Picton to Christchurch bus
￡20 for the 6 hour bus ride down to Christchurch, leaves the tourist information office at 9.40, so just time to stomp down to Pictons only supermarket and grab a few supplies armed with the knowledge that these buses tend to stop for lunch at pricey places.
"Kaikoura is where the lunch stop is, about halfway and should be there by 12", announces the driver. So, another scenic ride for the next 2 1/2 hours. Rolling hills, mountains, valleys and plenty of coast roads all keeping the camera busy, despite the need for a little nap! Oh look, dolphins! Yes, a crowd on the roadside watching these majestic creatures jumping, playing in the pacific. Sadly too far away for the camera but satisfied at having seen wild dolphins without paying for the ￡70 boat trip.
30 minutes here at Kaikoura, a town built along the coast road. Lunch on the beach with mountains defining the bay making for another picture postcard scene. Rolling out of Kaikoura for the 3 1/2 hour ride down to Christchurch. The terrain now is less mountainous, less hilly and more of those sweeping flat lands full of grapevines. Wine country here, horses, cows and sheep too, occupying the many green meadows and paddocks.
Christchurch on schedule at 3.20pm. Like many business's effected by the 2011 earthquake the intercity bus stand is located outside of the city centre, so it means a 20 minute hike to Barbados Street and the ATW Backpackers according to the girl in the portacabin office as she hands me a map. An interesting city map, the central area shaded in red - the 'Red Zone' and it means keep out! Street patterns here are of the American grid system so it doesn't take long to find base camp for the next 3 nights.
￡20 for the 6 hour bus ride down to Christchurch, leaves the tourist information office at 9.40, so just time to stomp down to Pictons only supermarket and grab a few supplies armed with the knowledge that these buses tend to stop for lunch at pricey places.
"Kaikoura is where the lunch stop is, about halfway and should be there by 12", announces the driver. So, another scenic ride for the next 2 1/2 hours. Rolling hills, mountains, valleys and plenty of coast roads all keeping the camera busy, despite the need for a little nap! Oh look, dolphins! Yes, a crowd on the roadside watching these majestic creatures jumping, playing in the pacific. Sadly too far away for the camera but satisfied at having seen wild dolphins without paying for the ￡70 boat trip.
30 minutes here at Kaikoura, a town built along the coast road. Lunch on the beach with mountains defining the bay making for another picture postcard scene. Rolling out of Kaikoura for the 3 1/2 hour ride down to Christchurch. The terrain now is less mountainous, less hilly and more of those sweeping flat lands full of grapevines. Wine country here, horses, cows and sheep too, occupying the many green meadows and paddocks.
Christchurch on schedule at 3.20pm. Like many business's effected by the 2011 earthquake the intercity bus stand is located outside of the city centre, so it means a 20 minute hike to Barbados Street and the ATW Backpackers according to the girl in the portacabin office as she hands me a map. An interesting city map, the central area shaded in red - the 'Red Zone' and it means keep out! Street patterns here are of the American grid system so it doesn't take long to find base camp for the next 3 nights.
No comments:
Post a Comment