Hi everyone,
We arrived in Christchurch on Thursday after 3 great weeks in Oz. The Maori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa which means 'Land of the Long White Cloud' and we could see why as we flew over the island.....
We spent our first two nights in New Zealand in jail! Actually at a converted prison on the outskirts of Christchurch that now serves as accommodation for backpackers.
They've left it as prison-like as possible, though we imagine the beds are bit comfier and the past inmates probably didn't have a 20 seat cinema and internet access.... Though the cells are still the original size and we had to sleep in a bunk-bed, just like the prisoners would have done.
We spent Thursday afternoon wandering around Christchurch, which was full of autumnal colours and felt very English. We had a stroll around and the city, mooched around the art gallery and, as usual, stopped at a few cafes for for coffee.
On Friday we took the Tranz Alpine train from Christchurch on the east coast across the southern Alps to Greymouth on the west coast. The journey is said to be one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world - and we wouldn't disagree!
The train climbs up towards the mountains through mile after mile of fantastic scenery with mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes etc. etc. Plus lots of sheep who amused us by legging it on mass away from the tracks to the other end of their fields every time the train went past.
***special
bonus fact - the methane ahem, expelled, by those 40-odd million sheep they
have here is thought to account for over 90% of New Zealand's carbon emissions.
We'll stick to travelling by plane then ;) ***
They have a great outdoor observation carriage for taking photos....
We took over 200 pics and have put some in the gallery but here are a few of our favourites (see if you can spot the hobbits and orcs)...
...and here...
The trains also do a splendid Devonshire cream tea. How could we refuse?
We've hired a campervan for the rest of our time in New Zealand and are about to set off round the south island today. We think we'll take about 2 weeks going round the south island and cross by ferry to the north island at Picton. We'll arrive in Wellington on the north side and make our way up to Auckland over the following week or so.
Love from Sarah and Phil x
