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Published: September 17th 2008
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These lat few days the weather has improved and now new zealand has shown itself to be one of the most beautiful places in the world...
Wednesday the 10th
Myself and rob took a good few hours walking around wellington in the morning. Got myself the Official All blacks shirt as well as a big all blacks flag. Should come in handy at the Connaught final next year when we beat Galway. The town is way more impressive than Auckland in terms of layout, buildings and natural surroundings. After visiting the strange ugly beehive shaped parliament building and a few hours checking out the shops we headed to the te papa museum. The museum had lots of historical information on both the Maoris and the European settlers. The most interesting thing for me was the fact that the Maoris only came to new zealand about 1000 years ago and they reached new zealand from other pacific islands in 30ft catamaran sailing boats.
That evening we sampled the delights of a midweek night out in wellington. Again I found the people to be really friendly and throughout the night we ended up talking to loads of different people.
Blue waters of the lakes
And snowcapped mountains of course Thursday the 11th
Took the car ferry to the south island first thing in the morning. As we tried to catch up on some sleep a scottish group playing traditional music on the banjo and guitars started playing right beside us on the ferry. Very entertaining for 9 oclock in the morning. The weather really had cleared up by the time we reached the south island three hours later, and as we drove the car onto the south island the sun was shining. We headed south towards a town called Kaikouru. The road was along the cost most of the way, and with blue skys, a turquoise blue ocean with black and grey volcanic sand beaches to the left and mountains to the right I started to fall in love with new zealand (despite the moaning of Russell who at this stage was as sick as a dog in the back).
We reached Kaikouru late that afternoon. Sick Russell went to bed but myself and rob headed to a seal colony that was at the end of the nearby headland. On the way we came by this seafood bbq, basically a roadside stall at the beach near the
seal colony where a husband and wife grill you up the best of seafood. Myself and rob couldn’t resist so we stopped and ate some amazing garlic scallops. After the scallops and some typical good banter with the guy at the stall and a local guy who sat beside us and just started talking (did I mention the kiwis are incredibly friendly), we headed over to the seal colony. The seals, who seem to just be lazy and fat were everywhere and there were many good photo opportunities.
That evening we went to a local bar for some grub and for a table quiz. I had lamb and mint jelly for dinner...mmmmmmmmmm. Again there was no problem mingling with the friendly locals and myself, Rob and Russel came third out of 10 teams in the table quiz...Not bad!.
Friday the 12th
We got up at 6.30am and headed for Whale watchers to go see some whales. By 9am we were off the coast on a boat looking for sperm whales. The whales are close to the shore here due to a huge 2km deep underwater canyon that comes right in beside the shore. After an hour and
a half the captain located some whales with some sort of a underwater microphone. Then we just waited and eventually the whale came to the surface. The whale stayed up on the surface for 15 minutes and then when it went back down its tail came up out of the water...very impressive. There were lots of sea birds out beside the whales and we got to see the wandering albatross in full flight. Its one of the largest living birds with a wingspan of over 3m.
After the whale watching expedition myself Rob and Russell headed back to the seafood BBQ beside the beach. I had the crayfish which is something like a lobster but with no big claws. It was amazing and made even better by the side that we were sitting outdoors beside the beach.
After lunch we took to the road again heading towards the crystal blue waters of Lake Tekapo. After another journey of breathtaking scenery we arrived at our lake side hostel but it was too dark to take in the scenery. We grabbed some food and had an early night.
Saturday the 13th
In the morning we awoke a looked
out the window to see an amazing blue lake with snow capped mountains on the far side. Reeling from the shock of an incredibly beautiful scenery overload we grabbed some healthy fruit, muesli and yogurt breakfast and went to the nearby hot pools. The hot pools were outdoors looking down on the lake and the snowcapped mountains. Now that is cleansing for the mind body and soul.
Again we took to the road and meandered through the mountains past another few lakes laughing at the ridiculously beautiful scenery. On the way we stopped off to get some coffee in a roadside diner. The girl serving us, Erin, asked where I was from. I told her and she told me that her grand parents were irish and that she did irish dancing here in this little south island town. I asked her if she would do some for me. No problem, she got out from behind the counter and danced a little jig in the middle of the restaurant not caring that there were other customers or the fact that I was videoing it. Brilliant!
We stopped at Wanaka for lunch which a little town on the edge of
a beautiful lake with snowcapped mountains in the distance (Surprise! Surprise!). We made Queenstown that night at about 6pm.
After a curry dinner we headed for the pub. About 11pm Peter Mulligan who is now living in perth arrived at the bar with his mate Mat. Peter arranged to meet me here for snowboarding/skiing a few months ago. A Saturday night in queenstown is mighty craic and we were all well full of beer and shots when we got home. Poor peter got up to go to the toilet about 4am and forgot to bring his key for the room. No amount of banging would waken Mat who was comatosed (it is just the two of them in the room) but it did manage to wake up everyone else in the hostel. So peter in only his boxer shorts was forced to curl up in on of the communal showers covering himself in towels and toilet roll to try and keep himself warm. He only got back to bed at 7.30 when the reception opened and gave him a spare key. I nearly sh1t myself laughing when I heard this in the morning.
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday 14th
15th and 16th
Sunday we started skiing snowboarding. The conditions are not brilliant but its still ok. And so far I havnt dislocated anything. Fingers Crossed. The scenery is amazing from the ski fields. The ski fields are situated at the top of the mountains but as you ski you are looking down into the green valley around queenstown. Each field is small but we are changing ski field each day. The ski fields are all about 45minutes to an hour away from queenstown and we use a rental car to get there. Bit of a different experience from france.
In queenstown I have also discovered the best burger ever. Its called Fergburger. Remember that if ever you come here.
Wednesdsay the 17th
So for the rest of the week its more snowboarding and hopefully weather permitting a skydive and maybe even a bungee jump. Not sure if I have the balls but we will see.
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