We were also getting a little tired of the run of the mill holiday parks with concrete bathrooms and sterile kitchens full of fluorescent lighting and microwaves from the eighties. So we were thrilled when we stumbled upon a backpacker campground off the beaten track. The owners, Pat and Pam, were a lovely older Kiwi couple who had renovated their property into the hostel after their (8!) children had flown the coop. The house was heated with carpet, there were actual dishes and real knives to use in the kitchen, and Pam made us feel like we were part of the Family.
It was also incredibly convenient for wine tasting- they threw in bike rentals for the day and gave us a Pam-personalized map of all the best (read: free!) wineries to try. We headed off into the sun with our maps in hand and helmets firmly on. (Pam insisted...)
Within the first five wineries we'd sampled more than our fair share of free sauvignon blanc and Pinot Gris... But we were on a bike tour loop so had to finish it off! Ewan chatted up the guy at the last winery on our list so much he kept opening up new bottles...and We ended up drinking about five pints of wine. We'd also missed our bike return curfew! So with our stomachs full of vino we sped back along the highway and got back just in time for some drunken shark and chip takeaway. Oh, and a little of a disapproving look from Pat as we sheepishly turned our bikes back in after dark. Whoops!
(ewan winning over a one of the tasters with his "nose stuck in a champagne flute" party trick...how that keeps working for him I'll never know, but they loved it.)
All in all, it was a perfect day and the perfect birthday present ( again ).
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:South Island, NZ
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