Cambridge

Below are some excerpts from my article about Cambridge, England.


Cambridge

Gazing up at the elegant fan vaulted ceiling of Kings College Chapel, I began to sense the power and intrigue of this famous University town.  I was on a walking tour of Cambridge, England, with my husband and son, to find out more about the town’s history and prestige.

King's College Chapel

The fan vaulted ceiling

Our group wended our way around narrow cobblestone alleys lined with black and white tudor buildings, while our guide Rosalind reeled off an impressive list of the University’s famous graduates. They include poets Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Sassoon, scientists Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking is a current Professor...


...Soon we strolled into the expansive Front Court of Kings College, surrounded by pale stone gothic and classical buildings.  The Chapel seemed more like a Cathedral to me, with its pointed arches, and two spires at each end.  Apparently it must be called a Chapel as it is a private building.  Inside, we ran our hands over the intricately carved roses, crowns and gates in the dark oak organ “screen,” which is more like a wall.  The spectacular lapis and ruby coloured stained glass windows reflected the wealth of the English monarchy at the time it was constructed.  The ceiling weighs a couple of tons and I could see why it took the reign of 5 Kings to build it...

Punting on the river Cam

...In the afternoon we stepped aboard a punt on the Cam River, alongside the jade-awninged Mill pub.  Our group included Jemima, a very cute Lahso Apso dog and her owners.  We were so low to the ground, it felt like we could easily fall out.  Our entertaining guide Ollie warned us good naturedly to hold onto our dentures, small children, prosthetic limbs and animals.  “There are emergency exits everywhere” he reassured us as we began to punt alongside the atmospheric backs of the University Colleges.  “Just watch out for the piranhas and crocodiles!”  The autumn red and gold coloured trees, and verdant parks along the river bank were very pretty. 



Jemima



All pictures and material copyright to Leeanne Templer. Full article around 1000 words and more photographs available for publication.

Thanks Cathy! Thanks Craig!

Many thanks to Cathy Sweeny who is hosting my article "Raglan Eco Escape" on her popular blog http://www.travelingwithsweeney.com/

I appreciate the support she is giving to "blog4nz" and the effort to promote NZ Tourism as open for business after the Christchurch quake.

Thanks also to Craig and the team at Indie Travel Media for all their hard work for the cause.

Tips of the South

Right at the top of New Zealand's South Island are two places I love - the Queen Charlotte Hiking / Mountain Biking Track, and Nelson including the magnificent Abel Tasman Track. 

Queen Charlotte Track

Easter was a fantastic time for our family to walk part of the Queen Charlotte Track.  The pristine, clear mountain water streams attracted British explorer Captain James Cook to the area in the late 1700s.  No doubt the serene unspoiled beauty and peace of the place captured his heart, as it did ours.

Queen Charlotte Sound from Eatwell Lookout

The amazing archipelago views you get along the track make the walk well worthwhile, and there are fantastic places to stay at different bays along the way.  We first stayed at Punga Cove resort, in a gorgeous private liitle chalet in the bush.

The track runs along a peninsula, sometimes along the waters edge, and often along the ridge of the hills.  The best thing is that Cougarline water taxi company provides a user friendly pack carrying service as part of the trip in and out of the sounds, and ferries hikers from place to place.  So you can choose to walk the sections of the track that appeal to you.  If the weather turns bad, you simply stay at your lodge and enjoy fine cuisine and activities, or ferry to the next stop.

The Author at Eatwell

The resort caters for all budgets from backpackers to luxury travellers. Our chalet had a cooktop and fridge, so we brought supplies with us on the ferry trip of about 3 hours from Wellington to Picton, and then the small hop from Picton to Punga Cove.   We were able to cook all our meals in the Chalet and dine on our little deck overlooking the sea.  We made our own packed lunches, though the resort provides an excellent packed lunch option and has two restaurants - one for gourmet diners and the other for pub style meals down at the jetty.  There is a little sandy beach which is set up like a Pacific Island resort with kayaks, table tennis and badminton and a pool and spa.

The first day we walked one of the hardest sections of the track, from Punga Cove to the Eatwell Lookout.  It started with a fairly vertical hill climb from the water to the top of the hill, then a rollercoaster of smaller hills for a couple of hours.  The track was uncrowded and clean, with a few parties of mountain bikers passing us along the way.  The views were a truly worthwhile reward, and the walk home to Punga Cove was an easier downhill jaunt.

The second day we had a much cruisier walk along the waterside to Furneaux Lodge.  Only a few hours duration (with plenty of rest stops) and peppered with lots of little bays and bridges.  We made it to the Lodge before the rain set in at lunchtime, and had a drink at Furneaux Lodge's classic old bar/brasserie before ferrying back to Punga Cove.



The beach at Lochmara Lodge

Our last stop was at Lochmara Lodge toward the far end of the track.  Lochmara is a wildlife recovery and arts centre, but don't let that distract you from the fact that it also has a stunning bath house with twin tubs overlooking the bay, wonderful massages (just ask my husband) and a restaurant to die for.  Once we had walked the sculpture trail featuring works by renowned New Zealand artists, reclined in some of the countless hammocks dotted around the resort, and had a family game of petanque, we were ready for dinner in the gorgeous waterfront restaurant.

I had been in a DIY food phase for the holiday, aimed at keeping a lid on the budget.  However there are no cooking facilities at Lochmara and - thank goodness - I had no choice but to enjoy the restaurant.  Otherwise I would have really missed out.  The food was delicious, but even better was the ambience with large fireplaces and books and games to curl up with during the day.  The cuisine is based on sustainability wherever possible, and uses mainly wild, organic or local produce.

This is a destination for all seasons, whether you are walking the track or just staying put.

Abel Tasman Track

The Abel Tasman track sticks in my mind as one of the most idyllic places I have ever been, with the most golden, warm, sandy beaches.  Situated just out of Nelson you can get there by flying to that city from one of New Zealand's main centres and taking a bus or car to Marahau.  If you are bringing a vehicle from the North Island you will need to use the Interislander or Bluebridge Ferry from Wellington to Picton and drive from there.

Typical Abel Tasman Beach

There are guided walk options available, or you can freedom walk and book accommodation through the Department of Conservation.  It is an easy walk to suit all levels of ability, along beaches and coastline.

We based ourselves at the start of the track in Marahau, and used the water taxi to ferry back each day.  We stayed the final night at the eco friendly Awaroa Lodge.  Fresh local crab and the region's delectable wines were on the menu when I visited.  The restaurant has lovely native wooden tables and stained glass windows which add to the warm and healthy atmosphere. It was really hard to leave, and I would put Awaroa Lodge right at the top of my "must visit again" list.

All material copyright to Leeanne Templer, full articles available on request.

Wanderlust for Wellington

Smile - its a Wellington waterfront crocodile!  Our family of five careered along Wellington's Oriental Bay Boulevarde in our oversized jade green pedalcroc.

Wellington's waterfront offers a day packed with action and adventure for family aged from 7 to 70.  Soon we were racing kids on bikes, skateboards, roller skates and scooters in our cool croc-mobile.  We reached Te Papa New Zealand's massive modern national museum after several minutes, ready for a journey on the "High Ride."  This is an exhilarating virtual reality ride simulating the thrills and excitement of many of New Zealand's  famous extreme activities.  We soared through the air on a hang glider, bungee jumped from a high tower and slid effortlessly down grassy hills from the comfort of our armchair.

There are many great sights to see in Wellington, which I have described on the Tripsketch website.  Yesterday we lunched at the newly restored Maranui surf club restaurant, on Lyall Bay Beach.  From this cool retro spot decked out in surf club memorabilia, you can watch surfers as they ride the waves - even join them yourself!  Check out the website, this is a real surf club and click on the cafe tab to the right for groovey cafe pics.

King Kong, Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Locations

Try a Movie Tour of the locations where these famous movies were made.  I stared at the overgrown industrial wasteland Tour leader Ted showed me in amazement.  There's no way the skyscrapers crowding New York's cityscape in the King Kong movie could have squeezed into that tiny site.  But Ted assured me this definitely was the location where King Kong's New York scenes were filmed.  He revealed how the movie magicians conjured their miracles at other locations like Skull Island, Lord of the Rings' Rivendell and Minas Tirith.  I was entranced.

Martinborough and Kapiti Island

Close to Wellington are Martinborough gourmet food and wine destination and Kapiti Island Bird Sanctuary.  See my article below about Martinborough and previous blog post about Kapiti.

Next blog will cover other destinations close to Wellington.  All material copyright to Leeanne Templer and full articles available on request.  

The "I-ro-ha" Poem

An Australian guy on a scholarship in Europe with me many years ago read a famous Japanese poem to our class.  I liked it so much I have kept it for over 20 years.  My family were lucky to meet him for a day in Paris during the last Rugby World Cup. He shouted us brunch at the famous and delectable French tea salon laduree.  Laduree's macarons and pastries are an absolute treat - look at the website and I guarantee your mouth will water!

Below is a link to a Laduree style macaron recipe so you can create the delicacies yourself. 

http://www.grouprecipes.com/63201/laduree-style-macaroons.html

This is my friend's I-ro-ha poem:

"Though colours are fragrant
They scatter and fade
In our world who is it
Who does linger on?!
Cross today
The summit of the distant mountains
And view the dreams of tomorrow
Without end"

Please share your story with me if you make the macarons!

An article I wrote about Kapiti Island, a bird sanctuary just north of Wellington, New Zealand.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10374430

Blog 4 NZ

Following the shock of the Christchurch quake, I wanted to do something to assist Christchurch to get back on its feet.  What to do? Blog 4 NZ is the perfect chance to show off this wonderful country and the wealth of experiences it has to offer.  I am working on my posts for next week, to showcase eco adventures, family beach and hiking trips and more.  Please join me, I am looking forward to it!