Wanaka my dear

The drive from Franz Josef to Wanaka was probably the most gorgeous trip I have ever taken. I can't count the times that Bri and I were in awe of our surroundings...it was majestic. It's where The Lord of the Rings was filmed if that gives you any insight. Pictures do not do it justice.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeep everywhere!!

Lake Wanaka

I must add...Bri and I picked up driving on the 'wrong' side of the road and the 'wrong' side of the vehicle rather quickly. There were no accidents (other than a jelly spill(s) outside of the car) and we only hit (and killed) one animal...Bri can take the points for that one!

First things first once we arrived to Wanaka...a shower. I can confidently admit that we were on a two day shower for the majority of the trip. We were looking good if we could rinse off that frequently...or so we thought...hahaa. We found a hostel that let us shower by giving a donation to the Chirstchurch earthquake. We parked the beaut in front and in 30 minutes we were new women!! It actually might be more interesting writing about it now, as some sort of reflection. We found creative ways to do the simplest things...we couldn't just wake up and shower or wash our faces. We were sneaky about it...walking into restaurants as if we were in need of food or a drink, and walking out clean and refreshed. 

Wanaka is precious. Everyone seems so content and the town is peaceful and quaint. It sits on the water front with mountainous views and clean air. The streets are lined with cafes and restaurants and shops. People are perched on benches outside of restaurants for hours, chatting with their friends, coffee in hand. Which reminds me...the service in New Zealand and Australia is similar to that in Europe. There is no urgency. You may not be greeted for 10 minutes. You may not get drinks for 30 minutes. No refills. You don't get your check until you ask. No one complains about their food; either they're more interested in their company or they've gotten used to the idea that they won't see their waitress for awhile anyway. There is no tipping so it makes sense. I like this way, except when I'm in a hurry (which hasn't crossed my mind in four months). 

One of our favorite cafes 

View from upstairs...a little construction and I still love it

We went to explore the town after we had cleaned up. We managed to run into a group of men who had been playing in a golf tournament all day. They were a riot!

The night was ending...where would we sleep?! (where would we park Leslie). Earlier that night (before the sea of plaid), we met a sweet 74 year old couple at the bar, Calvin and Marie. They were in Wanaka on holiday since their home in Christchurch still didn't have power. They were staying at their daughter's vacation home. Their daughter is Janette Williams, who was a Tom Ford model in NYC. Luckily enough, they felt sorry for us...two sweet American girls...and offered us a place to park our van in their drive way. So, we found their home and parked our rig. In the morning we got invited in for coffee and biscuits, got offered a shower and a place to do our laundry, and that night they fixed us up a steak dinner with too much red wine. We were in heaven. They were so kind and hilarious and sarcastic...like an old (wise) couple should be :) 

We went from this...

To this...

The best part about having our own form of transportation was that if we loved a place we could stay as long as we pleased. So we did. The next day we went for a beautiful hike called Mt. Iron, which overlooked Lake Wakea and Lake Wanaka. 

Yes we are still in Wanaka. Next stop...diving from the sky.

My partner in crime, Alex from Brazil

 He was awesome...although he did his best to frighten me about my safety when I was up on the plane. Things like...oh no, I forgot your oxygen...and oh shoot, I think you have the wrong sized suit on. I laughed while holding my breath.

I got a video that I will be able to show you (whoever you are) if you'd like to see it. It was amazing. So incredible to see for miles and just float around with the parachute open. Free falling over that gorgeous landscape is a feeling and an image I will never soon forget. 

I had trouble calming down after my fall...so Bri and I decided to have a brewski in the beautiful sun and then...have a nap next to the lake. Right about here looks perfect, don't you think?

Although we didn't really want to...we had to leave Wanaka. So with tears in our eyes, we drove Leslie out of town and on to the next. 

x

Road trip to see some epic ice!

Grabbed some more groceries for our lovely kitchen in the boot (trunk) and we are on our way down the west coast of the south island of NZ! It is 469 kms from Nelson to Franz Josef (not including a stop for a Monteith's beer at the brewery in Greymouth).

Not a bad view as you drive

These one lane car bridges were a real treat!

Our attraction to Franz Josef was due to the two glaciers near the town, Fox and Franz Josef glaciers. In case you haven't brushed up on your geological skills lately, a glacier is a large persistent body of ice originating on land. A glacier forms in a location where the accumulation of snow and sleet exceeds the amount of snow that melts. Over many years (maybe even decades or centuries), a glacier will eventually form as the snow compacts and turns to ice. (Thanks Wikipedia!). Anyway, the glaciers were our next destination :) New Zealand is so unique in this way...you can swim in the ocean, climb in the mountains, hit up the vineyards and see the glaciers...all in a few days! 

We went to Lake Matheson before going to see the glaciers. On a clear day you're supposed to be able to see the reflection of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman in the water. 

Lake Matheson 

It was beautiful...our view just had a few more clouds over the mtns :)

Bri being Bri

Now off to Franz Glacier.

Unfortunately, it was too dangerous to hike any closer due to the rain the night before...but here it is!

We tried to hike in another way to get a different view...this picture does zero justice to the height and distance of this bridge.

It was a bit of a jungle in there

Next stop: Wanaka...lovely lovely Wanaka. 

Cheeeeeeeeers!

I am back people.

Sorry about the absence. Brianna and I have been hitting up Thailand and Cambodia! Now...back to New Zealand :) (I hope I took terrific notes!)

After our hike, we were back off to Nelson!
We found a hostel who was willing to let us park Leslie in their lot and use their facilities to shower for $14 each...oh yea and breakfast was included too! Done. The hostel was full of eclectic people...travelers from Israel, England, Holland, Wisconsin (!). They worked as a big family and we came to understand that the majority of them had made this their home away from home....having lived there for months and a few now working for the hostel for free accommodation. Hostels have such different vibes; maybe it's really vacant, maybe the travelers keep to themselves, maybe it's full of energy and music and laughter...luckily the latter is what we experienced in Nelson.

This kid is from Germany and just began playing the guitar two years ago. That night everyone at the hostel met up to watch him get his first gig at a bar. He did so well...he lit up when he started playing, it was pretty neat. This gal joined him for a duet and killed it...and then they fell in love (seriously!). The end. I have a video of him but sadly I'm having trouble uploading it :( PS He is German and she is French...how interesting that their way of communicating is through their second (it might even be their third!) language, English. We, as Americans/Australians/etc, are so spoiled that English is the worlds major language...so spoiled.

Happy St. Patty's Day friends.

Ciaaaaao.

Abel Tasman

The Abel Tasman was named after the first European explorer to sight New Zealand. It's a beautiful national park, great for tramping, kayaking and camping...Bri and I decided to camp and tramp.

Our campsite; next to some horsies and beyond those pretty things is the beach

Yes I'm wearing socks and a botton up...the sand flies were brutal

We had to take a water taxi to begin our hike, so they gave us a little tour on the way. Below is a unique rock formation known as Split Apple Rock. The tides change so drastically in this area that at high tide it looks like the apple is floating in the water and at low tide you can walk from the beach to the rock without getting wet.

Anchorage Bay...where Tom Cruise, Bill Gates and Bob Dylan spent their holiday's last Christmas (separately of course)

It was gorgeous...really tropical and you could hear the ocean at points too. The beaches had golden sand and the water was a beautiful turquoise color. The tramp took us five hours. It was St. Patrick's Day, so Bri and I thought we were very deserving of a brewski. Back to Nelson to celebrate!

Ciao.
Lissy.

Pretty Little Leslie.

Leslie is our new home. Ironically, she has South Park characters painted all over her (the show South Park is based in Colorado). My friend Spencer, who I used to work with at OppenheimerFunds, is traveling at the moment too. He gave me an insider tip about hiring a van from NZ...you get 10% off if you are gay. So, being the frugal travelers we are...we asked the booking agent about the discount. He said, yea I guess it's hard to really tell if it's true or not, but are you? Really gay, I answered. $60 off, thank you. Leslie is her name...isn't she a beaut?

We began traveling north towards Nelson and Abel Tasman National Park. It took us about six hours but the scenery was so beautiful that we barely noticed the drive (but I promise we were watching the road). The trip was filled with mountains (lush and green!), lakes, winding roads (and I mean winding) and animals. Fenced in farming animals...thousands of sheep, cows and deer...yes, deer! It was odd seeing them that way.

It's hard to see the cliff we're on, but it was a grand view

Deer!

  After making it to the sweet little town of Nelson, we found a restaurant, ordered some coffee and wine, and then used their restrooms to wash our faces and brush our teeth. Smooth. Then back to Leslie to find a place to park and crash. We agreed that a hotel seemed safe, so we parked and got some shut eye...only to wake up to someone beating on our window at 7 am. "Is anyone in there? This is private property...you must move now...the police are on their way!". Halfway asleep, halfway peeing her pants out of fright...Bri got in the front and drove off. Then we laughed. Then we got a coffee.

It was a rainy day in Nelson...we definitely didn't have the gear to go on a hike (they call it a tramp) in that kind of weather. What to do, what to do? Wineries. Yes, that sounds just right.

Sweet Italian woman named Angela who gave us tips on our next two stops

Richmond Plains winery...one of the seven organic wineries in the country (there are 700 wineries in all)

Next stop: Stafford Lane Estate...known for their chutney and oils (and their wine too of course) 

We were taught how to 'fluff' our wine to help separate the alcohol from the grapes to be able to distinguish the different notes in the wine

Of course there was some wool lying around

Funny side note: Stafford was our second winery of the day, so we were being warned to be careful driving around the area, etc. Just after he finished speaking, little Bri spilled wine on her shirt and knocked over her full glass onto the table. You see folks, she was trying a technique that we had been taught called the canoe (done with your tongue) and she kind of choked on her wine. It was hilarious. We had one more tasting, ate the remaining bread and left. Onto the next...

Rimu Grove Winery...overlooks the Waimea Inlet

They let us under the nets to try the grapes

Onto the Abel Tasman National Park!

Catch ya people.

L.