April 22nd – 29th

We left Christchurch and travelled up the East coast, stopped in a little site near Blenheim for the night. The following day up to Picton and caught the afternoon ferry to Wellington. Calm crossing watched 2 films on the way, Rowena wondered why the films were always about “loving”….
We arrived in Wellington at 5.30pm and drove to the Te Papa Museum car park, there is something nice about revisiting places as you know where to go.
It was just getting dark, Rowena suggested going to play 10 pin bowling, so off we went it passed some time. When we got back to the van we realised that the house battery was dead so we had to go for a drive to recharge it. I wasn’t feeling very comfortable about staying at the carpark as it is in the middle of town and I felt rather venerable. Anyway there is no where else to stay in Wellington so it had to do, 2 other vans arrived during the evening so I felt a bit better, I still didn’t go to sleep until after midnight!
The following day someone told me that a few days before some local thugs had poured solvent on the tyres of a van there and set light to them…..!!!! SO pleased thay I foundout after we had stayed!!
Along the West coast, familiar route to Turakina beach (piano beach of Jan) stayed at the same campsite (only ones there but I was fine with that) Then on further north, stayed in a park over property belonging to a chap who was blind but used to make Western saddles and run the local Rodeo!
Then further towards Auckland staying at some hot springs where the children spent ages on the hot water slides and I sat in the hot pools reading my SE Asia guide book.
Last night in the van- Spent packing things up, eating the last bits & pieces and final sleep.
Took Van back to RV Motors collected our cheque and got a taxi to the airport.
Good flight to Queenstown took 1hr50 mins. Greg met us at the airport and we drove back to Wanaka.
Thus endeth a chapter…….!!!! What’s next…..???