North to South Island tiki touring

Picture blog this time around. Enjoy!

Start of our drive from the north island to south island.  We went from Kawerau to Wellington, checkin out Te Papa museum and hanging out with an ole mate from Whistler ,Tim, thanks for the crash pad bro and great to see the leg has healed up from the Kybers experience. Jumped on a 2 am ferry towards the eastern coastline of the south island all the way to Christchurch.

Tiki touring with our little TIKI- powerful good luck symbol....and fertility...hmmmm ! ok

One of the many funny kiwifruit road side signs giving driving tips!

Wellington

 Te Papa museum, how many of these toys can you name?

Wellington harbour

Couldn't resist! CJ Kung pow Power

Lookout over looking Wellington.

Few people paddle this river at volume....i think not today

Huka Falls, beautiful fast flowing river!

Too funny!!  Couldn't resist sending this photo back home.  A skating rink outdoors next to the beach.  Plastic cheese cutter skates!! Terrible. AGHHH but you should of seen Cathy frothing at the mouth. I had to drag her to the car before she ripped the skates off some poor kid.

My new boots... 60 % off. Purchase well timed since the next few days were actually really cold!
Somehow i think she did pirouettes better on ice...

The Chateau at Ruapehu mountain ( ski centre). Where I used to ski...yeh it says it all.

Tongariro volcano. Hmmm...must be a Canadian thing, plugging  holes

Checking out the Tussock Traverse race course

Kite festival in Christchurch

Please can i jump in from here...its not shallow

Our drive around Christchurch checking our the remaining devastation from the Sept 2010, 7.1 earthquake followed by Feb 2011, 6.3
They have had 9500 earthquakes in 500 days!!! 

Nature does not pick race, gender or social class...we are all the same

some churches stayed... others not

                                 

Arrived in Wanaka.  Dinner on the beach under a willow tree!

Our cabin for 3 nights in Wanaka...a Kiwi brick bach

Scenic shot from the Otago region

Quaint little town of Arrowtown

Not without a stop at the candy shop, brought me back a few years!
Should of seen the claw marks left on the floors and walls getting CJ outa here 

Dr Who ????

Queenstown- Wakatipu Lake...Lord of the Rings country

Very windy 140 km/hr summit after a run up Queenstown hill!

Dave last minute training runs up Queenstown hill!!

Artistic representation of a basket at the top

Off in the distance is our mt-bike route on Moonlight trail

Start of an unbelievable mt-bike trail!! Very scenic, definite highlight!!

CJ cruising the KIWI style Chilcotin trails

We only saw one other mt-biker and 4 hikers on this trail... 6 1/2 hrs

My one fall off to the side, quite steep actually...it does drop off! 

Dave's reaction "don't move you'll slide down further.... hold that position while I get a picture!!"

Kiwi Country 

I love this girl....she is so naturally out there

Game face is on

In love in our elements

Never afraid to get a wee bit wet

Where to now....who cares

Moke Lake hiking trail...ah no thats not a bike...its a walking aid

Across the Meadows we go

Unreal scenery over lake Tekapo with Mt-Cook in the background!!

Aoraki and Tekapo

Beauty en Beauty

Tekapo lake 

Really cool cloud set into the valley that just hugged the low alpine

Tekapo to Mt Cook

Looking like a glacier

Stone built church

Another bout of last minute training for Coast to Coast! 60km ride followed by a 61/2 hr paddle

Some friends to help me find my way!  

home baaaah!  time

Missing all you fullas back in the "Big White North"...hope you are doing great up there. Keep checking out the posts for the "Coast to Coast" race update after this weekend. OUUUUCH!!...  I can feel the pain already. We are having an awesome time here together and our adventure is going to get even more exciting....stay tuned!

Cathy and Dave