Total Nights and Distance Travelled on Tour to Date = 38 Nights & 1815 Kms
First order of the day concerned water – as it does for those like us who travel about in a caravan. Fresh water in, and waste water out – but the hose pressure was abysmal and it took ages. Mind you, being third in line didn’t help matters either. With this part of the housekeeping done, it was time to move on.
It was an easy run of 83km down to Invercargill, the second southern most city in the world, so I read. Wonder who knows the name of the most southerly city? We are staying at Ascot Park Racecourse here in Invercargill, the only racecourse in the country that has the three codes of racing, gallops, trotting and greyhounds.
There was a garden right in front of our caravans and Muffy was delighted to find some “cat-nip’ growing profusely. She nibbled away at leaves and flowers, then rolled on the warm concrete in ecstasy. Once back inside the caravan, she slept like a log for several hours, no doubt dreaming all sorts of interesting pussy cat dreams.
Invercargill has many fine old buildings, Victorian and Edwardian from the prosperous times of wool, timber and coal. As we did a whistle-stop drive around to get our bearings, I was calling out to the driver, “Stop here” and dashed out to snap a few photos. The Railway Hotel was built in 1896 in the Edwardian Baroque style, and is one of the last remaining hotels in New Zealand still being used for its original purpose.
It may only be a water tower, but the Mayor at the time wanted “an ornamental and useful structure from the summit of which we can show visitors a view which would gladden their hearts”. The foundation stone was laid in 1888, and the structure is made from 200,000 common bricks, 80,000 red pressed bricks, 15,000 yellow pressed bricks, and 4,000 pressed black bricks.
St Mary’s Basilica (Roman Catholic), opened in 1905, has been described as the prettiest church in Australasia. Airline pilots are said to navigate a course in and out of the city by noting the cross on its highest point.
Just up the street from St Mary’s we came across a “blast from the past”. Many a Kiwi household has made a pot of Fleming’s porridge on cold winter mornings, as we have, and we like our porridge served with a sprinkling of brown sugar and whole cream poured over.
After our quick tour of the city, we returned to the race-course in time for 4zees. We are parked up next to one of the grand-stands, which the six of us used as our very own personal and private get-together venue in the afternoon. No doubt we will have plenty more exploring to do tomorrow.
Romany Rambler: Travelled 22,080Km; 384 Total Nights
1 comment:
Thank you so much for writing about the southern. I'm sitting here so home sick for the southern coast.
That wind at Slope Point is so strong. When I used to go there all the trees leanedover because of the wind. I went to school in Otara.Mant thanks Rayna
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