From Christchurch to Omarama - the 1st day in New Zealand

24th January 2014 I'm here!

New Zealand is now finally very far away from Europe and with a 12-hour time difference, the calculation is easier than in Sydney (10 hours).

It's almost half past one in the morning when I finally leave the airport of Christchurch.

For a smooth 40 NZ dollars, I drive less than 10 minutes to the hotel. I was worried that no one would be there, but the guy kindly waited for me. I get the key, a quarter liter of milk so I can make myself a coffee, and then I'm finally alone in my tiny room. It's a bit dated, but has freshly ironed bed linen and is clean. In a small wardrobe, there is a colorful mix of dishes, a kettle, and there's also a microwave and a fridge.

In the sink, there are separate taps, which I last saw in England in the seventies. I fall into bed without brushing my teeth, set the alarm for 7.30 a.m. because I won't be showering either, and I sleep until 6 a.m. when it gets light.

The friendly motel guy arranges a taxi for me and at 8.20 a.m. I'm already back at the airport, this time at Europcar to pick up my car.

The little red one in the shade...and my bag.

I don't need an international driver's license, just like I didn't need proof of my assets yesterday. Well, that's what they say and write. My car is a cute Suzuki Swift and I approach the vehicle with respect, it's all on the wrong side.

The little red car has the perfect license plate for me, starting with HAR... :) The trunk is tailor-made for my bag and I sit in the car and take a deep breath. The parking lot is not suitable for driving practice in left-hand traffic (because it's the size of 3 times my living room) so I follow a car in front of me. I have activated my navigation system on my phone. In the first roundabout, which is 50m after the parking lot exit, I drive in circles several times before I dare to exit. But it's going quite well. I drive on the Highway 1 heading south, there would be a smaller, probably more beautiful country road inland, but I think I'm challenged enough here on the straight road for now. I pass a sweater shop with alpacas and after only 20km I have already bought two sweaters. Finally, I see a McDonald's. Quickly grab a bagel, a coffee for breakfast, and keep driving.

Driving on the left side is quite okay. At first, I always drive behind trucks or buses because they drive slowly and that way I don't stand out. I take the Highway 1, which may not be the most scenic route, but it's the easiest for beginners. Brown hills are on the right, with plenty of meadows and more cows than sheep. The sun is shining, that's the main thing, and the navigation system on my phone is also good and working. Turning is a bit tricky. When leaving the driveway of the sweater shop, I have to concentrate on turning left and NOT crossing to the other side of the road, but staying on the side I am on. When indicating, I like to operate the left lever on the steering wheel, but that's the windshield wiper. So that's different too. While driving, I want to clean the window with the washer-wiper system, but pulling the right lever only makes me flash the high beam. I don't know how many drivers coming towards me or in front of me were surprised by that...

At some point, I turn off the Highway 1 onto a smaller country road, which now runs towards the mountains and then closer to them. Around me are meadows, meadows, meadows. It's really beautiful. Next to me is a snow-capped peak. That must be Mount Harper. There is almost no traffic here, no campers or anything. Very pleasant for driving.

The first highlight I reach is Lake Tekapo (emphasis on the last syllable: Teka-Pó), which becomes visible after reaching a hill and driving down in a curve. Such blue color! Unbelievable!!! The road runs right along the lake and I drive up to the old Chapel of the Good Shepherd, which is picturesque on a hill above the lake. The lake is beautiful, in the distance are snow-capped peaks - tears come to my eyes at the sight. This is New Zealand!

The old Church of the Good Shepherd is closed due to a wedding, but it doesn't matter. I walk around a bit, take photos, marvel, and then drive briefly to the other side of a small bay. More photos. In a shop around the corner, I find a red cozy woolen jacket, again made from possum and merino wool. A stuffed possum sits in the shop. Quite large animal. Apparently, they're a nuisance here, and so there is enough of their cozy fur and there's no need to breed them. Instead, they process them into sweaters and socks, contributing to the control of the possum population. Because of the fur in the merino wool, the clothes are partly interwoven with shimmering threads.

Next door is a post office and I buy 25 stamps. With the sun shining, I continue driving and after about 50 km, I reach Lake Pukaki.

In between, you have a fantastic panorama of the mountain ranges on the left and right, with the mostly straight road in between. Wild Lupins in all colors and of course sheep, sheep, sheep, along the roadside. Just don't count them, so I won't fall asleep!

Lake Pukaki looks bigger than Lake Tekapo and just before reaching the small town, you can see the massif of Mount Cook (Aoraki in the Maori language), the highest mountain in New Zealand. It's over 3,700m high. Although it's already almost half past four, I decide to take the road on the western shore, which leads towards Mount Cook Village. Almost the entire way to the end of the road, you drive right along Lake Pukaki and have the panorama of Mount Cook in front of you. A beautiful drive. In the small ski resort Mount Cook Village, there's nothing to do and some architectural sins have already been committed here too.

A police officer recommends that I drive and walk to Lake Mueller. So I continue a little further. I really hope I can leave here before it gets dark because I still have to go to Twizel, which is now about 60 km away. It got dark around 8 p.m. in Sydney. Now it's already around 6 p.m... So I drive another 8 km and walk a little trail that ends above the glacier lake Lake Mueller. The colors are amazing, in a pale gray-green, and behind it is the massif of Mount Cook. The sun is shining, but it's windy. I'm glad I'm wearing a fleece jacket.

Lake Mueller

Above Lake Mueller

I take photos and start chatting with a New Zealand couple who just returned from a hike. We walk back to the parking lot while chatting and at 6.30 p.m., I get back in the car. Now quickly back towards Twizel.

The town is tiny and somewhat lifeless. But I see a motel. Vacancy! Hurrah, I think. Unfortunately, the guy forgot to update his sign - he's fully booked. So I continue. Next motel. Also full. The whole Twizel seems to be fully booked, I should drive to Omarama, which is only 20 minutes away. The name of the town is already funny, but it's not pronounced Oma-Rama, but O-ma-ra-ma with the emphasis on the 'a'.

So I sit in the car at half past seven and drive to Omarama. Hopefully, there are also motels there. At the entrance to the town, I see something on the left that looks like an old abandoned motel. I drive into the town, which seems to consist of a gas station and a campsite. I ask at the campground because they also rent motel rooms here. Fully booked. I drive to a motel. 115 dollars and no internet available and the woman at the reception is a witch. Hhhm... I see a hotel and it's supposed to cost 145 dollars - no internet. On the outskirts of the town is the Holiday xy Motel, which could be cheaper. I suspect that this was the thing I saw at the entrance. And that's indeed the case. But now I'm so exhausted that I take the room for 125 dollars + 7 dollars for internet.

It's big but a bit worn out. A Chinese group storms the restaurant, and I join them. Except for the group and me, there are no other guests to be seen here. I fall hungrily on the buffet of poor quality and have a beer. I think I need a New Zealand wine to finish, but it tastes absolutely terrible. I'm the only guest left in the restaurant after 45 minutes, so I move my stuff to the bar next door, where I'm also the only one. Shortly before 10 p.m., the sun sets outside, noticeably later than in Sydney - at 10.30 p.m., the grumpy bartender closes the bar. I try to download my photos in the room and fall into bed just before midnight. I'm pretty exhausted.

My only power outlet in the room becomes a technology center, and I'm glad I have my 3-way power strip with me.

Driving distance: 440km