Moeraki

With gale force winds and rain forecast I envisioned our trip to Moeraki to be largely spent indoors. In fact we had quite the opposite, apart from a blustery late afternoon.
We visited the reserve by the lighthouse and discovered the field that grows sea lions; took the dog for a walk up the Millenium Track to where the whalers used to look out for whales until they killed most of them off. We dined on fish at the World famous Fleur’s restaurant. So. Much. Fish.
In the afternoon we read magazines in the sun, then when the weather took a turn, watched the worst movie ever – High Freakquency. (Seriously bad, the story, the acting, the sound quality, the camera work; heck the cover even has a photo from ANOTHER FILM on it (Friday). Avoid. What a waste of 12c to buy it).
In the evening we squeezed more food into our full bellies at the tavern where I sampled Moeraki Draught.
A great, relaxing weekend and only an hour from home.

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Travel in Comfort

We drove one hour and Tobias managed to get himself tangled in his harness and the seatbelt, very tangled.

Rotorua’s Gardens

A quick visit to Parliament Gardens in Rotorua at lunchtime.

Finally Landed

My connecting flight from Christchurch to Auckland was slightly late. I was informed by the stewardess while she was giving out the drinks that the cabin had been contacted and I wouldn’t be making my flight to Rotorua.
When I landed I went to the desk and was placed on standby for a flight two hours later. Standby. It has never happened to me before and visions of the tangled mess of phone calls rebooking hotels and taxis flooded my mind.
Luckily me and the other person on standby made it onto the flight. But the pilot was AWOL. Seriously? The pilot finally arrived proclaiming his watch was set to the wrong time and I entered the smallest plane I have ever been on. Twenty seats in total. One each side. I could see the cockpit and I was seated next to the emergency door. I hastily scribbled a note in case I died with no final words.
It was possibly the bumpiest landing I have ever had – like I said I could see the cockpit, thus out of the front window and the horizon was waving like the sea.
I am recovering in my hotel bed watching fuzzy TV and sniffing Rotorua’s sulphuric air. I miss Mr Pigalina.

Four Airports, One Day

Pigalina is off to Rotorua, in the North Island, for an educational visit of another department at work.
It will be interesting when I get there, but oh, the getting there.
It is a good job that domestic airports are super fun places as I need to go to four of them – Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland and Rotorua.
I will have a number of free biscuits stashed in my bag come journey’s end. I am one flight down, two to go.

Cat Nap

New Zealand is a very spread out country. Today I had a five hour round trip to attend a meeting. I fell asleep in the car on the way home. Many times.

I took one picture of Timaru but it didn’t turn out too well, so please accept this picture of William re-enacting my journey today.

Lake Tekapo

To Tekapo today and up Mount John for the fantastic views.
We, as is customary, went into Tekapo town to photograph The Church of the Good Shepherd along with – no lie – about 150 other people. I think it is the busiest photo opportunity I have ever encountered in NZ. (That is why I haven’t posted the typical Tekapo pic – the best one I got without people in it came out wonky thanks to my haste). Seven years ago when we were last here we were the only people looking at it!

ANZAC Day at Hawea

I woke up in time for the Dawn Service but it was pouring with rain so, I’m sorry, I remained in bed.
It was a changeable day as you can see from this picture taken on our walk today.
Here’s a tip for you too if you are traveling in Central Otago: Hawea is way better than Wanaka. They are only 20 minutes apart but Hawea has about 20 times less people.

Roadtrip

You must think that I never work, and this week you would be right. We have just had Easter weekend and now we are heading for ANZAC Day, which this year falls on a Friday.
Mr Pigalina’s side of the family are heading to Lake Hawea in Central Otago and we took a half day to go too.
Here is the view from the Cromwell lookout on the way.

…And Had a Really, Really, Really Good Time

I didn’t post a picture yesterday, naughty, as we were busy visiting Wellington!  You’d be forgiven, from the photo below of me at Weta Studios and the previous airport post, that LOTR was the reason for our visit.  In fact, the reason we were there was for the Macklemore and Tinie Tempah concert.

We were among the older people there, certainly the majority of the over 30s were accompanying their children (though when you are older than the main act you have to expect that!). Nevertheless we danced, cried, and had a really, really, really good time.  I am now officially in the Shark Face Gang.  (No photos of the concert sorry, I decided to not be that annoying person with the bright screen this time.  Plenty of others took that mantle for me).

Here I am with either Tom, Bert or William at The Weta Cave..