Day 14

3 of us at Bluff - a very long way from home

Boxing Day, Riverton, Invercargill, Bluff, drive to Wanaka. We got ourselves gathered up and into the car, said our goodbyes to Leigh-Anne and Andre, and then drove out of town and down to Riverton with Clive, Diane and the boys. A really beautiful (and obviously desirable) part of the world with a fishing boat harbour, lovely homes and a very picturesque setting on the edge of a large bay - looking across to Bluff on the opp side. We drove up to a look-out point in some natural bush (the first we've actually seen in NZ) which was absolutely heaving with ferns and palms. A bird call above our heads, while we were taking photos, made us pull out the telephoto lens and the identification book and discover that we were looking at a small fluffy green friend with the most beautiful, liquid call - the Bell Bird (the call = the name). Very exciting! Then zoomed down the hill, back through town and down highway 99 into Invercargill. It being boxing day, it was sales and busy busy busy, so there was far too much traffic on the roads. We got to use our new bit of local lingo - there were boguns everywhere in their souped up cars with thumping music. Out the other side of Invercargill we headed on to Bluff, the southern most point of NZ. Again, we climbed up to a look-out point and got a 360˚ view of Stewart Island, the bay across to Riverton, the Aluminium smelting plant and the craggy coast line stretching off in both directions. Back at the car park we got a photo next the sign that said that home (ie. London) was 19 000kms away. Sadly no indication of the distance to Cape Town, which I'm guessing is equally far. By now, Zack was getting antsy and hungry (it was after 2pm and we hadn't had any lunch). We filled up with petrol before driving back to Invercargill to find some lunch - first at the Art Gallery (closed) and then in Queens Park at the crazy Lama Café. Poor Zack's meal came last and he was close to hysterical with hunger. Not a happy camper at all. Anyway, the hunger pangs were soon assuaged, and we could enjoy everyone's company again. Sad to come to the end of our time with the family, we had to say goodbye and make the 3 hour trip up to Wanaka for the night. We said our goodbye's and set off, stopping on route to see the magnificent views through the mountains. The 3 hour journey turned out to be 4 1/2 hours, so we arrived at the Wilsons somewhat later than anticipated, but were welcomed like family and immediately felt at home with them. Jocelyn had cooked up a fabulous blue cod curry (we must get the recipe!) which we wolfed down at 9pm. By 10pm Zack was being put to bed and we were able to chat to them and get to know one another a bit better. Another late night.