Blogs from Abel Tasman National Park, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 43

Heading up from Abel Tasman I briefly stopped off at Te Waikoropupu Springs (aka Pupu Springs which is slightly easier to say!) - amazingly clear freshwater springs. From there I continued north to Collingwood, one of the last 'towns' before you get to Cape Farewell, the northern most tip of the South Island. When I arrived at the hostel in Collingwood the owner told me that he and the other 5 guests were off to Wharariki Beach on the west coast that afternoon and asked if I want to come too - it was somewhere I planned to go anyway and, quite liking the idea of walking with others for a change, I said yes. What I hadn’t factored in was the weather... if I had it may have changed my mind ;0) I’ve actually done ... read more

g'day all, I'm off to Australia later today and thought I'd give an update of my last few weeks in New Zealand. It's been an amazing time here. The country-side is beautiful, the sheep are plentiful, and the good times are great. Since my last update, I visited the culturally and geyser rich town of Rotorua (which Graham visited earlier). I saw some of the same sights and tried something new...Zorbing..its a New Zealand invention--basically its a huge 10 ft. plastic ball that you hop in. It gets filled with a little hot water and you start running down a big windy hill inside the ball...you do your best to stand, gain any semblance of orientation, and apologize to any previous hamsters you had. That's right, you become a human hamster, it's invigorating, disorienting, and wilder ... read more

There are a load of baby seal photos up at url=http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tongaislandseals/album?.dir=/a7a7&.src=ph&.tok=phD8PuCBkcBVQ5lX/Yahoo Photo Album. I have a bunch of other photos I want to put up but seeing as how dial up internet is slowing me waaaaay down, please enjoy these for now because it has literally taken me ALL day to post these for yous. Enjoy! M-... read more

P.S. Little interesting things: -- I do my laundry in a sink and hang my clothes on tree branches to dry. -- I get to run around barefoot without being arrested! -- According to Kiwis, the Dutch explorers who "discovered" New Zealand were drug addicts. -- Got a nasty sunburn three days ago and am now peeling like an ugly lizard. -- Showers are a rare luxury. -- Fruit tastes organic and delicious. Kiwis consume lots of dairy products. -- Kiwi money is rainbow colored! -- My bus driver yesterday has a beard and ponytail, shuns baths and calls himself "Pop Star." -- The North American accent sounds ugly to many culture's ears. Hell, my own voice is starting to make me cringe. -- Tons and tons of folks traveling around here are drifters, lost ... read more

what a brilliant country this is! Tramping New Zealand, going everywhere to see everything! from Abel Tasman national park with its golden beaches To the mud holes at Stewart Island with its Kiwi's (birds) and in between you'll swim with dolfins and pinguins! you tramp the routeburn and kepler or milford and much more tracks, see Milford sound (not doubtfull robbie) windswept trees and albatrosses with sealions, just a few meters away! Don't forget about the yellow eyed pinguin (this can only be seen here, blablablabla) climb some glaciers and work on a farm to cut some oat! and in between you live with a familie and you'll walk the dog for them or chop some wood for the fire place to get a free meal! Isn't live just brilliant!... read more