New Zealand, Part 3

Three days hence, I had booked a full day of travel: the 7:00 AM train from Christchurch to Picton, then the 2:15 Ferry from Picton to Wellington. Milford Sound was my first destination, but it was a long drive and there would be another drive to get to where I was staying that night – the Possum Lodge! (My Intrepid group was spending two nights in Te Anau [the Milford portal?], but I went a little further that day to the smaller enclave of Manapouri.) Actually a proper fjord, Milford Soundwas worth the trip…!

After looking out at the Tasman Sea, we made a U-turn and went back along the other side…

Leaving Milford Sound, I drove back to Te Anau, then on to Manapouri. (Possum Lodge’s wifi was not great!, but the key tree is charming.) I explored the area a bit, but it was raining and almost dark. The next morning I was off to hit the most southern point of the South Island, alas not Stewart Island, but a place called Bluff, and thereabouts. The historic bridge was a sideline. At another scenic spot, a protective glass panel had cracked, creating an artistic opportunity?

Amazingly, in one little town, I ran into my Intrepid tour group! They were on their way to or from Stewart Island, and it was great to see them. Then, I put “The Catlins” into GPS, and was taken far afield on a dirt road. Lots of forest and rolling hills. Eventually, I made it to downtown Dunedin, went to the Info office, walked around a bit, and took some pix of old buildings and wall art (murals or graffiti?)…

I had learned the existence of New Zealand’s “only castle” but when I saw it on Expedia as a relatively inexpensive place to stay, I was all in. Carpe Diem! And it was great! For the price of a room in the old stable, I also got to tour the castle & grounds and have a lovely breakfast! Serendipity strikes again!

The castle was closed when I had arrived, so I explored the distinctive, “significant” gardens around it. The next morning, after my slammin’ lil’ (big) breakfast, I toured the castle’s interior. Lovingly restored for decades since being purchased by the Barker family in 1967, one had access to the entire building. Perhaps more a mansion than an actual castle, it is beautiful, has amazing woodwork, and lots of historic furniture, artwork, and accoutrement. And you can even go to the very top to catch the spectacular view of the Otago Peninsula…

This batch starts with the Barker family, has more art, goes floor to ceiling, exits through the gift shop, just one shot about the Larnach family, some guns & the dining room, and includes an extra tramp to a magnificently situated WWI memorial (when are all over the place commemorating the local war dead…

I had to get to Christchurch and turn in my rental car that evening, so I was off to Oamaru, my one stop on a big driving day. The whole town has embraced Steampunk as a theme, it being a way to renovate and energize some of the old buildings and defunct factories as tourist attractions, thus making it a kookily charming little town…