Almost the end of my NZ adventure!

Sadly, almost my last day ~

Tonight, most family members came around to share their regular

 Tuesday Night Roast & say "Good~bye" to me.

If I haven't seen them tonight, they will be calling tomorrow to say "Bye".

Next time I see everyone, there will be 3 more newborn babies!

Of course, sharing my sister's South Island adventure with them has been enormous fun & we have had lots of laughs together,

while peering at our array of tell~tale photos along the way.

Will be writing more on our travels & last few days in Auckland.

I think I have just about mastered the art of making my luggage stretch

while carrying heavy gear in my Duty Free bags.

I'll let you know if this works!

I was 28.6 k over on my suitcase alone,

 from Queenstown to Auckland flight,

so needed to lighten the load, somewhat, didn't I?

Off to sleep in a moment, it's quiet out there,

now that the local 'cat woman'

has called for her many neighbourhood felines.

I imagine she feeds them or else they keep her warm at night...

Be back in touch soon...



Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

Our South Island Sisterly Journey coming to a close...

Well, it's our third last day & here we are back at WanakaBakapaka

where we enjoyed so much, that we have returned to finish our

Childhood Revisited Journey.

My Sister has marvellously driven everywhere & found some quaint off~beat roads & lanes for us to explore.

She is excellent at finding the best in Central Otago's fantastic scenic vineyards & we've enjoyed many tasting sessions.

I have recharged my camera's battery nearly everynight & my memory has been full 3 times...  always a gorgeous picture postcard around the corner & over the next hill. 

Lakes, raging rivers, mountains with the new season's snow & steep slopes of grapes everywhere.

Not too much planned from here until Friday when we fly out of Queenstown, ~ just trying to enjoy some free vacation time before we leave the beauty all around us.

Aromas from the huge modern kitchen full of international guests who cook their native cuisine ~

 the Germans baking their brown bread from scratch & the Asians steaming their veges & rice ~ all interesting.

So glad they are following their healthy foods,

rather than convenience foods of Maccas, KFC, etc.

Eaten lots of local stone fruit, freshly picked & juicy. 

Cherrys today are fantastic! 

Road side stalls everywhere around Cromwell & Alexandra etc.

Met lots of Cousins & their children, so making contact with relatives has been so interesting & worthwhile.  All sorts of learned careers & vocations amongst them. 

Lawyers, museum curator, teachers, stock market traders, ~ so interesting! 

Had cold wind blowing off snow~topped mountains some mornings, but usually breaking  into bright warm sunshine by afternoons.

Misty mountains & lakes also clear into sunny afternoons.

I'm surprised that I've worn my

 mohair/woollen coat & angora scarf so much!!

Actually brought them from Australia to leave with my Sister in Auckland, but however might keep them now.

Been tempted to buy wonderfully light~weight merino wool garments here, so easily available in all the shops & just might do, before I leave.

Bought & collected some quaint, small & light~weight souvenirs to take home

~ lots & lots in fact ~

well, just wish to share with family after I get back to Gold Coast.

Have found it hard to keep to just 3 bottles of excellent Central Otago wine, but that is all I am able to take Duty Free into Oz.

We try to keep to a decent brekky, with either a genuine NZ restaurant meal at lunch~time & the other meal snacking from our supply of travelling delicaties!

Our Budget~arranging~Banker Partners say we should be on the baked beans more often 

~ we have taken a photo to prove we have done this, at least once...!

Well, coins & time coming due in a few moments,

so keep in touch & keep watching my BLOG,

probably from Auckland next time.

We fly out Friday so until then,

Love, Allison~Wonderland



Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

A cheery hello9 from New Zealand

Hi to those who wish to follow my travelling N Z Blog

Having a marvellous time with my sister, Marion.  Every day is special, here in the South Island.  We have travelled to land's end at bottom of Southland & ate at family's restaurant "Drunken Sailor" which we can hearterly recommend!!

Had an amazingly nostalgic day when visited our late sister's grave in Invercargill, then later in the day, visited our parents' grave in Alexandra!  Were a few tearful moments!!  But satisfied we paid homage to them.

Have seen snow on Alps, mist coming in from Tasman Sea at Milford Fiord, deep blue & green lakes, & left cold wind & rain in Southland yesterday to drive into brilliant sunshine in Central Otago, ~ scenery fantastic at every turn, magnificent rivers, damns, mountains, alps, lakes & beauty everywhere...

We are eating rather well, all Southern seafood delicacies, tasty root veges, salads & chose some juicy local fruit along the roadside stalls today.  Apricots, peaches, dark plums, greengages, cherries amongst the best.

Sam Neill's vineyard was a highlight this morning ~ WOW ~ is about all I can say!!!!  Have really good detailed photos of his rural set up outside Alexandra along with about 500 - 600 photos so far!!  Bought USB stick & have recharged batteries of camera most night...

Wanaka today, with Arrowtown for 2 nights tomorrow, then 3 free days & nights at random.

At present in WanakaBakapaka which is great ~ all sorts of nationalities here who really want to chat to English speaking locals, to further their own language skills.  Did I say their cooking smells from the large kitchen is almost overwhelming?

Staying with family has been the best & meeting all sorts of relatives, past family friends has been special to us.  Hospitality wonderful & something we will never forget.

We have a giggle when we are meant to be on our budget (by our banking relatives!!) & sometimes overspend!  We have tins of baked beans (yes, within our budget) that should have been eaten each night by now..oh, well.

B & B at Alexandra high on Bridge Hill was super to experience with fantastic gardens & wonderful friendly hosts, "Quail Rock" rocks!!

Been tricky to get served by a New Zealander wherever we go...most are American, Canadian & Brazilians all over.  Nice, too.  I guess they love to come, all seasons, to experience all that NZ has to offer.  This is named the Adventure Capital of the world & you only need to see all the amazing sports & try~out things to see why.

Coming to a close on Webmail ~ hope all are fine wherever you are.  See where floods are happening in Oz so hope you all are OK too.

Bye from WanakaBakpaka......

Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

South Island Childhood Revisited Road~Trip 2012

Our Sisterly Childhood~Revisited South Island RoadTrip ~ 2012

Despite sending out over 20 Itineraries

 there are those of you who do not know where we are going ~

so here it is ~

  

5 February ~ Fly Auckland/Queenstown ~ where we visited as kids all of our childhood holidays & also went every year on my birthday, with the promise of visiting the Queenstown Strawberry Gardens, but never, ever got there, because all parents & accompanying friends shouted in the

 local pubs, for my birthday! 

We kids used to play in/around cars outside the pubs, but always could look forward to Dad coming out with raspberry cordial & lemonade & enough money to get local fish & chips.

6 Feb NZ Waitangi Day ~ 13 or 14 hour BBQ bus~tour to Milford Sound (where we never ever got to go through to, because our parents had a few drinks & family gourmet lunch in the Miners' Cave at entrance to one~way Homer Tunnel!) 

 Actually get to go through tunnel, do Milford Scenic Cruise, bush walk, BBQ etc.

7 Feb ~ pick up rental car & drive to Invercargill (where we were born & spent out younger years) & stay with cousins for family reunions etc).  Also visit many places we remember as kids ~ we have not been back together for over 48 years!

8,9 Feb ~ reminisce in Invercargill & also have Southland 'tea at our families' engineering workplace ~ very special to us.

10 Feb ~ drive to Alexandra (where I was once married & where my sister lived for her early teenage years), it is here we pay homage to our Parents' grave, meet a cousin & have Otago 'tea, then stay B & B up on hill overlooking Alex.

11 Feb ~ drive to Wanaka & have set up a tasting  session at Sam Neill's vineyard along the way!  Stay Wanakabakpaka!

12,13 Feb ~ drive Arrowtown (where we holidayed most of our childhood & School holidays ~ always in pubs!), stay in ex~police station renovated hotel in Main Street. 

Hope that police station is licensed, don't want illegal drinking going on in there!

14 Feb ~ drive at our whim anywhere, as have extended our stay & now fly out of Queenstown 17th. 

I may Blog along the way, but will most probably just savour each & every moment with my sister.      Allison x  

Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...