, the only way to go north from Christchurch was to take this Inland Route as the road through Kaikoura was badly damaged by an earthquake. Although it is mostly open now, it can still be slow going as road works and reconstruction continue. However people discovered the magic of the Inland Route to Picton - discover Lake Sumner, the St James walkway, mist dripping … [Read more...]
Lake Sumner – trying out the 4WD
What is the worst thing that can happen - the car stops and we are stuck. No mobile reception. I suppose a big butch 4WD could soon come along and rescue us... I wonder how deep it is.... Deep breath, keep breathing and drive through it, whatever you do don't stop. More heavy breathing as I realise it is deeper than I thought. Keep … [Read more...]
Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail – Diary of a Support Driver
The Alps to Ocean Cycle trail is a 4-6 day ride from Mt Cook (necessitating ahelicopter ride) or Tekapo. Six of us are heading off to start it, and I have volunteered to be the support vehicle, with my electric bike on the back, I plan to do a bit of the trail along the way. Cycle Journeys – local A2O specialists You do not need a support vehicle – Cycle Journeys were … [Read more...]
Accommodation on the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail
This summer I was the support vehicle for a group of friends doing the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail. I took my electric bike along and joined in for some of the best parts of the trail - you can read about it here. This fantastic 300 km ride goes from Aoraki Mt Cook (or Lake Tekapo) in the South Island of New Zealand. It takes you through some amazing country - past beautiful … [Read more...]
Look out for Local Events when you travel
The Le Bons Bay Picnic Le Bons Bay is a tiny beach and farming community on the Banks Peninsula. Sleepy is a great way to describe it, apart from New Years Day when suddenly cars arrive from all over the Peninsula, converging on the Domain for the annual Le Bons Bay Picnic. Starting at 1pm in the afternoon, there is time to recover from New Year … [Read more...]
St Lukes Little Akaloa
The Banks Peninsula is made up of dozens of small bays formed by the lava flows from two extinct volcanoes. It is a very distinctive landscape, and is the backyard for many Christchurch residents, and a must visit for visitors to the region. Recently we stayed in Little Akaloa, one of these small bays around the Peninsula and had a simple kiwi Christmas. Nearby is a … [Read more...]
Christchurch to the West Coast
I love the train journey on the Trans Alpine Express - truly one of the great railway trips of the World - I can not recommend it highly enough (see the video at the bottom of this post) This week we are taking the car across for an extended exploration of the South Island of New Zealand's West Coast. We will cross the Canterbury plains, drive into the foothills of the … [Read more...]
Night Sky Wonders – Astro Tourism Is Here and it is HOT
Exploring Lake Tekapo and the Mount John Observatory The Night Sky is HOT. New Zealanders take for granted that we can often see the stars and milky way, not so in most of the world. And apparently people around the world are adding a visit to Lake Tekapo to see the night sky to their bucket list. This small town in south Canterbury has less than 500 permanent … [Read more...]
Banks Peninsula Track
This 35 Km track was one of New Zealand's first private tracks, walked over 2 or 4 days it covers 35 Kms along the coastline of this long extinct volcano near Christchurch in the South Island. Maori arrived on this ancient weathered volcano with fire and adzes, dogs and rats and soon a third of the forest was gone. Early European settlers quickly cleared the rest of the land … [Read more...]