Saturday, January 8, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
NZ Update
New Zealand Update
December 27-January 3rd , 2010/2011
We went to Queenstown and stayed with Lisa & Steven, friends of Jeff. We had a lovely BBQ and enjoyed sitting on comfy a sofa. Queenstown is a cute little town with lots of shops, restaurants and plenty extreme sports for the thrill seekers (Jetboating, Bungee Jumping, Downhill Mountain Biking). We spent most of the day there then made our way to Te Anau.
Te Anau is another cute little town. We camped there then the following day booked an all day Fjordland Adventure Tour to Milford Sound. The Sounds was beautiful, scenic with heaps of waterfalls, crystal clear lakes and amazing views.... simply breathtaking!! Highly Recommended!
After a long day we drove about 2 hours to a National Park and camped for night. It was an old historic campsite but it was free!!!
December 28th, we rolled into Mount Cook. It was a perfect, blue sky day!! The scenery was beautiful. We walked around the village and enjoyed the sunshine. Jeff went on a helicopter ride around the park. While he was on his adventure JC and I went for a lovely walk and soaked up the sun!!! We camped in Mt Cook and had a great night. The sun was out, we were able to sit outside and enjoy the scenery of the mountains. It is light out until 10pm at night which has been a change for us as it gets dark early in Australia.
We arrived in Christchurch on December 30th. We parked the camper for the last time and enjoyed sitting outside until 10:30pm.
New Year’s Eve we ditched the campervan and JC and I rented a little car and drove to Akaroa. It is a cute little French Settlement Town!! It was a beautiful, sunny day and only about an hour away from Christchurch. It was well worth the windy drive. We walked around the town and had a great lunch down by the Bay!!!
We spent the night at the Grand Chancellor Hotel, finally a normal bed and shower. We headed out for dinner and to the New Year’s Eve festivities in Christchurch. It was a fun night and I even managed to stay up for the countdown!!!
There have been a few recent earthquakes in Christchurch, we even felt one on the car on way to the airport. The rental was rockin'. At first we weren’t sure if it was one but it was confirmed that it was an earthquake of magnitude 4.4.
The city has bounced back from the September 4th earthquake (7.1 Magnitude), however, the structural damage is still very noticeable. When we arrived at the hotel they gave us a letter about the damage done in the rooms...aka, the large cracks and tell you what to do in the event of an earthquake. The letter was also stating that the hotel is completely safe and has been surveyed by structural engineer and is "sound". The engineer reports that the building behaved exactly the way it was designed to in a large earthquake.
On New Year’s Day we all left the south and headed back to Auckland. Jeff boarded a plane for Canada and JC and I went to the Bay of Islands. It is paradise. A must see!!!
We leave for Hawaii on Tuesday where we will be hanging’ by the pool and doing lots of relaxing before heading back to Ottawa and work.
A BIG Year has passed and another one is about to begin...
Happy New Year, we wish everyone the best in 2011!!!
Mel & JC=
P.S. Pictures to Come!!!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas from New Zealand
December 25th-26th, Lake Wanaka. A cute little town, we arrived here on Christmas Day. The drive was long but beautiful. We parked the campervan at a cute little campsite along the water where we enjoyed a nice walk along the crystal clear, blue waters.
Christmas Day was different; in fact it didn’t seem like Christmas at all, no snow, no turkey and no shortbread cookies or Sweet Marie's.
Boxing Day, the guys rented mountain bikes and went for long 30 km bike ride. I had some yummy hot chocolate and relaxed. The sun was shining and the breeze was very cool... quite different from Canadian Winters.
We are off to Queenstown, Te Anau & Milford Sounds. We're making our way to Akaroa & Christchurch for New Year’s Eve!!
We will try and post pics soon. If not, check out facebook!!
Mel & JC:
Christmas Day was different; in fact it didn’t seem like Christmas at all, no snow, no turkey and no shortbread cookies or Sweet Marie's.
Boxing Day, the guys rented mountain bikes and went for long 30 km bike ride. I had some yummy hot chocolate and relaxed. The sun was shining and the breeze was very cool... quite different from Canadian Winters.
We are off to Queenstown, Te Anau & Milford Sounds. We're making our way to Akaroa & Christchurch for New Year’s Eve!!
We will try and post pics soon. If not, check out facebook!!
Mel & JC:
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Aussie Summer Part 2
Aussie (& NZ)Summer Vacation- Blog Update Part 2
On December 18th we said our goodbyes with Ross, Trina and CJ. It has been amazing to have them by our sides over the past year; we will miss them and hope to see them in Canada very soon.
We then departed for Auckland, New Zealand and met up with our friend Jeff from Oakville.
December 19th we picked up our "luxury" Apollo Campervan and departed for Rotorua. We stayed in a campground along with lots of rain and thermal pools. The guys enjoyed this! It has been raining lots since arriving in NZ! :)
December 20th we went to Wai-O-Tapu, it has the largest area of surface thermal activity of any hydrothermal system in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. It was pretty cool and the rain held off for us. It was a "thermal wonderland".
We then drove to Tongariro National Park, it was cold, rainy and windy here but we still managed to tour around the park. We stayed here for the night, made dinner and watched a movie in our campervan.
December 21st we drove to NZ's Capital of Wellington where we parked for the day and night. We spent some time walking around the city and treating ourselves to dinner. Very, very windy but not cold! The camper was rockin’!!!
December 22nd, on the ferry heading to the South Island. We drove to Nelson National Park. The scenery was beautiful. We were parked right next to mountains and a beautiful lake. The guys went for hike while I stayed back and had tea with my book!!
December 23rd, we drove to Franz Josef National Park. This park is stunning with lots to do around it. The guys will explore the Glaciers while I hit the spa. We will be parked here for 2 nights. It is raining but hopefully it will pass.
Until Next time.....
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!!!
Lots of Love,
Mel & JC=
On December 18th we said our goodbyes with Ross, Trina and CJ. It has been amazing to have them by our sides over the past year; we will miss them and hope to see them in Canada very soon.
We then departed for Auckland, New Zealand and met up with our friend Jeff from Oakville.
December 19th we picked up our "luxury" Apollo Campervan and departed for Rotorua. We stayed in a campground along with lots of rain and thermal pools. The guys enjoyed this! It has been raining lots since arriving in NZ! :)
December 20th we went to Wai-O-Tapu, it has the largest area of surface thermal activity of any hydrothermal system in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. It was pretty cool and the rain held off for us. It was a "thermal wonderland".
We then drove to Tongariro National Park, it was cold, rainy and windy here but we still managed to tour around the park. We stayed here for the night, made dinner and watched a movie in our campervan.
December 21st we drove to NZ's Capital of Wellington where we parked for the day and night. We spent some time walking around the city and treating ourselves to dinner. Very, very windy but not cold! The camper was rockin’!!!
December 22nd, on the ferry heading to the South Island. We drove to Nelson National Park. The scenery was beautiful. We were parked right next to mountains and a beautiful lake. The guys went for hike while I stayed back and had tea with my book!!
December 23rd, we drove to Franz Josef National Park. This park is stunning with lots to do around it. The guys will explore the Glaciers while I hit the spa. We will be parked here for 2 nights. It is raining but hopefully it will pass.
Until Next time.....
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!!!
Lots of Love,
Mel & JC=
Monday, December 13, 2010
Our Journey Home!!!!
Our Journey Home
We left Ingham on Friday, December 3rd, 2010. It was a tough day and week but we got through it. We will miss Gilroy and our friends there but we will see each other again.
We arrived in Brisbane on December 4th and spent some time with the Jensen family before departing for our adventure along the Great Ocean Road.
Day 1-Dec. 6th:
We picked up our campervan in Adelaide and within 30 mins had a $20.00 parking ticket. We still managed to tour around the city. We camped at Glenelg along the beach and enjoyed dinner and the shops.
Day 2-Dec. 7th:
On the road through the Vineyards with a stop at Rosemount for lunch. This was a big driving day, we drove to Mt. Gambier, on the boarder of South Australia and Victoria.
Day 3-Dec.8th:
Spent some time in Mt. Gambier. Saw the beautiful sinkhole gardens, the famous Blue Lake which was stunning.
Drove to Warrambool, the beginning of the Great Ocean Road (G.O.R.) We stayed at a beautiful campsite along the beach where we went for a long walk and saw the most amazing sunset.
Day 4-Dec 9th:
On the G.O.R. beautiful drive with lots of scenic stops along the way. Arrived at the 12 Apostles along with Oprah’s Entourage. There were about 50 people on the tour. We also saw them in their “private’ helicopters as we were driving in our campervan and looking for a cheap place to eat, must be nice!!
We spent the night in a sea side town called Lorne before making our way to Melbourne the next day.
Day 5-Dec. 10th:
Arrived in the Melbourne. Parked the campervan at our campground put our runners on and we were off to the busy streets. We did some shopping and touring around along with every other tourist in the city. Big, hopping city it is.
Day 6-Dec. 11th:
Big driving day on the Hume Highway from Melbourne to Canberra, the capital of Australia. We arrived in Canberra and drove around the city. The city is very charming with many monuments.
So far we have been really lucky with the weather. It has only rained during the night, sun when we needed it. This is great considering all the flooding and the amount of rain throughout the country.
Day 7/8-Dec. 12/13th
Our first wedding anniversary and we are in Sydney, Australia, no not to see Oprah, this is the last stop before flying back to Brisbane. We enjoyed Bondi Beach, eating having breaky at the beach and eating Thai.
On Dec. 13th, our “Aussie Parents” Bob and Christine picked us up and took us to their home town in the Sunshine Coast, Rainbow Beach! Beautiful home and beach, lots of R ‘n’ R happening.
We will visit with them until Dec. 16th then head back and spend our last few days with Ross, Trina and CJ.
We leave Dec. 18th for New Zealand, Jeff, JC friend from home will meet up with us and we will all tour around the North and South Islands together. We will be in NZ for Christmas and New Year.
It will be very strange to be away from home at Christmas but we will get through it.
I am 26 weeks pregnant, feeling great but large, getting lots of kicks, in the ribs too.
Until next time....
Mel & JC=
xoxox
We left Ingham on Friday, December 3rd, 2010. It was a tough day and week but we got through it. We will miss Gilroy and our friends there but we will see each other again.
We arrived in Brisbane on December 4th and spent some time with the Jensen family before departing for our adventure along the Great Ocean Road.
Day 1-Dec. 6th:
We picked up our campervan in Adelaide and within 30 mins had a $20.00 parking ticket. We still managed to tour around the city. We camped at Glenelg along the beach and enjoyed dinner and the shops.
Day 2-Dec. 7th:
On the road through the Vineyards with a stop at Rosemount for lunch. This was a big driving day, we drove to Mt. Gambier, on the boarder of South Australia and Victoria.
Day 3-Dec.8th:
Spent some time in Mt. Gambier. Saw the beautiful sinkhole gardens, the famous Blue Lake which was stunning.
Drove to Warrambool, the beginning of the Great Ocean Road (G.O.R.) We stayed at a beautiful campsite along the beach where we went for a long walk and saw the most amazing sunset.
Day 4-Dec 9th:
On the G.O.R. beautiful drive with lots of scenic stops along the way. Arrived at the 12 Apostles along with Oprah’s Entourage. There were about 50 people on the tour. We also saw them in their “private’ helicopters as we were driving in our campervan and looking for a cheap place to eat, must be nice!!
We spent the night in a sea side town called Lorne before making our way to Melbourne the next day.
Day 5-Dec. 10th:
Arrived in the Melbourne. Parked the campervan at our campground put our runners on and we were off to the busy streets. We did some shopping and touring around along with every other tourist in the city. Big, hopping city it is.
Day 6-Dec. 11th:
Big driving day on the Hume Highway from Melbourne to Canberra, the capital of Australia. We arrived in Canberra and drove around the city. The city is very charming with many monuments.
So far we have been really lucky with the weather. It has only rained during the night, sun when we needed it. This is great considering all the flooding and the amount of rain throughout the country.
Day 7/8-Dec. 12/13th
Our first wedding anniversary and we are in Sydney, Australia, no not to see Oprah, this is the last stop before flying back to Brisbane. We enjoyed Bondi Beach, eating having breaky at the beach and eating Thai.
On Dec. 13th, our “Aussie Parents” Bob and Christine picked us up and took us to their home town in the Sunshine Coast, Rainbow Beach! Beautiful home and beach, lots of R ‘n’ R happening.
We will visit with them until Dec. 16th then head back and spend our last few days with Ross, Trina and CJ.
We leave Dec. 18th for New Zealand, Jeff, JC friend from home will meet up with us and we will all tour around the North and South Islands together. We will be in NZ for Christmas and New Year.
It will be very strange to be away from home at Christmas but we will get through it.
I am 26 weeks pregnant, feeling great but large, getting lots of kicks, in the ribs too.
Until next time....
Mel & JC=
xoxox
Friday, September 24, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)