Clare n Robs Kiwi Adventures: The 'Sisters' New Zealand Road Trip Adventure

My Sister, Hels, has been visiting for 3 weeks. We managed to sneak a 2 day girlie trip across the ditch to Sydney for some sun, shopping and sightseeing and lots of photo taking!!!! We flew from Auckland to Wellington and then took the Ferry far too early in the morning across the Cook Strait to the South Island. We drove to Hanmer Springs where we relaxed in the Hot Pools surrounded by Mountains and snow until we resembled wrinkled prunes. After a massage in the Spa we headed off down the Rainy West Coast to Franz Josef where I freaked Hels out by dragging her down a dark secluded lane at night to see the Glow worms!!!!! We then made our way through the Stunning Haast Pass to Beautiful Wanaka to meet up with Rob, Nicki, Rich, Emma and Zach, Bryan and Charlotte. We stayed in a Holday Home surrounded by mountains. We ventured up to Cardrona along the scariest Mountain Road with no snow chanins and if that wasnt scary enough, attempted to throw ourselves down the mountain on a pair of skis but were forced off the Mountain by a severe snow storm and had to return home down the even more snowy road for more Mulled Wine........damn. Emma, who is 6, managed to whip Robs ass as Bowling on the Wii!!!!! We took a day trip to Queenstown and it was just stunning as it was covered in snow. We ventured up the Gondola for a snowy panoramic photo opportunity but could not see further than the end of our noses and stepped out into knee deep snow!!!!! After a fun-filled 5 days in Wanaka we made our way back up the South Island and after a very rough Ferry crossing where I discovered that I do actually suffer from sea-sickness, we arrived back in Wellington where Hels enjoyed her last couple of days in the Southern Hemisphere visiting our Seal Colony and taking a ride on the Cable Car. I was sad to say Goodbye but we have many good memories and lots of photos!!!!!! We also managed to drink our Body Weight in Hot Chocolate!!!!!

SKIING AT CARDRONA

'WHEN MOUNTAINS GO BAD'

APRES SKI!!!!

ANYONE FOR A PICNIC?

ROB DECIDED IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO DRIVE OVER THE CROWN RANGE BETWEEN WANAKA AND QUEENSTOWN WITH NO SNOW CHAINS!!!! ITS OK WE HAVE 4WD - YEAH RIGHT!!!!!