Farewell to a friend..

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island
February 1st 2006

Published: August 21st 2007

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Chris Anna

Life's good

Fur Seal near Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand

With only weeks to go before leaving New Zealand, we have decided to head back down to the South Island to heal our hearts and spend a bit more time in some special places.

Bypassing lovely Nelson this time, we begin our journey by flying to Christchurch and picking up a rental car. We are soon beetling towards Kaikoura where we spend the days photographing the seals, shopping for paua, enjoying an early morning whale watching trip and eating fish and chips under those endless New Zealand skies.

Hamner Springs is our next stop. As close to an Alpine village as you get in New Zealand, we walk through the hills and soak the night away in the hot springs.

Onwards towards Lake Tekapo which is dull and moody in the changing weather. Despite the sudden cold we stay awhile, reading books, walking up through the hills and stopping to feed the salmon at the fish farm.

The waves turned on a good show for us as they crashed into the Punakaiki Rocks. The sunsets in the evening were great and we wished we could have stayed longer to complete some of the walks in the area.

Sperm Whale

Kaikoura New Zealand

Arthur's Pass once again impressed as the most dramatic road in the country and the short but sweet walk to the Devils Punchbowl Falls was deserted and memorable. Great walking was also had in the Deception Valley and forests on Arthur's Pass.

Back to a place I hadn't been since I was a kid. Mount Cook was covered in clouds when arrived and the rain created hundreds of waterfalls crashing their way down the rocky slopes of the valley. The following day the clouds lifted we left the village and walked the Hooker Valley Track. This turned out to be one of the best walks we have done in New Zealand. Beauty at every turn.

After flying back to Auckland, we once again set off a few weeks later. This time to the Waitomo region where we did a great glow worm cave tour.

One of the highlights had to be the stunning Mangapohue Natural Bridge. It emerged out of the dark bush and totally blew us away. The Marokopa Falls felt like the middle of nowhere and we hardly passed another person the whole day. The Ruakuri Bush Walk was stunning and the shearing of the Angora

Hydro lake

South Island New Zealand

bunnies at 'The Sharing Shed' was simply hilarious. The Waitomo area was even better than we remembered it. I'm glad we remembered the camera but gutted the batteries were flat.

A few weeks later and my visa has arrived.

This is it.

After months of packing and arranging we are leaving the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Despite the excitement and bravado the tears are flowing as we walk through the departure gates at Auckland Airport.

So farewell Aotearoa.

Goodbye camping at Whananki, New Years at The Coromandel, Saturdays at Tawharanui Regional Park, trying to spot Mum and Dad's house from Mount Mania, the beaches at Whangarei Heads, lovely Matapouri, Auckland Anniversary Weekends at Opononi and fishing in Whangarei Harbour.

Thanks for the memories. We will be back. After some more adventures in new places...

Haere ra - Farewell Ka kite ano - till we see you again.

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