My travels since meeting Matt
New Zealand South Island 5th Oct 2015
Our first overseas trip we visited the south island of New Zealand. Flying into Christchurch to spend the night before jumping on the Tranz Alpine train to meander our way across Arthurs Pass to Greymouth.
It was really sad to see that even after 5 years Christchurch still hadn’t recovered from the earthquake that hit on the 5th September 2010. About 100,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged. Just about every street corner in the city had a vacant block where a business use to stand, now being utilized as parking lots or construction zones. The magnificent Anglican Cathederal Church, which was severly damaged in the after shock in Feb 2011, stood barricaded from the public, the only ones that were enjoying the church now where the pidgeons roosting in the rafters.
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We boarded the train for Greymouth the next day and picked up our hire car. What a stunning country New Zealand is. We made our way down the west coast to Franz Joseph where we took a helicopter ride up onto Franz Joseph Glacier. Donned on the crampons and took a 2 hour tour checking out ice caves and slidding down ice tubes.
The next day we took another helicopter ride up to Fox Glacier and was blown away. It’s amazing that so much whiteness can be so beautiful, the only colours up there was the helicopter, our clothing and the clear blue sky.
That afternoon we decided to forgo our last nights stay at Franz Joseph and head down to Wanaka, as Matt discovered they do canyoning there. We booked ourselves in for the next day. That next morning we both woke up feeling like crap, so we had a cup of “harden the F___ up” and soldiered on. Walking up that hill was a sharp reminder that neither of us are young anymore, and with us both unwell, unfit and Matt with asthma, we were dragging the chain, very embarrassing. Going canyoning in freezing cold water some would say is not the smartest thing to do when your sick, but I’m pretty sure after that day we were feeling heaps better.
We made our way to Queenstown where we had to do the obligitory “touristy” things like their highest Bungy, The Swing, Quad biking – which I had to do on my own as Matt hurt himself trying to out do me on the taboggans, which he failed miserably I might add, and Jet boating, just to name a few. Queenstown is the tourist hot spot in the South Island, which is not our cup of tea, but hey you have to do it.
From there we went on to explore the country side on our way to Milford Sound. Stopping the night in Te Anau before making the final leg to Milford Sound. The drive down, which I had to do all the driving thanks to Matts need for speed, was simply stunning, when I could take my eyes of the very windy road. There were a lot of “oh wow” comments, along with Matt pretending he was riding his bike. The boat ride out on the Sound was peaceful and amazing, except for the “selfie stick” enthusistics, I felt like ramming those sticks right………………… We stayed once again at Te Anua after the Sound.
Finally we made our way back to Queenstown to fly out. New Zealand has to be one of the most picturesque places I’ve been, and the best part is its only a few hours away. Would I go back to the South Island…. Yes. Will I go back to the South Island… I sincerely hope so. New Zealand you are amazing.
Franz Josef Glacier 
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Cash Strapped Travellers 