Oct 27 Saturday It must of rained itself out last night Halleluiah. We see fresh snow on the mountains. Hammer Springs to Pecton 174 miles 5.5 hrs. We have another 8am briefing. Today we think we are in the Cash Creek BC area for awhile. We pass a thrill seeking spot offering jet boat rides ,ATVs bungee jumping, quads and rafting for starters. We have to take extreme caution today as a lot of hairpin curves even sharper then before. It reminded us of how the Fraser Canyon was before they widened it. We fuel up 36.72. Things flatten out as we do some of our driving along the ocean. We see a lot of crayfish for sale signs. We stop at The Store Café for lunch. A great setting, an ocean view with a beautiful garden. We arrive at Picton top ten holiday park . I take a short nap before our 5:30 social hour and briefing.

Oct 26 Friday West port to Hammer Springs 132 miles 4 hrs. 8am briefing. Westport is an old coal town with NZ ‘s oldest port sits on the Buller river. We go into town and stock up on more groceries and buy a new heater as ours caught fire last night. Today we do more twist and turns going through the Buller gorge. We pass through Reefton the first town to get electric lights in the Southern Hemisphere. We fuel up 64.74. We take the Lewis Pass hwy and reach the summit only 924 m. We go through more beautiful rainforest . Bill is enjoying the driving especially having to use the jake brakes. We arrive in Hammer Springs a ski area and spa resort. Fantasy has paid entrance for everyone to the pools including a towel ($4+$12). Bill and I soak in the pool for about 1 hour then I paid for an one hour massage $80. It was my first but not my last. It was heavenly. A group of us go for dinner at a pub $13 included a chicken dinner with wine or beer. The price was right and the meal also. Tonight we fall asleep listening to the rain playing a tune on the roof.

Oct 25 Thursday Franz Josef to Westport 169 miles 6.5 hrs. We wake up to sunshine . Today is another scenic drive with lots of twist and turns and undulating hwy. We occasionally get to see the Tasmen sea as we drive parallel to it. Hokitika the jade capital of NZ is our next stop. A lot of interesting shops. I bought a vase made from the silver fern, a silk top, earrings and a scarf clip. They got a good share of our money. We got to see them carving jade. They were even working on BC jade. We watch people blow glass and paint on rocks. My kind of place. Next with more hairpin turns we stop at Pancake Rock – magnificent limestone formations carved over a million years, very different. Then we stop at the seal colony where we walk on a board walk to the view points. We finally find the Seal Colony Top Ten park after driving

Haas pass one way bridge

Oct24 Wednesday Wanaka to Franz Josef 173 miles 6.5 hr. Lake wanaka is NZ’s 4th latgest lakes 180 sq. km . We wake up to sunshine but doesn’t take long and it is raining. We travel through the rainforest of the Southern Alps and Haas Pass. Many twist and turns, ups and downs ,plus 29 one way bridges. The rain and the wind are not compatible with hiking so I missed 5 good hikes at about 30 min. each . I Sure was disappointed. It was even too cloudy to take pictures. There were many fast flowing rivers and streams and waterfalls. It would have been beautiful in the sunshine. One good thing there was hardly any traffic. We get a quick view of the Tasmen sea and the waves are crashing onto the beach. We stop for lunch at the Salmon Creek Café. They raise salmon in pens. It poured rain. We try to stop at the Fox glacier but it is raining so hard and the wind is pushing the rain sideways. We were told to watch for the mischievous Keas (birds) but they were smart enough to hide in the trees. One of our people got his side door removed by the wind as it pushed him against a rock. They taped it up with black garbage bags and are delivering them a new one tomorrow. That sure would have been scary. We stay at the Rainforest Park. Beautiful setting but very cramped.

on way to Wanaka

We just had a ice cream social combined with a briefing. http://www.arrowtown.com.nz/ http://www.lakewanaka.com.nz/

Our fearless leader Gisela

Oct 23 Tuesday- Queenstown to Wanaka 69 miles 4.5 hr. Today we visit an old Chinese settlement in Arrowtown. They were brought her for the gold rush. We walk the town of Arrowtown and have a coffee and sweet. We take a wrong turn and take the scenic route to Wanaka. Wow! Heart in mouth views and hair raising switchbacks turns. We stop in Cardona and see the 1865 hotel. This is alpine country. More spots to trip the shutter. Going this way we miss the 5 people who bungy jumped.( 2 women and 3 men) .We also missed Puzzel World and the Maze. We arrive in Wanaka at Aspiring Campground park early so I have a shower and just stand under the hot water for a long time as no one is waiting to get in.

Bill at Cadberries chocolate University Dunedin Botanical gardens Christ Church

I have time so I will post more pictures ( mixed ) milford sound as it rained then sun came out. Queenstown from gondola

Oct 22 Monday Queensland. A briefing first before we walk to TSS Earnslaw Steamship wharf where we cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country farm to watch sheep sheering and sheep dog demonstrations . The TSS Earnslaw is an iron screw steamer with a steel hull and 3 decks. We get to view the engine room and visit the bridge. It is a wonderful sunny but cold day. We walk around town when we come back. I work on my pictures the rest of the day .

Oct 21 Sunday our next leg is a short drive to Queensland-69 miles 4.5 hrs. We can sleep in this morning. We pass a countryside that you would swear you were in the fraser Valley with sheep instead of cows. Queenstown is set on Lake Wakatepic with stunning views of the sawtooth peaks of the Remarkable Mt. range. (a ski area) We are at the Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park. After hooking up George Phyllis and I walk into town with quaint little shops and restaurants. Queenstown is known as the adrenaline junkie capital- from bungy jumping, jet boat rides, sky diving, hand gliding, parasailing, balloon rides and flying by wire. Do we need more? The best we did was luge riding. It was so much fun we did it twice. We were scheduled for a breathtaking gondola ride up Bob’s peak. http://www.skyline.co.nz/ As we approach the building at the top, you can see the adventurous bungy jump off the platform named the Edge. After our luge ride we have an exceptional buffet dinner at the top with spectacular views of Queensland. Everything is walking distance from the park.

Oct 20 Saturday Ti Amau – We wake up at 5am to rain drumming on the roof. We get back to sleep only to have to get up at 6:30 as a bus is picking us up at 7:30. Not to be as road is closed due to an earthquake and rain. They hope to have the road opened by noon. We get the bus anyway at 10:30 and hope the road is opened when we get there. Luck is with us. It is raining outside we think we are in Vancouver. The 2 hour drive to Mildford sound is like driving up to Whistler. We get on a boat and go up the fjord and it is like going up Princess Louise Inlet. We luck out as all the rain expands the falls and latter the sun comes out for perfect picture opportunities of unspoilt awe inspiring wilderness. Picture perfect sites lie in every direction. We even get to see the mischievous Keas (a bird) and a rare crested penguin. We go through Homer tunnel. Rain continues after a brief shot of the sun. Another day with front row seats.

Moerika boulders Larnch castle

Epilog-Our visit to Australia has terminated. We have a lot to put in our memory bank. We will always remember the magnificent warm white sand beaches and aqua waters, a perfect recipe for relaxing and reconnecting. We get many postcard photos . The Great Barrier Reef was an unforgettable experience. We enjoyed the quaint coastal villages that satisfied our appetite for shopping, browsing and enjoying fine restaurants. The RV parks were well kept and extremely clean, some with ensuite and all with community kitchens and with BBQ’s. We particularly enjoyed the natural wonders of the rain forest with it’s diverse and exotic vegetation, birds and animals. Here we felt a million miles away from civilization with views both from the top and bottom of the forest. We get to see wild Kangaroos, lorikeets and many other animals and birds strange to us. We also enjoyed the friendliness of the Austrailians who were sincere and spontaneous. The food is excellent and the beer cold. The sun nearly always shines. There is coffee on every corner. Life doesn’t get much better than this. The only disappointment is the lack of free WIFI

Oct 19 Friday We wake up to sunshine but cold. Dunedin to Te Anau 175 miles 5hrs including some stops. Today we drive through some of NZ most fertile farmland . Signs of Spring are everywhere, cows & calves Mares & colts and sheep with lambs many with twins. The trees have new growth and miles of yellow broom. We pass Wahola Lake with some black swans. We also see a shoe fence. Neat We stop at Peggydale, a knitware shop with possum/marino and accessories. We pass miles and miles of sheep manicured pastures and get a good view of the Southern Alps. We arrive early at Ti Anau mountain View park . Bill and I walk to town . A group of us go by boat ( 20 min ) to glow worm caves. www.realjourney.co.nz Quite an experience. No cameras allowed. We walk through a cave on a cat walk with a torrential river flowing underneath. Our guide puts his flashlight on an ell swimming in the river. We get into a boat pulled on a line. We are in complete darkness and get a feeling of well being as we float in complete silence and view the sticky threads that hang from their nets glowing in the dark. Another good end to an exciting day

Oct 18 Thursday Dunedin New Zealands Scottish city that sits on the head of Otago harbour. It is sunny this morning and we have a full day of activities. A big bus picks us up and we get a city tour. We see the worlds steepest street (49’) San Francisco doesn’t count as it is crooked Dunedin has the largest concentration of Victorian and Edwardian buildings in NZ. A statue of Robert Burns remains watch over the city center. We pass their university built in Gothic style after Scotlands Glasco university with it’s clock tower. Our first stop is the Cadbury chocolate factory. http://www.cadburyworld.co.nz/ We get a 1.25 hr tour. They make 85% of NZ chocolate. We don hair nets and males with beards have nets over them too. No jewelry ,watches or cameras allowed in the factory area. We get free samples. Yum We can purchase chocolates at the end. Next we go to Larch Caslle. It stands on the highest point of the peninsula .It is an excessive extravagance to impress his French wife. The castle is filled with exquisite furniture, period photos and decorative objects. The ceilings took 12 years to complete .Solid marble bath. marble fireplaces and tiles, glass even the wood was imported from Europe. The Mosaics on the floor in the foyer depict the family crest. 35 acres with rhododendrons gardens, rainforest with Kauri and Totara trees can be seen. The gardens off fantastic views of the peninsula and harbour. No pictures were allowed inside. http://www.larnachcastle.co.nz/ We have some time to see more of city center before our 4 hr train ride. We see beautiful StPauls Cathedral Knox church and St Josephs all fine examples of neo- Gothic church architecture. Now the train station ,it is one of the most photographed RR stations. A 1906 basalt and Oasmaru stone building that includes Majolica wall tiles by Royal Doulton. The beautiful Flemish Renassance style building has stained glass windows.3 huge clock faces, and the roof is Marselle tiles from France. http://www.taieri.co.nz/ We travel in 1920 heritage coaches as we snake the gorge into the high country of Otago passing hills with sheep on green pastures. Too tired to cook a large group of us stay in town and we go to a pub for dinner. I have lamb yum. The bus picks us up at 8 . What a nice way to end a very busy day. The weather at night is considerably colder ( close to freezing) This rig has a TV.

our new rig
larnach castle

Oct 17 Wednesday- our Kivi journey begins with a bus taking all the drivers to pick up our rigs. Fantasy uses a different co. so the rigs are a little different. They have a flat front nose like a cab over. The beds seen to have a little more room and the fridge came equipped with a bottle of white wine. What a nice touch. Today is our longest drive 215 miles to Dunedin. We stop to get groceries then head out with a beautiful view of the Cook Mt .and the Southern Alps. We climb from the dry Tussock region through Burkes Pass to the Mackenzie high country. Sheep farming and cropping are the economic backbone of the area. It is extremely windy and a little scary when a big truck passes you. It starts to rain after we stop at the perfectly sphericals Moeraki Boulders sitting on the beach.. They have a circumference 0f 13’(4m). We arrive at the Leith Valley Holliday Park and unpack our clothes and groceries.

we have a fun ride on the haggland little blue penguins Mona Vale

In side Queen Victoria building

Sydney lots of fum

Bindi beach view from monorail

Sydney is a great place

The bridge walk was very exciting. The opera house was beautiful

posted the log part first now we will see how many pictures I can post This is me on top of the Sydney bridge

Oct16 Tuesday-Christ Church New Zealand said to be more English than England. We begin with a buffet breakfast. We get a city tour bus ride. First we stop at the Antartic center www.iceberg.co.nz What an experience. A huge complex where we learn about the icy continent . We go into the polar room where we put on booties and a jacket before going onto a room of snow. They regulate the temperature and we feel what it is like to be in 18’c with a wind chill of(-2). They turn on giant fans. Next we get a Haggland adventure. A 15 min jaunt in a 5 ton tracked buggy, an genuine anartic all-terrain amphibious vehicle. Fun fun fun .We have time to view displays in different galleries on Antartic experiences before seeing live little blue penguins feeding at 10:30 . These are the smallest of 18 species of penguins in the world. We get back on the bus ang go to Mona Vale www.monavale.co.nz A great historic homestead, a charming Elizabethan style complex with ponds and fountains. Here we have afternoon tea with petit sandwiches and scones before walking around the most exquisite gardens including the Avon river with punting. City Center next. Here we stop at the square with Christ Church taking center stage. www.christchurchcathedral.co.nz A fine example of English Victorian Gothic church architecture 1881. The square is converted into a pedestrian only area. We also see the 18m high metal chalice sculptured by Neil Dawson to acknowledge the millennium Also in the square is the Christ Church tramway, and the old post office, now a visitors center. We stop at the Botanical Gardens and the Canterbery museum. We needed more time for both of these. I spoke to some kids in black and white striped blazers from Christ Church college . It is the oldest independent school established in 1850. www.chtistchurchcollege.com www.govt.nz/parks www.canterburymuseum.com There new art gallery opened in 2003 is also very impressive. We pass Hagley Park comparative to Central Park in New York. We are back at 4pm to get our review of the RV’s and a quick briefing for tomorrows journey.

Oct 15 Monday-Our suitcases are outside our door by 5:10 am ,and we pick up our bag breakfast. At the airport I have time only to check e-mails Free not long enough to post the blog. We get another breakfast on the 3 hr flight to Christ Church. We loose 3hrs coming from Australia to New Zealand. We stay at Copthorne hotel. Our room is huge. 5 of us get a free bus pass and go to town. 3 of stay on and take the 1 hr. loop. We are back in time for our free wine or beer and hord’veuvres before our 7pm dinner. I am even too tired to post and write our daily log. $20.00 for 24 hr. for WIFI. Very expensive

Oct 14 Sunday Sydney- I have a heart in the mouth experience today as I conquered an Australian icon recognized the world over. About 16 of us walk to the Sydney bridge from the hotel. When we arrive we get a briefing, and breathalyzer test (yes). We get special jump suits to put on ,and have to remove watches and any thing in our pockets. No cameras allowed. We get a cap that clips on and a hankie that we attach to our wrist. Radios and head gear are also attached for communication. We do a stimulated walk with our cables attached. My adrenaline starts to spike and we are not even on the bridge. We head out and start the many stair climb. Trafic is moving underneath including 2 railroad tracks, a bike way, a footpath and 8 car lanes. www.bridgeclimb.com The climb along the arch was very rewarding and easier than the stairs as it was wider and you couldn’t see under your steps. We get 365’ view and feel like we are standing on top of the world. I get an amazing sense of accomplishment and get a heart pumping workout. It takes about 31/2 hours from start to finish. 11 people on our group. I recommend it to any one. It wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought. I take a cab back to the hotel. Bill is waiting. We get on the mono rail and head for Patties market. Bill buys a shirt. I am simply too exhausted to continue so we head back and I take a well deserved nap. Tonight we have a company farewell dinner.

Oct 13 Saturday Sydney -An all day bus tour after a buffet breakfast. Sydney the capital of New South Wales is known as the Emerald city. Sydney has a population of 6 million and is one of the exclusive club of world cities. Sydney is where Australia started, 1788-739 unfortunate soles (English convicts) arrived at the Rocks. Sydney’s darling harbour divides the city into North and South . 20 beaches are strung along the cities oceanfront and dozens more around the harbour. The stricking forms of the Harbour bridge and Opera house stand sentry to the city. We start our bus tour at the Opera house. One of the most recognized buildings in the world with it’s distinctive white tiled sails shimmering like pearls. The house has 5 major performing spaces. We view the Drama theater first. Here some of our people will be going to see a political satire-“Don’s Party” by David Williamson tonight. We get to see the set for the play. Next we see the huge concert hall with seating for 2027. It was built for sound. We also see the opera theather with seating for 1500. www.sydneyoperahouse.com.au Next we walk to the Quay Grand. We walk the Rocks , the birthplace of Sydney. We spend an hour soaking up the history where 11 ships of the first fleet dropped anchor in 1788. It is now a 19th century village chocked full of exquisite shops art galleries and restaurants. Being Saturday the craft fair is in full swing with streets closed for the affair. www.rockswalkingtour.com.au We return to the quay to board the Matilda a catamaran for a lunch cruise of Sydney harbour. We get off at Darling harbour to board the bus again. www.matilda.com.au We pass the famous Mrs Macquarries chair, the museum of contempory art,a maritime museum Sydney’s aquarium,an olimpic park Tarongo zoo, oceanworld ,Sydney’s wildlife world, the observatory and Luna Park a Coney island type amusement park .Hyde park and Sydney’s Royal Botanical gardens. www.rbgsyd.gov.au So much to see and so little time. We pass government sponsored “heroin shops”and Kings Crossing Sydneys red-light district. Paddington and Darlingburst a gay and lesbian area . We get out at Bondi beach with its legendary speedo clad lifesavers and surfboard riders. We return back exhausted but satisfied

Oct12 Friday-Karuah to Sydney 122 miles 31/2 hours freeway driving so we stay close. We arrive at Maui depot around 10 after traveling through 4 tunnels under the Sydney bridge. Our bus picks us up around 12 and we go to the Grace hotel. A beautifully restored 11 story art deco building erected in 1930. It was once the headquarters for General Douglas Macarther’s South Pacific operations. It is located right in the heart of the city www.gracehotel.com.au We are free the rest of the day. A group of us decide to ride the monorail $ 4.50 We go around the loop twice We walk to the QVB –Queen Victoria building. It fills an entire city block and is five floors. History. Culture and shopping converg under a majestic dome. Beautiful stained glass windows and splendid archecture are featured throughout the building. www.qvb.com.au . We stop and have Sushi for dinner.

Oct 11 Thursday-South West Rocks to Karuah. 6 hr. We traveled 170 postcard miles today. Weaving in and out of coastal villages and beaches. We arrive at Big 4 Jetty Village park around 4 ,briefing at 5 for our journey into Sydney. The park was a haven for birds as we saw kookaburras, yellow crested cockatoos, pink cockatoos ,lorekeets , ibis ,crested doves and even wild rabbits. We take a walk out to the jetty and see more birds –pelicans and raptures. A great birding place. We have clean out our RV’s today as we cannot take any food to New Zealand on the plane. We do not have to wash sheets ,towels etc.
Oct 10 Wednesday South West Rocks overcast today. George & Phyllis. Maryanne and I hike to the beach and over to Historic Trail Bay Goal. (jail) Bill and Wayne drive over. Trail Bay Goal was a public works prison 1886-1903 and from 1915-1911 an enemy alien internment camp. We all drive with Wayne to Smokey Cape lighthouse. It was named by Captain Cook 1770 as he sailed on the Endeavour. The views were exceptional with a strip of white sandy beach that curves along the coast for miles. We have a BBQ by the pool .

Oct 9 Tuesday-Arrawarra to South West Rocks. 87 miles 3 ½ hours as we do some loop drives. We stay here 3 nights. First we stop at Coles to buy meat to BBQ for Wednesday night. Fantast supplies potato salad and cold slaw. Desert is also included. We really enjoy the drive to Nambucca Heads. They have a fishing wall walk to
Willington rock. Ocean was very confused with tide changing. Again many beautiful beaches. The weather is getting cooler the further south we go. Today was 22 (74) but sunny. Yesterday we had a couple of heavy rain showers that lasted only 10-15 min each. Some people experienced large hail. We are getting used to traffic circles and driving on the left. We fuel up again 89.57 @ 1.35 WE arrive a little early at the Trail Bay Gaol Tourest park as we want to do laundry . The Kookaburras are laughing up a storm in this park. Nice to listen to.

these lorikeet were every where. this was taken outside our door