Kepler Track

May the 3rd, start of the Kepler track, 2 nights planned.
Quentin and me started walking from the DOC at 8.30. and arrived at the first hutt around noon.
After lunch, we decided that the weather was worth continuing walking to the next hutt. The next day was not as promising.

However, I arrived when it was almost complete dark after maybe 8 and half hours walk completely ruined.
Luckily, the end of the track is fairly flat.
On the second day, instead of staying in the big hutt (40 beds?), we continued with Katarina and Mélanie to a smaller hutt (6 beds) 40 minutes away. We met them the night before during "dinner".

I spent almost all the night slapping myself because of all the mosquitoes and sandflies.
On the last day, I walked until Rainbow Reach and got off the track to hitchhike back to Te Anau.
I was not lucky and had to walk for more than an hour until 2 Americans picked me up.

More pictures here

April in New Zealand

I spent the first week driving from Dunedin to Cromwell.
I have seen nice rounded hills and empty roads for a while.

Once in Alexandra, I checked again if I could find some work during the grape harvest season.
I did find some and I started on the 8th.
But before that, I played golf in Clyde and seen Cromwell's old town.

I spent 2 weeks harvesting grapes, for a total of 1140$.

After those 2 weeks, I spent one more week in Cromwell in order for my back to recover. I also wanted to wait for the end of the month so I could drive to Te Anau and inquire how I could do some Great Walks in the area.
May is the start of the off peak season and nights in the hutts of Milford Track drop from 55$ to 15$. Quite cheaper, and you do not have to book, so you can wait to be sure there will be nice weather when you get on the track.

Only in New Zealand

You might see a sandwich like that for lunch: french fries between 2 white bread slices.

It was organized by a kiwi during my 2 weeks of grape picking in Cromwell.

No news but ...

something to listen to:

even if it has nothing to do with my job in in the wineyards.

Busy March

March started nicely in Queenstown followed by the east coast north of Dunedin.
However, after 8 days, shit started. The van did not pass the WOF and I stayed a week in Dunedin to make all repairs (couple thousands dollars!).

 

If you have (lots of) rust on your car, try to hide it with paint or be prepared to use your credit card.

 During my stay in Dunedin, I went to a rugby match between the Highlanders and the Hurricanes.

Once the van repaired, I departed south to the Catlins first for 2 nights, then to Invercargill.

When leaving Invercargill, I used the Southern Scenic Route west to go to Te Anau via Tuatapere.

Once in Te Anau, I Waited 3 nights in order to be sure that the weather would be great once in Milford Sound. I was not disapointed:

After those sunny days, I drove back because of a problem with my computer. The only JB hifi on the South Island is in Dunedin...
I managed to see the Otago Peninsula on a sunny day at last. The weather was crap 2 weeks ago.
Now, the plan would be to start the grape harvest in Alexandra. I hope they will contact me early next week.