weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

This is the start of the third segment of our DownUnder trip, following on the heel of a stay on the Cook Islands and then a drive through Western Australia. I have posted pictures and impressions of these two locations over the past few weeks. In this new segment, we will provide our impressions from the South Island of New Zealand with its natural splendor and historic buildings.

--- and then sometimes there are rainy days --- The weather gods were clearly not with us at the start of our drive on the South Island - maybe they needed a break from these crazy Webers hopping through geography and decided to make a stand in New Zealand. For the first couple of days, we got clear and unequivocal evidence why New Zealand's countryside is so green: rain - rain - rain …… But even then there were beautiful moments: misty scenes, cherry tree blossoms, a heart-warming breakfast plate in our elegant and historic boutique hotel .....

We started this NZ South Island segment in Christchurch, which was still reeling from the double earthquakes they experienced in 2010 and 2011, thus traffic in the city was still encumbered and many buildings, notably its iconic cathedral, were off limits. This, together with the inclement weather, made Chch (as the traffic signs sometimes abbreviate the town's name) photographically a non-event. We did managed to drive out to the beautiful Banks Peninsula and started out with about 2 hours of dry conditions, then then blessings from above took over. Nevertheless, I still wanted to show a little of the area, so on this one post you get all the gloomy photos from NZ and then in the following posts things will brighten up again.

Please view in download.
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1 - NZ South Island title page with trip introduction & photo of approach to Auckland airport

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2 - NZ South map with our driving route

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3 - Misty scene on the way from Christchurch to Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula

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4 - Misty scene on the Christchurch-Akaroa Road looking down to Barrys Bay

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5 - Foggy beach on Banks Peninsula near Akaroa

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6 - Cherry tree orchard in Puaha on Banks Peninsula

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7 - Grazing cattle on a fog-shrouded hill in Puaha on Banks Peninsula

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8 - Eliza's Manor Boutique Hotel: Central staircase of NZ Kauri timber, exported 150+ years ago to and constructed in Scotland and transported back to Christchurch

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9 - Eliza's Manor Boutique Hotel: Bountiful breakfast plate

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10 - En route from Christchurch to Dunedin: Rainy day drive in the Canterbury region

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dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

beautiful......been there, done that, and loved every moment!

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Beautiful countryside. Gorgeous woodwork. What’s not to like. Except the bacon. I like it stiff and crispy.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

I agree with everything you said! The bacon especially!!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thanks dancers - glad to rekindle your memories!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thanks Barbara, glad you like the countryside and the woodwork. As to the bacon - for me the main thing is the flavor, in my opinion it shouldn't be overly crisp ... but that's my liking.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you Carol!

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

I was there so long back one did not need a passport!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Wow - in the middle ages?

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

1972.... and 1973 etc etc. I have never had a passport OR a car drive license,

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Interesting you didn't need passports then for NZ. You saved yourself a bundle in passport and renewal and visa fees! I am afraid I am pretty much the opposite of you - I carry both Swiss and Canadian passports and have a 11 cm stack of expired passports for me and my wife. I was working all over Asia on a travelling job in the late 60's and even had to have a second passport stapled to my first passport as I ran out of pages but still had a lot of valid visas in the old passport - I don't think they do this anymore now. Married in Hong Kong in 1971, came to Australia and NZ the first time in 1983 and have been down a few more times. Visited Melbourne, Tasmania and Adelaide in 2004. Great memories!

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Thanks for the memories, from 1970, before I was married. One month in the south island with a mate and a rental car. It was a good vacation.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

I am very happy that I could rekindle these memories for you Richard - now we just have to see whether the scenery I captured lives up to your memories - always a tough thing to achieve!

katu41

Joe, that looks like a killer breakfast. I am beginning to feel like this is "Joe's story of the Earth, Part 5." Great pics and excellent narration.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Excellent set!