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Published: March 31st 2007
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We have had an amazing time during our 2nd half in NZ. Last time we wrote was in queenstown: From there we did a lot of driving through some amazing countryside up the west coast. After a cold spell and night temps around 4 degrees. (sleeping with thermals and hoodies on) the weather became lovely and warm again.
We visited the glacier region and did a lovely walk just at the foot of the Fox galcier around Lake Matheson. Due to recent glacier movement and rainshowers we were advised not to get too close to the ice. Nevertheless we got close enough to see what a glacier is and realise how big they can get. (There were also road signs from about 2 km away stating that the glacier had reached that point in former times.)
We would have loved to stay longer in the south island but we had an appointment to catch with Jamie and Lynsey Taylor (who had emigrated from Maidstone 18months ago), so we wizzed though Greymouth and Nelson. The drive along the Queen CharlotteSound to Picton was interspersed with lots of short walks and scenic view and very beautiful and then we took
the ferry from Picton to Wellington and arrived in Palmerston North.
Spending time with Jamie and Lynsey and Cullam (their very sweet son) was lovely. The weather had turned apropriately rainy so we sat indoors having lots of cups of tea and catching up.
From Palmerston we headed further north and stoped in Tongariro National Park. Reading the travelguide over my cup of breakfast tea next morning I found out about one of new zealand's finest day walk starting just 10km away from where we were parked and as it seemed to be a lovely day, so on the spur of the moment away we went. Our coolbox held enough provisions for a day's hike and we found one of the bus operators who pick you up at the other end of the trek and take you back to your car. So 1 hour later we were happily on this amazing walk. The Tangariro National Park consists mainly of 3 old vulcanoes (one of them being the "Mount Doom" from the Lord of The Rings Films). Our hike went up to the saddle between two of them and then across this amazing saddle and down on the other
side (at the top was a violent red crater as well as several emerald lakes - where we stopped for lunch; the scenery was amazing but the smell of rotten eggs was slightly unsettling to the stomach. (A large sevtion of N NZ stinks due to the volcanic activity and hot springs etc)). We didn't know any of that before we left to start the walk so we were very positively surprised.
Down on the other side there were over 2000 steps to go down and boy did we ache at the end of it but it was fab!!!
That evening we discovered our first hot spring in Tokaanu, where for 6 dollars each we got our private little swimming pool with hot mineral water from the subteranean hot springs. How lovely after a days hike. In the next few days we sat in several hot water pool and once even in a river at the point where a hot spring joins the Waikato river (walk starts at Spa Road in Taupo for anyone going). We first sat in the hot waters after a walk to Hukka falls and then we went again at 7 o'clock the next morning
just because it was so nice.
South of Rotorua we visited the Wai-o-tapu thermal wonderland and saw the Lady Knox Geysir errupting. Very touristy. Very smelly too (all that sulphur)! but interesting as we saw lots of bright odd colours bubbling and errupting out of the ground and water.
But as we really like the sea we were off to the bay of plenty and drove further up the coast to the coromandel peninsula, which was soooo beautiful (am I repeating myself, sorry!) More little hikes and great views over the bays and lots of fish and chips!
And then this amazing rain set in: normally the northisland gets about 100 mm of rain in all of the month of march and we had about 450 in 2 days. (How did Lynsey say: It's great, when it rains here it rains properly!) We were stuck in our small camper for 2 days, just zooming in and out of Coffee shops. But then it cleared up again and we had another great day out just south west of Auckland (we had done all the driving while it rained) yesterday. This evening we are giving the camper back and tomorrow we
hope to leave the prospect of further rain by flying to Fiji (yes I know we won't get any sympathy votes for writing things like that).
As we didn't make it to Northland (the North of the North Island) or the Bay of Islands we will need to come back here one day (any excuse will do). We have absolutely loved being in New Zealand and would heartily recommend the country to anyone thinking of visiting - it may be a long way to travel, but the wildlife and scenery will take your breath away.
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yanni moench
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still alright?
Hi Claudi ! Hi Terry! Sieht so aus als haettet Ihr in Neuseeland Urlaub von Eurem Urlaub gemacht, endlich mal Pause und nicht staendig Nachrichten verschicken. Traumhafte Bilder habt Ihr da geschickt, da waere ich jetzt auch zu gerne. Wikipedia schreibt eine Menge interessanter Sachen, die noch mehr Lust auf Neuseeland machen...Wir haben es Euch gegoennt, waren aber doch froh endlich mal wieder ein Lebenszeichen von Euch zu bekommen. Gut auch dass Ihr zu den Fijis weiterwolltet und nicht auf die Salomonen Inseln. Ich hoffe der Abstand zu den Fijis war gross genug, sodass Ihr von dem Tsunami verschont geblieben seid. Auf der Karte sieht das alles viel naeher aus als es in echt wohl ist. Uns geht's gut, ein bischen Heuschnupfen aber im Garten geht 's voran: Forsythie raus, Feige rein, Weide gefaellt. Die Beerenstraeucher gedeihen praechtig und unser Garten sieht jetzt viel groesser aus, weil wir jetzt Rasen statt Platten haben;-) Die Kinder wachsen und gedeihen, Arwen bekommt gerade Backenzaehne. Wir freuen uns auf Ostern und wuenschen Euch noch eine tolle Zeit. Plagt Euch eigentlich noch das Heimweh ? Jetzt muesst Ihr es ja nicht mehr so lange aushalten. See you in May in Marburg? All 4 of us are coming. Herzliche Gruesse Yanni