Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Friday 10th February

Blenheim to Dunedin

Rose early again for long journey into Dunedin from picnic area between Blenheim and Seddon. Set the satnav for home and it indicated the next turn was in 284km, on State Highway 1, with a bear right. Soon passed evaporation ponds and solar salt works, near the rows of vines. Big wine producing area around Marlborough region. Saw first and only wind farm on hills near Ward. Tried to get a good photo of a hawk on our travels but never got the camera turned on quickly enough despite the closeness of the hawk to the bus. Failed again near Ward.

Early Start from Picnic Area near Riverlands

Vineyards near Seddon

Lake Grassmere Salt Evaporation Ponds

Followed the single track railway for miles again without seeing another train, but we did see some Fur Seals on the rocks near Half Moon Bay. We stopped for breakfast in the bus at Okiwi Bay. We didn't venture far from the bus due to the steady rain. A car parked next to the bus, good to see a Singer Vogue is good condition again.

Singer Vogue at Okiwi Bay Picnic Area

Road after breakfast very twisty and narrow along the mountainous coastline. Travelled through some very narrow tunnels and wondered how the trucks got through in one piece. Spotted more Fur Seals on the rocks in the rain, lazing around.

Road Tunnels near Half Moon Bay

As we passed Kaikoura, Chris commented that the town was the whale watching centre for New Zealand. Apart from stopping for a coffee at Cheviot, we ploughed on into Christchurch, looking for photo opportunities of the recent earth quakes. We headed for Avonside District of Christchurch, but could not find any evidence of the disaster. We drove around then headed for the centre, almost giving up and continuing to State Highway 1. Then we found the fenced off area around the centre of the city. Chris parked and I searched on foot for the perfect photo. I was soon stopped by the security and prevented from wandering into the heart of the city. Lots of demolition works all around, with evidence that some sites had been completely cleared. Found a huge crack in the road by a fenced off house with ominous cracks in the house plasterwork. Also found a site of a church, St Luke's, with nothing left but the bell and its housing.

Earthquake Demolition, Christchurch City Centre

Earthquake Affected House, Christchurch City Centre

Earthquake Affected Road, Christchurch City Centre

Earthquake Affected Masonry, Christchurch City Centre

Earthquake Affected House, Christchurch City Centre

Earthquake Demolition, Christchurch City Centre

Drove from the centre of Christchurch past Hagley Park, with lots of entertainment on display, to State Highway 1. A long, straight and flat road with the single track railway line running alongside. This time we did see one goods train on the line, a sensation, surprise, surprise. The highway crosses several river beds, very wide and full of shale, with only a few small rivers of water within the wide river bed. I could only imagine the volume of water at flood periods. Close observation of the fast flowing water reveals a pale blue colour, probably caused by the ice melt water from the Southern Alps.

Rakaia River from State Highway 1, Canterbury

More steady driving through Timaru and Oamaru to the Moeraki Boulders. Parked in car park and walked along Moeraki beach past some shapely drift wood tree branches and Oyster Catchers to the bolders. Amazing spherical balls of rock about 1 to 2 metres across, formed from a stone with lime slowly deposited around to form a hard cemented spherical concretion. Sea has slowly eroded the cliffs to free the bolders. I recommend the bolders are seen, but in the meantime at least look on Google for information.

Moeraki Bolders between Moeraki and Hampden
just off State Highway 1

Oyster Catcher on Moeraki Beach near Bolders

Moeraki Bolders between Moeraki and Hampden

Moeraki Bolders Sign between Moeraki and Hampden just off State Highway 1

Returned to car park and travelled the short distance down the coast to Shag Point, where with care Fur Seals can be seen, which luckily we did. A little further round the point, instead of seals there were Stewart Island Shag birds. Dozens of them, all preening their feathers. According to the signs, Yellow Eyed Penguins can be seen, but, although I was careful, I didn't see any unfortunately. On to our final destination, Dunedin, where a curry was waiting for us. Another fantastic day to conclude our whirlwind trip around both of New Zealand's North & South Islands.