Coddiwomple Stargate 180202

I know I didn't think I would do another blogg until we went on our cruise. A few things have happened and I wanted to record it for my future when I'm 95 in my rocking chair and dreaming of the wonderful life I have been blessed with.

We left Snowy Waters Lodge on the 30^th of January. We had only been there for 9 nights but we both enjoyed our time there. We were very much made to feel like part of Cheryl, Steve and there 4-year-old daughter Parahi family. Our duties there were varied. I helped with cleaning, bed making, BBQ diners and maintenance. I even renovated their laundry. Sharon’s duties were bed making, cleaning and salads for the guest meals. When we left on the Stray bus up to Auckland with our driver Happy which we had before between Queenstown and Mt Cook. We found it very sad to be leaving. We both are enjoying our travels and meeting some great people, but we are finding it is all to unhappy to be saying goodbye all the time.

Spent the night in Auckland at The Crown on Cintra Lane again then on to the Skybus to take us to Auckland airport where we flew down to Dunedin. It may sound a bit strange to head North to Auckland before flying to the South Island but the airflights were only $72.50 each.

Once at Dunedin Sharon had booked us on an InterCity Bus to get us to Invercargill which is 185km away. The bus fairs were only $22 each. We arrived at Dunedin Airport at 4.00pm our bus was due at 5.30pm. Just before 5.00pm I decided to check our bus ticket and realised Sharon had booked our bus for the 31^st Dec 2017. Now in total panic I rang InterCity to see if we could still get on the 5.30pm bus. I was informed the bus was full and had already been to the airport at 2.00pm. Next bus was due in 22 hours. We had accommodation booked, air flights booked to get to us too Stewart Island and meant to start work on Friday. We had a turbulent flight to Dunedin and Sharon was feeling sick and we just did not know what to do. It was to late to change all our bookings and lose our payments. I was going to see how much a taxi would cost or hitch hike. Then it occurred to us to hire a car and just drive there. Because we were only going one way we had to pay a premium. After paying $279 we were on our way to Invercargill in an overpriced Yaris. The Yaris only used 13 litres of fuel but at $2.12 a litre it cost us $29.

Wednesday was a very hot day by New Zealand standards it reached 32 degrees c. By the time we reached our accommodation at Invercargill it was pouring down with rain and the temperature had quickly dropped below 20 degrees c. Having the car saved us from walking in the rain from the bus stop.

Thursday woke to a very cold wet day. Having the car saved us again from a drenching. We drove and bought breakfast, then out to the airport for our flight at 12.00pm on Stewart Island Flights.

The flight was running late due to the bad weather. When we finally boarded the very small 10 seat plane, it was still raining and strong winds so a little wet by the time we were in the plane. Once in the plane I was given a tea towel because the roof of the plane was leaking. I started to think of all those novels I had read. The first chapter starts out by describing the condition of the plane and by the second chapter disaster had struck. Once down the runway with water pouring through the roof rain lashing the windows and wind coming from all directions we became airborne to a very turbulent flight that should have only taken 15mins but stretched out to 25mins of absolutely the worst flight we have ever been on. ( Sharon’s bit: my hand luggage was wedged between my legs with no room to manoeuvre…we were told the life jackets were under our seats, my thought was that if the plane went down  A: I wouldn’t be able to get to it anyway and B: we weren’t that far off the ground we wouldn’t have time to get the bloody things on anyway!!...I’ve read to many of those books also!!)Just before we touched down the wind had knocked the plane sideways by about 45 degrees. The pilot quickly put us back on course and we were finally down. I have never been so grateful to be back on firm ground. Our pilot must be commended with the conditions he was put under. Sharon had just managed to keep her stomach under control.

Once off the plane it was onto a shuttle bus into Oban and then a short walk to Stewart Island Backpackers where we will be for the next 2 months. Once we arrived at the backpackers we found the ferries had be cancelled for the day and the backpackers were absolutely full to capacity with stranded passengers.

Friday morning was much better weather wise. We didn’t have to start work until 9.30am. I decided to go for a walk behind the backpackers. There is a trail that takes you over small bridges streams and through beautiful native bush. Plenty of birds to listen to. It ended up near a bay where the most southern house in New Zealand is. It feels great to be back here. Then on to the backpackers to start our first day of work.

This was our view from our room at Snowy Water Lodge

Our Accommodation Stewart Island. Top floor first room on the left.