Big Fish

We arrived at Paynes Ford in torrential rainfall which consequently meant the climbing routes were dripping. The best solution to sitting fustrated drinking coffee and beer all day was to drive 5 hours to Kaikoura on the East Coast near Christchurch to go Whale Watching.

We were aboard a fastcat boat, captained by a man whom appeared to know the whales every move by either listening to them underwater or by radio from the planes flying overhead. We saw 4 sperm whales on the surface and doing their tail lifting dives. The average number of sightings in 2 a trip so we felt very excited and lucky.

We also saw a pod of Dusky Dolphins whom were too shy for photos and some New Zealand Furry Seals.

Wanaka and West Coast

We had 3 fantastic days in Wanaka. The sky was clear blue every day and with all the autumnal colours of the trees the views were spectacular.

Lake Wanaka

We climbed trad and sports routes in the valley of Mount Aspiring National Park on pretty good Schiste rock. Jo strangely developed a head for leading and lead her hardest route 17 on bolts and 15 on trad. Maybe there are some side effects to bungy jumping.

We also decided to go tramping in true NZ style. Only a day's walk but published to take up to 11 hours. It started up hill to the 1500m peak of Mount Roy then across the Summit track and down through a creek. It took us only 6 hours but this was long enough when we only had 1.5 litres of water between us. We hitched a lift with another traveller to get back to the car then started the drive across to the west coast.

View from the summit

After a full days driving up the west coast past the Fox and Frans Josef Glaciers and following coastal roads that could rival the Great Ocean Road in Aus we parked up for the night in a lay by and watched the sunset.

A perfect evening with a cold beer watching the sunset

and the sand flies biting your ankles.

Queenstown Fun

Queenstown is not only known for it's adrenaline sports but also being incredibly beautiful, hence fit for a queen. We spent the evenings watching to sunset light up the Remarkable mountains over the lake from the $7 per person per night Department of Conservation Campground.

We spent a few days in Queenstown climbing at Wye Creek and fixing the flat tyre that we had no tools for (it keeps happening to me in vans, hey Dad!). But we also got our fix of real adrenaline by bungy jumping 47m at Kawarauo Bridge in the morning and then taking a jet boat ride around the Kawarauo Gorge in the afternoon. Unfortunately the budget (or our frugal ways) meant no souvenir photos or video.

Turn your head and you'll see what we did!

Both activities were awesome (and I only save that word for special occasions).

Around South Island

In between climbing trips we have driven far to see some of the better sights of South Island. We drank coffee and counted Patagonia downees in Dunedin and saw some Albatross chicks at the Royal Albatross Center on the Otago Pennisular. Then after a cold night in the van we had breakfast by the large fish.

Not really one of the better sights but big and one of the better photos!

Then drove through 3 inches of snow to Te Anau and then onto Milford Sound which was very beautiful. A boat ride took us around the sound to look at the cliffs and waterfalls with a stop at the underwater observatory to see some real fish.

Christchurch, Castle Hill and down.

So we spent a few days in Christchurch and finally hired a campavan for our 2 months in New Zealand. Spent a day climbing at Mt Pleasent and Britten Crag in the hot sun - thought it was going to be cold here.

The very English Christchurch punting.Our Jucy Crib that we had for 2 nights before getting our bigger van.

On our way up to Castle Hill we went home (sort of).

Then to Castle Hill. Flock Hill, Quantum Fields and Spittle Hill were explored - very similar to Font - lime not sandstone, grass field not sandy forest, no crowds or polished holds.

Getting down from the Castle Hill boulders can somethimes be the exciting part.Our Jucy Cruiza - a Toyota HiAce in one of the free nightstops.

The Palm trees and view from Hanging Rock Crag near Timaru.

Bouldering in the mist at Hulk Hogan, near Duntroon.

We are now at Dunedin having spent some time yesterday at Long Beach (did a bit of climbing there too).

Goodbye Melbourne

We had a ball. Thanks for all the friendship.

Gotta keep truckin'

New Zealand here we come...

You know its the right time to leave Arapiles when...

Stu working his magicon Voodoo 19

Easter weekend and off to Arapiles almost the whole of the climbing Melbourne community goes. The Pines campsite was packed, think free Font campsite on Easter weekend during foot and mouth year.

I had the best of weekend. On Friday I managed High Dive second go - my first 23 lead on trad gear. Did some other good ones on Sat, then pulled it out and climbed Oresties second go on Sunday (I got suck first go while putting in the gear and could not move) - my first 24 on trad gear.

The botton part of Oresties 24
Mid way and on the top traverse of Oresties

Sunday afternoon I managed to talk Mark into climbing with me even though the sun was out as it was my last day climbing at Arapiles. We soloed ?? up the front of the Watchtower, ran down, soloed Watchtower Chimney (12), ran down and ran up Skink (18) in two long pitches. Excellent fun! BUT the strangest thing...

Back in November Jo and mines first climb in Australia was Watchtower Crack, we had a good climb but it rained quite hard when I was leading the top pitch. Now, then I was sat at the top of Skink belaying Mark a lone dark cloud came over and large drops of rain fell for 3 mins or so. Others were there, I'm not making this up.
This was at the top of my first climb in Oz (and so Arapilies) and the top of my last climb at Arapiles as we are off to New Zealand soon.
Is this a freak event or what? (and if its what, what is what?)
Time to leave Arapiles.

I had to leave a day before everyone else (including Jo) to go to work on Easter Monday.

Photos will of course be added when Jo arrives back with my camera.

Doing some sums...

So what have we been spending the last 7 months doing?

Since leaving England 219 days ago the stats so far are:
108 days Traveling & Sightseeing = 49%
73 days climbing (331 pitches) = 33%
33 days working = 15%
5 days diving = 2%

Humm, feels like we've been working all the time at the moment but it appears we have no grounds to complain.

The Australian F1 Grand Prix

So another 'while I'm away traveling' ticked off the list. And what a great day it was too.
Being very hot and sunny the announcements kept saying you must keep hydrated, so down went a beer or two. The pre F1 races were strange but a good spot was found (even with our cheep tickets) at the exit to corner two. We saw crashes and cheered Lewis Hamilton to victory.

Photos will follow when i get around to it.

Loving and Loathing - the Mount Buffalo weekend.

After two weeks of working we get a three day weekend off. So at last we take advantage of the hot weather forecast and drive up to the alpine Mount Buffalo.

Really good to see a new area, excellent campsite (with running water and Hot showers!) and classic stared routes to be climbed.

All the climbs that followed cracks and dykes were much fun ( or so I thought) but the prodominant slabs were a horror show - four carrot bolts in 30m of rough cheese grating granite with only 'padding' holds anyone?

Anyway, we just about coped and added another crag to our global list of ticks.

Mark belaying Meg on a grade 20 slab.

Mark near the top of a grade 22 arete. The dyke flake on the right was an excellent 19.

Me, at the top of the same 22 arete - hard bit done but still pooing myself with the friction slab top out (the last bolt being at least 10m below!).