Chile and Argentina

Santiago

We arrived in Santiago on Monday afternoon at 2pm which was very confusing as we had set off at 6pm Monday from New Zealand.  That day ended up being 40 hours long! Understandably we were exhausted and it took us a couple of days to get over it.  We decided to go south to Pucon after a couple of days in Santiago.  We got an overnight bus which had seats that turn into little beds and an attendant who brings you drinks and snacks, it was great!  We loved Pucon as soon as we got there, it’s a small town on a lake with a volcano and mountains in the background with lots of wooden cabins, and we stayed with the loveliest lady in a great little hostel.  In the winter it is a ski resort and has that kind of feel to it, it made us both miss skiing lots!



Professionals, complete with crampons and ice picks!




Real live volcano!




Sliding down in the snow, action man!



The volcano from Pucon town centre

The main thing to do in Pucon is to climb the volcano which we did the day after we arrived.  The weather was amazing all the day and the views were spectacular the whole way up.  We decided to climb it all instead of getting the ski lift up the first part, a decision which we regretted as soon as we saw everybody else going up on the lift whilst we slogged up in volcanic sand!  It took about 4 hours to get up to the top and I think it is the hardest thing I have ever done, at some points you just have to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other and breathing – the altitude makes it extra hard, Tim had a rough time because his boots weren’t big enough and hurt his feet.  We did eventually make it though and it was worth it, we looked right down into the volcano crater and could see the smoke coming out and hear the lava bubbling and the volcano rumbling.  It was pretty surreal.  The view was the best though, it was so clear we could see for miles including the lake by the village and another volcano over the border in Argentina.  After spending 4 hours climbing the volcano we strapped on our protective nappies and back down in the snow on our bums.  We had to use our ice picks to control our speed (or not!) and it took us all of 45 minutes to get back down. 

Pepe - Such a sweetie!

Best way to see the Andes- from the back of a horse.

View of the lake- Amazing!

The next day we went over the border to San Martin De Los Andes in Argentina.  It had a similar feel to Pucon, a ski town by a lake.  We met up with Yvonne, a friend of a friend, and she took us out for a lovely steak in a family restaurant followed by amazing ice-cream – two things which Argentina does particularly well according to Yvonne.  The next day she took us up to her riding stables and I went out riding with her and a friend whilst Tim sunbathed, took in the view and relaxed by the lake with a book.  The ride was fantastic, we had proper cowboy style saddles and I felt like Clint Eastwood the whole time.  We rode for about 2 hours and went up to some brilliant viewpoints where we could see the Andes and the lake.  The scenery is so amazing, it is so beautiful here. 

Tango dancers in Buenos Aires

We caught a bus from San Martin to Bariloche, stayed one night then headed up to Buenos Aires on a bus which took 22 hours.  It’s not as bad as it sounds as they show films and we slept for a lot of the journey.  We wandered around the city earlier and got thoroughly lost, the city has some really beautiful buildings and monuments.  We watched Juan, another friend of a friend, play with his band which was really good then the next day enjoyed the celebrations for Memorial Day, a national holiday in Argentina.  It was crazy with parades and dancing everywhere.  In the evening we saw a free open air concert with Domingo (one of the 3 tenors) with about 200,000 people.  We had to leave early because we had to get the night bus to Montevideo, Uruguay.  What we saw was fantastic though.        

Yachts and The Royal Wedding!

On Bliss with Ross in Auckland

 We met up with Ross Haerle in Auckland.  He is the captain of this beautiful yacht Bliss which is just amazing- worth millions too!  It was great to catch up  with him and have a look round the boat too. How the other half live!

From there we flew over to Sydney ready for Alec and Sophie's wedding.  Rachel (who we met in thailand ) is now living there so we caught up with her over a few glasses of vino and homemade pizzas which was in Rach's words) loverly!  We also saw Katie again and met her two beautiful kids Bodie and Sharnie, I didn't get any photos though sorry!

In the hotel before with the best man Adam, his wife Annette, and Tom.
With just a hint of nerves!

 Then it was the wedding, Alec and Sophie got married in a park overlooking part of the harbour in, after some initial worries about the weather, blazing sunshine.  It was a gorgeous ceremony and the bride looked beautiful as you can see.
    

Here comes the bride - looking amazing!

Exchanging the rings

In the restaurant

Cutting the cake on the boat

 Alec's speech was amazing - a real tear jerker though.  There was one line "there may be a royal wedding this year, but there's only one princess" brought the house down, not a dry eye in the place! 

Proud parents Trevor and Jean

After the meal in the restaurant we headed on a cruise around Sydney Harbour which was really spectacular and special.  Then from there - Cargos! 

Tim with Tom and Ben

It was rumoured that from there the bride and Groom went to McDonalds and many people have photos to prove it! Unfortunately we got there 10 minutes too late.  :0)

We had a great day at Bondi on the following day too, although I found it a struggle with my HUGE hangover, never again ... until about 6 that evening, we never learn!

We loved spending time with everybody running up to and during the wedding and thank Alec and Sophie (and Tom) for squeezing in our 'few' items to take home! We hope you guys enjoyed your mini break to Hamilton island too and you all had a safe trip home.  

The last of New Zealand

With Michelle (brunette) and Liv (blonde), the Blackpool girls!

We went from Napier up to Lake Taupo and waited around for a day or so to see if the weather cleared enough to do a skydive, we met up with Liv and Michelle again and had a catch up.  We booked one dive and had it cancelled then decided if the next day was cloudy that was it, no skydiving.  We woke up in the morning to clear blue skies, and I thought "Oh no, I'm actually going to have to go through with this!"  

Just before the skydive in all our gear-
 yes, that little thing was the plane we went up in!

We did go through with it though and were so glad we had, Tim took it all in his stride obviously, but I was so scared.  I was last in the plane so first out which was a good thing as I had to just go for it.  It was amazing- 45 seconds of freefall then a parachute trip for about 5 minutes.  The views were fabulous and the rush was fantastic- I keep thinking back to it and can't believe we actually did it.  


Also, my skydive instructor was like a brown haired Robbie Savage, which in my eyes is a good thing!  

Huka Falls after the sky dive. 

From Taupo we headed north up to Rotorua where we went to a few of the thermal springs and Huka falls, then spent the next few days travelling up through Auckland to the Northlands so we could go diving at Poor Knights, which is one of the top ten dive spots in the world.  

Thermal springs- like another planet!

Poor knights was amazing, it isn't coral reef it's kelp and it is all protected as a marine reserve so there are loads of fish and wildlife.  We saw loads of huge stingray, some were about 1.5m across and there were shoals of fish and caves to explore too.  It was really different to places we've dived so far.  

Thermal geyser

We went for a walk by this waterfall in Whangarei.  35mins round trip- we returned to the van 2 hours later, soaked, covered in mud (I fell over) and Tim had only one working flip flop left.   

  

A vintage steam train we rode at Kawakawa

Over the last few days we have found some lovely places to camp along the coast so there are a few photos of them too.  We're heading over to Sydney again tomorrow, for Sophie and Alec's wedding then after that off on the next leg- South America! 

Poor Knights dive site is the island in the distance

Sunny bay before the diving

Near Omaha

South Island to the North island

We stayed the night on Lake Tekapo one night overlooking Mount Cook.  We watched the sun set over the mountain whilst enjoying a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a couple of beers on a Friday night which was absolute bliss.

Mount Cook 

From there we headed down to Dunedin and watched some yellow eyed penguins heading home for the evening.  After spending about an hour peering out on to the beach, looking for any sign of movement and watching small specks advancing up the beach thinking is that really a penguin we realised there were lots hidden in the bank about 20metres away from us!  It wasn't until one hungry baby started squawking that we saw them.

Hungry penguin babies- you can just about see their yellow stripes on their eyes.

An essential pit stop!

Moeraki boulders on the east coast - He looks really at home, just add the remote!

Beautiful little campsite, amazing view.

After that we drove around the south coast stopping off at little towns along the way, making out way over to Te Anau and Milford Sound.  At Milford Sound we went on a boat cruise out on the sound which was amazing, the scenery is just spectacular.  Every new corner has another view which is like a postcard.  Unfortunately, we missed some of it as the brakes on our campervan weren't the best, (understatement of the year!) overheated and set on fire as we came down the mountain!  We let them cool off then set off again- there is one way in and out so we had no choice.    

The furthest point we have been to away from home!  The most southerly point of the South Island.

We went to Queenstown from there where Tim did his bunjy jump.  It was 134m high and he absolutely loved it.  I went out in the little jump station which was frightening enough as it is suspended over the cannon.  In true Tim style, he was as cool as a cucumber whilst everyone one else was getting panicky, he wanted to go again as soon as he got back up!  We had a great night out in Queenstown too, it is a really cool little town.  

Milford Sound

Boat cruise on Milford Sound

Milford Sound, just beautiful.  

Mirror lake, on the way out of Milford Sound.  

We went up to Franz Joseph Glacier next which was again spectacular.  The ice is thousands of years old and continually changes shape as it expands and contracts, it is massive too.  

Having the bunjy rope fitted - slight moment of worry, will it hold a 13 plusser?!

From there we made our way up to Picton to catch the ferry to the North Island.  We were halfway there, in Arthur's Pass when the earthquake hit, about 100kms away from Christchurch but luckily we didn't feel anything.  The devastation cause by the earthquake is awful, the whole country is in shock about it and the death toll is still rising.  We have heard some terrible stories about it and it makes you feel very lucky to be alive.  

Another day, another view! 

Spectacular drive up the east coast, we visited the pancake rocks and blowholes too which were brilliant.  

The van mark 2.  Cosy, some may say cramped.  The water tank leaked so the carpet was wet and the brakes were more than a little dodgy- Tim's driving says the man in the garage.  He received a torrent of abuse in reply and deserved it I thought.      

On Friday we caught the ferry over to the North Island and made our way up to Napier where we are currently staying with Ross and Mitch who we met in Laos and again in Cambodia.  We have just been shown around Napier which is a pretty town on the coast. 

Happy Timmy defrosting his lamb chops- the engine is under that seat so heats it right up!

With Ross and Mitch in Napier.  Travelling buddies!

   

New Zealand

Beers and spag bol on the 1st night in the van-amazing view!

We arrived in Christchurch and had a few days there before getting a campervan and heading off.  Christchurch was a shadow of it's former self with the damage from the recent earthquake still very apparent.  Lots of things were closed and there were roadworks and buildings being demolished all over town. 

We headed north to Kaikoura to start with and went whale watching.  We saw 3 sperm whales complete with diving tails- It was fantastic and a personal ambition achieved.



Sperm whale diving


From Kaikoura we headed north thorugh Picton and up to Marlborough sounds.  Both of us are just overwhelmed with how beautiful New Zealand is and diverse.  Every new corner turned has another spectacular view of a beach or moutains, rivers- you name it it's here.  So we have been mostly drivingaround shouting wow! look at that!

Our 8 year anniversary dinner- Green shelled mussels!

We visited Nelson, and swam in a river at Havelock.  We went up the coast and then headed back to Christchurch via St arnaud and Hanmer Springs where we went in the Thermal springs. 

Spectacular view!

Lake rotoiti

We stayed by lake Rotoiti one niht and did a walk through the forest there.  It was beautiful. 

In the thermal springs- a welcome bath!

View from the drivers seat

We headed back through Christchurch to supposedly pick up a new van but it didn't happen- long story!  So have headed down south and are now going over to Mount Cook.