Blogs from Nelson Region, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 43

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Nelson February 4th 2006

Hello Life is great...yes...life is great... Wellington was nice. The museum there was the best in this country. I wish i taught there because i would be taking field trips there every quarter. Lots of good people... I hopped to the south island.... and got in here to Nelson. A very great place this is. I could plant roots here. Tree lined streets, a pedestrian area where they have street theater, very sunny and warm, a laid back attitude, lots of climbing, indoor and out, and many parks and mountains nearby. Yes, this place reminds me very much of Boulder. I climbed today after watching street theater for a while. Had a four hour session. In the middle i jumped in a dynoing competition. Won that. Mostly locals though. A great bouldering wall that was. Progression ... read more

On to Hope

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Nelson January 31st 2006

our house on the farm

Maggish

Yesterday we finally checked out of our Nelson hostel and ran our last in-town errands before heading off to the farm. Our ride wasn't set to pick us up until 5pm, so we left of bags at the desk and spent the afternoon in Queens gardens - walking around, watching ducks, sitting in the gazebo, and we even saw some fresh water eels which were really cool. At 5, we rode with Kevin to a little town called Hope where the farm is located and got settled into our quarters. We have a little house almost all to ourselves - there is another WWOOFer, Michael, from Germany who has been here a while already and is staying in the other bedroom. The house was apparantly relocated here from Nelson and is very turquoise. It's a bit ... read more

Back in Nelson

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Nelson January 29th 2006

Center of NZ

Maggish

Yesterday, we spent the morning at a big open-air market in the parking lot right next to our hostel. We met up with Brent, the owner of the organic farm we had contacted about WWOOFing and arranged for him to pick us up Monday to start. So we've officially got our first job in NZ! We also picked up some really nice organic fruits and veges while wandering around the market. We spent the afternoon wandering around a bit and then sat and read at Queens Gardens for a while. Then we stayed in for the evening and watched 'The Piano', for its Kiwi pioneer theme. After dinner and some NZ white wine we headed back to the room. No one else had moved in so we took advantage of having it all to ourselves and ... read more

Nelson Nelson Nelson

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Nelson January 26th 2006

Nelson008

Maggish

Rainy rain rain! Yesterday was another washout. I don't want to blame Nelson itself, but the prospect of staying here and working for a few months no longer sounds exciting to me. Maybe it's the weather's fault, maybe I'm just too impatient and can't wait to get traveling again, but whatever the reason is I was really glad when Shaheen walked in yesterday morning and confessed that she was having doubts about staying here as well. So we decided to throw out our tentative plans (after all, they were only tentative) and see some more of the country before settling down for a semi-permanent job. We then spent most of Wednesday afternoon in the lounge with a big map of the South Island, a Lonely Planet, and notes with recommendations from all of our friends and ... read more

fun on a rainy day in Nelson

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Nelson January 24th 2006

Nelson012

Maggish

We spent most of this morning at an internet cafe looking for work opportunities around Nelson. It started raining while we were using the computer (NZ's sunniest city - yeah right!). We decided not to let that stop us, so we spent the rest of the day walking around in the rain and popping into all the galleries and art stores that we could find. Then we wandered into a museum that had a bunch of random stuff and also a big exhibit all about Lord Nelson (which I guess makes sense, considering the name of the town). So we learned all about Nelson's naval exploits and other facts about the commander - including his reported last words: "Kiss me Hardy". Ummm, a little of an unorthodox request for you subordinate officer, but okay! We also ... read more

Off to Nelson we go

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Nelson January 23rd 2006

Nelson055

Maggish

We spent this morning walking around Picton and going into all the little shops. We ended up buying sleeping bags and then went on a little walk over a little bridge to the other side of the harbor and sat on Shelly Beach and watched ships. For lunch we stepped into a little Dutch bakery right down the street from our hostel and it turned out to be an excellent decision. It was incredibly delicious - mmm. We sat on the Villa’s porch and ate our baked goods until it was time to catch our bus to Nelson. Thus far, Nelson seems a little different than what I was expecting. It’s less like a little artsy town and more like one giant suburb. According to our bus driver, it’s also the second largest town on the ... read more

Tramping experiences

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Nelson January 21st 2006

Waterfall at the lake

Hello again. Well since I last 'blogged', I have walked lots, pottered about a bit in Wellington with friend Paul and made the journey from North to South Island. The first walk around Lake Waikeromoana(50k) was a good introduction to the wonderful world of tramping in New Zealand. DOC (Department of Conservation) huts are great invention. Hut 1 - two voluntary wardens, who even offered me a solar shower, plus showed me the local orchids etc. Hut 2 - had it to myself! Hut 3 - another lovely lakeside location but a bit busy (it was nearly full for goodness sake - a shock after hut 2), Hut 4 - on top of the 'bluff', got mistaken for a warden (what was I doing?!) and was surrounded by women and children (one poor man on his ... read more

shambhala

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Golden Bay January 18th 2006

beach at shambhala

caitlin

i know the goodness that is shambhala now. i think michelle wrote about this place on her blog so if you need to refresh i refer you to her blog. a quick recap though. it is a sustainable living, low impact hostel. the toilets are long drops with compost. the electricity, all of it, comes from solar panels. the water comes from collection tanks. it is a great place that attracts all sorts of people. it is set far from any road and on a hill overlooking the ocean with a path down to a very private section of beach. i took a long walk on the beach....for over two hours walking i didn't see a single person. an adventure the next day....a big, unexpected adventure!! first, i'm sorry to michelle. so, my plan for the ... read more

Nelson

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Nelson January 16th 2006

Disco and Rat

Day 64 An early start - we got a bus to the ferry terminal where we caught the ferry headed for the South Island! It was a really scenic trip. Once on the otherside, we got on the Kiwi bus that was awaiting us and stopped for some lunch at a little swimming spot. Stuart braved the water, then we headed to Nelson. It is a really pretty little town and we wanted to stay an extra night but the next bus was full so we could only stay one night. We had dinner in the bar and did some wine tasting. The girl was just reading the labels on the bottles but we weren't complaining as she gave us loads of each wine! It was funny. ... read more

A damn good feed, sun - at last - and i need a shower!

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Nelson January 14th 2006

Pine forest

bernardo

Saturday. It got sunny, at last. Lovely on ferry trip from Picton to Wellington this afternoon - 3 hrs, though I was a bit bushed and just zombied my way through some of it... saw beach this morning at Nelson and went for walk along same said, but water about as cold as the Glaciers, so gave swim a miss. Had one of my best meals last night - have not commented much on food as it has generally been okay, but nothing to rave of. Last night 'Spices' Malaysian restuarant in Nelson bumped up the standard a bit, a verrry tasty Vegetable Korma - and they did not charge extra for the rice - how outrageous! and it was already reasonably priced... as you can see, when one, i.e. 'me', travels, some of the smaller, ... read more

Brief history of New Zealand

The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year...more history

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