Waitangi Day

It has been a little while since our last blog, so once again there are lots of photos and quite a long blog. Put the kettle on now, as this could be a 3 cuppa job. If you are at work, make sure your boss is out before you start!

The reason why we haven't done more regular smaller blogs is that we have been struggling with the weather and internet access.i.e. the only time we have had good internet access has coincided with good weather and who wants to sit in front of the computer when the sun is shining. Today we are in wet Dunedin in the south east of New Zealand. Enough of the excuses, enjoy!

We told you we were going on a trip, thanks to Ronan, Aileen and Gavin. This involved a flight in a small Cessna 185, a trek across a small valley, over a hill and down to the river, where we were collected in a jet boat. The views were spectacular and we saw more glaciers in very remote areas. Above is a view from the plane of Lake Wanaka.
Looking down onto a glacial lake on our way up to Siberia Valley.
We flew along this valley and later landed to start our trek to the jet boat for a ride back.
Just landed.
This is on the river from the jet boat. The water is this colour as it has come off the glaciers.
This is the result of too much beer. This is one of the displays at the Wanaka Transport and Toy Museum. A strange place full of all kinds of junk but well worth a visit. It is attached to a small brewey. In Wanaka we met a family from Beverley - Samantha, Dave and Val who live on Victoria Road. (Mike and Trina - they may give you a call.) Hopefully they will deliver on their promise and put a picture up in the Standard, in Beverley. Whilst in Wanaka, we watched Quantum of Solace in the local cinema. It's not like a normal cinema, it is furnished with big comfy sofas that you can curl up on, just like watching a film at home, with a nice glass of wine.

Back in Makarua for more karaoke. This is Nick from Hebden Bridge, the barman responsible for turning off the music when Garry started singing. He is stood next to New Zealand's biggest patio heater. Everything in New Zealand is a something "est", i.e. longest, oldest, deepest etc. However, we found our own "est" in Makarua, with the nicest, friendliest bunch of guys - hopefully see you again, Nick, Hoppy, Grant and all the staff at the Makarua Wilderness resort. Thanks for a wonderful time.

Just in case you cannot read from the picture above, this is what the sign says.
When you have run out of things to spend your money on, you can buy one of these pokers.

This was in Arrowtown, a lovely little place, just out of Queenstown. Guess what? It had a little brewery, and guess what? We visited the brewery.

We didn't do it but it looked like fun.
Near Arrowtown, there was a cheesery and mmm Grommit.
Now we've moved on. Another "est". The deepest hydro electric power station in New Zealand. You might think it strange to visit a HE power station, whilst travelling, but this place is amazing. To get to it, you travel across Lake Manapouri (another est - probably the beautifulest lake) then 2 kilometres by bus underground. We won't bore you with the facts that it was built in 1963 and was extended again in 2007, or that 16 people died whilst building it, but one of these was in a brawl.
Old Morris Minors never die. They just rest in Manapouri. This was a cracking camp site with all kinds of old vehicles hanging around (including about 20 Morris Minors).
Our first view of Doubtful Sound, the Fiordland area of New Zealand. It is only accesible by boat. We took an overnight trip, more details below.
Looking out to sea from the boat.
After the first days cruising, we had an opportunity to go kayaking. It is an amazing experience as you are surrounded by fabulous scenery and we saw seals and dolphins.
A couple of friends we met on the cruise - Ruth on the left, Sharon in the middle and some dodgy bird on the right.
Justt thought we would put this picture on of Sharon - having fun or what?
After kayaking, the girls decided to practice their synchronised swimming. This is in Doubtful Sound and the water is kin cold! They seemed to suffer with Torrets whilst doing this but the opportunity was too good to be missed of swimming in such a beautiful and remote wilderness.
Looking from the Tasman Sea down Doubtful Sound. Captain Cook would have had this view when he named the area. He wouldn't sail into the Sound as the prevailing winds would have made it nearly impossible for him to get out again. If only he had sailed in, he would have seen what's below.
Sailing back down the Sound in the early morning.
It's great isn't it?
Cheeky Kea - largest alpine parrot. Very intelligent and inquisitive.
Ready to go kayaking on Milford Sound for the day. Milford Sound is a little bit further north of Doubtful, but still in the Fiord region. We paddled out to a small beach and on the way saw seals close up and dolphins at a distance. On the beach we had lunch sat on old bits of driftwood in the most wonderful environment. It was so great sitting there looking out over the waters.
From Fiordland, we have travelled along the Southern Scenic route. We stayed at Invercargill, the Scottish part of New Zealand. This is a sundial that tells completely the wrong time. From Invercargill we moved down to Bluff for Waitangi day. Hence the title of the blog.
Waitangi Day is the national holiday to celebrate the signing of a treaty between the Europeans and the Mauris in 1840. This is the traditional maori meeting house in the small town of Bluff. On the day, most of the locals gather here to socialise and enjoy lunch. We, at first, felt as though we were intruding, however, we were very quickly made welcome. The local police explained Waitangi Day in more detail, we met Marj, one of the crew from the cruise we had been on and Sir Tippin Regan invited us to join the locals for a great lunch. Sir Tippin Regan is a regional big wig and has done a lot of work for the Maori cause. He is well known and well respected by everybody in Southland. We wanted to say thank you to Sir Tippin and the residents of Bluff, but couldn't find the right person to thank. Therefore, we asked a reporter if he could do it for us. We made the front page of the Southland Times the next day with various quotes! Try the link below to "Read all About It".

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4840068a6568.html

This is the "Southest" we've ever been.

Garry doing a runner after checking out a cave with the tide on its way in.
Alison blinked in this shot.
Nugget Point - more seals.
No, this isn't Alison sleeping on the beach. It's an Elephant Seal.We think one of our blog followers got to Tunnel Beach before us. Mike Kennedy - was this you?

Bye for now.