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Published: August 14th 2005
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Had an interesting start to our last day on the South Island - Sara had managed to book the ferry the wrong way round. The girl at the ferry terminal asked us if we realised that we were in Picton and not Wellington - WE ARE NOT THAT BLONDE!! We knew where we were but we just had made a clerical error. Apparently this mistake happens regularly and was easily rectified (of course this is NZ - they fix everything for you here!!). It was a crossing from hell. High winds meant that the ferry was bashing up and down on the high waves as we crossed the Cook Straits. We managed to make it without sickness or falling over - unlike several other passengers! The major upside for the day was our offer of a free luxury hotel room (that wasn't being used) for the night in Wellington - thanks Ian and Ru!! Checked out the local bars that night and as usual the Lions fans dominated the bar area. We woke up to blue skies over Wellington Harbour and set of for the highly recommended Te Papa Museum - well worth it!! Met up with Laura, Danny and Pat
Posh hotel
Free nights accommodation!! for lunch there before collecting our hire car and heading out of town. It would have been great to be around in Wellington for the second test match but the city was booked out and priced well out of our budget.
The road to the art deco town of Napier was a bit nerve racking - or a "curly toe road" as they have become known so the journey took longer than we had estimated and we arrived in the dark. Dsepite it being the weekend and another test match we were surpried by how quiet at how quiet the town was. The architectural tour of this town, that was once destroyed by earthquake and fire, was very interesting and informative.
Had an early start the following morning along another windy and at parts unsealed road to the Tongariro National Park. It encompasses 3 volcanoes and the North Islands ski fields. Went to the visitor centre to enquire about doing the Tongariro Crossing (that is highly recommended) but were informed that we needed crampons and ice axes to do it due to the weather conditions!! Instead we opted for a few shorter walks and visited the ski fields.
Sadly it was too cloudy to see the volcanoes clearly.
Next stop - Lake Taupo. Booked into the Silver Fern Flash Packers Hostel. What a find! It was no more expenisive than the other hostels in town but due to a highly zealous owner and his wife it made for a very comfortable stay and one that we would recommend to those who appreciate clean white sheets, white fluffy towels (changed daily) and electric blankets!! The weather conditions meant that Sara was unable to take advantage of the very cheap sky diving and we also didn't do a high rope adventure ground for the same reason. A warm cup of coffee was the best alternative. On the way back we went to see the Hukka Falls and opted to do the jet boat experience into the mouth of the falls. Despite the hot mineral springs warming the river it was still cold when it hit you in the face at high speed. Sara and I were certainly among the wettest people in the boat.
Met up with a German guy, Daniel on the way to Roturua. In return for giving him a lift Daniel invited us to join
him for some Ozzie wine tasting that night in the hostel. These dodgy Germans know how to drink!!!!!!!!!!!!! Roturua was famous for its mud baths and sanitarium and the old spa house has been developed into a fantastic museum and art gallery. Thankfully physiotherapy techniques have moved on somewhat over the last few decades (as well as the dodgy outfits!!). The next morning we all went to Wai-O-Tapu to see the geyser erupt as it does each morning after a dude throws some soap powder in the hole!! Took a long walk around the amazing thermal wonderland complete with stinking mud pools, steam and fantastic coloured rock formations. It was very busy with Lions fans but still well worth the effort. Also visited the less visited Hidden Valley that was just as spectacular. Our thermal day ended with a trip to Kerosene Creek where you are able to swim in a warm river however the warning sign about amoebic meningitis was enough to put Sara and I off the idea. Had Daniel had his speedos he would got straight in!! (sorry - Daniel). That evening we heard the terrible news in London and for the first time it made us
realise that we couldn't be much further away from home. Thankfully all loved ones in the area were safe and well.
The following day we visited Te Whakarera, the Maori Village and Art Centre. More thermal pools, geysers and mud as well as some information about the Maori culture. We also saw our first and only live Kiwis in the Kiwi House. Sara was amazed at the size of their bottoms!!!! Said goodbye to Daniel and reached Auckland by mid afternoon and made our way to Sara's relatives in Onehunga - hi Linda, Graeme and Sue!! Enjoyed a lovely meal that night and were taken to a great viewing point over Auckland - One Tree Hill ( there is no tree there now). It was great to stay in such a warm family home for a few nights and enjoy the hospitality of Sara's family. We were taken to the French market and Parnell on the Saturday as well as the best coffee and lunch spots. Dropped off in town to meet up with Laura, Danny et al in order to watch the Lions being taken to the slaughter by the All Blacks. Despite the loss we still managed
to enjoy the night and celebrated the loss in the company of Kiwis, Geordis, Essex boys and girls as well as a crowd from Edinburgh. This meant a late night and a small hangover the following day.
Linda and Sue have a "bache" (a traditional NZ beach house) in the Corumandel Peninsula. Linda kindly drove us there and on the way we made obligatory coffee stops, as well as stopping viewing points. Made the bache cosy and took a walk along a nearby beach and saw another lovely sunset. Enjoyed a good meal that night and made an early start the following day to explore most of this beautiful peninsula. The weather held out long enough for us to walk down a board walk to see Gemstone Bay and then further along to the famous Cathedral Cove. After this it rained all the way back but we had been so lucky with all that we had seen. Arrived back in Auckland and enjoyed some red wine as well as some of Graeme's home made soup.
The following day marked my last day in New Zealand. It was quite a thought to leave this country that I had made
Geyser
Starting to erupt.... home for the past 5 weeks. Linda and Sara drove me to the aiport and we said our goodbyes as I set off alone on my adventures along the east coast of Australia leaving Sara to explore further north.
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Ewan
non-member comment
doh!!
Sara, Have you been dying your hair again love ??