WWOOFing in Diamond Harbour
That was one of the nicest experiences in NZ. WWOOF stands for Willing Workers On Organic Farms. What it means, is that you go work for an organic farm. You get accommodation & food, in exchange for about 4 hours of work per day. You don't do it for the 'money' - it's a hell of an experience. Some do it in real commercial farms, or in big 'communities' (somewhat like the israeli Kibutz). I really wanted to experience Christmas, so I wanted to go to a family, with kids and all. So I contacted the Fryers, and stayed with them for 10 days. It was simply superb. Christmas was fun - we cut down a Xmas tree, put decorations on it, gave presents, sang Xmas carols, and even went to visit the Fryers' family in ChCh, and had lot's of good food to eat. Beside christmas, we worked in their small farm - In the veggie garden, cutting down Gorse (damn that plant!), building a rock fence, and even making a rope-ladder. After 3 days Gal joined me in the farm (just in time for Xmases).
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Gal & Me and Dafi - the cutest sheep ever. |
| The entire Fryers tribe - Peter & Mary, and the 3 cute kids -
Clare, Robin and Molly |
| The Fryers House. I hope they don't mind I put
the picture here :) |
Lake Tekapo
Leaving the Fryers, we went to Lake Tekapo. We actually spend the New-Year's eve there (I think it is safe to say that Lake Tekapo was the lamest place on earth to celebrate it). Still, the lake is quite nice.
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The famous church at Tekapo.
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| Lake Tekapo - The colour of the water can be quite beautiful on
a good day, but it doesn't really show on my pictures. |
| Another picture of the lake. And my car. And me. |
Buscot Station
After lake Tekapo, we wanted to go to Mt Cook. We were staying at Buscot Station - a really cozy backpackers, halfway between Omarama and Twizel (talk about being in nowhere!). We couldn't book a place at Mt Cook - it was full for the whole week, so we just stayed in Buscot station for 5 days. It was great. Tony (the owner of the place, great guy) took us around the farm, we moved some sheep around (with the help of some really cool dogs) and saw everything that is to be seen around the farm.
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Tony & Gal, at Buscot station.
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| Look at all those sheep! |
| Richard (Son of Tony) and Jessie (Amazing dog!) |
| That's how we woke the next day - with 900 sheep around our cars... |
| Some ClayCliffs near Omarama..! |
| Inside the cliffs. That part of NZ is just like a
desert, eh? |
| Benmore power station! In the area of Lake Tekapo,
there are around 5 power stations, and this is one of them. We took a tour
inside, it's quite nice. |
| That's lake Benmore itself - above the dam. It's an
artificial lake (it was filled when they built the dam) - but it's beautiful! |
| Another picture of lake benmore. |