New Zealand - here we come

In our good tradition, we did not plan a lot in advance. So much so, that when we wanted to check in at the airport in Brisbane and were asked for outgoing ticket from New Zealand we had none.  Actually, at that point we were not sure where we wanted to go (this was supposed to be decided in New Zealand). We are sure only very professional training kept the astonishment from the face of the Virgin employee. So, we had 45 minutes to decide where and when we want to go after New Zealand. And the luck winner is New Caledonia in April 13^th (just don’t ask why…). Another minor detail – we arrived without any accommodation booked (that must sound familiar by now…). To be honest, landing in Christchurch on the south island was also a mere draw of the cheapest ticket (hey, they did have a special offer!) than careful planning. No surprise than that we (again) found ourselves  stranded on the airport on the first night (we really should start to plan these things in advance).

We knew New Zealand will be colder, but did not really register on the rational level. But, this time luck was on our side in every way possible (hope that wasn’t it for this leg of the journey)! First, flight from Australia was delayed for 4 hours and Christchurch airport didn’t close for the night – especially as we had NO warm weather clothing of any kind, having spent last 8 months in heat wave after heat wave locations. It felt like the coldest night we ever had (sure it was quite balm in the airport by any normal standard). Luckily, we did have a rent-a-car (another courtesy of 4 hour delay in Brisbane – we are getting there!). So, accommodation in Christchurch. Acclimatizing in nice, warm room for a few days sounded like music to our completely frozen ears. We even managed to move our toes! Until (sure you guessed what is coming next) we found out that 2 years after the devastating earthquake, which levelled city centre, there is little accommodation available. NONE vacant for the next week or so. And again we found refuge in the form of a rent a car and drove away to the closest accommodation available some 150km away. And this would be in the mountains (still can remember why we decided to go an even cooler place first).

Not all was bad luck on day One. As we were making our retreat out of the city we passed Kathmandu outdoors clothing outlet store with end of the season 70% discount sign. Yes, baby! We will be warm after all!. With smiles, we put on shoes (some tears there as well – our feet got used to flip-flops) and warm jackets for the first time since leaving Ireland.

Even after being in the country for a few hours we noticed good few things that we loved about it. People are sitting in cafes and restaurants and not running around or working out. Maybe because food and wine are significantly cheaper than in Australia, or its just because they enjoy life? We even managed to go to the toilet without seeing sign for help-line for depression (normal occurrence in Australia). Bush flies (none to be seen here!) almost made us use the phone number to think of it… People we met had smiles on their faces and were happy to chat. 

Yeah, think we are going to like it here!