Road trippin in New Zealand’s South Island!

So where to begin with South Island?! I suppose I could start by saying how grateful we were to have had the luxury of a campervan to travel in! Being able to drive where you want and when you want is one of the many beauty’s of it! Not just that but the feeling of complete freedom is like no other and it is definitely the best way to get to know a country! We were able to freedom camp throughout the majority of our trip in the South Island, which certainly saved us a few $’s & of course added to the sense of adventure. 

For those of you who are unaware of what freedom camping is, providing you have a “Self Contained Vehicle”, it means that you have the flexibility to camp wherever you wish within reason! New Zealand is completely geared up for the camping lifestyle and there are hundreds of places that you can camp overnight, whether it’s by the beach, in a field or even on the side of the road! Also, the Department of Conservation provide heaps of low cost campsites throughout the country, which range in prices from 6$ per person to 10$. So yes, super cheap and even better the money goes straight into funding further conservation projects and protecting the environment. 

We had 18 days of living free in our Mercedes Sprinter campervan, cramming and seeing as much as we could of New Zealand’s stunning South Island! 

Total kms covered = 3377.4!

Here is a summary of our day to day adventures & what we got up to on our road trip!

Thursday 16th June 2016 – after collecting our campervan from Britz Rentals by Christchurch Airport, we then drove to the nearest “Countdown Supermarket” to buy some yummy food! 

Our first destination was Hamner Springs, which is a small town in the Canterbury region of the South Island & about 140km North of Christchurch! The drive there was incredible and we stopped a few times to take photos of the stunning scenery! 

We arrived at around 4pm and were drawn to a campsite that stated “free camping”! It was basically just a field outside of a restaurant / motel type and the idea was to pay 30$ in exchange for 30$ food / drink voucher at the restaurant! Seeing as freedom camping was not permitted in Hamner Springs, we figured that this was our next best option, plus of course we got to treat ourselves to a delicious evening meal! The restaurant was called the “Five Stags” and the interior was just like “The Stag” in Attleborough! #homefromhome. 

It was pretty chilly outside and a bit of a shock to the system, having arrived from almost 4 months of scorching hot weather to temperatures below zero! Harry and I both went for Roast beef & it really felt like a lifetime ago since we had indulged in a full roast dinner! The restaurant had a very cosy atmosphere, particularly with the open fire hissing away in the background!

 

Friday 17th June 2016 – we had an amazing lay in and didn’t wake up until gone 9am!! All this travel malarkey had started to take its toll on us both & we were exhausted to say the least! However, we did have a rather chilly wakening, as the inside of our van had completely frozen up!!! Talk about being cold on a new level! We were FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZING & it wasn’t funny!

After breakfast we drove into the centre of Hamner Springs, parked up the van and then went on a hike up to “Conical Hill Lookout”, 594m above sea level. There we had the most stunning 360 views of the area, as well as a fantastic view of the snowy mountains in the distance. The sun had made an appearance too, taking the chill out of the air! The walk took about an hour, so nothing too strenuous! On the way back we stopped and had fish & chips for 7$ each!? How can you resist that bargain of an offer!? The fish was so fresh and the whole meal 100% hit the spot! 

In the afternoon we treated ourselves to a spa session at the famous Hamner Springs Thermal Pools. The pools were produced as a result of a fractured rock bed and the springs’ thermal water originates from rainwater that fell 180 years ago! Heat radiating from the earth’s core raises the temperature of the rainwater in the underground reservoir and it rises to the surface through a series of interconnecting fractures in the rock. There were a mixture of spa pools and sulphur hot water springs, ranging in temperature from 25 to 43 degrees! We had a super relaxing day, which was just what we needed! If only I had read the sign that clearly states “REMOVE SILVER JEWELLERY” before climbing into one of the sulphur pools, as it was almost instantly that my lovely Silver Pandora ring had turned completely black from the sulphur!! 😦 

Anyhow! After our spa session we climbed back into our campervan and drove towards Kaikoura. We had our first night of freedom camping on the side of the road! It was kind of weird but exciting at the same time! There was next to no traffic, so we had a relaxing evening and cooked steak, potato salad and rocket for dinner….. It was yummy!!

 

Saturday 18th June 2016 – we drove to “Kaikoura”, a place known for its seal colonies and dolphin & whale watching tours. We went to a lookout at South Bay and got a great view of the local area. After, we drove to Kaikoura Peninsula where we spotted the rather unique “New Zealand Fur Seals”! They were adorable and we even got to see some pups! Whilst we were there we learnt a number of facts about the animals such as ~

> They are incredibly talented swimmers and have been known to cross the Tasman Sea to Australia. 

> They have two layers of fur to regulate their temperature – an inner layer that acts like thermal underwear and an outside, long haired layer for protection. 

> It is believed that seals can swim at 30km per hour and can dive to depths of 230m. 

> Seals can sleep underwater, surfacing to breathe every 30 minutes on a single breath without waking. 

> They have several adaptive features, such as their large eyes, which are designed for hunting in low light conditions. They also have sensitive whiskers, which act as an antenna to feel the vibrations of fish and small creates, enabling them to hunt for their food. 

> The average lifespan is around 15 years. 

> Along the Kaikoura coast nursing mothers mainly feed on arrow squid and lantern fish.

> They have a number of threats that exist both on land and at sea. These include people, stray dogs, sharks, killer whales and even litter. In some cases seals may swallow plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish, which can cause a slow and painful death. 

After seeing the fur seals at the Peninsula, we continued our journey along the East Coast, stopping at “Ohau Point”, which was home to another seal colony. The rocky outcrops that exist there provide excellent breeding habitats for mothers, as they offer protection for the young pups from the storms that hit the coast. At Ohau we enjoyed a walk to the waterfall where we saw more pups playing in the water! 

We continued heading North and then stopped at a free campsite by a beach, 20km from Blenheim and in the middle of nowhere! The drive to Robin Hood Bay Campsite was rather bumpy and we probably should have paid more attention to the warning signs stating about the dangerous unpaved roads! Ah well… The views were worth it!

Sunday 19th June 2016 – we drove up the steep mountains and around the winding roads, stopping for breakfast by the beach at Waikawa. After, we drove to Picton (the gateway to the North island) to get fuel and refill our water tank. Thankfully like in Australia, fuel prices in New Zealand tend to be a lot cheaper in comparison to the UK! When we collected our Campervan, we brought a package, which meant that we didn’t have to pay diesel tax. In New Zealand the cost of petrol is substantially higher than diesel and this is because tax is charged at the pump. Whereas with diesel vehicles you have to pay a 6$ tax for every 100km, as it is not charged at the pump! This might not sound too expensive, but it when you’re driving the whole of the South Island it certainly adds up!

Anyhow, we parked the van at “Snout Track carpark” and walked along the track to view Queen Charlotte Sounds. The walk took about 50 minutes, but was so worth it & was great to catch some fresh air! We took the scenic route along Queen Charlotte Drive and stayed at a free campsite by the beach! You can’t beat falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing against the shore! 

Monday 20th June 2016 – our first stop was at “Mahaki Paoa” and there we walked 1km to the Cullen Point Lookout to view the Mahau Sounds. Next we drove to Pelorous Bridge, which was where the barrel scene of the Hobbit was filmed! There we also went on a forest walk along the river. 

From Pelorous Bridge we drove an hour to Nelson! It was a bit of a flying visit, but whilst we were there we trecked up to the New Zealand Centre point. We were lucky to get a fantastic view of the city as well as Tasman Bay. The point is known as the ‘centre’ due to it being the origin point of the Nelson Land district. Nelson is the central land district amongst 12 other land districts, hence known as the “centre of New Zealand”. 
After, we drove to our next campsite at “Kina Recreational Reserve”, which was North of Nelson and by another beach!! 

Tuesday 21st June 2016 – we had originally planned to drive to Abel Tasman National Park to do a day hike, however the weather took a turn for the worse with torrential rain. Instead we made our way across to the West Coast, stopping at a few picturesque spots along the way. Thankfully the rain had eased by the time we had reached Nelson Lakes, so we were able to do the “Kiwi Bush Walk”. We walked along the jetty and saw about 30 eels in the water! They are such slimy and yucky looking things!
We then drove to Westport and camped directly on the beach!!!

Wednesday 22nd June 2016 – we drove to Greymouth, taking in many incredible sites along the way! We stopped at “Meybille Bey”, which viewed onto the rocky coast. After, we did the Truman Walk, which was just a short walk but went along a coastal track to a viewpoint overlooking the ocean! We also drove to Paparoa and went inside the “Punakaiki Cavern”… It was a good job we remembered to bring our torches! Whilst we were in Paparoa, we also visited the pancake rocks! 

We then continued our drive to Greymouth and just before we got there, we did the “Coal Creek Walk”, which went through the forest and to a couple of impressive waterfalls. After, we drove to a DOC campsite at Nelson Creeks and stayed there for the night. There was pub across the road and we had planned to go for a few drinks, but when we arrived it was full of smelly and pervy old men…. It was not quite what we had in mind!! Instead we decided to have a few voddies in our camper and managed to do some over due washing!

Thursday 23rd June 2016 – after breakfast we drove to a few lakes before arriving at Franz Josef Glacier in the afternoon. There we did a couple of hours walking to view the face of the glacier. It was pretty impressive and was the first time we had come face to face with a glacier! we made it back to our campervan just in time before it started to rain!! Typical New Zealand winter weather! Anyhow it didn’t stop us from having a great time! 

Friday 24th June 2016 – we woke up to glorious sunshine, which was a change from the grotty weather we had experience so far on the West Coast! We decided to drive back to Franz Josef Glacier to view “Peter Pools”, which reflected the glacier!
After, we drove through Fox Glacier and did our good deed of the day by collecting a hitch hiker! He was extremely friendly & was a backpacker just like us! We stopped for lunch at “Bruce Bay”, which was by the Tasman sea! 

A few kilometres down the road was the stunning “Lake Paringa”. We stopped to get some fresh air and to take a few scenic shots. Whilst we were there we came across half a case of BEER and some candles. Lake Paringa was another place on the West Coast that you could camp overnight for free. Obviously a camper had left them free to anyone to have, as there were no other campers around! Harry was over the moon at the sight of a free case of beer!!

Our next stop was at “Knights Point” and there we climbed up a tower to see incredible 360 degree views! We also did the “Dune Lake Walk”, which was very scenic. Next stop was at the famous “Thunder Creek Falls”, a waterfall that is used in a lot of New Zealand travel brochures! People tend to pose standing next to the waterfall to create the illusion of them drinking the water! After, we got back into the campervan and then stopped for a quick photo at the “Gates of Haast”, which was an impressive rock formation in a turquoise river! 

Our final stop of the day was at the stunning Blue Pools at “Mount Aspiring National Park”. Never have we seen such clear and turquoise waters…. They were stunning! To get across to the pools you had to cross a rope bridge! Of course Harry thought that he would be funny by jumping up and down to shake the bridge…. I wasn’t so impressed!!!! 

After a busy day we were glad to find a free campsite by another beautiful lake! We had a relaxing evening & a well needed earlish night!

 

Saturday 25th July 2016 – after a decent nights sleep we were both feeling super refreshed! Our first stop was at “Lake Hawea” and it was there that we had finally got signal after not having any for 4 days! We were beginning to think that our phones had been disconnected, but thankfully they hadn’t!! 

We arrived in Lake Wanaka at around 11am, had a bowl of museli and then ventured out to a café in town! Harry had a hot chocolate whilst I fancied trying something new, so went for an “American warm apple cider”, which was topped with cream and cinnamon dust dusted with cinnamon!! I felt like it was a risky choice but let me tell you it was the most delicious drink EVER! Imagine drinking apple pie?? Yes it was exactly that! Heaaaaaaaven!! 

We then wandered around Wanaka before driving to our final destination of the day, famously known as the adventure capital of the world & the one place in South Island that everyone raves about….. QUEENSTOWN!!! On route we drove past something a little of the ordinary… a fence full of bras!! Despite the randomness, it was all in aid of a good cause, which was raising awareness for breast cancer charities! 

I mustn’t forget to mention about how close we were to completely running out of fuel on our journey to Queenstown! The fuel light flashed up and we ignored it the first time but the next moment another message appeared on the dash to say that we were now running on reserves!!! Just what we needed when we were driving around the mountains!!! In the end we coasted near enough the whole journey! All was good in the end & we made it to the fuel station in time, although we won’t be making that mistake again!!

When we arrived in Queenstown, we did the “Queenstown Hill Walk”, which went 500m above sea level! Despite how tough it was walking uphill for virtually the whole way, the views were very impressive from the top! After, we had a bite to eat before driving to our free campsite at Lake Hayes, 12km outside of Queenstown! 



Saturday 26th July 2016 – we started the day with a phone call home to my wonderful family to wish Benny boy a happy birthday! Mum & I also had a great catch up, which was lovely!! After a long phone call we then got showered before driving to our first ever ELECTRIC HOOKUP campsite in the centre of Queenstown!!! #posh. As I mentioned we have been very lucky and have hardly paid for any campsites at all! The odd 12$ here and there, but that is it! We thought we would treat ourselves to a campsite in the centre of Queenstown, as there is next to nowhere to park a huge campervan in town & it’s just not worth the faff anyway!

After a quick bite to eat for lunch we then took a walk into Queenstown! We both instantly fell in love with the place! Queenstown is certainly one of those small towns with the vibes of a small city that once you arrive forbids you from leaving! It really came across as a relaxed yet energetic place with something for everyone… Whether its adventure (there is certainly lots on offer to get your adrenaline pumping), partying or even just kicking back in a cafe & enjoying a tasty brewed coffee! 

We decided to go via a travel shop to see what activities were on offer! We had originally thought about booking a Milford Sound tour, however when we saw how reasonable it was to go skiing…. It became a no brainer!!! I went on a skiing holiday many many years ago and loved it but it was going to be Harry’s first time & I was so excited to be introducing it to him! We managed to knock the travel shop down on their prices & then booked ourselves two days skiing at Cardrona Alpine Ski Resort! There are actually three different ski resorts to choose from in and around Queenstown! You’ve got a choice of “The Remarkables”, which is closest but the smallest of the three, “Coronet Peak”, which unfortunately was closed at the time due to not having enough snow and then finally “Cardrona”, which is near Wanaka & has the best of both worlds with it being great for beginners and those who are more advanced. 

After we had booked our Skiing trip, we then went and indulged on a delicious hot chocolate at a cafe called “Chocolates Patagonia”. 

Monday 27th June 2016 – in preparation for two days of skiing, we decided to have a completely relaxing day, which was probably the first since being home in England! I spent my day catching up on my diary and blogging whilst Harry caught up with his fishing podcasts and Netflix series!! 

In the evening we went to the supermarket before sorting lift passes, as well as collecting our ski equipment and clothing. 

Tuesday 28th June 2016 – the alarm went off at an early 6am, so we quickly got up and piled on the layers, ready to catch our 7.15am shuttle to the Ski resort! We arrived in Cardrona at around 9am and immediately made our way to the ski slopes! Seeing as it was Harry’s first ever time skiing, I started by teaching him the basics on the nursery slopes! Dare I say that after 3 attempts of going down the nursery slopes, we were then moving onto the chair lifts! I was so impressed, as without a single lesson Harry had mastered it!! 

We both had an awesome day and loved every moment of skiing in New Zealand! At lunch time we had a bowl of pasta each followed by a hot chocolate to keep us warm! We then climbed straight back on the slopes for another few hours skiing! You’d have never have thought that it was Harry’s first time skiing, as he was a real natural at it! By the end of the day we were both feeling exhausted & so slept the whole journey back to Queenstown as did everyone else!! 

Wednesday 29th June 2016 – another 6am start ready to catch the 7.15am bus to Cardrona! This time we were both more excited than ever to be hitting the big slopes straight away! We immediately climbed onto the chairlift going up to the top of the mountain! We were both absolutely amazed at how young some of the children were who went flying down the slopes! There were children as young as 5 years old on snowboards!!? Crazy hey!!?! 

Again Harry did so so well at skiing and in less than two days he was parallel skiing down the slopes! 

In the evening we dropped off our ski rentals and then went back to our campervan to get showered! Nothing beats a nice warm shower after a days skiing!! Despite how exhausted we both were we knew that we couldn’t leave Queenstown without checking to see what the nightlife had to offer! We started our evening by having a famous “Fergburger” & let me assure you, we were not disappointed!! We had planned to have a Fergburger earlier on in the week but the queues were half way up the street, so decided to wait! You can certainly see why though! Sometimes you get everyone craving about something and when you come to trying it, it turns out to be overrated, but seriously what is there not to like about a Fergburger??? It is definitely the best burger we have EVER had & also the biggest burger too!!! We both went for a “Southern Swine beef burger”, which had ‘American streaky bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion, avocado, aioli and tomato relish’! 

After demolishing a burger each and some sweet potato fries, we went to the “Minus 5 Icebar” for a few cocktails! This reminds me…. if you are a non NZ resident and want to go drinking, the only valid photo ID is your passport NOT your driving license or even a photo of your passport!! We both learnt the hard way, as when we arrived at the Icebar with our driving licenses we were refused entry! We then had to walk all the way back to the campsite to collect our passports!! Ridiculous hey!?!? But rules are rules!! Anyhow, it was definitely worth grabbing our passports for the Icebar, as it was awesome! The whole bar was made out of ice and they even had ice glasses, as well as carved ice sculptures! The temperature was -8 degrees, so I was relieved when they handed me a coat to put on! Once we had finished our cocktails, we then went to a cosy little bar next door for a few more drinks! There was a massive open fire, which kicked out loads of heat! 

Thursday 30th June 2016 – it was so nice not having to get up at 6am!! We both enjoyed a nice lazy start before checking out of our campsite & saying goodbye to Queenstown!! On route to Te Anau, we stopped at “Drifts Bay” and had a sausage sandwich for breakfast! When we arrived at Te Anau we walked around the lake and visited a bird sanctuary! There was a bird called a “Takahē”, which was thought to have become extinct many years ago until it was since spotted in the Fiordland mountains. 

After, we began our 120km journey to the world famous fiord of Milford Sound (aka the most dangerous place to be driving in New Zealand!!!). We camped at the closest DOC campsite to Milford Sound, which was at Cascade Creek! It was very peaceful and there were only 2 other campers! We had a super snug evening ready for an early start and a busy next day. 

Friday 1st July 2016 – well I suppose I should start by writing about how FREEEEEEEEEEZING cold it was in the morning. When I say ‘freezing’ I literally mean it… We woke up to the inside of our van completely frozen, as well as a frozen water pipe! Everywhere had frosted outside and it looked like a winter wonderland! 

After waiting ages for our windscreen to defrost, we then continued our scenic drive to Milford Sound! Our first stop was at “Lake Gunn”, another of New Zealand’s beautiful lakes! We then continued our journey through the valleys, driving through the Milford tunnel, which went through the mountains! When we arrived in Milford, we decided to book onto a cruise that went out to the Sounds. The cruise was just under two hours and went all the way up to “Dale Point”, which is the start of the Tasman Sea. “Dale Point” also marks the northern entrance into Milford Sound. Captain Cook was first to sail up to Dale Point and he missed the Milford Sound twice, as it is completely hidden from view from the open ocean! Milford Sound was in finally discovered in 1823 by a sealer who originally named it “Milford Havern” after his birthplace in Wales! Milford Sound is 16km in length and is the northern-most of 14 fiords that make up the coastline in Fiordland National Park. The average depth is a colossal 330m with the widest point being 2km. 

Whilst we were sailing in Millford Sound we spotted more New Zealand Fur Seals. At a 146m drop, Stirling Falls was probably one of the most impressive waterfalls that we have seen in New Zealand! It is the second largest permanent waterfall in the Fiord and is fed by glaciers situated in the mountains behind! 

Those of you who are reading from a travel point of view! “Juicy Cruises” have a 50% discount on all tickets if you hire a Juicy van! It’s certainly worth baring in mind for those of you who are touring in one, sadly our ‘Maui Campervan’ didn’t quite qualify!! 

Anyhow, after an amazing tour, we then climbed back into the van and drove down South towards Invercargill. We didn’t actually stop in Invercargill, instead we continued driving about 25km towards Dunedin and found a free camping bay for the night. The drive leaving Milford was stunning and we couldn’t resist stopping off at the “Mirror Lakes” for a quick photo opportunity, as well as “Te Anau Downs”! We had been so lucky to have such clear blue skies and beaming sunshine! Not bad for winter ey?! 

Saturday 2nd July 2016 – so I mustn’t forget to commend Hazza on wining the ‘best boyfriend award’ for washing my hair with the kettle!! We had got to the stage where we were just about running out of water & definitely did not have enough for a shower! I suppose that comes with living in a campervan for 18 days!!

We set off at around 830am and then drove to Dunedin, a city recognised as New Zealand’s “Scottish Capital”. We arrived at around 2pm and parked the campervan at the Railway Station, which after Sydney Opera House, is the second most photographed building in the Southern Hemisphere!

Shortly after, we went on a tour of Cadbury World! Anyone who knows me well will know how much I LOVE chocolate, particularly Cadburys ;-). We both felt like big kids, but it was great! Surprisingly, the tour was mainly just adults with the exception of one child!!! We learned about the different stages involved in the production of Cadburys Chocolate & were given lots of free samples to take with us!! My favourite part of the tour was in the ‘Sensory Room’ where we were given a cup to fill with melted chocolate and delicious Cadbury fillings, such as Oreo biscuit, Crunchy bar and lots of sprinkles! We were also introduced to one of Cadbury’s key ingredients called “Crumb”, which is basically a mixture of powered cocoa, condensed milk and sugar! Crumb is what gives Cadbury’s chocolate that sweetened creamy taste! Another highlight of our tour was watching one tonne of melted chocolate drop from the ceiling! I’m telling you the smell was out of this world…… I honestly thought I’d entered heaven! Well my idea of heaven! 

At the end of our tour we treated ourselves to a delicious “Cadbury Speciality hot chocolate”… Just when you think that the day cannot get much better & it DOES! Harry went for salted caramel flavour whilst I went for a coconut one!! Both so yummy! 

After demolishing our weeks worth of calories, we thought we’d better leave Cadbury World before we ended up getting too fat for our only pair of jeans! Anyhow, from Cadbury World we then went and checked out ‘Baldwin Street’, which is famous for being the WORLD’S steepest street! Those poor people that live up the top…… No thanks!!! 

In the evening we drove to the ‘Royal Albatross Centre’ at the Otago Peninsula to see the “Little Blue Penguins”. These are the worlds smallest penguins that grow to a maximum height of 30cm. At dusk you get to watch them scurrying ashore to their burrows after a day’s fishing at sea. They are the most adorable little animals & I would be lying if I didn’t ask Harry if we could get a pet penguin… not that it is even possible but oh well! We were very lucky to spot 18 penguins in total making their way to their nest to feed their chicks or roost. I would highly recommend the tour, especially as all of the money raised is reinvested into the wildlife reserve to assist with the protection of the Little Blue Penguin Colony, as well as the preservation of Pilots Beach. 

 

Sunday 3rd July 2016 – we woke up to the most beautiful sunrise at the Peninsula! After a decent nights sleep we got straight on the road ready for a long day of driving to Mount Cook! On the way we stopped at a few scenic reserves and saw even more seals!!! One of the places that we stopped at was called “Shag Point”… Slightly inappropriate but it did give us both a chuckle! We stopped and had lunch at a Dam before visiting “Lake Pukaki” and various viewpoints on route. 
After a really really really long day of driving we eventually reached our final destination at Mount Cook ~ home to New Zealand’s highest mountain at 3,724m and largest glacier at 29km long and 4km wide (Tasman Glacier). We visited the “Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre”, which played tribute to the guy himself who is renowned for being one of the worlds greatest explorers. Next we did the “Tasman Glacier River Walk”, which viewed onto an impressive iceberg, as well as the Glacier of course. 

In the evening we camped at a Doc Campsite called “White Horse Hill”. The weather suddenly turned into a huge storm just as we arrived. It must have rained for a solid 24 hours & at one stage the wind had got so bad that it felt as though our van was moving side to side! Scary times!! 

Monday 4th July 2016 – after a horrendous nights sleep from all of the wind and rain that kept us awake, we forced ourselves out of bed and got back on the road, driving to Lake Tekapo! Luckily it was only an hours drive… So nothing too horrendous! We arrived in Lake Tekapo at around 930am and had breakfast before hiking up to Mt John Summit. It was a pretty tough walk, especially being first thing in the morning! However, the view from the top certainly made up for it! After, we went and visited an adorable little church on the lake, which is called “The Church of the Good Shepherd”. Time started to fly by, so we got back on the road, completing the final leg of our South Island road trip and dropping our legend of a Campervan back at its home in Christchurch. We stayed at the loveliest air Bnb in the centre of Christchurch.. Our host was so chatty & she made us feel very welcomed! Nothing was better than a warm shower in the evening! Oh how I had missed being able to wash my hair without worrying that we would run out of water! 

Anyhow… That pretty much concludes the end of our South Island road trip! There were other things that happened like our flight to Auckland being cancelled at last minute, but I won’t go into detail about that!! It was probably just as well, as it meant that we got to have a relaxing morning before starting the second half of our New Zealand adventures! 

As always, sending you all lots of love and happiness! 

Chat soon,

Jess & Harry 🙂 xx