Summer of Snow - Part 1: The Journey

So...i'm back! Finally you lucky people get a report on my adventures in New Zealand!
Dan and I arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand after a 2 day (inc. ~25 hours in the air) voyage halfway around the planet!We had a very cool 5 hour wait in LAX, which meant we were able to get a taxi to nearby Santa Monica for a stroll down the beach, a big steak and a drink in Hooters (could not be missed!). It was quite surreal to be halfway to a season of snowboarding, yet sitting on the beach in 35 degrees!
Back onto the plane, Qantas this time. I fell asleep in the departure gate, and was woken up for boarding. I crawled onto the plane, fell asleep in my seat and slept for the whole 12 hours! Had a bit of a run-in with the large man sitting to my right: I dreamt i was in a window seat on the right (starboard side if you will) of the plane. i was actually on the left in the middle seat, but this didnt stop me from leaning right to take a peek out of the window in my sleep. Unfortunately for both of us i was awoken by the man to find my face just inches from his, my window turning out to be the other side in reality. he wasnt too impressed, and moved after take-off.

12 hours later we were in Aukland, and after one more flight, a Qantas domestic we touched down in Christchurch - our final destination. A light dusting of snow on the ground here, but on the car journey to Methven we were to see just a bit more!

Methven - Mt Hutt Village, had been host to about 50cm of snow earlier that week, so we arrived in a winter wonderland with knee deep snow in all directions. Probably the most snow i've ever seen not on a ski field! Graders had been through the village and made huge piles either side of the road, leaving a single lane in the middle. It really was quite incredible, but we'd arrived and it was to be our home for the next 4 months. I couldnt wait!