The Rose and Dragon

Friday, April 18, 2014

Sunny Melbourne

It was nice to break the rubbish NZ weather for a few days in Melbourne - can't believe it's been 5 years! I think I've spent too much time in Sydney.

Sadly, a poor flight across courtesy of Air NZ code-sharing with VA (sigh, why) - for the first time I actually complained in writing to the airline.

Anyway, the weather was lovely in Melbourne with constant sunshine in the 20's and we had a lovely view from the hotel across the Yarra River. Basically walked the town until we got tired then jumped on the tram for more toddling around. It is a lovely city, more laid-back than Sydney, and an excellent break was had by all. Food highlights included La Camera, Left Bank and Queen Victoria Market. Also enjoyed popping up to the University of Melbourne where I will be spending quite of lot of time in the future!

Some highlights...

Along the Yarra River

And around Melbourne...

Carlton

Where the Batphone rings to

Chinatown entry

The Royal Exhibition Building

Parliament

Where the minger's come from (St Michael's)

Out at St Kilda Beach

The Rose

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Around and About

Gosh, it has been a while. Perhaps the excuse of "we've been busy" wouldn't even be defensible here?

Regardless, amongst busy jobs, buying a new house, trotting over to Aussie and motorcycling, there has been some occasional photography. Here's some of the last few months...

Snow in June 2013 around the Rakaia Gorge. I sense that this year, snow may be as early as March! Particularly as some of the higher passes saw snow in January...

Sydney November 2013

A work trip to Sydney turned into a great weekend tripping around the beautiful Sydney Harbour and eating and drinking far too much than we should! Enjoyed a wee trip to Cockatoo Island too - although there are no cockatoos, just lizards.

West Coast February 2014
A long weekend escape...

Maruia Falls - formed by the 1929 Murchison earthquake

Murchison

From the rather vertical Skyline Walk! A great view of Murchison and the lovely Buller Gorge. If you're looking for a meal here, trying the Commercial Hotel. The food is pretty varied and really tasty for a small town in NZ!

Also highly recommended is Waimea Estate - fell over here for lunch after tripping round the back blocks of Motueka and the food and wine was fabulous. We *may* have bought a case.

Lake Brunner...they really need to do more with the waterfront here! An area we'd debated buying some land however can't face the idea of "late" meaning "8pm" as was clearly outlined by the locals when we tried to do dessert and a glass of wine in the evening!

And a lovely drive around Hokitika brings you to Dorothy Falls and Lake Kaniere - just beautiful. And fits the bill of "convenient nature" - no more than 5 minutes from the parking lot! (providing you're ok with gravel...)

The Rose

Thursday, March 14, 2013

The beautiful South Island

Sometimes you need to remind yourself that you do live in one of the most beautiful places in the world...

First up was a trip to Hanmer Springs - which was simply an excuse to start my motorcycle touring journey! Here's a piccie of my baby bike and the big daddy :)

I have to confess that I struggle with Hanmer - although the idea of pampering in the hot springs sounds great, it's not really me. Still, had a nice time wandering around including yummy pizza at Saints Cafe.

The real trip was a camping holiday through the Catlins Coast via Queenstown to the West Coast Glaciers. The Catlins Coast was great fun. Stayed at an excellent campsite at McLeans Falls that had a great restaurant onsite...with a happy hour...mmmm... :)

Spent a couple of days trekking around here. Everything is close to the road (although anything off the road is via gravel!) and essentially provides an opportunity to make your own calendar of amazing NZ vistas. Some of our favourites...

Purakaunui Falls

Purakaunui Bay

Jack's Blowhole
This is a 55 metre-deep blowhole that formed when part of a sea cavern's roof collapsed. The blowhole is 200 metres from the sea.

Tunnel Hill
The Catlins River Branch line began in 1879. Construction progressed slowly due to the difficult terrain and the line was not completed until 1915. It was eventually closed in 1971. Parts of the line's route are now accessible as walkways, among them a 240m long tunnel ("Tunnel Hill") between Owaka and Glenomaru.

Matai Falls

Horseshoe Falls

Nugget Point

Lake Wilkie

McLeans Falls
A rather spectacular walk early in the morning...

Niagara Falls NZ
Someone had a sense of humour...how lucky were we to see both versions within 6 months?!

Tautuku Bay
From Florence Hill

Spouting Cave

And the comedy shots...

Slope Point
Literally a trek across a man's field (closed for lambing Sept - Nov, only in NZ!)

Waipapa Point

With warring sealions!

At the "Tararua Acre", the cemetery for many of the victims of the SS Tararua which foundered off Waipapa Point on 29 April 1881 with the loss of all but 20 of the 151 people aboard. NZ's worst shipping disaster...

The off to the West Coast via Queenstown and the spectacular Lake Hawea. It's always important to remember that Queenstown is brilliant if you a) park your car and walk everywhere and b) most of the residents are wankers. Once that's settled, you can have a good time...and a great dinner at Pier 19 on the waterfront and yummy brekkie at Halo.

Stayed at the Top 10 in Fox Glacier that was a great effort - they have managed to banish the campervans miles away from the tent sites. And there were chickens! And we nicked a picnic table to make excellent coffee each morning (the table was promptly stolen by some Germans as soon as we removed the coffee kit.)

Had a great time exploring the glaciers. Fox is definitely the better town to stay in and the glacier is nicer! Great food options which included the Last Kitchen and Hobnail Cafe. The petrol is cheaper too so fill up here!

We were (surprisingly) going for the cheap activities however there are flights that aren't exorbitant and don't land on the glacier if you're after the aerial option. We preferred foot traffic...

Fox Glacier
On the way via the main route...