FLIP & FLOP'S ADVENTURE: One month to travel New Zealand

24th January 2014, we land in Christchurch at 1am and make our way to the motel we had booked closest to 'Apollo' Pick up point for us to go and pick up our 'Home' for the coming three weeks.

24 janvier 2014, on a atterri a Christchurch a 1 heure du matin avant d'aller dans un petit motel proche du loueur de camper van 'Apollo'

Our Monsta EuroTourer - 2 berth!

Explanation:

The device on the right is well known amongst all of us and initiates many rows. Yes, a GPS, you got it!
The device on the left is our best friend and allows us to capture and listen to 'Tourism Radio' wherever we are as it locates our camper van via satellite. Very informative it tells us about NZ history, places to see on the way, the best campsites etc as well as great 'sing along songs' during our long drives. I've always loved discovering the 'actual' lyrics to a song I use to mumble to in my early teens!

Explications:

Le petit appareil sur la droite du pare-brise est bien connu sous le nom de GPS (a l'origine de nombreuses disputes)
Le petit appareil a la gauche du pare-brise est notre meilleur ami, il nous a permis d'ecouter la radio touristique reliee au satellite. Il reconnait nos coordonnees GPS et nous informe sur les lieux ou nous nous trouvons, histoire, endroits a ne pas rater, meilleurs sites de camping etc.

CHRISTCHURCH
We then went to visit Christchurch town and were blown away to see the extent by which the city had been hit in the 2010/2011 earthquakes. So much of the town was still under reconstruction, however you could feel the positivity and the fact that they had reconstructed the 'city centre' with what they could....'The Cardboard Church' & and 'The Container mall'.....

Nous sommes ensuite allees visiter Christchurch, et avons ete choquees par l'etat dans lequel la ville est toujours après les seismes de 2010 et 2011. La ville est toujours en reconstruction, un petit centre ville a ete reconstruits en tolle et une eglise en carton....

The Cardboard Church

Inside the church. This is also used for concerts etc

The Container Mall

This is how good life is for Sophie right now!

After our tour visiting Christchurch, we went to visit one of Nathalie's friend/ colleague from the Olympics (yes yet another one) parents. Like most Kiwis, they welcomed us with opened arms and we were treated to home grown veggies and hunted down venison!

We also got to know what it was like to be a Kiwi from pure locals on our second night in this great country, so pretty full on!. Nat showed them our camper-van and here we all are in it!

Apres notre visite de Christchurch, nous sommes allees rendre visite aux parents d'une amie de Nathalie des JO. Super accueillants, ils nous ont prepare a diner avec les legumes du jardin et la recolte de la chasse, de la biche.
Ils etaient super impressionnes par notre camper van !

AKAROA
We headed from Christchurch to Akaroa. Because of colonisation, this is the closest to A'French Town' that New Zealand can offer! One could only access this small place by driving on small winedy road which of course made Sophie scream left right and centre as soon as it looked like we were going to drop off a cliff, but I was in control!. We finally found a lovely free spot to stay overnight. The following day, we went to see Hector Dolphins and Seals....

Nous avons continue notre chemin a l'est de Christchurch en direction d'Akaroa. Le seul moyen d'atteindre ce village etait pas une route sinueuse avec Nathalie comme chauffeur... le ravin n'etait pas bien loin je peux vous le dire ! Suite a la colonisation ce petit village se revendique francais... Le nom des rues est francais mais c'est a peu pres tout ! Le lendemain matin nous sommes parties a la recherche des dauphins Hector !

The view from our pad. Sophie had a somewhat sleepless night as she was too worried whether or not the van was going to tip over because of the strong winds.

Hector Dolphins

Doggy in the boat, wearing a life jacket, of course, who alerted us of incoming dolphins.

Soon to be Nathalie if she continues eating as she does with no sport! (Trop tard...)

LAKE TEKAPO
Our drive was soon submerged with amazing blues....blues from the sky, from the water, from everywhere!

La suite de notre route a vite etait submerge par une eau d'un bleu percant, le ciel et surtout les lacs !

Lake Tekapo & breakfast view

A little breakfast visitor

Nat petrified after having seen something move in the bush

Nat loving her stone skipping

LAKE PUKAKI
Another amazing lake with jaw dropping mountains in the background.
Un autre lac d'un bleu magnifique ... Bravo Sophie pour cette photo magnifique !

Nat making Sophie jump... BOO!

On our way, we stopped off at boulders beach. A beach covered in massive boulders!

DUNEDIN
Our highlight here was Nat @ the Cadbury World Shop.. see that smile!
And finding a great spot the next morning to have breakfast =)
But please do not get me wrong, I am sure this actually surprisingly big city has a lot to offer. Especially as we had never heard of this city.

Le meilleur moment pour Nathalie de la visite.... Cadbury World... Pour les francais, cette marque de chocolats anglais tres peu gouteuse est tres repandue dans les payx anglosaxons...heureusement qu'on en a tres peu en France :-s Beurk !

Perfect breakfast spot

ARROWTOWN
We stop off in this lovely village for the night as it was only a few kms away from Nat's Bungy jump booked for the next day! Beautiful village full of nice cafes, restaurant but still a feel of saloon! bizarre!

Nous nous sommes arretees dans ce super petit village a quelques km du saut a l'elastique de Nat reserve pour le lendemain... Beaux petits cafes et restaurants.

BUNGY JUMP
Who says Queenstown says adrenaline sports and hence bungy jump! So many times in my life, Nat had been told 'You have to go to NZ, you'll love it'. Well here I am (Nat) and 'I am gonna love it'.
Nat chose the 'Original 43 metres high Karawau Bungy Jump'. This is where bungy jumps first started and the great thing was that one could chose to be 'dunked' in the water... just like you all do with your... digestive biscuits in your tea (that is if you are english) or croissant in your coffee (if you are french!).
Nat went to check in i.e. was weighed, went to get strapped in and jumped.

SAUT A L ELASTIQUE
Qui dit Queenstown, dit sport d'adrenaline donc... saut a l'elastique !Tout le monde a toujours dit a Nathalie qu'elle adorerait la Nouvelle-Zelande. Nat a choisi de sauter d'un pont de 43m au dessus de la riviere Karawau. C'est ici que la folie mondiale des sauts en elastique a debute. Nat s'est faite peser, attachee et la voila dans les airs.

PS: Sophie etait petrifie a l'idee de voir Nathalie sauter....

This is me after having been weighed. And please don't try squinting!

Video to follow shortly

QUEENSTOWN
During our stay in Queenstown, we decided to stay at a DOC (Department of Conservation, not conversation!). These kind of campsites provide you with the absolute minimal and hence the price is much cheaper than other campsites. We enjoyed a morning dip in the 8 degrees lake...hmmm what a brisk wake up!

Lors de notre arret a Queenstown, on a decide d'aller dans dans un camping du department de conservation. Ce genre de campings ont le minimum de services et du coup sont peu onereux. On a adore se baigner dans le lac a 8 degres a 8h du matin...

Nathalie suffering on the background

Jet Boating in the river. This guy is a real pilot!

Burger at Fergburger. The best place in Queenstown.. you'll guess it by the length of the queue!, but well worth the wait! And no, for those of you who are thinking this, I do not weigh 33kgs! I wish lol!

Les Hamburgers de Fergburger ont une renomee mondiale! Une longue file d'attente 35 minutes d'attente et a nous le mega burger !!!