Sunday 29 January 2012

Mt Teranaki


26th January

While settling in to our new hostel in new Plymouth we decided that we would try to summit the 2515 meter volcano that dominates the region, Teranaki.

While discussing how we could get to the start of the hike a guy walked in who over hearing our conversation asked when we were going, we replied that we had no certain plans but had no way to get there. He introduced himself as Joe and offered us a lift with him! Amazing. It turned out Joe was a volcanologist on a trip to New Zealand with his university students, after finishing the course he was finishing up his time in NZ with a summit of the volcano.

We awoke early the next day at 5 am, we planned to leave the hostel at 6. The ride to the trek start was only about 40 minutes and as we drove up to the car park at 1100 meters we finally broke through the clouds and were presented with our challenge glowing in the morning sun!





The climb to the summit was to take 5 hrs, we all kitted up and got ready to ride out. After 1 and a half hours we reached the mountain hut, from here we could see the distant peak of Mt Rupheu poking its head through the clouds.




The climb to the summit from here was to consist of 2 hrs scrambling up very loose volcanic scree followed by a 2 hour climb up a jagged lava flow. The whole way Joe wowed us with information about the rocks and the geology and the history of these and all volcanoes. We literally had our own geologist guiding us!

Climbing the lava flow to the summit the wind started to pick up and we were getting blown around pretty badly by the nor westas!! Looking either way when comparing the slope incline with the horizon you could see we were climbing a 40 degree slope. From this height we were able to see the summit of Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom for Lord of the Rings fans)

Finally after 5 hours we reached the summit, now normally on summits the wind is howling and it’s freezing, you arrive take 2 photos and descend again. Not here!! The wind dropped and it was perfect. We were surrounded by where the crater used to reside now full of snow. Joe described everything we were seeing and said it was one of the coolest craters he has ever seen!






The descent as always was not to be so fun, the scramble down the lava flow was tough but then we literally rolled down the scree unable to stand as it just slid from beneath us.



By the end of the descent we were exhausted, Joe was kind enough to offer to buy our dinner!! Un believable!

The next morning we all awoke with many aches and pains but were astounded to see that this weekend an endurance challenge is taking place where two people are trying to beat the records for most ascents in a day 6! And quickest ascent \ descent 2 hrs 15!  It took us 8!

However they have never climbed it before……”You have to walk the walk before you can talk the talk!”

Sunday 22 January 2012

The legendary and gorgeous Sauvignon blanc and Pinot Gris!


21 January – 23 January 2012

After spending our last night with Nick and Gretchen in Christchurch we hopped onto a bus to Blenheim. Blenheim is the main town in the Marlborough wine region, it is renowned for it’s white wine. Specifically the Pinot Gris, Sav’s and the Chardonnay’s. We went to Blenheim on our honeymoon in 2008 and hired bikes to visit all the vineyards, so it was a must hit again!

After checking in to our hostel (we were not happy after leaving the luxury of Nick and Gretchen’s) we again hired bikes and hit the wine trail. Our first stop was Lawson’s winery (which we had loved the last time), the highlight being their 2008 chardonnay, the 2010 Sav and the unusual un-oaked chardonnay. We were one bottle heavier (in the bag) and wobbled back on the bikes and headed off for Highfields. Highfields is set up higher on the hill and therefore has views overlooking the valley, we settled in for a cheese platter and a bottle of Rose in the sun. A perfect day!


Day 2 involved much of the same (but with rain) - we went to a total of 5 vineyards being: Cloudy Bay, Bouldevines, Fromm, Villa Maria and Wither Hills! Our favourites were of course the Bouldevines 2008 aged Chardonnay (we bought several when we were there in 2008), and the Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc 2011. It was surprising to taste Merlot and Shiraz from ‘Fromm’ as Marlborough is typically known for its whites, but the reds were subtle and not nearly as bold as the reds we were used to in Chile and Argentina! The most unusual (which we liked very much) was the oaked Sauvignon Blanc ‘TeKoko’ from Cloudy Bay…a bargain at $55 NZD (£26)
Unfortunately due to the heavy rain, lack of jackets (plus distance) we didn’t get to see the one winery we really wanted to visit, which was organic, called Serasin. Always another visit I suppose!!






Anyway, after two days of cycling and lots of wine in a party hostel we had to move-on (Monday 23rd) to Picton where we would get the ferry to Wellington in the North Island.  

All of the wines and vineyards on this blog have their wines sold in Majestic wines in the UK, So we implore you to go to your local Majestic and look for one of these wine makers they really are worth it as a special bottle of wine! It will be a little more expensive than the normal supermarket offers but its worth it, trust us we’re Winos!!!

Quick List:

These are some of the better wines we tasted from each of the wineries, the best we liked are in BOLD. But the others are amazing too!

Lawsons – 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Chardonnay, 2009 un-oaked chardonnay, 2011 pinot gris
Highfields -  2010 Rose, 2008 Chardonnay, 2011 Sauvignon blanc
Cloudy Bay – 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 TeKoko Oaked Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Chardonnay, 2009 Pinot Noir
Bouldevines – 2010 ‘Sprig’ and 209 Granite garden reserve Sauvignon Blancs, 2008 Chardonnay, 2011 pinot gris, 2008 Pinot noir,/\
Fromm -  2010 La strada Rose, 2008 La strada Pinot noir, 2009 La Strada Syrah and 2004 La Strada Malbec Reserve
Villa Maria -  2011 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Chardonnay, 2010 pinot Gris, 2010 R&D Pinot gris, gewürztraminer and Vioigner, 2008 Pinot Noir from Hawkes Bay,
Witherhills2010 chardonnay, 2011 and 2010 Pinot Gris, 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 Pinot Noir

Thursday 19 January 2012

Mt Aspiring National Park - Middle Earth

2/1/2012

After the relaxing rest in Akaroa it was time to become travellers again and head to the fjordlands of southern New Zealand.

We spent the 1st January getting over our new years hang overs and spent the first night of 2012 being rocked by a new string of earthquakes! so that put paid to any hopes of a good nights sleep.

We packed our bags on the 2nd January and headed to Queenstown the adventure capital of the south island.



From here we purchased enough provisions to last our 10 day trek and headed to a very small village called Glenorchy, home for much filming of the Lord Of the Rings films, so the scenery was guaranteed to be stunning.



Our treks would take us through the 5 day trek of the Rees Dart, followed by a 3 day trek of the Routeburn and a 2 day trek of the Caples track, a mammoth 130 kms and 2500meters of ascent and descent.

We had decide that paying for the shuttle services to all the treks was to expensive so decided to hitch hike the 20 kms to the start of the track. We managed to hitch half way but ended up walking 2 and a 1/2 hours along a dusty 4 wd road.

After this we crossed glacial rivers and trudged through bogs and the rain, which left us very tired and we had to camp in the woods before we even got to the first hut!

What became quickly apparent was that the sand flies in this area were going to drive us mad, there were thousands of them, and they leave a pretty nasty bite!!!


The second day was due to be the hardest with the crossing of the 1400 meter Rees saddle.




The walk down to the Dart hut was steep and slippery but stunning!




Day 3 saw us walking down the Dart river for several hours until we reached a huge river bed where we could camp.



Day 4 saw us continue down the valley and in to true Lord of the rings territory! areas used as Isengard for those who remember.




We completed the first trek in 5 days and headed back to Glenorchy. We spent the next 4 hours in Glenorchy washing everything we had!!!

Our next steps were on to the fabled Routeburn, after 5 days of sunshine we had been warned bad weather was on the way...




We met some great people on the walks a really nice couple called Patrick and Troian from California who we met up with in Queenstown for a night out to celebrate our achievements! 





After we crossed the saddle the weather had really turned and we spent the next day walking in the rain and cloud with no views :-(

We now had 2 days to walk back to the Glenorchy valley in order to get our lift back to queenstown. Our first day was an 11 1/2 hour super hike, we dragged our selves to a camp site at 7.30pm by the time we cooked it was gone 9 and time for bed!!! Even then we were so exhausted legs were twitching and we knew we had to be up to walk again at 5!!! ouch!




Doing all three walks back to back was pretty tough but the scenery made it worth it, getting soaked for 3 days did dampen our clothes, tent and spirits but this was a trip we will never forget.


Once back in civilisation we had a good wash, feed and a few drinks! This ended with James riding a rodeo bull.