A DAY VISITING BANKS PENINSULA AND AKAROA

AKAROA HARBOUR

A great nights sleep, the bed is huge, but it is almost the size of the campervan!

Hot sunny day so we headed out to visit Banks Peninsula, formed following violent eruptions by three volcanoes. First European sighting by Captain Cook in 1770, the peninsula was named for Sir Robert Banks, the naturalist.
Akaroa, is a pretty seaside village with a french flavour nestled in one of the many bays.
We walked the length of Akaroa, then drove beyond to Onoku Maori Church, had lunch then drove back over the summit road to our campsite at Duvauchelle, its weird taking everything with you. 
Now that's the first plus I've got for a campervan - you don't forget anything cos its all with you!

OUR FIRST BREAKFAST

AKAROA LIGHTHOUSE

ONOKU MAURI MEETING HOUSE

INSIDE ONOKU MAORI CHURCH

ONOKU MAORI CHURCH

ONOKU MEETING HOUSE

OUTSIDE ONOKU CHURCH

TAWHIRI - MATEA THE GOD OF THE WIND - ROY SAYS ITS AN APPROPRIATE GOD FOR ME!

PACIFIC OCEAN

AKAROA HARBOUR

CAMPERVAN COLLECTION AND FIRST TRIP TO DUVAUCHELLE

Today's the day! we got a shuttle to Wendekreisen Camper hire and began the laborious job of getting the camper. Great lady explained how everything worked and there was so much I could see Roy go blank! We'll figure it out as we go along. We borrowed a courtesy van and toddled off to Countdown supermarket to get groceries. Then began the loading of the camper - in a word -SMALL!
Had a bit of a meltdown but all the food did eventually go somewhere. We stuck the cases in and left. Drove hour and half to Duvaucchelle a pretty campsite on the side of an inlet called Akaroa harbour. Our first view - oh its just like the Lakes with sunshine
Spent about half an hour stuffing clothes etc in to all available space which did seem to expand like a Tardis, but it's still SMALL!

Had a walk round the water's edge then back to cook delicious soup on our two ring hob! 

VIEW OF DUVAUCHELLE ACROSS THE WATER 

ONE END OF THE VAN

VIEW FROM OUR SITE

                                 THE OTHER END OF THE VAN   - SMALL!

HUNDREDS OF OYSTERCATCHERS

INTERNATIONAL ANTARCTIC CENTRE, CANTERBURY MUSEUM AND BOTANICAL GARDENS IN CHRISTCHURCH

A fabulous day despite rain and temp of 12oC! We caught the free shuttle to the International Antarctic Centre and spend 3 hours 
1.  Exchillerating fun at minus 8oC, real snow and ice in the indoor polar room, experienced an Antarctic storm where wind chill plummets to minus 18oC.
2.  Hagglund ride aboard the amphibious all terrain vehicles used in the Antarctic, a hairy ride!
3.  Saw rescued Little Blue penguins and Huskies.
4.  Learned about climate wildlife, life at Scott Base and all things Antarctic.
5. Cinema style theatre experience called Ice Voyage includes realistic 3D images and 4D effects of sudden motion, seat movement, water spray, air bursts and bumps.

What an experience.....and I'd like to point out that one of Roy's ambitions was to go to Antarctica - well he's just had it! There's no way I want to go.

INTERNATIONAL ANTARCTIC CENTRE

HUSKY

SMALL BLUE PENGUINS

INSIDE HAGGLUND

HAGGLUND RIDE

HAGGLUND RIDE

SKI DOO PRETEND

ANTARCTIC STORM EXPERIENCE

ANTARCTIC STORM EXPERIENCE

Back to the Canterbury Museum for coffee cake and more information overload, I now know more about Antarctica than you can imagine!

SAW THIS IN MUSEUM AND FELT RIGHT BACK HOME!

SNO CAT SEE INFO BELOW

HUGE GLOBE WHICH SHOWS JUST HOW CLOSE NEW ZEALAND AND US ARE TO ANTARCTICA

STUFFED ONES IN CASE I DONT GET TO SEE REAL ONES!

Back to motel via Botanical gardens again after a great day!

PEACOCK FOUNTAIN

PARADISE SHELDUCK

FABULOUS FERN