ANZAC Day 2012 very off piste

A day off and another gorgeous day. We decided to go and check out Peel Forest and the camping ground there. Will camp at it in the summer and do the walks tho no dogs at this one! We then went up the road towards Mesopotamia station in search of a viewing spot to watch the rafting and kayaking. Couldn't find the spot and so embarked on a long shingle road experience up the side of the Rangitata and found Middle Earth and a track down to the river where they put the rafts in! We watched the punters getting ready and set off. Looked pretty good esp. on such a good day. Up this far in the high country is breath taking and a fantastic experience. We unfortunately followed a large sheep truck up the shingle road and with no wind the outside and inside of the van was covered in dust! We can now say that "Orf Piste" lives up to the name. Still well worth the trip. Big cleaning job coming up.

The mountains seemed much bigger and nearer there

Rafters

Headed off...

Lunch at Waihao Box

We packed a picnic and grabbed the dog as it was yet another gorgeous day. We had heard that Waihao Box, which is in line with Waimate at the coast, would be good for kayaking and so we had to check it out. In deed it is and we will do that thing in summer.
The box is a structure which was erected early 20th C to maintain free flow both ways from the lagoon out and sea in. It prevents flooding in land and is maintained by Ecan and farmers donate money towards that. 

Poppy loves Orf Piste

                    

Waihao Box

Mackenzie Country at Easter

Easter 2012 - the real thing...

Poppy to the kennels as we weren't too sure about dogs where we were headed - everyone had them and just like her!

Fantastic forecast and off Good Friday south to Waitaki bridge for coffee - they have opened out the picnic spot there and wow what a sight up that awesome river. Kurow for lunch between the 2 bridges and again beside the Waitaki in all its glory hmm no pic. On to Otematata and to Loch Laird camping grounds which have the bare minimum ie loos. Right by the water again and in amoungst fantastic autumn colours and a vodafone tower visible in the mountains...

Just because he could

 Vodafone tower between van and poplar tree...

View to where we camped - in the middle just behind the island, from top of Benmore dam. Summertime this is all packed out with boaties camping.

Beating the sun going down

Some trees had changed others getting there.

Morning mist at campsite

Morning walk and because it was such a hot day the boats poured in, above and below the dam.

Then we moved on to Omarama after lunch at Sailors Cutting and boat launching entertainment!

That was us on the left and the chap in the middle spent $500 on fuel but as he said "I haven't been into a gas station for 4 months" It made the girls at the till chortle watching the pump.

Then on to Lake Pukaki to the DOC camp site north of the bridge by the I site for Mt Cook. The day was fantastic and I am from NZ and couldn't stop saying wow right until the sun went down on Mt Cook.

Happy hour

 I walked down the unstable scree to the water and wished I had my togs on and thought about just getting in but instead I waded out to a rock and sat on it with my legs in the water!

Others also enjoying the awsomeness.

Bliss

Evening

Next morning.

We then headed to Tekapo and were to camp at the camping grounds to trial being plugged in. However it was chocka so we had lunch at the lake and watched the waterskiing etc and moved on to a river bed near Cave. We did the dump out thing at Tekapo and had another van waiting - they had owned their bus for 12 years and said to us "Have you just bought yours?" We will have to work on that newbie look...

 A typical braided river bed.  You need to know that it isn't going to rain in the hills before doing this. We were pointed out and up! It was lovely.

The next day we went to Hanging Rock to check it out for future camping but not really tho quite a nice place!

There is a picnic spot but not overlooking the river.

It does hang.

The rock hangs like this and back along in the bushes so it could look pretty neat if it was cleared.

And that was our Easter break and first real trip in Orf Piste.

Toyota Toyoace 4WD campervan

March 2012 we bought this which seemed good value with only 76,000ks and very little having been used inside. Built 1997 as a camper in Japan and 1 owner in NZ and 4WD.

We have named it in honour of our friends from the Isle of Wight who are in their 70s and turned up here in a tiny camper to get off road in NZ. As we saw Robyn loading up the only available space with gin, he said "Shirley and I are going orf piste for a few days" Shirley wondered where her clothes and the food were going. For those who don't know what Off Piste means : Getting off the main slopes at a ski field and Shirley and Robyn said it like "orf piste" in their very clipped english way!

A few things added over the weeks and now we have an Electrical Certificate which means we can plug in at camping grounds and the all important Self Containment Certificate so we can freedom camp (go orf piste). Yes it has a loo and shower and tanks needed.

A couple of pics inside:

One up and one down! Need to be 20 something or very little to be 2 - up. Stephen built the ladder.

Vodafone towers nearby pretty important!

So ready for a trial couple of days and that took us to Evans Crossing at the Pareora Gorge, an old haunt of my family for picnics and swimming.

We used everything inc. the shower, loo and heater and the tried and tested BBQ outside. There is a gas 2 burner in the van which we use for tea and toast and coffee on the road. And there was a very good sized trout in the awesome swimming hole right there.