Day 9 – Wednesday, March 27th: TranzAlpine Train from Christchurch through Arthur’s Pass to Fox Glacier (CANCELLED)
Christchurch:
We arrived late, 6:45pm with dinner at 7:45pm. So no photos on this trip, but we will be back at the end of the tour.
Woke up in Christchurch to a gray, rainy day. Our schedule is changing due to 100 year floods on the west coast. The TranzAlpine Train from Christchurch through Arthur’s Pass to Fox Glacier has been cancelled and the coach is not able to get through because the railway, roads and bridges have washed out.
We are now on a “Magical Mystery Kiwi Ticky Tour” (a little New Zealand Kiwi humor😊). Meaning we do not know where we are going, we go where the safe roads allow us. Truly a”new adventure”!
On the drive heading south from Christchurch there are a few vineyards. Later it’s mostly dairy cows until after the Rakaia River and then there are corn fields followed by other agriculture.
Rakaia River – Canterbury south of Christchurch
Other side of the coach and our Canadian friend Ella.
First tea stop – Geraldine:
Quaint small town with delicious bakeries.
Lunch stop – Oamaru:
Historic shipping port.
Moeraki Boulders:
The weather on this stop had been called “brisk”, “fresh”, or “down right cold”, depending on what part of the world you come from😜.
Ariel welcomes everyone back onboard the coach to warm up!
Continuing our drive south to Dunedin.
Blue Skin Bay
Dunedin:
Welcome to Dunedin!
The bagpipes were calling us. This group was practicing for a competition. They were very good.
Dinner with our group at the Scenic Hotel Dunedin. Clockwise from left, Terry & Kathy, US, Michel & Marie-Claude, France, Gloria, Canada, and Leslie, UK. Photo compliments of Margaret from AU.
Larnach Castle, NZ’s only castle:
The coach took us up to Larnach Castle for a tour. It is located at the top of a mountain overlooking Port Chalmers and the Pacific ocean.
The view from the roof of the castle.
From far right counterclockwise: Simon or Tour Director, John & Katherine, Ireland, Kay and Don, AU.
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Kathy with Alice in Wonderland.
Far left is Simon Walker our Tour Director.
Day 10 – Dunedin to Queenstown:
Tea stop – Milton:
Lunch stop – Alexandra
Cromwell – Mrs. Jones Fruit Orchards:
Stocking up on fresh fruits and dark chocolate. From left, Kathy with John, Ireland and Simon our Tour Director.
Arrowtown:
Historic Gold Mining Town – lots of character and charm.
Arthur’s Point on the way to Queenstown.
