Oxford Travel Club
The Club Heads South
A group of 28 travelers from Oxford Working Men’s Club left home at 8:30 29th October to go on a trip south. Stopping at Geraldine for a ‘cuppa’ before going onto Lake Tekapo, looking at the wonderful monument of McKenzie’s Dog and the quaint little Church on the Lake front.
We then walked across the bridge over Tekapo river, to have lunch at one of the many eateries.
Continuing, we travelled to the ‘Hermitage’ at Mt Cook and looked around. Many noted the numerous choices of walks to do. This would have to be planned for another time, as we needed to head to Omarama, where we enjoyed happy hour and a night’s rest at the ‘Heritage Gateway’.
The next morning, we were up early to have breakfast at the ‘Wrinkly Rams’ where the food and service were excellent.
We travelled down to Oamaru, via Benmore and Aviemore Dams, Kurow and Duntroon. Here we spent time on the ‘Old Street’ having lunch, after which we headed to ‘Totora Estate’ where we were welcomed with billy tea and scones, before conducting a tour of the Estate. This was where the first shipment of frozen meat was exported from New Zealand. One of ‘our girls’ tinkled the ‘ivories’ on the piano in the living/kitchen quarters.
We then continued to the next property which was ‘Clarke’s Mill’, where we had another informative talk, demonstration and tour. Both places are well worth a visit!
We then drove to Dunedin to our next accommodation at Leviathan, which was near the Octagon, so everyone chose somewhere different for their tea that night.
Sunday was a tour of Dunedin – Castle Street, Botanical Gardens and of course Baldwin Street, where a group decided to walk up to the top (not a Jaffa in sight).
We drove out to Aramoana before coming back and lunching at St Clairs. Some also visited the Settlers Museum. That evening the group went on a guided walk, ‘The Underbelly of Crime’, which took approx. 1 ½ hours around the center of Dunedin.
Monday we were up and away by 8am. Our Driver took us to Moeraki Boulders via the old road, Dunedin to Mt Cargill. Before lunch went up to the lookout, with views over Oamaru. After this we went to Riverstone and had a tour around the Castle by Dot herself.
With a quiz on the way the trip home went quickly, stopping in Rakaia for an icecream and a group photo (above) arriving home at 6pm.
Written by The Oxford Workingmens Travel Club
