Christchurch to Waimate Canterbury South Island 2023
Christchurch to Waimate
Canterbury South Island 2023
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Waikuku
We have the puppies booked into Woodend Vets to be spayed, so staying at 'The Place Tooby' as it is nice and close to the vets.
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| Good place to stay it has everything we need |
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| There are some hard stands here, it got very wet where we were parked |
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| The girls making the most of it before their operation |
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| We got a pump-up awning/porch |
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Lexi and Mini have been spayed, it hasn't been easy on them or us. We had to try and keep them from licking, jumping, running, and play-fighting.
They were in too much pain, making them very grumpy.
Their stitches came out after 14 days, and things are slowly returning to normal.
So pleased we don't have to go through that again.
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| We found a nice short walk to get the girls moving again |
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| The water is super clear |
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Kaiapoi
We moved to the new nzmca park in Kaiapoi because the last camp turned to mud with the rain. The North and South Islands have been swamped with rain causing terrible flooding on the East coast of the North Island.
There is a dog park next door to the camp and a supermarket across the road.
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| Nice camp and we were able to park on the gravel |
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| Not far from forest walking, biking and beaches |
Christchurch, Plebbleton
Timaru
Waimate
Johns Autoshop POP has gravel parking great in wet weather.
We have the motorhome booked in to have a diesel heater installed.
Also, we took the Jimny for a WOF and it failed because where the drawbar for the A-frame connected to the chassis had cracked. We needed a panelbeater to weld it. We also decided to get a new draw bar made so it fits on differently now.
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| The laundry wasn't up and running yet |
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| Nice big gravel area to park |
Halswell Quarry
We climbed to the top of the Quarry and got a view from the lookout
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| Still making this garden |
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Rakaia Huts
Nice camp with cheap rates, so we hooked up to power, pet-friendly. We rang and asked if the dogs were okay.
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| Great water pressure in the showers |
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| The ocean is on the other side of the sand/pebble hills |
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| Boat ramp |
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| The locals are planting natives |
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| Looking over to the boat ramp from the beach |
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| The beach is no good for swimming |
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| Looks okay to swim in the estuary |
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| Lexi and Mini's paws got a bit sore walking on the stones |
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| Bit on the cold side |
Churchchurch
We went back to Christchurch to meet up with Joy and Denis my sister and husband are over from Australia.
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| Denis, Joy Fay and Frog |
Ashburton
We were going to stay at the nzmca camp but when we got there it was very wet and muddy, so went to Robbie Hewitt pop and he put us on gravel.
We didn't do much with the weather being rainy most days.
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| Couple of large dog parks in Ashburton |
Orari River Mouth
Another freedom camp beside the beach.
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| We parked on the gravel. There is a grass area but it is wet after rain |
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| River mouth |
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| We got a reasonable walk in along the beach |
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| Lexi and Mini have spotted a seal on the rocks |
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This is a good POP if you are staying in Timaru with a dump station not far up the road.
St Andrews
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| We have done most of this track, not all at once. |
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| Worth doing for the view |
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| Dogs are allowed and a nice wide track for walking or cycling |
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| We walked some of the way back on the beach but the tide was too high to go all the way |
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| This lighthouse is at the other end of the track we walked along Caroline Beach which is open to dogs when it is not penguin nesting season. |
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| Looking over to the Port |
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Galletlys Road Freedom Camp
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| The camp is just off the highway at the end of the road next to the beach |
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| We parked in the middle of the road so it was like a roundabout |
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| Plenty of beach to walk on |
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| There is a meat works factory in the distance |
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| This pipe belongs to the meat works |
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| Look what's coming out the end of the pipe |
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| Clean green New Zealand anyone for a swim |
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Waihao Box Freedom camp |
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| Nice here apart from one camper that didn't pick up after his dog it takes all sorts |
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| Where the river goes out of the box |
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| Parking is beside the beach |
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| The box |
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| The beach |
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| View of camp |
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| Neighbours pig |
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| Just come to say hello |
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We had to shoot over to Waimate for a night as we woke up this morning with 3 dead house batteries. It turned out that when the diesel heater was installed they connected it to the batteries instead of going through the battery shunt. So the heater was using power and not recording the use on the shunt meter.
Thank goodness Steve from Motorhome Solar picked this up and fixed it, he also put us on mains power for 5 hours to charge us up again.
For those that haven't heard Steve has finished with Motorhome Solar, we will miss you, Steve.
