460 days, a lifetime for a 14-month-old infant, have elapsed since we landed at Wellington airport in our transition from Africa to Australasia. It has been an exciting time, a difficult time, a frightening time, a joyous time, and a scary time, a time of learning and a time of yearning; a time for missing some places and some people, and a time for meeting new people and visiting new places, and, perhaps most importantly, discovering a newer and more carefree lifestyle.
During these 460 days, we have come to know a great deal more about this great little country, not least of which is that it belongs to a group of law-abiding honest first-world civilised communities. We accept and embrace this situation with sincere gratitude. Personally, my only regret about the transition is the fact that we only embarked on this change so very late in life.
We have spent 460 days in Waikanae on the North Island. Who knows how long I will remain a citizen of Mother Earth? I reckon its about time that we see the “other half of NZ”, the South Island.
In 2011, we were fortunate enough to be treated to a fabulous long week-end holiday in the “tropical” sun at the sea in Lochmara Bay by Clayton and Bianca. After that, we took a train trip south as far as Christchurch, where we spent a couple of restful days, before our stay was interrupted by an unfortunate earthquake. Besides that brief encounter, we have had no actual experience of the South Island.
We have looked at the road-maps, spoken to the AA travel consultant, and asked around of others as to what their suggestions are. We have naturally had many diverse answers and conflicting advice. So, surprise, surprise : I am going with my gut and looking for interesting-sounding place names and having lengthy consultations with my friend Professor Goggle.
We have taken the first step along the Long Road on our SIRT* by booking the first few days, being the easy part:
Mon 9 Mar: It will be a full day of travel, driving to Wellington, then crossing the Cook Strait relaxing on the Arahura InterIslander ferry. Arriving three hours later at the ferry terminal in the port of Picton, we will retrieve our car and then drive 340k southwards to in Christchurch, Canterbury in the late afternoon. Sleep over at the Earnslaw Motel on Blenheim Road to the west of Hagley Park. It’s about 10 minutes from the railway station (marked with a red “X”)
Tue 10 Mar: Having been on the move the whole of the previous day, we have decided to reserve this as a day for exploring those parts of Christchurch which we missed in 2011, and perhaps try to face up to some of my demons in my memory. Sleep over again at the Earnslaw and hope that we wake up in time to grab a shuttle to take us to the station. The motel manager has agreed that we may leave the car in their parking lot.
Wed 11 Mar: Board the TranzAlpine railway train through the Southern Alps via Arthur’s Pass bound for the west coast town of Greymouth between breakfast and lunch-time.
We will explore the town for the rest of the day, sleepover in Greymouth that night.
Thu 12 Mar: We continue exploring Greymouth and catch the 13:45 TranzAlpine on its return journey back to Christchurch, where we return to the Earnslaw for the night.
Fri 13 Mar:This is the first day of the “real” South Island Road Trip. (I have always liked acronyms, and I naturally call this journey our SIRT.)
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