S. Island Trip - Christmas 2012

For Christmas we hired a motorhome and travelled around the south island.  We started in Picton, crossed over by the Nelson Lakes, then down the west Coast then across the Haast pass to Wanaka, up to Mount Cook, then through Canterbury to Kaikoura. 

We had exceptionally good weather. Only one day of rain as we drove north from Wanaka and not a drop on the west coast.  A week later and the rain was torrential. 

Stunning countryside. A bit challenging being in such a small space with Arturo but we all coped admirably! Unfortunately we were missing Folly as dogs aren't allowed in many of the campsites and all of the National Parks. She was missed. 

Nelson Lakes

Gentle Annie's campsite. Lovely. West Coast. 

Where Ed picked our mussels for Christmas eve dinner. 

Christmas day

Al fresco bath time

Hokitika

Glacier

Over the Haast Pass to Wanaka 

Wanaka

Mount Cook

Arthur's Pass

Freedom camping. NYE - Canterbury - nr Oxford. 

On the way to Kaikoura

Kaikoura

Eastbourne

We live in Muritai, Eastbourne, across the harbour from Wellington city, nestled between the hills and the sea. 

Folly's beach. Where we walk every day and occasionally swim.

The Eastbourne shops.  A great butcher and green grocer, hairdresser and some arty shops. Delicious gelato place. Sadly a terrible Indian take away though.

The Pier where Eduardo catches the boat to and from work.

Cobar, a fantastic restaurant in Days Bay.  Delicious food and apparently, according to my mother, the fiancé of the owner and chef, is from Wangford (in Suffolk)...

View from our house of the hills

  Our street

Our photos usually show Welly on a glorious sunny day, this view you have actually seen many times, taken from the hills behind our house, this morning on a wet and windy day.