Waipara « Wotif.com's ultimate nine day Tiki tour of Canterbury, NZ

Looking back on my time in Canterbury

May 14, 2012 · Wot Blog by Kristin Repsher

It’s hard to put into words my thoughts on the nine days I spent in Canterbury, New Zealand. Never before have I had such a jam-packed travel schedule where I’ve been able to experience so much about a location in a short period of time. And if you hadn’t guessed it from my other blog posts — I loved it. Yes, it was so busy that sometimes I didn’t have a chance to think, but it was one of the best trips I’ve ever had.

My itinerary made me truly appreciate the diversity of Canterbury. It’s not just Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains. It’s much larger than that, stretching from the blue Pacific to the golden hills of the Mackenzie Basin. Everywhere you look there are mountains, some snowcapped, some that men dream about conquering. It’s such a scenic place that I took over 3600 photos in the span of nine days!

Thrillseekers Rafting

Pegasus Bay Winery

Canterbury offers such a wide array of experiences as well. The adventurous will find plenty to sate their daredevil appetites –perhaps with a rafting trip down the Waiau followed by a bungee jump above it. However, there’s plenty for those looking for a slightly calmer time as well — it’d be hard to pass on wine tasting in the Waipara followed by a relaxing soak in the hot pools at Hanmer Springs.

Speaking of diversity, I tried so many different foods while in Canterbury that my stomach must have thought it had died and gone to heaven. Mexican, French, Asian, steak, lamb, seafood, fudge…you name it, I probably ate it. It was all delicious, and I’m going to struggle trying to find any meal better than the duck a l’orange I had in Akaroa.

And who can forget the wildlife? In just over a week, I was lucky enough to see three sperm whales, a pod of 200 dusky dolphins, many swooping albatrosses (and some other sea birds too), some fighting eels, many small pods of very endangered Hector’s dolphins, baby New Zealand fur seals frolicking in rock pools, eighty little penguins having a happy hour in the middle of Flea Bay, and a sheep in a hi-vis vest. Had I stayed longer in Mount Cook, I might have been lucky enough to see a cheeky kea — although perhaps only seeing a stained glass version was a bit safer, given their destructive curiosity!

None of these experiences would have been the same — or in some cases, they wouldn’t have been possible at all — without the people of Canterbury. I met so many interesting, friendly, and helpful people along the way — both fellow travellers and locals. Maurice’s Maori Tour in Kaikoura was truly a standout in this respect, because I felt like I learned more about Maori culture and the local people in a few hours than I’d ever known before. Elsewhere in Canterbury, I got a chance to sit down and chat with hotel owners, tour guides, and restaurant chefs about anything and everything New Zealand (with the obligatory questions about my braced knee thrown in). I heard so many interesting stories and got some great tips to help me along as well. With so many people to chat to, I never felt alone.

Which place had the best combination of all of these things? Which was my absolute favourite? It’s such a hard choice…but if I had to pick one, and only one, I would choose Tekapo. It’s such a spectacularly scenic place, but to top it off, some of the experiences I had there were mind-boggling. I’d been admiring mountains on every leg of my trip, but on the Grand Traverse flight, I got to look down on them, watching as the snow blew off their peaks. And everywhere I went, I’d been gazing at the stars, loving how many I could see compared to home, but in Tekapo, I got to see them in a whole new way — from the observatory. In no way did I ever think that I would see Saturn — rings, moons, and all — while I was in NZ!

That said, every place I visited — Kaikoura, the Waipara, Hanmer Springs, Akaroa, Geraldine, Tekapo, and Mount Cook — had its own charm. I genuinely enjoyed visiting all of them, and I often found it very difficult to leave. If I ever got the chance, I would pay each and every place a return visit. I’d love to go back and do some of the things that couldn’t possibly fit into my very full itinerary, but I’d also be happy trying some of the same things again (especially dolphin swimming — hopefully I’d actually be able to get into the water if I went again!).

So, even though it all seems like a faraway dream — something that must have happened to another person, even though I have the pictures and writing to prove it was me — it was such a good dream. It reaffirmed how much I love New Zealand and proved to me that Canterbury should always have a starring place on a South Island itinerary.

I’d like to thank Wotif.com and Canterbury Tourism for all the hard work they put into planning my Canterbury Tiki Tour. They helped me with any questions I may have had along the way and were generally just awesome!

: Pegasus Bay Winery

: Thrillseekers Rafting

: Thrillseekers Rafting

Day 3: The Alpine Pacific Triangle

April 13, 2012 · Wot Blog by Kristin Repsher

All along the roads from Christchurch to Kaikoura and Hanmer Springs, there are signs stating you are driving on the “Alpine Pacific Triangle,” which has “hot pools, vineyards, whale watching, and dolphins.” I knew this must be describing Kaikoura, Hanmer Springs, and Waipara, but still, every time I saw a sign I wondered…what exactly is the Alpine Pacific Triangle and why had I never heard of it before? Well, it turns out the Triangle is exactly what I guessed — the three towns mentioned above and the scenic roads that link them. These roads are State Highway 1 between Waipara and Kaikoura, SH70 between Kaikoura and Hanmer Springs, and SH7 between Hanmer and Waipara. Each leg of the triangle is a comfortable drive (at most around 2.5 hours).

The towns in the triangle are very different in what they have to offer, but they are all memorable in their own way. Waipara has an array of outstanding vineyards, so you can hop from cellar door to cellar door trying out the best that Canterbury has to offer. Hanmer Springs is all about luxury and relaxation — enjoying the alpine views while lounging in a hot pool or getting a well-earned massage. In Kaikoura, the mountains are much more rugged and the experiences are a lot more adventurous, including whale watching and dolphin swimming. I found all of these towns to be stunning visually and often had trouble pulling myself away from the good views, but the same can be said for the roads linking them. I think this is what the Alpine Pacific Triangle was truly created for — the driving. This is nothing like hopping on the Pacific Highway for a drive down to the Gold Coast. The driving is fun (and I can only imagine how much more fun it would be on a motorcycle) and spectacular scenic. On this trip, I’ve done each direction on two legs of the Triangle (but missed the Kaikoura-Hanmer Springs link on SH70). Each time, I spent a lot of time in disbelief that a place could be so naturally beautiful in so many different ways. On the Kaikoura coast, rocks sprayed out into the pristine ocean and the snowcapped mountains were visible in the distance. The scenery became more rural further inland, the mountains gradually built up into the air and were carpeted in a brilliant yellowy-green. In the Waipara region, the farmlands abruptly stop and are replaced by vineyards, still with a backdrop of mountains. As you move towards Hanmer Springs, the mountains slowly begin growing again, and suddenly you’re surrounded by them. Look in the rear-view mirror? Mountains. Look out the passenger window? Mountains. Look out the driver’s side window? The Waiau River runs through a valley far below, but it too has a backdrop of mountains. The roads themselves are not bad either. There were enough passing lanes in the straight sections that I could get past the slow campervans (and so other people that have a bit more experience with switchbacks and windy roads could get past me). I’d have to say my only real complaint is that there weren’t enough places to stop and take photos (although this was probably for the best because otherwise I’d still be somewhere along the road holding my camera). I have to say the Alpine Pacific Triangle was a fantastic way to introduce myself to driving in New Zealand. Here’s hoping all the rest of the roads I drive are just as scenic!

Day 1: arrival in Christchurch

April 11, 2012 · Wot Blog by Kristin Repsher

Even though the Southern Alps block most of the rain coming across the Tasman Sea, giving Canterbury a reasonably dry climate, it was pouring rain when I arrived in Christchurch this afternoon. This didn’t dampen my enthusiasm at all, nor did it wipe the silly grin off my face. I kept thinking that I’m in New Zealand, and whether it’s raining or sunny, it’s still New Zealand, the setting for what is going to be a fantastic trip.

Plus, I think it would be difficult not to be excited after standing in line at Christchurch Airport immigration. No, I’m not being sarcastic; the imagery they display on video screens all around the immigration hall is stunning, and it’s only a car drive away if you want to see those places for yourself. I think it was a great idea — it certainly kept my mind off the tediousness of waiting in line.

Soon after I’d met up with the lovely Kelly from Canterbury Tourism, I had a rental car and was on my way. The outskirts of Christchurch passed by in a flash and I was soon on the highway heading north to Kaikoura, a small coastal town known for its diverse wildlife population and its snowcapped mountain backdrop.

Even though it was raining steadily and the clouds were down, I found the scenery very striking. It occurred to me that it seemed very much like English countryside with its rolling farmland and fields full of spotted cows and soggy sheep; this thought was echoed by a friend on Twitter who said one of my photos looked “like the Lincolnshire wolds.” I found this very fitting given that Christchurch is often said to be the most English of all Kiwi cities!

As I approached the Waipara region, the trees became noticeably more colourful, especially around rivers and streams. Swathes of trees were ablaze in reds, oranges, and golds, which I loved, having lived in the land of the gum tree for so long. I can only hope that there is a bit of blue sky on my way back through so I can capture them in their true glory.

The other noticeable addition around Waipara were the vineyards. Luscious, deep purple grapes were just visible under the ubiquitous vineyard netting. Luckily, I get to go back and taste some of the wines made from those grapes on Friday.

The rolling hills seemed to get larger and more imposing as I moved north. I didn’t realise quite how large those “hills” really were until the road started winding towards the coast. The turns became hairpins and the recommended speeds got lower and lower as the sky grew darker. And then, as soon as it began, the twisting was gone and I was on the coast. When I opened my window I could just hear, over the windscreen wipers and the rain, the roar of the ocean smashing into the loose black rocks that litter the coastline near the Kaikoura peninsula. And as I watched and listened to the waves foaming along the coastline, that silly grin from Christchurch crept back onto my face. I’m in New Zealand!

: The drive begins

Browsing Tags Waipara

Looking back on my time in Canterbury

Day 3: The Alpine Pacific Triangle

Day 1: arrival in Christchurch

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