Canterbury and Pelorus – South Island Road Trip part seven
We couldn’t see Aoraki/Mt Cook from the West Coast, so decided to try our luck from the east. We couldn’t have chosen a better day! Again, we were flying through the east of the South Island. I demanded a night at Lake Tekapo to see the stars (and hopefully some aurora… but again it was elusive). Through to Christchurch where we were blown away by how little seems to have been done, some three years since the earthquakes. For the last three days of our trip, we spent in a tiny cabin surrounded by native bush in Pelorus. Heaven.
And finally, after 4500 km we returned to Wellington. The most important question: is 3 1/2 weeks enough to really see the South Island? No. But it is enough to figure out where you want to go back.
After Cromwell we went to Mt Cook, New Zealand’s tallest peak.
It might look like a painting, but I can assure you, it’s not.
And (dodging the cycling race that was on) we ventured further east to Lake Tekapo
And the next morning, I got up at 5 am for a spot of astrophotography
But I should have gone earlier… dawn broke as I was capturing this one!
And from our new start, we headed straight through to Christchurch
We arrived exactly on the third anniversary of the earthquake
And were promptly astonished. After three years, I thought more would have been fixed.
While driving between aunts’ houses, an enormous super cell storm developed
But the next day, back to the normal weather in Christchurch
A lovely man from the Wigram Airforce Museum took us outside to see all the other planes
And then to Maruia Springs – whipping through Canterbury quick!
It’s well worth stopping in at! Amazing Japanese food, private hot spas
And the next day, through to Blenheim
We spent a wee bit of time in Picton waiting to pick up Leif
And then off to his family’s cabin, hidden somewhere in Pelorus
Just outside the front door, are twin kahikatea trees
Built by Leif’s dad, this octagonal cabin is one awesome spot!
There’s a couple of fire pits and several sleeping areas
But I don’t think Leif had the best sleep!
The boys did some hard work, splitting massive rocks to create a nice foundation for the deck
The cabin is even two storey!
I tried some more astrophotography. I think it’s like shooting in film, you never know what you’ve captured until you ‘develop’ it. Oh well.
And finally, after a very long ferry trip, we made it to Wellington. Home sweet home.
