You know those movies where the stars wake up one day – either from a coma or some UFO-related accident – and the world seems the same, but there are a few subtle differences that tip the star off that everything is not quite the same?
That’s what New Zealand is like.
Woolies is called Countdown, shopping trolleys are ‘trundlers’ and thongs are ‘jandals’. Oh, and the price of fuel makes you want to never whinge about petrol prices in Australia ever again.
One of the major differences between Australia and New Zealand, of couse, is the geography.
On the South Island in particular, where my family and I just came back from after spending a week there, the scenery is simply stunning.
It’s the kind of place that every time you think it can’t get any better and you have to stop the car and get out to take a photo (despite the bedlam from the kids getting worse every time you do), you round the next corner and it’s gotten just a little bit more spectacular.
Disappointingly though, the only person who said “Choice Bro” or “Sweet As Bro” the whole week we were there was, much to my wife Kel’s annoyance, me.
We started in Christchurch, having secured a stupidly cheap fare on Jetstar from Sydney. The flight with our 2 year old and 1 year old was … interesting – mostly for the other passengers.
Actually, they weren’t as feral as I had feared and people actually commented on what good passengers they were! My kids have the ability to trick people that way…
After landing in Christchurch, we decided that the best option for us was to get out of there as soon as possible so we headed south towards the Central Otago region.
We were keen to spend some time around Lake Tekapo but, since we weren’t on a massive budget, we decided to base ourselves for two nights in Fairlie, just 30 minutes away from Lake Tekapo.
Fairlie markets itself as the affordable alternative to Tekapo, particularly in the summer when the place is mobbed (apparently) and prices on the Lake increase considerably.
We stayed at Pinewood Motels in Fairlie, in a two bedroom family unit, which make up 5 of the 10 units at the motel. The place is run by a really friendly couple, Charlie and Bronny, and it was clean and really reasonably priced at just $115 NZD (about $95 AUD) for the first two people and $15 NZD (about $12 AUD) for everyone after that. The motel has free wireless internet and off-street parking too.
They also have Studio Units that start at just $99 NZD (about $82 AUD).
The family units feature 2 bedrooms (with doors that close which all parents know is a huge bonus), a nice self-contained kitchen with everything you need so that you don’t have to eat out if you don’t want to, a bathroom (but no bath) and really great heating which definitely came in handy while we were there.
From our base at Fairlie we were able to access the trail up to Mt Dobson Ski Field, the highest ski field in New Zealand (which is only about 15 minutes out of town) but, since we didn’t have chains and the road was a bit dicey with ice and grit without them, we chickened out halfway up.
We were able to take in one of the most spectacular alpine views and Ocean was able to see snow by the side of the road which in her 2 year old world was pretty awesome.
From the bottom of the Mt Dobson trail, beautiful Lake Tekapo is only another 15 minutes drive with the spectacular backdrop of the Alps the entire time.
The Lake itself is absolutely amazing. Calm turquoise water backed by snow-capped peaks and lots of pram-friendly walking trails make it a pretty cool place to stop for a while.
The little bluff where the Church of the Good Shepherd sits is one of the most special places I have ever been in the world. There is something very serene and beautiful about the place and both Kel and I felt it.
Fairlie also has a pretty kick-ass outdoor playground with a potentially dangerous flying fox that our kids were able to let off some steam at also and the Farm Barn Cafe, just 10 minutes away from Fairlie on the way to the Fox Peak Ski Field and high up on a hill with great views as well, makes a great milkshake and has a fully stocked toy and kids’ book section with sun-drenched lounges for Mums and Dads too.
Fairlie and the Lake Tekapo region is definitely somewhere that Kel and I thought we would love to visit again and is a great family travel alternative to the more well-worn tourist tracks around the South Island.
Next stop: Queenstown.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
“Thank you Nick for your family visit. A pleasure to have our Aussie neighbours from across the ditch visit us here at Pinewood Motels in Fairlie, Aussie families especially welcome”
Thanks Charlie and Bronny. And thanks for the offer for our family subscribers too: http://bit.ly/rgPo8d.