The Scenic Way Home - We're going to San Franciscooo

San Francisco...what a great city and so much bigger than I thought it would be. Great architecture, endless streets that you are desperate to explore but your feet are worn out from all the walking you have been doing!! You can't help being temped by all the delicious smells drifting out from the endless eateries.  I found the place just fascinating.  There are insanely steep hills at every corner, a city like no other!! 

All these words come to mind when thinking of San Francisco...rustic and intriguing, contemporary and quirky, traditional and beautifully ornate...I hope to go back there one day :)

The Scenic Way Home - Crossing The International Date Line

Hawaii...full of surprises! Over seven days our time was split between two islands Oahu and Big Island. One being well developed but full of charm, the other was the Hawaii I had imagined...relaxed and bursting with natural beauty . It was on the latter island where we hired kayaks for the day and paddled over to Kealakekua bay, where Captain Cook spent his last days. It was the most amazing thing we have both experienced on this trip..as we paddled over to the bay Spinner dolphins swam and jumped up around us! It was the best moment. 

The Scenic Way Home - A Short Stop In Fiji

Beautiful setting, friendly people, yummy food...just go away mosquitos!!!!

The Scenic Way Home - NZ, On The North Island

Arriving in Wellington, it was a beautiful evening and a great opportunity to walk around and explore.  It isn't a massive city but I really loved the harbour front, car-free for you to walk, run or just sit and watch the passers by.  Exploring further into the city there were some fantastic places to relax, eat and drink, it was like a bigger version of Manchester's Northern Quarter and so I couldn't resist it. The combination of the beautiful harbour, positive vibe and rugged charm makes Wellington a city where life is waiting to be enjoyed :) 

Leaving Wellington we set off on our drive up to Auckland, making a few stops on the way.  Rotorua was a half way point for us, where I adjusted to the Sulphur fumes to enjoy a few nights there. With a lakeside setting, it is a beautiful spot oozing with history and the weird and wonderful hot mud pools!

On the Western side of North Island, a stop off at Waitomo Caves was an unforgettable experience! Even though the North Island does not have the awe-inspiring scenery of the South Island I found this area to be a wonderful Shire-like setting! Rolling green hills and glowing trees all cover up a fabulous network of caves! Black water rafting is a way of getting beneath the green surface and thats what we did! Unforgettable!! 

Now to Auckland! On the first night we stayed just outside in Ponsonby and without knowing it stumbled upon a lively suburb that had an amazing view of the city.    

Being our last stop money was running low so our stay in

Auckland was centred on 'free'! I got lucky and found a 'free' day tour of the city and somehow ended up catch-free and even included a harbour bridge walk! That great day combined with New Zealand brewed beer, beautiful weather, friendly people and Korean Pancakes ($2.50) the stay was a very happy one - a fun-filled end to our stay in New Zealand :)

The Scenic Way Home - NZ: Making Our Way Up To Auckland

Arrowtown

Leaving Queenstown to continue our drive around the South Island, we stopped in Arrowtown to hunt for gold and after a good hour of panning and no luck we gave up and drove to our next stop, Wanaka.  Wanaka is a beautiful little town and for our evening entertainment we went to the well recommended Cinema Paradiso - what a place!! They have the most delicious cookies I have ever tasted and what is great they are served fresh out of the oven at the interval! The cinema has so much character, the chairs are not like the usual kind - instead there is a haphazard selection of sofas for you to choose from!! Watching 127 hours was an intense experience but I was blissfully happy slouched in my unbelievably comfy seat and munching on melt-in-the-mouth cookies! :)

Lake Wanaka

Leaving Wanaka the next morning, we drove for the West Coast heading for the glaciers.  After learning about Glaciers in Geography and spending many hours testing my sister for her exams it was strange to be finally visiting one for the first time! The scale of them is incredible!!  After spending time exploring the two glaciers (Fox & Franz Josef) we decided to make our way up the coast and take a chunk out of the long drive up to Picton.

Franz Josef Glacier

With very little to see on the West Coast and a grey landscape (it's actually called the Grey District!) we finally found civilisation in Greymouth.  The hostel (Duke Backpackers) we had chosen happened to be one of the best places we have stayed at and that was mainly down to the welcome we received from the host - fantastic service from beginning to end.

Duke Backpackers

Waking up the next day feeling refreshed, we set off along the highly spoke of coastal drive (Greymouth to Nelson) - it was so rugged and beautiful.  The Pancake Rocks, the beautiful coastlines and the rich green landscape made this drive unforgettable - I was happy to be in the passenger seat!! :)

Picton

Finally reaching Picton, we stepped out of our car, sighed a breath of relief that we had made it this far and took a few moments to reflect on the past week.  Picton is a very beautiful place, reflecting the whole of the island and it is here where we leave the South Island behind and head through the Queen Charlotte Sound to the North Island...

The Scenic Way Home - Leaving Australia for New Zealand

Having left Australia after living there for 6 months, it felt sad to know we are flying out of there not knowing when we will return.  Australia is great country,  one thing that really stood out to me was the quality of life.  It is a country that really gives its inhabitants a chance to enjoy their free time and get the most out of their surroundings.  People over there work to live, not the other way round and it is so refreshing to see that.  People young and old are out in the fresh air enjoying themselves even after the sun has gone down.  I will never forget one night after sunset, I was running along the beach path and a bell rung behind me and turning round a group of ladies rode past me on their bicycles. It was such a great sight that really did put a smile on my face :) Instead of sitting on the sofa watching t.v they were out with friends and keeping fit.

A run along the beach path, Gold Coast

Arriving in Christchurch yesterday, we were obviously, after the recent earthquake, not quite sure what to expect.  We did think about staying one night on the edge of the city but after driving around and seeing the damage which had affected even accommodation out of town we decided to start the long journey down to Queenstown.  After driving for 4 hours we finally stopped at our place of rest, Lake Tekapo.  The Lakeside Backpackers Lodge was our bed for the night and waking up the next morning we were greeted with glorious sunshine, blue skies and an incredible view of the lake.

Lake Tekapo

Setting off at 10am, we were well on our way to Queenstown and after a few stops including a traumatic bungy jump we were there before 5pm! Queenstown instantly WOWed us! Dropping down the hill with the town on view in front of us, it was beautiful to see.  There is such an optimistic feel to the town, positive activity is happening all around you at any time of the day and as the lights go down at night the wood fires are started and the delightful little drinking holes start to come alive.  Next stop...Wanaka :) 

By the lake in Queenstown