Cross-country Road Trips – B2 English Listening Exercise

9 green bus 10 coastline 11 fur seals 12 hostel

13 woollen hat 14 kayaking 15 meat pie

16 stone necklace 17 flock of sheep 18 North Island

Emma: Hi everyone, my name is Emma, and I’m here to talk to you about the most incredible month I spent travelling around the South Island of New Zealand. When I first started planning the trip, I had a tough time deciding how to get around. I considered taking the train, or even renting a campervan, but in the end, I booked a ticket for what everyone calls the green bus, because it offered the most flexibility. It’s a hop-on, hop-off service that’s incredibly popular with backpackers.

Starting off in Christchurch, most people head straight for the mountains to do some climbing. However, my priority was seeing the spectacular coastline, so we drove east first. The scenic route along the ocean was absolutely breathtaking, with huge cliffs dropping into the water.

While we were travelling down the coast, I took a boat tour near the town of Kaikoura, hoping to spot dolphins or maybe even whales. We didn’t actually see any of those, unfortunately, but we did come across a huge colony of fur seals sunbathing on the rocks. They were making such a racket, but it was fascinating to watch them in their natural habitat.

In terms of places to sleep, I’d initially packed a tent, thinking I’d do lots of camping under the stars to save money. But it was incredibly cold at night, so I usually ended up staying in a hostel just to keep warm. They were fantastic places to meet other travellers anyway, so I didn’t mind missing out on camping.

I thought I had all the right gear for the unpredictable weather, like a heavy waterproof jacket and sturdy boots. Yet, the wind was fierce, especially down south, meaning the most useful thing I actually bought there was a woollen hat. I basically didn’t take it off for the entire second half of the trip!

We stopped at several gorgeous locations, but Lake Tekapo was a highlight. When we reached the lake, some passengers went horse riding around the edge. I was tempted by the mountain biking, but I eventually opted for kayaking because the water looked so inviting. Paddling across that bright turquoise water is a memory I’ll never forget.

Of course, you can’t visit New Zealand without trying the food. I thought I’d be eating fresh seafood every day, or perhaps their famous lamb dishes. Actually, it was a traditional meat pie that became my absolute favourite meal. Every little bakery we stopped at seemed to have its own delicious version!

I also wanted to bring back a memento from my travels. In one of the local markets, I spent ages looking at delicate silver jewellery and traditional wooden carvings, but I eventually settled on a beautiful stone necklace that a local artist had made. It feels very unique to the region.

The journey wasn’t without its little hiccups, though. We were making great time until we hit a major delay on the road to Queenstown. I assumed it was a traffic jam or perhaps a vehicle breakdown, but it was actually a flock of sheep blocking the entire highway! The local farmer just waved at us while his dogs slowly moved them along.

Now that I’m back home, I’m already planning my next adventure. I thought about doing a similar tour in Australia, or maybe heading all the way to Canada. However, I’ve decided to explore the North Island next, so I can see the geothermal springs and experience more of this amazing country. Thanks for listening!

9 campervan 10 heavy rain 11 walking poles 12 rare dolphins

13 washing dishes 14 cave exploring 15 broken heater

16 wooden carving 17 sweet potato 18 South America

Liam: Hi everyone, my name is Liam, and I’m going to share some stories from my recent itinerary travelling down the rugged west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. I’d spent months planning the trip, pouring over maps and guidebooks. When I was deciding how to get around, a lot of friends suggested taking the scenic train routes, or maybe just renting a small car to hop between hotels. However, I ultimately decided to hire a campervan because it gave me the absolute freedom to stop wherever I wanted and wake up right next to the beach.

My first major stopover was a small town famous for its spectacular coastal views and wild beaches. I had been hoping for bright sunshine to take some great photos of the waves. Instead, I was greeted by heavy rain as soon as I arrived, which actually made the dramatic cliffs look even more impressive and atmospheric. It really suited the rugged nature of the coastline!

Further down the coast, I visited the famous Franz Josef Glacier. You definitely need the right gear for this kind of environment. I initially thought I’d need to buy some specialized boots before I arrived, but the tour company provided those as part of the package. The only thing I actually had to rent was a pair of walking poles, which proved essential for keeping my balance on the slippery ice.

The wildlife on the west coast is completely incredible. I spent one afternoon on a boat tour, fully expecting to see the local seal colonies that everyone always talks about. But we were incredibly lucky to encounter a pod of rare dolphins swimming right next to us. It was a magical moment, and even our guide was surprised to see them so close to the shore.

To fund my travels, I needed to pick up some casual work along the way. I applied for a few fruit picking jobs at local orchards, thinking it would be nice to work outdoors, but they were completely full. Luckily, I managed to get a job washing dishes at a busy seafood restaurant in town. It wasn’t glamorous by any stretch of the imagination, but it paid the bills and the kitchen staff were great fun!

When I wasn’t working, I eagerly sought out adventure. Most backpackers head straight to the beaches for surfing, and I did consider trying that out, but I’m not a particularly confident swimmer in big waves. So, my favourite activity actually turned out to be cave exploring, where a guide took us underground to see thousands of glowworms lighting up the dark subterranean caverns.

Living on the road is great, but it certainly has its challenges. One night, I parked up at a popular holiday park. I was initially worried about the noise from a nearby highway keeping me up, but it was actually a broken heater in my vehicle that kept me awake all night. It was absolutely freezing, and I had to sleep wearing all my jackets!

Before I finally left the coast, I wanted to pick up a special souvenir to remember the journey. I browsed through several little craft shops and almost bought a locally made woollen sweater. In the end, though, I chose a beautiful wooden carving crafted by a local artist, as it felt like a more meaningful reminder of the trip and the Maori culture.

I also made sure to try some traditional local dishes. Everyone told me to try the fresh oysters, but I’m quite allergic to shellfish so I had to avoid them. Instead, I had an amazing meal featuring roasted sweet potato, which is a staple ingredient in a lot of traditional recipes there and tasted absolutely delicious.

Now that this trip is over, I’m already saving up for my next big journey. A lot of my friends are heading over to Australia to work for a year, but my plan is to fly to South America to tackle some high-altitude hiking trails. I can’t wait to get back out there!