Away from the shed

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It was time for a break from the shed and knifemaking so the caravan was loaded up for a few days away.

My southern home in Lawrence

The 900km/565m drive arround the southern part of the Island

We left home mid morning and stopped for lunch at the dam face of Lake Dunstan. The dam was built in the mid 1970's and has made a lake about 40km/25m long.

Looking up the lake

Went into Cromwell to fuel up and for those who are complaining about fuel prices our first fill up was NZ$2.509 per liter which is $9.496 a gallon or US$6.609 a gallon.
We carried on up the lake and camped toward the top end. The lake was beautifully calm and a very restfull place to stop for the night.

There was a walkway not far away so we took a stroll up into the hills to enjoy the rugged beauty seen on every side. The first few 100 yds or so was shaded by the willows the ran alongside the creek.

then it got a bit more of a climb with the natural hill path small rocks and near hard pack dust making the footing a bit less secure as the steepness increased but the views were worth every step.

The briar roses were in full fruit with the berries making a splendid display against the less colourfull background

With some elevation gained the vistas were stunning so some enjoyment was had as we rested and watched the boaties at play on the lake.

There is something about the Central Otago rocks that is beautiful in its rugged surroundings

 

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The next morning we carried on up past Tarras and stopped in to have a chat to the present owner of the high country station I worked on in the late 1960's when Im first left school. From there we carried on up the Lindis valley and saw some very old homesteads and out building that were the original station headquarters of the runholders of years gone by.

Continuing up the Lindis to the summit.

This was the type of country I was mustering on along with general stationwork all those years ago.

Down off the other side of the Lindis we made our way into Omarama where we stopped for the night. Spent an enjoyable hour chatting to the owner of a high country clothing, leather goods and assorted wares while wife casrefully checked all the goods on offer and of course we did not come away empty handed.
while this is not the actual store it was only a short walk away but showed the high country backdrop to the small town.

 

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The following morning we headed toward lake Pukaki where we turned off and followed the lake up to Mt Cook. NZ's highest mountain at 3,724 m / 12217 ft.
Unfortunately the peak was shroundedin low cloud but the mountains on display were spectacular so while there was some dissapointment the peasure of what we did see made up for not seeing the peak.

The small white spot between the hills above and just tomthe right of the first centerline mark on the road is the end of the Tasman glacier.

The mount you can see with ice and the waterfall at leftcenter is all that we saw of Mt Cook itself

This little building is actiually a covered picnic area with a couple of tables and seats for the often inclement weather the mountains can provide. You can see on the notice board that the walk up to the Tasman glacier is 760 mteres and 15 minutes but it seemed to us that was a time frame for younger walkers.

 

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We set out on the walk up to the Glacier viewing point and there were a greaat many step made supposedly to ease the clomb but it is hardeer to walk upsteps than it is walk up the hill itself so we made slow work of it with a few stops on the way

you can see thhe remains of the glacier in the distance where some years ago it had been right down to the forground at the height of the moraine along the side of the present lake that is the feeder for Lake Pukaki.

The boulder field that the walkway steps climbed up through and it was the pink of the rocks that made a contrast with the green grey of the others that made them stand out.

When we returned down from the viewing point we had lunch in the covered picnic area before decamping and heading back down the lake and round toward lake Tekapo.

 

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Having spent a pleasant night at Takapo we set out for a walk and were very pleased to find the internationally renowned little stone church of the Good Shepard on the lake front without a horde of sightseers as there reportedly has been when all the international tourists had been in country.

Just a short walk further on is the monument in recognition of the dogs that have made the high country sheep stations possible with the invaluable work they do. It is set up high to represent the heights they would work at.

 

[nztimb]

The following morning we headed further on our travels with a stop at Burkes Pass area where there is a very talented guy who does a lot of very good wood work but has an enourmous collection of memorabillia of days gone by in the auto world. Had a great yarn to his wife when I bought a small novelty anvil. Just 5 inches long and 2 3/8 high it is a perfect little replica.

 

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After leaving Burkes Pass we headed down country and stopped in at Fairlie and I was intrigued to see they had an old train carriage that had been converted to a stage set for the town park. Gave the area a nice feel of recycling with the great visual effect.

I really appreciate the way some areas have recognised and remembered their war dead and the Fairlie monument is very accurately done.

It was then on down to Oamaru to see a friend who has a shop in the Victorian Precinct where all things of the Victorian area in a steam punk mode are celebrated. and having spen a pleasurable hour with her and eaving a couple of knvies for her we headed on a bit and stopped for the last evening at an almost deserted camp in the Herbert forrest

And the full circle was completed today as we made our way home again. will get back into the shed again next week but for now am still enjoying the relaxing aftereffects of the days away and having these photo's (and a number more) to look back on to remind us of the wondeful time we have had.

 

[VertigoBE]

Great little adventure Gary! Thanks for sharing. It allows us to live through you and discover regions through the eyes of a local

 

[meigsbucks]

Thanks for the tour of the South Island. Lovely country.

 

[BourbonTrail]

Beautiful country you live in Garry. Thanks for the tour. Hope to visit NZ someday (maybe throw in some hunting/fishing).

 

[Neil Molendyk]

Wonderful road trip and sharing of your countryside. But I thought that NZ was full of sheep, didn't see a single one.Lol

 

[nztimb]

Wonderful road trip and sharing of your countryside. But I thought that NZ was full of sheep, didn't see a single one.Lol

Yes, a lot of sheep and cattle as well but it was the countryside I wanted to show.

 

[Randy F]

Looks like a great getaway. Thanks for sharing your part of the world.

 

[WyoBull]

What a great little get away for you and thanks for taking us along!

 

[ArmyAV8tor]

Von Gruff....enjoyed your story. Made me sad that COVID cxl'd our trip that would have covered some of the same ground and included a stop at the "shed". Hoping to reschedule soon.

 

[crs]

Thanks for the tour of the South Island. I spent a couple of weeks in Wellington several years ago and really enjoyed the food and the people.
A good friend of mine hunted the South Island and took an elk and another trophy.
He was planning to go back, but he got married, bought a house, etc. The usual drill.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Garry, wonderful photos and tour of the picturesque south island. The photos from around Mt Cook reminded me of the tahr portion of my hunt there a few years ago. I was a few miles to the west. Since my tahr is still wondering around and growing, I do need to get back there one day and build in some time to visit and get a tour of your shed. Those are some steep, steep mountains and cold, clear water lakes. Certainly one of God's masterpieces!

 

[nztimb]

Von Gruff....enjoyed your story. Made me sad that COVID cxl'd our trip that would have covered some of the same ground and included a stop at the "shed". Hoping to reschedule soon.

Look forward to that Marty

 

[Shootist43]

Von Gruff, thanks for sharing your "US" time with your AH friends. Both of you benefited from a little time away from the shed. But now it is time for you to GET BACK TO WORK!! I'm beginning to think that NZ is where the Good Lord spends his days off.

 

[PARA45]

Beautiful country, and what a wonderful trip. Sometimes we take things for granted, and we don't stop to see the beauty that is around us. Well done!