Blogs from New Zealand, Oceania - page 2332

Wow!! I don't think I have ever since so many beautiful scenery in my life...well, i've said that a few times during this trip but seriously, today was awesome (Osome, like the kiwis say it)!! It was a really long day leaving at 7 am this morning and then driving (on the Magic bus!) for 2 hours towards Te Anau...The road taking us there was wonderful...Hips (lots) of sheeps and cows just chillin' as the sun rise on the moutains behing them...WOW... We stayed in Te Anau for a big 20 minutes as we needed to be the first bus in line to get to Milford Sound to catch our bus and be the first at the picture spots places on the road!! :) Our bus driver was just skipping every other coach on the road...Good ... read more

After several days at sea our ship docked at Wellington in New Zealand, in the Land Down Under. When the Polynesian Maoris from the South Pacific discovered New Zealand they called it “Antearoa,” or the Land of the Long White Cloud. The name may have come from the heavy clouds that gathered around mountain peaks and spread for many miles along the horizon. This was one of the signs the Maoris used in their remarkable navigation feats. Our guidebook says New Zealand was one of the last large land masses to be settled by the human race. The Polynesians arrived between 800 and 600 years ago and established their Maori culture. Dutch sailors discovered the land about 500 years ago and began to include New Zealand on their maps of the world. A Dutch cartographer christened ... read more

Another long day of driving further south to Te Anau where we base ourselves for the next 2 nights so we can visit the stunning Milford Sound fiord. Watched sunset over Lake Te Anau.... read more

Drove further down the west coast, into the Glacier Country. In winter this area has ski and snow resorts, but all year through the glaciers of Franz Josef and Fox stay solid, and are in fact getting bigger. We booked a glacier walk for the next day and headed on a couple of local walks. We checked out the Canavans Knob Walk, which took us through a little rainforest to a great view of the mountains, and the Tatare Tunnels Walk. The walk was really nice, but the tunnel disappointing. We were told we should take a torch for the 20min walk in the pitch black, wet tunnel to see glow worms. 5 mins in Debs gave up with very wet trainers, and Spen walked the whole length without seeing any! ... read more

24 February Queenstown is the home of Bungy jumping. So early this morning we headed out for the bridge at Kuwarau Bridge, where it all started. They start jumping at 9:00 am. We got there shortly thereafter. The place was already busy. They fasten you around the ankles, but there is an extra harness which goes around your waist and thighs. If you want, they will dunk your head in the river, but most people don’t want it. When you are finished bouncing around a small row boat comes over to get you - they pull you in and un-hook you. It was really quite cold there today, and one girl jumped twice with only her bra and jeans. So, did we or did we not jump? Now, this evening we are in Oamaru on the ... read more