Sunny Nelson

We found this sweet deal of a backpackers in Nelson for $20 a night we got free noodles when signing in, free breakfast and soup (if your quick enough), There was a swimming pool, free WiFi and only a short distants from Nelsons city Centre. That Sunday we went to Nelson City Church, where we had an awesome service and a really spirit filled worship lead by the youth. We were invited back to the churches bring and share lunch where we met loads of cool families as well as Penny and Stefan Menzies an awesome couple that we go on really well with and who were really inviting and friendly. After the lunch Penny and her daughter took us round Nelson showing us all the best places to go.

The plan for the next few day was to hitch up to Farewell Spit, Stefan was going half way so gave us a lift which was awesome, Then we got a ride from a really friendly German couple, who took us to Takaka. Beth had booked this backpackers, that sounded really awesome, 'great retreat' 'beech access in the golden bay' it had this really weird name that we couldn't pronounce as well. We got there to find it was like a Buddhist retreat with some really un-talkative WOF's and no one else. We thought "that's cool we will just spend our time on the beech' the beech was really rocky with no place to swim or to lie on the sand. We both felt "God what are we doing here". Until this American guy called Lee rocks up, we get talking to him and he asks us if we want to go to the local pub for a drink so with nothing better to do we accept.

The pub was called 'the muscle inn' an awesome pub, they made there own range of beers which tasted really great. They also happened to have a salsa night on that night which was awesome. We had a go a salsa and met some guys from Israel and laughed ourselves silly trying to join in with all the locals.

The next day Lee was driving all the way to Farwell Spit and asked us to come along so we did. Walked along the spit for a bit then went to Wharariki beech which had the most golden sand i have ever seen it was huge and went on forever and we were the only ones there.Crazy.

Lee then took us back to Takaka, we were planning to go to Abel Tasman next but we had only taken a small pack with us and we were both getting short of clean clothes and tired so decide to head back to Nelson. We hitched for ages without getting a ride, one guys stopped and helpfully told us we should look for accommodation in Takaka because it was getting to late in the day for hitchhiking. So as we got out our BBH book to look for accommodation Beth prayed "please God give us a ride all the way to Nelson" guess what, the next car took us all the way t Nelson, call it coincidence if you want, but we were gobsmacked by a miracle! The women that picked us up was the only female tractor sales women in New Zealand so we were quite thankful for our dad's boring lectures on tractors because it all came in handy on that hour or so journey.

We had great fun the next couple of days hanging out in Nelson, by the pool at the backpacker catching the rays and just chilling.

West Coast!

From Wanaka we headed up the rainy, rainy west coast stopping for a night a Franz Josef. Where we lazily hitched a ride to the glacier and hitched a ride back. Both very excited for our first hitch hiking experience. The Glacier was cool but I think from going there we realised ice just isn't our thing, I'm sure it is very interesting for you geologists or maybe it was just the rain but we got bored quite quickly walking in front of the glacier. Imagine if we had payed for a hike! We we're more impressed by the waterfall next to the glacier!

After we left Franz Josef we kept heading up and stopped at Punakiki for half an hour or so to see the pancake rocks an blow holes, which are definitely worth a look at if your going passed. We reached Nelson that Saturday evening.

"Home of inappropriately placed benches"

Our next stop was Wanaka where we stayed for three days at a backpackers about 10mins walk form the main town and lake front. Wanaka is a cool little town still very suburban although there is some tourism there but mainly for the winter in the snowboarding season. The lake was great and we did some great walks around it but it was nothing like lake Tekapo and wherever we would walk we would stop and sit down to a bench to find it facing the opposite way from the view or there was a big bush infront, crazy but hilariuos.

We did go to the Paradismo Cinema during my stay which is one of my best kiwi experiences so far. It was basically made by a guy that sayed "we need a cinema in this town" so he made one. You go in and sit down or lie on old sofas, airiplane seats, bean bags or even an old car. Then one of the staff shuts the door and yells "is everyone warm enough cause I can change the air con if you want?" (only in New Zealand) Then after everyone dicsusses the heat she runs to the back and starts the film, Which watched RED which is a good film but tripled in standards because of the confort of feeling like your at home in your lounge. In the middle of the film there is an intervle where we get to go and buy freshly made cookies and ice cream, so good. So much fun and would recomend Padismo Cinema to anyone whois going through Wanaka.

Milford Sound

That Monday we got a bus early from Queenstown that took us to Milford Sound. We had a really hot week in Queenstown so Beth and I automatically put on shorts and T-shirts didn't even contemplate taking a rain coat! Surprisingly it was a horrible wet cold day, but we decided early on that we would both make the most of it despite the weather. To embrace this Beth bought some socks to wear with her jandals to take the chill of things, kinds.

The bus ride was very touristy with around five other buses all taking the same route to get to Milford, our driver was hilarious, but you got to a point were you didn't believe a word he said because of his jokey, kiwi personality. We would stop of at some touristy places on the way with all other five buses and bustle around the bush walks with all the other foreigners taking photos of every leaf and twig. Hilarious attitude people were literally queueing up to get this one picture of a bridge. At this point we decided to take lots of random photos to take the mick! Really great fun and made our time, being herded around like cattle, much more enjoyable.

Once we got to Milford we hopped on our boat thinking it would be just like the previous description to find the absolute opposite there were only twenty of us on this hundred passenger boat, quite small compared to the other boats. Beth and I borrowed some coats from the boat and spent the whole of the cruise out on the front deck. We had so much fun and despite the weather the scenery was so spectacular and there were some great waterfalls that apparently you can't see unless its raining. On waterfall our captain took us right under and we stayed there for ages! Beth was the only one left out there by the end we all went it because we were so wet. 

It was quite late when we got back to Queenstown and Beth felt quite ill so went back to Emily and Jonny's, and i went to the backpackers where all our stuff was.

Queenstown

So the following day Tuesday 7th we arrived in Queenstown! We first went to Emily (Carolyn's daughter) and Jonny's house in Kelvin Heights, where we had dinner and also met happy Abby (18 months). After dinner Emily took us into Queenstown where we went to a church called "on the Rock' Vineyard. Very small service of eight and quite intense, but it was a real blessing of God we went, because we met a guy named Greg, from Reading. We all went out for a drink after the service and found out he'd gone to church with cousin Anna and also visited our Auntie and Uncles orphanage in Zambia, Just CRAZY! 

The next morning in Queenstown, everything was very expensive and obviously really touristy! So that afternoon we went back to Emily and Jonny's. We caught the bus half way and walked the rest, it was super hot and we had our packs on so it was a very tiring, sweaty walk. At the end I jumped in the lake, but that was all because it was so cold!



Fergburger



During the next few days we mainly helped Emily in the garden and maxed out in the sun. Queenstown is really weird in that the bad (rainy) weather seems to go either side so we got some blistering hot days! We also looked after Abby who is hilarious and gave us loads of laughs!

One day we borrowed some mountain bikes and cycled round the Kelvin Peninsular really cool way to see the lake especially in the sun.


On the Thursday we met up with some girls that we met in YWAM in Oxford. We played Frisbee golf in the park, ate at padagonia's ice craem and had a Fergburger for lunch and dinner ("little lamby" and "the cod father")



Friends from YWAM



On the Friday Beth and I walked up Ben Loman, the big mountain behind Queenstown.



Sunday we went to Emily and Jonny's church, afterward we had dinner at "Winnies" the most hilarious Irish waitress, she had us in stitches. That evening we went to a youth church called Freedom, just amazing worship and people.

All in all Queenstown was amazing but mainly because of the people we could never of stayed there for a week and enjoyed it so much without them!

Is there more to life than this?

Lake Tekapo

Saturday 6th October Beth and I got our first Intercity bus, to Lake Tekapo. We walked up to the hill next to the lake, to the observatries and saw some amazing views over the lake and the snowy southern alps. The lakes especially Tekapo are this crazy blue, that changes all the time. They reflect the mountains and is was just awesome and it was deffinatly an experience that I could never dream of being able to capture on camera (I tried my best, really).

We only stayed there for a night which was plenty of time because apart from the lakes there isn't much else to there!

Shakey Christchurch

On Wednesday 27th October Beth and I packed up and flew down to Christchurch to start our South Island adventure. Ingus picked us up from the airport and took us back to Living Springs, which is on the other side of the hill to Christchurch and looking over onto Lytelton. An Awesome view to wake up to although, the picture does not do it justice.

The next day we borrowed Lina and Ingus's car and went into Christchurch and met up Carolyn, who showed us around the city, crazy to see the damage from the earthquake. We found Hereford St and walked round some really nice art centre's, The weather was awesome just perfect for sitting out with a drink and chatting!

Went back to the lodge that night and just sat round after dinner and talked, there are five German volunteers staying at the lodge as well, all are hilarious and very lovely to us! I felt my first aftershock! Was really weird, just felt like someone was jumping up and down in the room next door, it was over before I even realised it was an aftershock.

Just awesome to be staying at Living Springs, its like a holiday park for kids, it has a swimming pool, tennis courts, climbing wall, etc. which we can use for free!

Lina showed us a new found interest in garage sailing, was great fun on the Saturday, found lot of really cool bargains!

On the Sunday we went to Grace vineyard church with Lina and Ingus, We all went to Carolyn's daughters house for lunch with lots of Guys from YWAM, lots of fun stories and eye opening testimonies. In the evening we went to another of Carolyn's daughters house to celebrate  Carolyn's birthday. Awesome fun, really reminded us of family re-unions.

The next day we spent the day at YWAM in Oxford. Went top Jo Seagers posh cafe and had fun talking to more YWAMers. Stayed the night there and the next day went tramping with Carolyn and a freind.

During the next week we did several thing like go to Akoroa in the pouring rain (couldn't see much!), Beth and and Ingus went surfing and generally hung out at Living Springs. By the end of our stay we were both very tierd of the after shocks waking you up at stupid o'clock in the morning.