NZL South. Island (1)  02/11 - 02/16/2014

 

 

Brisbane Airport (Stopover) by 5 PM. The plane is then completely full.
 
Arrival in Christchurch 25 min. after midnight. I of course don’t book any hostel. It works quite well this way.
 

Since the earthquake in 2011 Christchurch is a very desolate city.
 

Even many graffiti campaigns do not help much.
 

Attempt to make a virtue of necessity: a container mall.
 

That they hang flags as a sign of mourning at half mast, I knew.
 

But who needs a shower? A sauna's also available.
 

Unfortunately not for him.
 
My tour through New Zealand, I have booked with Kiwi Experience, because I mainly want to admire the highly acclaimed landscape (so Christchurch is already a magnificent false start). Kiwi makes it  simple: there is a set route, you can hop everywhere on and off. Hostels are also booked on request, and you can book various activities for the next destination on the bus. Fortunately, I only have to stay one night in Christchurch.
 

Arrival in Kaikoura. Looks already better.
 

In the hostel there are actually still video recorder along with cassettes.
 

This sign clearly shows that we are no longer in Australia. But fortunately heated rooms are not required yet.
 
 
The "Great Views".
 

In NZL waste separation is practiced. There is another container for leftovers.
 

Also frequently encountered. But is mostly ignored.
 
 
Both bottle sizes are in the same fridge. Even the water is insanely expensive in 600 ml bottles.
 

While other swim with dolphins for $ 130, I hike along the coast.
 
 
Just as I had imagined the NZL-trails.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The grill at the sea makes ...

… the waterfowl carefully.
 

For them there are, after all, no restrictive fishing quotas.
 

The supposedly sleeping seal ...
 

… barks pretty annoyed when I'm too close. (A Ranger criticizes me for approaching- could have been expensive.)
 

Undaunted I practice as a trainer: seat!

 

(mouse on pic)

 
 
On the rest of the route I learn ...
 
 
… that seals are nothing special here.
 
 
In New Zealand there are also funny trees.
 
 
The very next morning we move on to Kaiteriteri.
 
 
Interim wine tasting. Red and white wine from the same glass, and without any temporal neutralizer. Amateurs.
 
But they have a great life wisdom on hand.
 
 
This picture IS New Zealand.
 
 
Late arrival. The mood is still good, despite ...
 
 
… the worst hostel ever. The residential containers from the outside and ...
 
 
... from the inside. The one under the rear window has clearly lost. Greedy bastards. (Kaiteri Lodge)
 
 
Counter-productive, anti-social and yet to be found again and again. Coolers in the fridge. Other examples follow.
 
Most AUS and NZL-Traveller have such a cool box, because as a matter of the prices you usually cook here yourself or at least prepare the breakfast. Unfortunately, there are two problems. First, there is basically only a limited space in the fridges and these boxes are disproportionately large. Second, they are usually closed, and that is simply stupid, because then they keep the cold outside. But as I said - unfortunately standard in the hostels.
 
 
The next day I use the time for another hike - and land somehow on the mountain bike trail.
 
 
Given such sections pretty dangerous. After two hours I fortunately find undamaged the exit.
 
 
Time for a breather ...
 
 
... on the beach.
 
 
A Kiwi, who is not only incapable of flight. The departure is delayed by a few hours.
 

But then we start in direction of Westport.
 
 
One of the most pleasant hostels of my trip - staff included. The Bazil's.
 
 
Unfortunately, again for one night only.
 
 
That doesn’t prevent the girls in my room from establishing domesticated.
 
 
That’s how a common area has to look like.
 
 
Again, pure nostalgia.
 
 
Unfortunately a bit blurry, but I have to show it. The official hostel tree.
 

By bus we go to a barbecue on the beach.
 

Collecting wood ...
 

… is no big challenge.
 

That's a real campfire.
 

Meanwhile a nice view to the sea.
 

Then we drive to the pub. But this is still the bus. Standing Room Only.
 

Exceptions confirm the rule.
 

I do not know where this sign hung. Bukowski's quotes are the best.
 

The next day. Slightly hungover, we drive towards Franz Josef. This is a town’s name. In NZL.
 

A quick stop for the Pancake Rocks and blowholes.
 

The former.
 
 

The latter. Here the wind whistles through. (For those who laughed dirty about the name.)
 

A kind of cicada. It makes a noise like a jackhammer and is about 5 cm long.
 

No, unfortunately no Kiwi. But the animal that comes closest to it (Weka). I accept it.
 

Preparation for a game - while driving.
 

Bug Splat Bingo. Everyone buys a square and at the end wins the one who has most critters on his.
 

However, Garage, our bus driver, elects the winner by gender.
 

Stop 2 PM for shopping. Fortunately, the supermarket has not such a sign like many other shops.
 

Another game: Busaoke. But with the real singing in the background.
 

It's also possible without. But I fail miserably with my sober(!) acapella-interpretation of mein kleiner grüner Kaktus. (No, I didn't become completely grey on my trip - that's the sun!)
 

Arriving in Franz Josef - famous for its glaciers.
 

Pizza Taxi.
 

Maneuver out, please.
 

Busaoke is replaced by Billardqueueaoke (what a word - 6 vowels in a row).
 
Franz Josef is one of the few places where I spend more than one night, namely two, as well as most of the others in the group. However, while most of them book a heli-tour on the glacier (from $ 240) and there march through the ice, I decide to explore the area on foot again.
 

Through well-developed paths ...
 

... I first get to Lake Wombat.
 

As usual, everything is well signposted. Next destination: actually the hot pool at the hostel.
 
However, I met an Austrian who comes from Alex Knob and ask him if it's worth the way. His answer after looking at my slippers, "Yes, but with the shoes you have impossible." Although I did not want to go there, I take the challenge and head to the summit.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Where exactly was the problem?
 

The reward.
 

The direct view of the glacier (at bottom center a helicopter for size estimation).
 

Next reward: the hot pool at the hostel (prohibited alcohol, therefore Martin sunk his beer).
 

And the best reward ever.
 

Later dorm party, which is terminated by the staff quite quickly.
 

We continue to Wanaka.
 

Stop at the Mirror Lake.
 
 
 
Next bus game: you have to swallow a cereal bar (weet bix) without water as quickly as possible.
 
 
As usual, there is enough nature to admire on the way.
 
 
A last stop. They all want ...
 
 
... to eat a slice of toast with these fish gizmos for $ 6.50.
 
 
Since I prefer to talk to Kiwi Hennes.