Australia/New Zealand – Day 36

Winton to Sydney, Australia via Christchurch

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We were down to our last hours in New Zealand but we had one thing left to do — drive down to the end of the road in Bluff. Or “where the road begins” as they like to say in Bluff. They’re deluding themselves. It’s clearly the end of the road, but whatever makes them happy.

Bluff is about 30km south of Invercargill, which is where the airport is. It doesn’t have much going for it as a tourist destination other than it’s “where the road begins” and they milk it. There’s a signpost, like at Cape Reigna, with arrows pointing in all directions, including the South Pole. It was about as far to the South Pole as the Equator. Only about 1000km different. We took a short walk around the area and then there was nothing left to do but go to the airport and begin the 3 day trek home.

We dropped off the car, threw away yet another bottle of ketchup and what little food was left and headed in. The airport is small. There was no security. We went in, handed them our tickets, walked upstairs to the gate and onto the plane. I guess they figure if Al Queda wants to hijack the plane from Invercargill to Christchurch, they can have at it.

The flight was short, maybe 45 minutes. Then a short wait in Christchurch and the flight to Sydney, which was 3 hours. The movie was Stuck On You, which did not impress me, but passed the time. I finished my books and haven’t had time to buy another one. Les spent his time comforting the older woman in the window seat who was on only her fourth flight ever. She was a bit nervous.

We got into Sydney and entered Australia for the second time. I did not go 0 for 3 with the hotels. This one seems okay and the mattress doesn’t sag! Woohoo! We had a rather bad buffet dinner and early to bed. A long day tomorrow.

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