Day 2 Christchurch

This morning we left our Chestnut tree lined stopover and headed for TaiTapu Domain, another low cost parking spot to get us closer to our destination for tomorrow which is Akaroa.   We were all set up by lunchtime and then took off with Derek and Dot to do a bit of sightseeing and a bit of shopping.

We found a couple of caravan places one of which was full of new and second hand parts for British & European caravans, that might be handy in the future.

We returned to camp before going out for dinner with paulines extended family in the evening, nice pleasant evening out.

Oxford Visit

Not much breakfast this morning, we are all off to Oxford for Brunch/Lunch at Jo Seagars cafe in Oxford  just an hour or so from Christchurch

We had a good look around her store located next to the cafe, full of all sorts for the kitchen then headed in for lunch.   Nice range of food on the menu and we all ordered either the big breakfast or something called Spuddy Fry Up.   This was chunky potato with garlic and onion covered in Parmesan cheese and layered with streaky bacon – very tasty it was too !

Lovely Lunch

Following lunch we had a quick look around an old 1876 jail complete with resident

Restored 1876 Jail with current resident and the Next One ?

Granite Wheel

Our return to Christchurch took us around the long way through Darfield ,and Kirwee and through the wheat growing areas with a stop at a very picturesque area on the banks of the Waimakariri river underneath the bridge we had just crossed.

Into Christchurch

Today we left Waikari and headed off down the road to Christchurch, a short drive of 70km or so. Our destination was a POP out near Belfast, located in an orchard of chestnut trees, facilities are limited but a nice spot to stay and made very welcome by Russ the owner.

The “Mousehole” POP

Pauline and I headed into Papanui initially and met her youngest sister Patricia at her workplace and joined her for lunch. Following lunch we travelled across Christchurch to visit her other sister Annette and husband Bill and spent some time looking at his On30 gauge model railway.

Travel back to our camp was chaotic as we were directed into the peak hour traffic through the centre of the city. Damage to the buildings is very evident and can only be really appreciated by seeing it first hand, it is difficult to find your way around with all of the building destruction.

Trish and Mark drove out to our camp in the evening for a BBQ tea and a catch up. A nice pleasant evening sitting around outside with a drink or two.

Train Trip to Glenmark on the Weka Pass Railway

We woke up to a cold wet morning, a far cry from the excellent weather we have enjoyed so far.   The land around here could certainly do with the rain, it's very dry and yellow, but I think it would need days of rain to help.    Just a few domestic duties in and around the van this morning until we went off to ride the Weka Pass Railway to Glenmark Station about 13 km away.   The Railway line to Waikari was constructed in the1980's and had it's first timetabled service from Christchurch in 1982 but was never officially "opened" by the government .   Neither was the request for a station at Waikari.    This was finally rectified in 2002 when the line was finally "opened".

The  Weka Pass railway  has been operated since 1983 by an enthusiastic band of volunteers.   It operates with an A428 steam engine built in 1909 or a DG class diesel electric from the1950's and travels through some spectacular limestone formations one of the more notable being "frog rock".

Hanmer to Christchurch

A great way to start the day! Leisurely get up followed by a return to the Hanmer Hot pools for another soak. The Aqua Therapy pools (3 of them) have air jets like a spa bath and have various intensity levels , we all ended up in the strongest one which gave us a good pummeling .

Back on the road then to the little village of Waikari the end station for the weka pass railway which we intend to travel on tomorrow. We are camped in the Waikari Domain which offers showers, toilets, powered sites and washing machines all for $20 per night. Everything with a battery got charged up -camera, caravan, battery drill, tv battery, iPad etc! Well worth the cost.

          Waikari Domain

Short walk up to the Waikari Station for a look, with a stop for ice cream at the local takeaway store/bakery. The friendly operator does all his own baking and very kindly gave us all fresh baked hamburger buns for our lunch tomorrow.

Off to the Hot Pools

Lovely cold morning to wake up to ! At Parnassus and off on our way to Hanmer Springs,  scenery on the way was exceptional with hills and rolling countryside along a windy country road until popping out at a little oasis called Waiau complete with village green.

Waiau Valley

Enough time for a milkshake while we waited for the rest of our group.        On across  a long one way bridge with a car coming the other way.   I was on the bridge before seeing him which caused me to back up a little, that was interesting!.

 Waiau River Bridge

We drove on through to the NZMCA POP at Hanmer Springs.   Located approx 7km from Hanmer this POP has plenty of room although there are no facilities.   It was so hot and sunny the solar panel was working overtime.

Into Hanmer Village for a wander and then we decided to buy a two entry pass for a swim at the hot pools after dinner and for tomorrow morning.

We wandered through the grounds of the now defunct Hanmer Hospital which was used for servicemen suffering from shell shock and as a drug and alcohol rehab centre.

After dinner we returned for a relaxing soak in the hot pools.  Robin, Jenny & myself tried all the pools we could from thermal sulphur pools and various temperature ones including the fresh water "river pool" which was hilarious and obviously not designed for our body styles !!   The youngsters in the pool coped and floated much better !

Kaikoura to Parnassus

A later start this morning while domestic duties were attended to and a quick cook up of a fresh batch of scones for morning tea was enjoyed ( I think) by all .

After a long wait at the dump station - a popular place this morning , we all headed off to the NZMCA POP at Parnassus.   This was along the remainder of the Kaikoura coastal highway.

We all caught up with each other just out of Kaikoura for lunch beside the sea and enjoyed seeing the antics of the seals just below the parking spot.

Lunchtime Seals
The road winds along the coast beside the sea and next to the railway line and through two road tunnels before we climbed the Hundalee hills.

Kaikoura Road Tunnels

We found the NZMCA POP at Parnassus, an old school property purchased by the NZMCA.   It's a good spot although a little noisy with road noise and trains!.
Pauline and I along with Derek, took a short drive to Domett to check out the memorabilia at the old railway station which has been relocated and turned into a cafe. Some interesting old photographs in there and some lovely coffee.

Former Domett Railway Station                        Inside the Cafe
Back to the caravan and 4zzzz's followed by a BBQ tea in brilliant sunshine.