I didn't really do too much in Dunedin this time (much like last). As there was a pretty big rugby match on I only managed to get one night in the hostel (same room with the balcony which was nice), so I spent the other night staying with some people we know, so I ended up going out drinking with them both nights. When I originally posted this I completely forgot that on my second day in Dunedin, Neal who I was staying with took me up to the highest point in Dunedin and then we headed to the steepest street in the world (Baldwin street). Whilst Neal was dropping some things off at his mother in laws (who lives at the bottom), he let me drive his 4x4 up the street. I almost managed it all the way in second but had to change down near the top. The streets 38 degrees which doesn't sound much (and I've probably skied down steeper ski slopes) but I wouldn't like to walk it. That said they do have a yearly race that serious athletes compete in (in addition to a downhill skateboard event). The amazing thing is there's houses all the way up the street, can't imagine that's an easy walk to the shops!
The drive back up to Christchurch was fun mainly due to the large amounts of fog that descended out of nowhere between each town. I stayed in a different hostel in Christchurch this time and it had a lot more character and was in a very nice bit of town (so there is despite what I said previously something to see in Christchurch). I was going to argue some money out of the hire car company regarding the windscreen when I took the car back, but seeing as I noticed the day before that one of the air scoops (not sure what they're technically called) was missing from below the front bumper, I thought I'd keep quiet on that (and they didn't notice it either). The flight over to Melbourne was good and I've now found the way to get through Australian immigration/customs very quickly. When you fill in the landing card there's two sections of items that you have to declare: firstly medicines, money etc, which if you're OK with they just cross off (at customs) and let you go through the green; secondly there's foods, wood items, etc which they can't cross off and you still have to go through the red. But if you go through the red there's barely anyone else there and they don't x-ray all your bags. So I'm quite glad I bought a small wooden item in NZ now!
Posted by Alexis at August 11, 2003 06:22 AM