End of a Kiwi Adventure

Kaikoura > Hanmer Springs > Christchurch > Akaroa

We took a morning run on the esplanade in Kaikoura admiring the coastline and crashing waves because we didn’t know if we would see the ocean again on this trip.


Back in our car, today’s destination would be Hanmer Springs and finally Christchurch, where the Kiwi adventure all began.

Eating Packaged Salmon

Hanmer Springs was more inland, so we faced more winding roads around the mountains. We made it to Hanmer Springs by lunch time. Dave was craving salmon since our trip to the salmon farm back on the west coast and so we bought packaged smoked salmon. The words “Ready to Eat” was the very thing that convince him. We bought brie and jarred olives and set up our picnic in the car once again because of those damn sand flies. They were at my feet again and I have been itching like crazy. I was highly skeptical of the packaged salmon, but it tasted pretty good. After about 6 crackers, I had had enough. It didn't taste so good anymore. Maybe I still have it in my mind that this came from a package.

Fit For a Car Picnic

Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa

We spent the next three hours at the hot pools. Paying only $18 each for entry, we enjoyed eight hot pools for an unlimited time. There were 'Adult Only' pools, sulfur pools, therapy pools and ones with spouts to massage your back. One of my favourite areas was the one we found last on our way back to the change room. The 'Lazy River' had floating coloured boards where you could grab one and hold on while it took you round and round. Yes, this is for kids and Dave and I raced other kids.  At 4pm we left with relaxed muscles and pruned fingers.

'Adults Only' Hot Pools 

We arrived in Christchurch glad to be back and happy to see city life again. We would have 1.5 days and weren’t sure what to do in an earthquake ravaged city. We knew this would be a good time to unwind from all the driving and hiking. When we arrived, we stopped at the first Burger King we saw because Felicity had recommended to us to eat a Rodeo Burger; a cheese burger with barbecue sauce and onion rings. Sounds like a dream! Felicity and her friends had been eating two a day when a Burger King was in sight. Dave and I are skeptical of fast food, but they had promoted this burger with so much enthusiasm that we had to try it ourselves.

It tasted just like any Burger King cheese burger with barbecue sauce and their sad little onion rings. Oh well. Maybe it would taste better after a night out.

It took us about half an hour to find our hostel, located in the city centre. Because of the earthquake's aftermath, most roads were one-way or closed. We literally took three lefts to make a 'right'. We finally checked into the last hostel of our trip; The Old Country House. For being located right where the devastation hit the hardest (eastern Christchurch), the place was quite in tact. It is a long running hostel, renovated to look like a cross between a colonial villa and a plantation home with its wood paneling and and antique accents.

Walking to our room in one of three villas, we found a long porch filled with the 'backpacker' types - the ones drinking, playing music and awaiting anyone willing to join them. Dave and I used to be those types, but now all we wanted was our private double room where we could unload two weeks worth of travelling and aching backs from road tripping.

That night, we enjoyed some comfort food at a Korean restaurant in Riccarton. It was so good to eat Korean barbecue, side dishes and rice again after eating potatoes (usually fried) and a protein. I think I've converted Dave to being Asian. He prefers alternating a rice dish just as much as I do.

The next morning, we made use of our rental car and took our last road trip to Akaroa. I had heard about Akaroa at the rental car place when an elderly coupled inquired about renting a car for a single day. We were there to pick up a car for two weeks. There was no way this rental car place was going to have anything for a single day during peak season. I overheard the owner saying Akaroa was only 40 minutes away and was beautiful. Ever since our first day with the car, I kept running across the name as a must-see around Christchurch.

Akaroa Waterfront

Pier in Akaroa

Church in the City Centre

Paint My Picture

Akaroa Sandbar

Catholic Church in Akaroa

Akaroa is stunning. It's like my ideal retirement or vacation home. It's situated on the coast after a 40 minute drive from a major city through the mountains. The water is turquoise blue and clear enough to see at least 3 meters down. It is a village, just small enough or big enough for it to be described as quaint. There are only a handful of main streets all labelled Rue because it was a former French settlement leaving a lasting legacy in architecture and land development. There are only 500+ permanent residents giving it a small-town feel where the people are genuinely nice and eager to know you.

The village can expect up to 7,000+ visitors during the summer because of the various activities; dolphin watching, kayaking, nature walks or just taking in the beautiful scenery.

Afternoon Tea

Fried Mushrooms, Fried Meatballs, Fried Chicken and Fried Wedges

After walking through the streets and viewing the European style architecture of the stores, homes and churches we took in some afternoon tea at a local cafe. We sat under a tree with lazy branches that hung low dispersing gumballs all around us. On this sunny day, birds chirped and the wind blew a soft breeze. The best touch was that the cafe was playing oldies music like 'Going to the chapel' and 'Baby love'.

I Will Miss This Place

Reading in the Shade

After afternoon tea, we took in some shade from the bright sun and read on a hill. Afterwards, we took one last walk around Akarao visiting the lighthouse and taking as many photos of the harbour as we could because we wanted to remember this magical place.

Blue Waters Surrounded by the Canterbury Region Hills

The Akaroa Lighthouse

Can you find me? 

Tucked Away Paradise

By 5pm, we left Akaroa to go back to Christchurch. We found our last lookout of the trip and took in the breathtaking scenery of the Canterbury region and Akaroa.

On our way back to Christchurch, we found the two things we have been wanting to see the entire trip; olive farm and cheese factory!

We arrived just in time at the olive farm because the owner had just returned from the Christchurch markets. Unfortunately, he had sold all of his olives leaving us to taste his olive oils.

At the cheese factory, we were again too late because the factory had shut down operations for the day. We had one glimmer of hope when we found a package of cheese curds. However, these were 'too old' by cheese curd standards and were now baby cheeses. They did however, have a good operations video on how they make their cheese. We took home a cheddar for dinner.

Last Hostel Meal

Travelling for two weeks, we weren't able to budget in restaurant food every night. Along the way we picked up pasta, salt, pepper, butter etc. Being this was our last night in New Zealand, we took it upon ourselves to create a meal with everything we had.

We picked up some additional items to improve our dish like tomatoes, peppers and ground meat. We ended up with 'Dirty Pasta' aptly named for those college meals of whatever you could find in the fridge.

We ate pasta, drank our bottle of Gewurztraminer and kicked around the soccer ball in front of the guys sitting on the porch. The night was cool for kicking around a ball, refreshing ourselves with wine and re-energising with pasta. What a great last night of a long New Zealand trip.

Botanical Gardens Rose Garden

The next morning, we ate the last of our peanut butter and toast and dropped off the rest of our food goods into the 'free bin'.

We had to return the car by noon, so we went to the Botanical Gardens for a nice walk.

We encountered the Rose Garden, which looked pretty dead compared to the rose garden in Queenstown. But on the perimeter of the garden were tropical flowers of all shapes, sizes and colours.

Like Bursts of Sunlight

Like Coral Found in Nemo's Home

Reminds Me of Easter

Can't Believe the Red Isn't Painted On

Too Perfect...Like Fake Flowers

Nice Summer Coloured Flowers

Biggest Rose I've Ever Seen

In the Jungle

We ended our walk through the gardens by walking around a section of native Australia plants finally making our way to the river surrounding the gardens.




It makes me wonder what it was like when settles first arrived in New Zealand. There is such wild and diverse vegetation. You wouldn't know what kind of life lived beyond the vegetation. Whether encountering natives, wild animals and plant life or the most beautiful blue lakes, New Zealand is full of wonder and charm.

Walking back to our car, we passed by a women's cricket game (you just never know!). We dropped off our car and took the bus back to the airport we landed at 14 days ago.


At the airport, we heard our flight was 'overweight'. New Zealand offered five people to fly the next morning on a 7am or 9am flight, getting you back to Sydney at 8am or 10am, being a three hour time difference. The airline would put up the passengers in a hotel and give them $300 each. We were tempted, but were ready to go back to Sydney, our home.
*A family of five took the offer earning $1500, basically paying for the holiday!

What an amazing trip. Definitely in the top 5 for scenic beauty. I highly recommend a trip to New Zealand for at least 10 days. It's the perfect getaway from Australia. It's the perfect trip to re-introduce nature to children. It's the perfect couple's trip. It's the perfect camper van trip for retirees. We did everything we wanted to do and more. I do have one regret; I didn't get to see the elusive Kiwi bird. I'll just have to come back!


Trip Extras:

• Try the Rodeo Burger from Burger King. It's actually a decent road trip bite
• Visit Akaroa. Walk around the cute village, have afternoon tea and enjoy the views
• Visit the olive farm and cheese factory before 3pm
• Take a walk around the Christchurch Botanical Gardens
• Drive around Christchurch to see the contrasts of earthquake devastated areas and untouched areas
• Christchurch Accomodation: The Old Country House ($170 for 2 nights in a private double room)