ENGLISH VERSION AT THE END ;-) 

Nachdem wir die 1. Nacht gut überstanden haben, kochten wir uns ein leckeres Porridge & einen Tee (was ganz schnell unsere tägliche Morgenroutine wurde) in unserer feinen Kofferraum-Küche. Zu erst schauten wir uns die Innenstadt von Christchurch an, was man nicht wirklich als Stadt bezeichnen kann haha und planten erstmal unsere nächsten Tage (wir hatten bis dahin nämlich noch 0 Plan wo wir eigentlich hinfahren wollen). Mittag machten wir uns dann auf den Weg nach Akaroa über den Diamond Harbour. Die Straße bis nach Diamond Harbour ging schon über mehrere Pässe und die Kurven erinnerten uns sehr stark an zuhause. Als wir dann von Diamond Harbour aber weiter fuhren auf den Weg nach Akaora leitete uns das Navi über Port Levy und Pigeon Bay. Nach Port Levy mussten wir dann auf eine Straße fahren, wo  jedoch ein großes Schild stand, dass die Straße für Campervans nicht geeignet ist... Da wir aber nicht umdrehen wollten und die Straße für uns am Anfang nicht sooo schlimm aussah, ignorierten wir die Warnung einfach und fuhren weiter. Wir waren natürlich weit das einzige Auto auf der gesamten Strecke und das einzige was wir sahen waren 1000 Schafe. Die Straße wurde immer enger und erinnerte uns an eine Forststraße, als es dann auf beiden Seiten steil bergab ging und wir keinen Empfang mehr hatten, wurden wir schon sehr nervös, dass unser Campervan gleich den Geist aufgibt... Aber langsam & sicher haben wir es dann nach 9 km geschafft und waren wieder auf einer halbwegs befestigten Straße. Jetzt können wir drüber lachen - nochmal würden wir das aber auf keinen Fall machen... 

Nach einer Nacht in Akaroa fuhren wir weiter nach Timaru, wo wir ins Schwimmbad gingen zum entspannen & duschen (für unsere Solardusche ist es leider etwas zu kalt haha). Am nächsten Tag fuhren wir dann gleich weiter - unser erster Stopp war Lake Tekapo. Wir waren gleich von Anfang an mehr als begeistert, so einen schönen, blauen See haben wir wirklich noch NIE gesehen. Den Touristen bei der Good Old Shepard Church wollten wir natürlich gleich aus dem Weg gehen und somit entschieden wir uns für eine kleine Wanderung zum Lookout & fühlten uns wie zuhause.

We & our campervan 

Now that we have picked up our camper, we get ourselves immediately added a new SIM card and drove to our first Freedom Camping near Christchurch. In New Zealand, there are different types of campsites, there is the "normal" Camping sites where per person between € 15 - € 25 pays for a parking space, the cheaper camping DOC where one per person € 7 - paid € 15 and the Freedom camping or parking where all campers who "self-contained" are (ie self) must be free. Since we have booked extra a campervan with the "Self-Contained" certificate, namely we must stand on all Freedom campsites. The certificate of the campervan must have a drinking and waste water tank, a kitchen, a shower and a toilet (we have a small portable toilet, which we did not use haha). So far we have always found a Freedom Camping and had up to now pay for a campsite ever. 

The first night & the first wild ride

After we survived the first night, we cooked us a delicious porridge and a cup of tea (which was our daily morning routine quickly) in our fine trunk cuisine. At first we looked at the city of Christchurch, which you can not really be called a city haha ​​and planned our first next day (we had wanted so far that is still 0 Plan where we actually go there). Noon we were on our way to Akaroa on the Diamond Harbor. The road to Diamond Harbor was already over several passes and the curves reminded us very much of home. When we of Diamond Harbor but drove off for Akaora led us Navi Port Levy and Pigeon Bay. To Port Levy then, we had to drive to a road, but where there was a big sign that the road for Campervans is not suitable ... But since we did not want to turn around and not look the road for us at the beginning that bad, we ignored the warning simple and drove on. We were of course far the only car on the entire route and the only thing we saw were 1,000 sheep. The road became narrower and reminded us of a forest road, as it then went downhill steeply on both sides and we had no more welcome, we were very nervous that our campervan equal gives up the ghost ... but slowly and surely we have it then managed 9 km away and were back on a reasonably paved road. Now we can laugh about it - again we would but in no case make the ... 

The most beautiful lakes and the onset of winter

After a night in Akaroa we drove to Timaru where we went to the pool shower to relax & (for our solar shower, it is unfortunately a bit too cold haha). The next day we drove straight on - our first stop was Lake Tekapo. We were right from the beginning more than thrilled, so we have really seen NEVER a beautiful blue lake. Tourists in the Good Old Shepard Church we wanted the same out of the way and so we opted for a small hike to Lookout & felt like home.

After the walk we went straight on to Lake Pukaki - the second, beautiful lake. Since it was not so late, we went straight even the road purely to Mount Cook, where unfortunately the strong wind surprised and rain. Our Freedom campground was then almost right next to the Lake Pukaki and we had survived the far coldest night in the camper. Actually we wanted to be equal towards Milford Sound (located near the bottom on the island) make, but us, the weather thwarted the bill. When we wanted to leave, it had to make already snowed during our morning porridge we thought not much, but when we got in the car and after a while was even snow-covered road, a passport, just the one we had, of course, cross blocked was because some Chinese buses got stuck (we have observed it live), we were then but a little different feel and decided summarily to throw our plans on board and early make our way north :-)) .. good that we now already so chilling answer it to the whole, if something does not work out as planned, it should not be just, who knows for what it's good :-))

New Route
After we have repented, we planned our first new route. Next then we went the next day on the Arthur's Pass, where we took a short hike back (where before we only on snow and ice were haha). Our goal on this day was then Greymouth where we first washed our clothes and then went to the pool for showering. Since we always have to pay for the showers anyway, we decide mostly so combine it immediately with a swimming pool visit, because the price is usually the same, as if we are only going showers. Then drove to Greymouth we placed another "driving day" and drove along the west coast on the Pancake Rocks, Westport, etc. to the Abel Tasman National Park, where we made it equal to a longer hike a day. Overall, we then hiked 26 kilometers and are then completely ready yet to sleep to Plymouth down. The next day we had a look yet at Nelson before going to Picton, where we took the ferry north island ... ;-)