Dropping Knowledge and Keys (The Moeraki Adventure)

When I left Oamaru I decided to take my time a bit more and took the scenic route down the coast to Moeraki. On this mini adventure I stopped by the sea a few times, enjoying the views but not as much as if it hadn’t been raining for most of the day. 

The recovered keys

Nice Chinese man

When I got to Moeraki I decided to pop to the “town” for a bite to eat. Hmmmm, well I think calling it a hamlet would still be a generous term. There is only one commercial premises, it is also quite famous supposedly. Fleur’s is a fish restaurant and it was very popular, tour buses showing up for lunch and drinks. Unfortunately not my cup of tea so headed to the Moeraki Boulders Cafe for my lunch. I found a little gap in the rain to go down to the beach to look at some rocks. They were pretty impressive, for those that don’t know what they are, they are spherical boulders that are just chilling in the sea (as the photos suggest). I wanted to be cool so ran into the sea to get a selfie on a stone, go me. Further down the beach I wanted to get a photo of the boulders from the sea so gracefully hopped onto one and got a couple of snaps, for the purpose of the story I will admit they weren’t even that good. It was only when I got back to the top of the hill and went to get my car keys that I found they weren’t there. As you can imagine, I shat myself! Not literally fortunately but it wasn’t a good feeling. I checked to make sure Sinbad was still there, which he was. I knew when they had fallen out, it was when I jumped off the rock back onto beach, I held onto my phone and my wallet to stop them falling out but forgot about the key, whoops. I headed back to the beach with all my fingers crossed, looking at the water all the way along. When I got to the boulder I jumped off a nice Chinese guy came up to me asking if these were my keys. Not sure he was expecting the hug but he seemed to appreciate it. They thought it had been in the sea for weeks!

Rock selfie

Rocks in water

The things you find in Trotters Gorge

I decided to buy something to make my keys a little more noticeable, they now have a Kiwi attached to them, a metal keyring rather than the animal or human. I then carried on down the coast to Dunedin. I made a few stops on the way, one was a place called Trotters Gorge, even now it makes me laugh. It sounds dirty. So I popped down Trotters Gorge to find a dark cave, not the most impressive of things, I couldn’t even fit in it! But there was a lot of undergrowth to get lost in. 

After finding my way out of Trotters Gorge and back onto a smooth surface I happened upon my first NZ pig, they love bacon but you never see pigs. I will admit, my pig wasn't exactly frolicking in the mud but I’m counting it!

Excuse me, my pig appears to be empty

Then I made it to Dunedin, at about the moment I found my campsite on the Otago peninsular it started to rain. That was a theme of Dunedin. But after the day that I had I was ready to chill out. I met an English couple who were very English and liked to have a few drinks so I obliged and drank away the evening.

Woodie’s Wisdom: DO NOT drop the keys to all of your belongings and house in the sea, it could lead to a cold and wet few days. 

Beautiful path in Trotters Gorge

Out of Christchurch and into the Great Beyond

So the ball ache of getting a car is finally over, Sinbad and I are out of Christchurch. I appreciate the help that I got from Richard and Gary at the Backpackers Car Market, they were honestly the most helpful people. I feel like I’m part of the crew now, I met the families and everything!

Gary, myself and Richard (and Sinbad)

My first night in Sinbad

It took me another 2 days to get the car finally sorted, it got booked in for some work which couldn’t be completed straight away. Another day at the Backpackers Car Market, I’m pretty sure they thought I was there to chat, was productive because I got some cheap sushi and made some friends. The sellers accepted my offer so I was able to spend my first night in Sinbad, albeit behind the garage, so I didn’t have to pay for more hostel time. As you can tell from the photo, Sinbad and I are going to get close over the next few months. Lucky Sinbad!

As part of my waiting time I was able to drive to Akaroa, the only French settlement in New Zealand. It’s very pretty and does fish and chips. The drive is over and around some lovely scenery. I did it in my rental car but it did feel like I was nearly free. In the evening I met up with a friend I had met (note to mum: she was called Larissa, from Australia and a friend girl), we went to a really nice tapas bar and we wanted to sit outside but it was bloody windy so compromised and sat by a fire!!!!! We chatted about how shitty Christchurch is if you are on your own and I heard the best relationship ending story that I’ve ever heard, the kind of story that Jezza Kyle makes his living. Unfortunately I won’t be sharing it with you so speculate all you like, I promise you it’s worse. Unless Jamie is speculating and then it’s not that bad.

The next morning the car was fixed up and all mine, it was time to rock and roll. I have never driven with such determination, I refused to stop to get any necessities until I was well and truly clear of bloody Christchurch. I am cleansing myself of the negativity tonight and will be all positive tomorrow. I do know regret this having had to wait to get to a town that serves food at the time I’m driving through

After I was free and clear and wasn’t going to get sucked back in to the black hole I started getting scenic. In New Zealand they have brown signs for anything of cultural interest as well as scenic routes. My plan was to do them all, after stopping at 3 lumps of stone I decided that maybe I should only stop at the ones that look interesting. 

A monument rock

A rock next to an old house

I even saw one crossing but
a German man shooed it away

I ended up driving to a place called Oamaru because I saw a sign that said penguins and who can turn down a penguin. When I arrived at the penguin hut it was about 8pm so I assumed that I had missed the viewings so thought about staying the night to see them the next day. However the nice lady said the best time to see them was the evening and they have a special show. So I signed up for that, got myself booked into a campsite and then popped back. Unfortunately you weren’t allowed to take any photos so you just have to believe me when I say that they were cute. I made friends with a family from near Bath and we supported the plucky underdog or should I say underpenguin. There was a little chap who we aptly named “Hop-along” because he only had one leg, it took him about 20 times as long to climb up the rocks but we supported him all the way. For the animal lovers among you they were Blue Penguins.

My morning view in Oamaru (it rhymes)

The penguin colony people said to check under your car before you leave because penguins think they are safe. At first I thought they were pulling my little stubby leg but on arriving back to the campsite, there were 3 penguins wandering around. And my little chums, I do have a photo (kind of) of that one. 

It's only a bloody penguin, apologies for the quality but it was pitch dark (thank you camera)

As my first official night in Sinbad I took the required snap of the car in his resting place but it doesn’t quite have the gravitas I was hoping for. I opened my sunroof and looked at the stars, it was such a relief after what had started to become a tedious time in Chch (when I read it I do just say chch).

Sinbad in his first spot, he hasn't broken down yet

Woodie's Wisdom: check out my Instagram to get the latest and vaguely up to date photos of my excitement (can someone explain this to mum). My handle is aptly named, woodieswidsom, enjoy!

Interesting Chch statue