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Published: January 7th 2010
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Arriving on a damp day in Welly with mozzy bites all over us we were in high spirits...) However in tru Briitish style we picked oursleves up and headed for the Wellywood backpackers, sure not to attract the low lifes of society!
Located in the heart of the city it was great to leave the van behind for the next 5 days, although I am missing its pungent aroma (I swear its Lisas socks it doesnt matter how often I wash them, is a mans work never done 'rant over'). We decided we needed a bit of culture and as I couldnt find any motor racing we had to go to the museum.
The Te Papa museum had a special exhibition highlighting what happened to Pompeii in Italy. These kiwis are a bit too obsessed with volcanoes particulalry as everywhere you go in NZ they are a bit too close for comfort! Oh well if that stresses you out you can always relax in the earthquake gallery, along with simulaters showing how none of their buildings would stand up to an earthquake, jeez. The museum also had a modern art and sculpture floor, but unfortuanetly someone had left a
load of old junk lying around and graffiti everywhere, I think its terrible how these exhibits had been spoiled!
The weather improved and we decided to take the opportunity to head to the southern tip named Cape Palliser and the nearby pinnacle rocks (famous for being in the Lord of the Rings as the valley of the Dead). We decided to miss out on the Lord of the RIngs tour (and the free hobbit beer) and drive to the rock ourselves. These Putangirua pinnacle rocks are large stalagmite type formations standing tens of metres up, left when the surrounding area had been eroded by water. To get a good view you can meander up the dry streambed and walk up to the base of the rocks, unless you take a wrong turn and walk up the 60mins of steep steps to the viewpoint (still haven't been forgiven for that one). Yeah of course this is the easy route!!
Well if you have been to the far northern tip you must go the the far south tip!! The coastal drive to the lighthouse was magnificent with the road really hugging the coast all the way with sheer drops to
one side. The large waves batter against the rocks incessantly making it an interesting drive!
Also the area is know for its fur seal colonies, albeit not supposedly at this time of year. However we appear to have been lucky as there were numerous seals frolicking in the sea and sunning themselves on the rocks, what a life!!! The baby cubs were cute and Lisa now wants one along with an baby elephant, we are going to have to move house....
New Years Eve brought expectation of a festive firework spectacular over the Wellington Harbour. The bars did not dissapoint with a real party atmosphere and everyone gathered in the civic square for the countdown, 5.....4....3...2...1... Happy New Year!!!.....but no fireworks a real damp squib I think we should have stayed with the seals.
New Years day we went up the cable car (on cable lane obviously) and enjoyed the botanical gardens which were a rare unexpected suprise, Lisa got lost in the rose garden and made me walk a lot further than I wanted to to see the chuffin duck pond, I think this was a form of rough justice.
Anyway Happy New Year to
all we will be in touch later in the New Year!!!!!!!!!
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