2015 Re-visit to New Zealand: Omarama and Lake Tekapo

27 - 28 April 2015

From Omaru to Lake Tekapo, we took a longer but scenic route to Lake Tekapo via Omarama. Omarama is a small township at the junction of State Highways 8 and 83, near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand. 

We saw the first rainbow in the day

You must not miss the Benmore Power Station with New Zealand's largest solid-earth dam (110m).  The Clay Cliffs with their dramatic sharp pinnacles and deep narrow ravines are a fascinating place to explore. We did not drop by here this time. You can read my post on my previous trip to Clay Cliff here.

Before reaching Lake Tekapo, you can pay a visit to he High Country Salmon Farm where you can grab some fresh salmons and trouts home.

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is home of the highest mountains and the longest glaciers. Aoraki / Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Its height since 2014 is listed as 3,724 metres, down from 3,764 m before December 1991, due to a rockslide and subsequent erosion. Although it encompasses 23 peaks over 3000 metres high, this park is very accessible. State Highway 80 leads to Aoraki/Mt Cook Village which is situated beside scenic Lake Pukaki

I did Kea Point Track last time. I could not wait for the Hooker Valley Track this round. The sky and lake were blue. We even saw double rainbow on the way driving to the Mount Cook National Park (This is the second and third rainbow we saw in the day). The weather just changed and it started to rain halfway towards the national park. We kept finger crossed the weather might turn better. We continued our journey for a while more then we decided to turn back to Lake Tekapo as the rain did not stop and the sky got more cloudy. 😭

Lake Tekapo is part of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve, making it the perfect spot for stargazing. If you can, plan you visit here during new moon. The color of the Lake Tekapo's water truly sets it apart from other lakes. It’s a beautiful turquoise blue created by rock flour from surrounding glaciers. The glaciers in the headwaters of Lake Tekapo grind rock into a fine dust on their journey down towards the lake. This rock flour is suspended in the water and causes the magnificent turquoise.

Picture taken at same spot 4 years ago. Good weather can make huge difference to the picture.

The Church of the Good Shepherd was built to the glory of God as a memorial to the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country. The builders of the Church were instructed that the site was to be left undisturbed, and that even the matagouri bushes surrounding the building were to remain. Rocks which happened to be on the wall line were not to be removed. The stones for the wall were to be procured from within a radius of five miles of the site, and were to be unchipped and in their natural condition.

Church taken in 2011

Lake Tekapo was our last stop. It's time to return our beloved car which had accompanied us for 20 days. 

😘😘

Good bye New Zealand, stay tuned for our next stop: Sydney. 

Please also read my 2011 visit to Omarama

Please also read my 2011 visit to Lake Tekapo

2015 Re-visit to New Zealand: Oamaru

26 April 2015

Unleash your creative spirit at this funky and colourful Chillawhile Backpacker in a restored two-storey Victorian residence. Guests are encouraged to draw and paint, or create sweet soul music on the hostel's guitars, pianos, didgeridoo and African drums. 

Oamaru has some of NZ’s best-preserved Victorian commercial buildings, consisting of only a couple of blocks centred on Harbour and Tyne Sts. You'll discover antiquarian bookshops, antique stores, galleries, vintage-clothing shops, kooky gift stores, artist studios, old-fashioned lolly shops and craft bookbinders

Steampunk is a quirky and fun genre of science fiction that features steam-powered technology. It is often set in an alternate, futuristic version of 19th century Victorian England.

  

   

You may also read my previous experience here.

2015 Re-visit to New Zealand: Catlins

24-25 April 2015

The Catlins is an area of great contrasts and natural beauty with an abundance of wildlife. From magnificent coastal cliffs and headlands, long sweeping beaches, coves and sandy bays; to extensive temperate rainforests, waterfalls and rolling farmland, the Catlins is a fascinating, rugged place “off the beaten track.”

Slope Point is the most southerly point of New Zealand’s South Island. Slope Point itself is not accessible by road but is a 20 minute walk along a track. The AA signpost at Slope Point shows the distance to the Equator and the South Pole. 

Jurassic forest at Curio Bay (that’s about 170 million years old) is a gem of New Zealand’s fossil plant history, and because of its complete preservation -pine tree stumps and tree-fern stumps, it’s practically unique. Get to Curio Bay at low tide because the forest is right at sea -level.

It was our bad day as one of the car tyre went flat when we came back from the walk. After a few calls to the car rental company to seek help in looking for the tools, we finally replaced the tyre. What made the day even worse was when the spare tyre went flat too after driving on gravel road. At such rural area, we found nowhere to fix the two punctured tyres, not even a petrol station where we could fill air into them. With no other choice, we gave up visiting all other sightseeing spots and drove around for help.

We were lucky to meet an owner in holiday park and buy a can of compressed air from him to fill the tyre more. With this we could drive the car further until we reached a small petrol station and filled up the air. We switched to the old tyre once again as we felt the air leaking was slower. We finally came to Owaka which has the nearest repair shop.

It happened that staying over night here was originally in our plan and hence we were not left stranded

It was my parents' first time playing monopoly. Simple entertainment makes simple life. 

After a whole day of challenges, we were brightened up by a nice sunrise. 

You'll find Graham Renwick's quirky collection Teapot Land at Owaka on the Papatowai Highway, on the scenic Catlins route between Balclutha and Invercargill. Owaka's Teapot Land is the country's largest private collection of teapots. There are more than 1000 teapots in this outdoor museum

Surat Bay was named after the sailing ship the “Surat” that was shipwrecked here on New Years Day in 1874. Surat Bay in the Catlins is quiet and peaceful spot, home to many sea lions, seals and native birds, all of which can be viewed in their natural environment. We were lucky to see the only one sea lion.

On the road between the Nugget Point turn-off and Owaka you will find one of the last remains of the old Catlins River railway which, when completed, ran from Balclutha to Tahakopa. The tunnel was completed in 1895. It is just a short walk (10 minutes each way) to the tunnel. You can walk through the 250m tunnel, but the old line beyond the other side is impassable and overgrown. Take a torch with you.

For my previous trip in Catlins, please click here