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Published: February 12th 2014
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Kia Ora from my first stop in New Zealand - Auckland!
New Zealand is a place I never hear bad reviews about so I am so excited to travel here. I stayed in Auckland for a couple of days before my South Island trip. Coming from Melbourne, where it was 40 degrees, I was prepared wearing my jeans and coat for the big drop in temperature- the mid twenties! I don't know what I was thinking because it was actually really warm (how surprising!).
I arrived at my hostel and checked in to my 6-bed dorm. Myself and Stu didn't stay in dorms whilst we travelled around Asia so I think they are going to take some getting used to. I have stayed in dorms before on other holidays but I forgot how little space I have. Obviously, in a room of my own I could put my stuff anywhere. In a dorm you need to try your best to keep all your stuff neatly organised in the square metre you are given! I'm not a professional just yet!
The first night in the hostel I met a girl called Bea. We decided to go to Rangitoto island
the next day and get the super early ferry at 7.30. When we got there, we were told that the early bird ferry didn't actually run on weekdays! Great! We had a couple of hours to spare so went back to the hostel for a cup of tea and watch a bit of the Winter Olympics on TV.
9.15 arrived and we finally got on the ferry. We sat on an outside deck and it was cold. I was preparing to my wooly hat on! Little did I know, the day would actually turn out really warm and, because of my lack of sense, I got burnt. Very sore! Factor 50 every day from now on!
A little bit about the island, it is a volcanic island on the Hauraki Gulf. It emerged from the sea around 700 years ago in a series of volcanic eruptions. The island is relatively young and is still developing.
We decided to take the main route walk up to the summit. It was quite an easy walk up to a point where it suddenly got very steep! Along the way, we bumped into a group of Americans who were on a
walking tour. I spoke to one of the gentlemen and he was telling me all the places around the world where had been on walks. Pretty incredible. The island looked just normal to begin with and then suddenly we came across something that looked like black mud that had been trampled on thousands of times, like at a muddy festival. Only it wasn't mud. It was actually black volcanic rock. It was light to touch, not like stones and rocks you may find around you. There were huge piles of it and then suddenly the path would be surrounded by lucious, thick trees and shrubbery. When there were lots of trees around, a sound would suddenly start like electric cables above a train line. I could not see what was making the sound but it must have been hundreds of insects, such as grasshoppers, drumming away.
Close to the summit was a viewpoint looking down to a crater. This was apparantly where the eruptions started. It was once desolate and is now thick of trees. At the summit, we could see the surrounded turquoise sea. Absolutely beautiful. Ive decided this is what retirement feels like- going on a strolls
to interesting places and having the time to look and absorb the beauty. The way my eyes are, I probably won't be able to see much when I get to retirement age so I'm glad I get to see all this now!
On the way down we came across some dark lava caves. There are apparantly lava tubes that were formed from low viscous lava cooling on the outide but runny liquid lava still flowing through the middle. We were told to bring a torch as the floor was rocky and on a slope. Thankfully, there were no creatures lurking in the dark around my feet!
It was a really good day and my legs had a good old workout with the five hours of walking!
The next day (today) I didn't do an awful lot. I went to a near by park called Albert Park! Think every park I come to is called Albert Park! The whole park was decorated with lanterns of all different shapes and sizes. Some created a scene of different characters. It is in aid of the Chinese new year and there will be fireworks also. I will be in Christchurch when
it starts so I won't see them all illuminated, which is a shame.
So, in a few hours, I catch my flight to Christchurch and start my 12 day tour of the South Island. I would prefer to have more time travelling the South Island but it is so expensive here in New Zealand that I have had to shorten my time here.
Again, I'll try to add some pictures at some point. Think it's going to be a while as I dont have the lead for my camera and these antique computers don't have SD card slots. Boooooo!
Speak soon!!! Poroporoaki!!
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