Elephant Rocks, Mt Cook and the Lakes

Kia Ora from the South Island of New Zealand.

We headed inland towards Mt Cook but first we found these Elephant Rocks in Otago near Duntroon.

These are on private land but the farmer allows access.

There was even a lad doing some rock climbing complete with soft landing pad.

 We happened to pass through Duntroon on a Sunday, I saw the forge flame from the road and doubled back to check out this local Blacksmith Shop. It's kept running by locals who also run workshops for other locals to learn black smithing.

The two with the overalls were the students for the day, they also pump the bellows, so by the end of the day with all the hammering I'm sure your arms will be feeling it!

Below was another 1937 Morris8. 

My first car....oh them's were the days!

We drove around the loop road at the back of Lake Avemore and Benmore.

Lots of no camping signs up on these backroads, with a lot of council campgrounds, 

charging $25 per night for virtually no facilities 

Onwards to Lake Pukaki, on such a day, with a full view of Mt Cook at the end of the lake

This is the Hermitage Hotel, I last visited in the 80's and was keen to see if anything had changed

Below is the toilets inside the Hermitage, a novel idea to replace the sinks

There is a Doc camping ground 3klms up the road at the Hooker Valley but a quick drive around the camp revealed no room at 2pm in the afternoon, so we headed back down to the lake.

 This is a new self contained park free for everyone with views down the valley to Mt Cook

 The Alps 2 Ocean bike trail runs along the camp and lake side....Man ... this area and its beauty must encourage more and more tourists to come see NZ

Below is Patterson Ponds, it is very near the Tekapo Canal

I got the Uni off the front of the bus and rode down the canal road,

 another thing ticked of my bucket list.

 This is Burkes Pass, which looked an interesting place, certainly has character, almost like it was straight out of an American cowboy movie set!

We headed back to Geraldine, this time checking out a park called Peski's.

What great spot with a very active happy hour.

I was also checking out a vehicle for my brother-in-law who had spotted a Classic car for sale in Geraldine, and it was not till I got there that I realised I knew the people. Brian and Jean Hall used to live in Upper Moutere. Jean has a collection of lace, both hers and her grandmother's. All this is hand made and very well displayed in her house and most impressive.

Where they found the time to do this very detailed intricate work in those days before all the modern appliances we have today, beats me!

Geraldine also has its own veteran and vintage car and tractor museum. Well worth a visit, it's run by a club of around 85 members. The day I visited, the bloke on the desk was very chatty and had lots of stories about the cars and the characters involved.

These are old movie projectors, the second one is for silent movies

Be quiet ...it’s a silent movie ...you know!

The Overflow "collectables" shop in Mayfield was closed when we visited, but was told by locals it's a unique shop. From the outside and to the right (the outside yard), the Overflow has its own overflow.

We will return!

Next we headed for the West Coast and through Arthur's Pass, which will be on the next blog.

Till then stay safe, have fun and be creative!

Jimu & Christine.