Sue's South Island NZ trip 1972

Auckland-Wellington-Christchurch 29 Feb 1972

My first trip away from home! I was 18 and I booked a coach tour around the South Island.

Flight left Auckland at 7.30am. I was late! Arrived in Wellington minus my luggage. Never mind, it came on the next flight. Got a coach into the city and spent the day looking round all the shops. Wandered up to Broadcasting House, Parliament Buildings, the Railway Station and the Wharves. Caught a bus back to the Airport and left at 5.30pm and arrived in Christchurch where I was met by a Trans Tours representative. Had a whole mini-bus to myself except for two driver-guides. Arrived at the Trans Hotel, had dinner and went to bed.

Hari-Hari 1 March 1972

Left the hotel at about 9am. Went all round the city and saw the lovely gardens and old buildings. Stopped at Springfield for afternoon tea, then on to Arthur's Pass where we had lunch at the Chalet Restaurant. Lovely view coming down through the Pass. Stopped at Hokitika on the West Coast. Went through the Greenstone factory there - also the museum (in a hurry) with its relics of the goldmining days. Followed the Tasman Sea down the coast to Hari-Hari where we stayed the night. I shared a room with Mrs Wyatt.

Beside the Avon River

Arthur's Pass

Haast 2 March 1972

Left Hari-Hari at 9am. Weather a bit dull but fine and all the clouds disappeared later and it was a beautiful day. Arrived at Franz Josef at about 10am. We all got our heavy boots and sticks and a guide took us up the glacier. Fantastic experience walking over all that ice. Had lunch at Franz Josef Hotel, then on down the coast, after having a look at the view from the alter of St James' Church. Lovely views of the coastline, expecially from Knights Point. Even saw some seals! Came down the Haast Rd to Haast Hotel for the night. It's not finished outside, but lovely inside. Roomed with Mrs Wyatt again.

Queenstown 3 March 1972

Left Haast at 9am. Went through the Gates of Haast and through to the store on the other side. Stopped and got icecreams etc. and went on past Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea to the town of Wanaka for lunch. Had a look round down by the water then we all went on to Arrowtown, a small picturesque goldmining town. Spent a lovely hour looking through the museum and souvenir shop. Had afternoon tea at the Stone Cottage. On to Queenstown to the Trans Holiday Hotel. Had a lovely meal then went into the lounge where a dance was being held. Didn't stay too long - had to get up in the morning!

Queenstown 4 March 1972

Had a whole day to spare in Queenstown. In the morning I went on a mini-bus to Skippers Canyon, an old mining settlement on the Shotover River. There's not much of the settlement left but the scenery was beautiful. Saw a gold miner operating his sluice down below us. Came back to the hotel for lunch, then took a launch trip on the "Moana" across Lake Whakatipu to Walter Peak sheep station. There is an old house which belonged to Colonel McKenzie which has been restored and is full of antiques. Saw the dogs working some sheep and cattle. After dinner I sat up and talked till late. The men bought me a couple of drinks.

Te Anau 5 March 1972

Left Queenstown at about 9am. Travelled alongside the "Earnslaw" on the way to Kingston and there some of our group went on the "Kingston Flyer", a vintage train, and we picked them up at Five Rivers. We arrived at Te Anau in time for lunch. At 3pm I went for a ride in a Hamilton Jet-boat across the lake and down the Waiou River. It was a great ride. Came back and wandered round the lake, then had dinner. After that I went back to my room and wrote a letter and a card. Went out to post them and got way-laid by the House Manager who bought me a drink and then invited me to the lounge. Late bedtime.

Milford Sound 6 March 1972

Early start in the morning. Long drive from Te Anau, through the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Some spectacular scenery on the way. Stopped at the Cascade Lodge for morning tea. Got on the launch at Milford and went for a trip through the Sound and out to the Tasman Sea. Lovely trip and we had a smorgasbord lunch on board. Had a short while to look around Milford then a long drive back. Some flew back. Tried to go early to my room because I wanted to wash my hair, but others wouldn't let me! Got to bed about 11pm.

Invercargill 7 March 1972

Left Te Anau and drove to Lake Manapouri, then on to Invercargill in time for lunch at the Don Lodge. In the afternoon Dennis (the driver) took the bus to Bluff so most of us went too. I went for a short paddle from the rocks and then we went up the top of the hill from where we had an excellent view of Stewart Island and Bluff. Came back to the Lodge for dinner. Some of the others went shopping but I went next-door to look at Dennis' paintings (?). Watched TV for a while then I went to bed.

Oamaru 8 March 1972

Left Invercargill early in the morning and travelled almost non-stop to Dunedin. We did stop at The Mill House for morning tea and had tea and cakes. A lovely place. Had lunch in Dunedin at the Leviathan Hotel and then went across the road to look through the Early Settlers Museum, which was very interesting. Dunedin is a lovely old town.

On to Oamaru where we stayed the night at the Brydone Hotel - oldest place we've stayed at and it was very comfortable. Met a boy in the lounge after dinner and he took me for a drive round Oamaru and bought me a drink when we got back.

Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo 9 March 1972

Left Oamaru heading for Mount Cook. On the way we stopped to have a quick look at the dams on the Waitaki River, having morning tea at Benmore, then on to the Glencoe Motor Lodge at Mt Cook for lunch. Had a quick look at The Hermitage and then Dennis took the bus down to the airfield. I went up in a Cessna 185 with Irene Erdmann. We landed on the Tasman Glacier and had a play fight with the snow, taking photos of each other. Terrific flight - I really enjoyed it. Went on to Lake Tekapo for the night. Dennis and I played 8 games of pool after dinner.

Benmore Dam

Christchurch 10 March 1972

Left Tekapo at 9am. Stopped to look at the little stone church here, beside which is the famous statue of a collie dog. Went to look at the Maori rock drawings at Frenchman's Gully. Stopped to feed some red deer. We at morning tea at Fairlie and had a look at another beautiful stone church, then on the Holme Station for lunch in a very old house. Drove on to Christchurch stopping at Ashburton for afternoon tea. As we got nearer to Christchurch it started to rain and when we got to the Airport we found that all the other Airports except Auckland were closed, so there was chaos!. Never mind - everyone got settled in at a hotel. I was at Aranui Motor Lodge.

Christchurch - Auckland 11 March 1972

Woke up bright and early - lovely morning. Dennis came to take some people to the Airport and said goodbye to me. I said my goodbyes to those of the group who hadn't already left and then I waited with Phyllis Beales for a mini-bus to take us to the City Air Centre. Walked round the town. Went up in the Cathedral steeple, looked through the Museum and the Botanical Gardens. Went to catch the Airport bus at 4.25pm. Saw Dennis again at the terminal and stopped and had a chat. Got to the gate and the flight was delayed almost 2 hours. When I got to Auckland there was no-one to meet me, so rang home and Dad met me in the city.