The Ultimate New Zealand Travel Guide
East of the Mackenzie Country
From the Mt Cook/Glentanner area at the top of Lake Pukaki it is back out to route 8 and on to the eastern seaboard of the South Island and some exciting areas I look forward to introducing you to.
First back on route 8 on the left is a high country salmon farm where we stopped to buy a fresh slab of salmon for dinner. It is sushi night in the camper van. We pass by the town of Twizal only because we are in a hurry this time and cannot stop everywhere of interest. Maybe this summer when we can be more relaxed in our trip.
Next I am looking forward to catching up with my old friends Tony and Sally who own the Totara Peak Gallery in Oamaru the glider capital of the world due to the wind currents in this mountainous region. That's something else I want to show you this summer.
It turns out Sally and Tony are on holiday as I had feared this time of year as they hadn't answered my emails. Great folks and are they ever collectors. You got to stop by and see what they have gathered. For one thing they had been working in Auckland when the TV show Xena was being filmed and have a startling collection of costumes from that. Without a doubt the best in the world.
So we moved on. When you stop by tell them I said hello..............
Route 83 takes us through the hydro-electric lakes of New Zealand. I remember being at the Benmore holiday park and meeting up with a couple from Scotland. He wondered if there were any trout in the lakes so I took him down to the closest one and immediately spotted trout along the bank in the shallow water.........Actually we have been in contact ever since...Great when you meet wonderful people when you travel by camper van. It is so much more friendly and relaxed. You are not rushing around toting your bags in and out of a room. You can sit at the outside table and enjoy your lives along with a good South Island pinot noir and maybe if lucky the trout you just caught.
Anyhow today I had several goals and we didn't slow down except for a few photographs of the power plants and the lakes. I had planned to stop by the Glenmac Farmstay which is a high country merino sheep and cattle farm just down the road but they advised me the recent flood washed out their bridge and I couldn't get in. They provide a camper van park whereby you can see a real ranch plus you are invited to join the family for a hearty evening meal plus they provide all facilities. Sorry we missed that but, again, this summer we will stop by.
So on through the small village of Kurow and now for the most exciting part of this area to me I am going to take you to the Vanished World.....located in the very small community of Duntroon. I will introduce you to whatever locals happen to be working today as it is all volunteer and they all really enjoy showing people around and what they have to offer.
How about a 25 million year old shark-toothed dolphin fossil? It is but a small part of their extensive display of fossils left behind when the ocean receded millions of years ago. It was all under water and now form the landscape of this area.
Take the time to go on the fossil trail. (see more photos on our Facebook page).
Our next stop is after route 83 meets up with route one south just a short drive to the city of Oamaru, known for its whitestone architecture, Whitestone cheese factory and the Little Blue Penguin colony and recently something very important that the locals have created and I felt David would dearly love with his artistic creative mind – the Oamaru Historical Precinct .
The Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust is saving and developing a portion of the community into a living Victorian town. They had really done a lot of work in this direction since I was last there. David and I walked through and both of us truly enjoyed what has been accomplished. (see below)
David decided he wanted to stay here and work but we moved on.....
He did explain something I didn't know about – Steam Punk and the reason he got so excited as he knew of the people in the US who were a part of this “tribe” and they were all clever artful folks who had fun he said. What I saw proved that point. (see photos).
http://steampunkoamaru.co.nz/
So we stopped to have a bite to eat at the Star and Garter....great food and coffee!
Then it was getting late so I pointed the van north out of town to introduce David to an exciting holiday park in the country outside of the Strawberry Capital of New Zealand, Waimate, and also where there exists the wallabys.......and a whole lot more animals at the park. As adults we enjoy it but if you have children it may be hard to move on from here.....a real animal park where both the animals and the owners are friendly.
(to be continued)
From the Mt Cook/Glentanner area at the top of Lake Pukaki it is back out to route 8 and on to the eastern seaboard of the South Island and some exciting areas I look forward to introducing you to.
First back on route 8 on the left is a high country salmon farm where we stopped to buy a fresh slab of salmon for dinner. It is sushi night in the camper van. We pass by the town of Twizal only because we are in a hurry this time and cannot stop everywhere of interest. Maybe this summer when we can be more relaxed in our trip.
Next I am looking forward to catching up with my old friends Tony and Sally who own the Totara Peak Gallery in Oamaru the glider capital of the world due to the wind currents in this mountainous region. That's something else I want to show you this summer.
It turns out Sally and Tony are on holiday as I had feared this time of year as they hadn't answered my emails. Great folks and are they ever collectors. You got to stop by and see what they have gathered. For one thing they had been working in Auckland when the TV show Xena was being filmed and have a startling collection of costumes from that. Without a doubt the best in the world.
So we moved on. When you stop by tell them I said hello..............
Route 83 takes us through the hydro-electric lakes of New Zealand. I remember being at the Benmore holiday park and meeting up with a couple from Scotland. He wondered if there were any trout in the lakes so I took him down to the closest one and immediately spotted trout along the bank in the shallow water.........Actually we have been in contact ever since...Great when you meet wonderful people when you travel by camper van. It is so much more friendly and relaxed. You are not rushing around toting your bags in and out of a room. You can sit at the outside table and enjoy your lives along with a good South Island pinot noir and maybe if lucky the trout you just caught.
Anyhow today I had several goals and we didn't slow down except for a few photographs of the power plants and the lakes. I had planned to stop by the Glenmac Farmstay which is a high country merino sheep and cattle farm just down the road but they advised me the recent flood washed out their bridge and I couldn't get in. They provide a camper van park whereby you can see a real ranch plus you are invited to join the family for a hearty evening meal plus they provide all facilities. Sorry we missed that but, again, this summer we will stop by.
So on through the small village of Kurow and now for the most exciting part of this area to me I am going to take you to the Vanished World.....located in the very small community of Duntroon. I will introduce you to whatever locals happen to be working today as it is all volunteer and they all really enjoy showing people around and what they have to offer.
How about a 25 million year old shark-toothed dolphin fossil? It is but a small part of their extensive display of fossils left behind when the ocean receded millions of years ago. It was all under water and now form the landscape of this area.
Take the time to go on the fossil trail. (see more photos on our Facebook page).
Our next stop is after route 83 meets up with route one south just a short drive to the city of Oamaru, known for its whitestone architecture, Whitestone cheese factory and the Little Blue Penguin colony and recently something very important that the locals have created and I felt David would dearly love with his artistic creative mind – the Oamaru Historical Precinct .
The Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust is saving and developing a portion of the community into a living Victorian town. They had really done a lot of work in this direction since I was last there. David and I walked through and both of us truly enjoyed what has been accomplished. (see below)
David decided he wanted to stay here and work but we moved on.....
He did explain something I didn't know about – Steam Punk and the reason he got so excited as he knew of the people in the US who were a part of this “tribe” and they were all clever artful folks who had fun he said. What I saw proved that point. (see photos).
http://steampunkoamaru.co.nz/
So we stopped to have a bite to eat at the Star and Garter....great food and coffee!
Then it was getting late so I pointed the van north out of town to introduce David to an exciting holiday park in the country outside of the Strawberry Capital of New Zealand, Waimate, and also where there exists the wallabys.......and a whole lot more animals at the park. As adults we enjoy it but if you have children it may be hard to move on from here.....a real animal park where both the animals and the owners are friendly.
(to be continued)
Omarama Gallery
Duntroon - the Vanished World
Historical Precinct - Oamaru
Steam Punk.
Little Blue Penguin Colony
Waimate and Kelceys Bush
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