Thursday, February 14, 2008
TERRACE DOWNS TO WANAKA
On our last evening at Terrace Downs it rained; oh how it rained. When we left at 9am in the morning it was 5.5 degrees. However, our trip was smooth and apart from a petrol stop at Geraldine and a loo & view stop at Lake Pukaki we went straight through to Wanaka in about 4 hours 45 minutes.
The views at Lake Pukaki were mighty impressive and at about 8 degrees in the height of summer bloody cold!
Wanaka was 12 degrees when we arrived and we had a hot lunch to stop the shivering. Then check into the motel and off for 9 holes at The Wanaka Golf Club.
What a background this golf club has; it fair put me off my game! Above Jt at the 3rd tee with Laka Wanaka in the background.
JT has a long put to halve the 3rd; it was just short.
The Voltaren kicks in as John marks his ball on the 2nd green. Below JT with that wonderful view from The Wanaka Golf Club in the background.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
WE BY-PASS HELL (CHRISTCHURCH) AND END UP IN PARADISE (TERRACE DOWNS)
WE HAD AN APARTMENT BOOKING IN CHRISTCHURCH AND WERE TO STAY TWO NIGHTS. BUT...THE ONE WAY SYSTEM IN CHRISTCHURCH IS PURE HELL AND WE COULDN'T GET TO THE VENUE. FINALLY WE ARRIVED AT THE "SECURE PARKING" FOR THE APARTMENT; WHICH WAS AN OPEN LOT FULL OF GRAFITTI AND A LONG WAY FROM THE APARTMENT. NO THANKS!
WE CANCELLED AND HEADED SOUTH TOWARDS MT HUTT WHERE (FROM OUR GOLF BOOK) WE FOUND THE TERRACE DOWNS GOLF RESORT. THE VENUE AND SETTING ARE PARADISE WITH THE SOUTHERN ALPS IN THE BACKGROUND AND THE APARTMENTS TOP CLASS. WE STAYED TWO NIGHTS AND AGAIN HAD A GOOD GOLF CONTEST, ENDING EVEN; AS WE ARE FOR THE TRIP.
THE APARTMENTS, WHICH FACE THE GOLF COURSE AND THE SOUTHERN ALPS. OURS IS THE RIGHT BOTTOM END.
JOHN ON THE COURSE
THE RAKAIA RIVER JUST BEYOND SEVERAL HOLES
JT CONCENTRATES
JOHN PUTTS (AND MISSES, LOSING THE HOLE)
JT ON THE WONDERFUL 1OTH, PAR 3. JT WAS JUST OFF THE GREEN AND MANAGED A 4 FOR 2. JOHN HIT THE GREEN AND A 3 FOR 3
OUR VIEW IN THE MORNING FROM OUR BALCONY
OUR DAYTIME VIEW
WE CANCELLED AND HEADED SOUTH TOWARDS MT HUTT WHERE (FROM OUR GOLF BOOK) WE FOUND THE TERRACE DOWNS GOLF RESORT. THE VENUE AND SETTING ARE PARADISE WITH THE SOUTHERN ALPS IN THE BACKGROUND AND THE APARTMENTS TOP CLASS. WE STAYED TWO NIGHTS AND AGAIN HAD A GOOD GOLF CONTEST, ENDING EVEN; AS WE ARE FOR THE TRIP.
THE APARTMENTS, WHICH FACE THE GOLF COURSE AND THE SOUTHERN ALPS. OURS IS THE RIGHT BOTTOM END.
JOHN ON THE COURSE
THE RAKAIA RIVER JUST BEYOND SEVERAL HOLES
JT CONCENTRATES
JOHN PUTTS (AND MISSES, LOSING THE HOLE)
JT ON THE WONDERFUL 1OTH, PAR 3. JT WAS JUST OFF THE GREEN AND MANAGED A 4 FOR 2. JOHN HIT THE GREEN AND A 3 FOR 3
OUR VIEW IN THE MORNING FROM OUR BALCONY
OUR DAYTIME VIEW
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
KAIKOURA
Our first time here. A very pretty spot. We were lucky we struck a good motel and an excellent restaurant for our one night stop over on the way to Christchurch.
WAVES ON ESPLANADE. A very good motel; well worth a stop over.
KAIKOURA BAY, EARLY IN THE MORNING
THE MAYFAIR MOVIE THEATRE. A stunning building-we love it.
THE WHITE MORPH RESTAURANT (On the Esplanade)
THE WHITE MORPH. Excellent , quality restaurant with service of a high standard. We had Baked Orange Roughy; wonderful. Whilst the food and service are good the prices are, in our view, too high!
WAVES ON ESPLANADE. A very good motel; well worth a stop over.
KAIKOURA BAY, EARLY IN THE MORNING
THE MAYFAIR MOVIE THEATRE. A stunning building-we love it.
THE WHITE MORPH RESTAURANT (On the Esplanade)
THE WHITE MORPH. Excellent , quality restaurant with service of a high standard. We had Baked Orange Roughy; wonderful. Whilst the food and service are good the prices are, in our view, too high!
THE PICTON FERRY
After our Wellington stay we head South to Kaikoura via the Picton Ferry
It has been 30 years since we took the ferry to Picton. Not much has changed; maybe the coffee and food are better but it is still a long wait to get the car on and the seats are still in poor condition. The good news is the views in the Sounds are still spectacular and it is well worthwhile the wait and the average facilities.
John and the magnificent Sounds
Wonderful scenery (foreground and background)
It has been 30 years since we took the ferry to Picton. Not much has changed; maybe the coffee and food are better but it is still a long wait to get the car on and the seats are still in poor condition. The good news is the views in the Sounds are still spectacular and it is well worthwhile the wait and the average facilities.
John and the magnificent Sounds
Wonderful scenery (foreground and background)
Monday, February 11, 2008
DINNER WITH WARWICK AND PRISCILLA IN WELLINGTON
After a brilliant weekend in Napier with Frank and Rose Fillary we drove to Wellington and caught up with dear old friend Warwick Woodward. Warwick is "Mr Jazz" and has a collection of over 7000 LP's CD's and DVD's. It was great to see our old mate enjoying life with his partner of just one year, Priscilla. They make a great couple and we met over a Thai diiner in Cambridge Terrace in John's home town.
JOHN, AFTER A LONG BUT ENJOYABLE DAY
JT RELAXING AFTER THE DRIVE FROM NAPIER
WARWICK
WARWICK
WARWICK AND PRISCILLA
JOHN, AFTER A LONG BUT ENJOYABLE DAY
JT RELAXING AFTER THE DRIVE FROM NAPIER
WARWICK
WARWICK
WARWICK AND PRISCILLA
Friday, February 8, 2008
LUNCH at MISSION WINERY NAPIER
Our Napier hosts Frank and Rose Fillary turned on a wonderful lunch at THE MISSION WINERY. The food was tasty and the wine (after the initial strong taste on first
sip) was ideal for our light lunch. Baked Blue Nose fish was the preferred main, and excellent it was.
THE MISSION FRONT ENTRANCE
JOHN & JT WITH VINEYARD IN BACKGROUND
THE MISION VINEYARD
OUR LUNCHEN WINE
JOHN, FRANK AND JT WITH MAIN MISSION LAWN IN BACKGROUND
FRANK, ROSE AND JT
THE VIEW FROM THE FILLARY'S WESTSHORE HOME
THE VIEW FROM THE FILLARY'S WESTSHORE HOME
JOHN, ROSE AND JT AT NAPIER SOUNDSHELL
ROSE, JT and FRANK AT NAPIER SOUNDSHELL
THE VIEW FROM THE FILLARY'S WESTSHORE HOME
sip) was ideal for our light lunch. Baked Blue Nose fish was the preferred main, and excellent it was.
THE MISSION FRONT ENTRANCE
JOHN & JT WITH VINEYARD IN BACKGROUND
THE MISION VINEYARD
OUR LUNCHEN WINE
JOHN, FRANK AND JT WITH MAIN MISSION LAWN IN BACKGROUND
FRANK, ROSE AND JT
THE VIEW FROM THE FILLARY'S WESTSHORE HOME
THE VIEW FROM THE FILLARY'S WESTSHORE HOME
JOHN, ROSE AND JT AT NAPIER SOUNDSHELL
ROSE, JT and FRANK AT NAPIER SOUNDSHELL
THE VIEW FROM THE FILLARY'S WESTSHORE HOME
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