Thursday 29th. Leaving Sydney and picking ups the Motorhome

Another slightly foggy start but Tuesday 27th soon turned into another brilliant, sunny and hot day in Sydney. After another excellent breakfast at the Four Seasons we set off for a wander around the Rocks and Circular Quay. A coffee at our favourite Rocks Cafe and we headed back to our hotel to check out. 

We have had a great time in Sydney and indeed in all three of the cities where we stayed. Perth, Melbourne and Sydney are all very different to one another but all great cities and a pleasure to visit.

Our plans for today had been changed a month or so ago when Emirates cancelled the flight we were originally booked on and moved us to a new flight which did not arrive in Christchurch until midnight (albeit NZ time which is 2 hours ahead of Sydney). This was not ideal especially as Wilderness the Motor Home company were picking us up at 08:30 the next morning. We stayed at the Sudima airport hotel which was very functional and just right for an overnight stay. Ray was up in a shot when the alarm sounded and managed to arouse a slightly grumpy LLW. An excellent breakfast was served and no sooner had we checked out, our host from Wilderness appeared. A very pleasant muslim lady who was quite clearly a real Kiwi and this reminded us what a multicultural world we live in now compared to 20-30 years ago. 

The Wilderness depot was only 10 minutes away and very soon a week long course in using the Motor Home was completed in about an hour. This particular model is definitely the most luxurious we have rented in NZ and is full of modern gizmos! How much was actually retained be us will show in the next few days. We set off at 10:45 with Ray driving and the LLW determined to demonstrate that she was no longer the WWN.

Our first stop was Lake Tekapo which is about a 3 hour drive from Christchurch.  We stopped at Ashburton to visit the Countdown supermarket we have used several times before and has the benefit of an excellent coffee shop next door. The first part of the drive through the Canterbury plains is unremarkable but once we turned off at Geraldine and headed to the mountains we were quickly reminded how stunning the NZ scenery is. It was a beautiful hot day and before we tackled the steaks we had bought at Countdown, we walked down to the lake and had a swim. Tekapo is a glacial lake so definitely not warm but it was delightful.

After a good night's sleep we drove off but initially in the wrong direction as the LLW decided that a photo was needed of the filed full of lupins that we had seen as we descended to Tekapo.

Soon we were at Pukaki where there are the most stunning views across the lake to Mount Cook

We stopped for the mandatory coffee at the Wrinkly Rams in Omarama which not only has great coffee and cakes but is now an absolute gold mine based upon the number of people enjoying coffees there.

In the car park Ray had a quick chat with a Kiwi who was towing his boat to Glendhu bay on Lake Wanaka where he was meeting up with his family, We were intrigued to note his car number plate GIN B 4 T.

On we drove over the Lindis pass, down Lake Dunstan to Cromwell and through the Karawau gorge in the Gibbston valley wine area where we stopped to purchase some wine. Now there is a surprise!

Next stop was Arrowtown, wheeler my cousin's son David Dixon lives but who is not there at present. However, David had kindly been looking after our two bikes for four years and said bikes were let out the back of the garage with our BBQ. It felt a bit strange walking around the back of the house, collecting the bikes and putting then on our bike carrier, when the house owner was not there, but no neighbours expressed any concern.

On then to Queenstown where we are staying tonight and hopefully tomorrow night (more of that tomorrow). Queenstown is busier that ever and the gap year kids have once again descended on the town en masse. A quick walk around the town and back to our Motor Home for dinner outside.

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