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Published: November 10th 2008
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Wow NZ where to start, just driving around the place was beautiful enough, even though it was extremely slow going and we're not talking about Caroline's driving. They have the windiest roads and 100km speed limit, which is hard to achieve even on their "highways".
We started in Auckland (courtesy of bellos' folks hospitality), an active city set out scenically along the water, cruised around the harbour and over to devonport and enjoyed the views from the top of the skytower. We picked up our home for the next month, our wicked camper called 'Smoke' and headed north to Cape Reinga almost running out of petrol on the way. Stopped at the picturesque lighthouse and took our little campervan for a spin down 90 mile beach (what the rental company doesn't know won't hurt them ; ).
Took a cruise out to hole in the rock at the Bay of islands spotting loads of dolphins along the way who were playful around our boat. The Waitangi treaty grounds are also in the area where the English managed to get there hands on NZ, home to the largest Maori war canoe called a 'Waka' and traditional meeting house...all very interesting.
Stopped in Tauranga for a night for some free accommodation and a meal with more than one course with Greg's family friends Norman and Marion. Then onto the stinkiest place in NZ, Rotarua and the natural sulphur geysers, which send steaming water meters into the air. We also witnessed the traditional maori meeting ceremony and dancing including the haka (big eyes and tongue hissing).
Carrying on to Hawkes Bay we saw the turbulent, turquoise Huka Falls, taste tested some local flavoured honey and mead (wine made from honey served to us by a recovering alcoholic who claimed that drinking excessively makes her feel sick...go figure). In Hawkes Bay we were hosted by Neil and Em, finally managing to swim in the sea and tasting their local vino (which we obviously drank responsibly).
Quick stop in windy wellington and onto the ferry to the South Island through Marlborough Sounds. Em organised a brilliant few days kayaking and hiking in Abel Tasman National Park, unspoilt beaches and campsites on the waters edge...it was a tough few days paddling around seal colonies and hiking up to scenic lookout points.
We spent a chilled night below snow capped mountain peaks
that overlooked Nelson Lakes and Greg woke up a year older or maybe 30 years older. Chocolate cake and champagne for breakfast to celebrate the aged followed by some pampering at hanmer springs thermal pools trying to hold the wrinkles at bay. Continued the celebrations in Christchurch with a nice dinner, pool and cutting shapes among the teenagers at Shooters.
Saw all the major sites of Dunedin (a regular student town) and the Otago Peninsula like Larnach Castle, the steepest tarred street in the world (killer to walk up) and lunched in the Botanical gardens. Heading across the bottom of South Island we ventured through the Catlins, well at least the waterfalls were impressive after all the rain!!
The Te Anau glow worm caves took us 200 meters underground into silent darkness enjoying the luminous light of these tiny insects. More adventures on the water the next day to Milford Sounds, which are actually Fjords, and looked eerie in the morning mist.
Next stop adrenaline central, Queenstown. In a momentary lapse of concentration Caroline signed up to jump out of an aeroplane at 9000ft (30 seconds of freefall) with a strange man attached to her back, but
absolutely loved it!! Greg went second to make sure I actually jumped. This wasn't enough excitement for 1 day we thought we'd tackle the rapids of shotover river. Taking nothing away from the rapids, the cliffhanging drive there was even scarier. Rafting down the river we successfully navigated our way through crazy water conditions and a dark 160m long tunnel, managing to come out alive.
We drove up to Mt Cook, a strange little town but a fitting name for NZ's tallest mountain ; ). Admired the mountain from across lake Pukaki and hiked through Hooker Valley up to icebergs of Hooker Lake. There was more glacial action in store for us at Fox Glacier where we strapped on the sexy boots and crampons to trek around on the glacier through crevices high up the ice face, all fun before getting caught in a pelting hail storm and having to walk an hour back to the bus in soaking wet jeans.
Drove back to Christchurch past the pancake rocks on the west coast and over the rugged Arthurs pass through fresh snow before being caught by the typical kiwi traffic jam, sheep. New Zealand is definitely a place
full of adventure and new wild experiences : ).
See you in Aus...
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Bobs
non-member comment
Awesome!
Hi Guys Your photos and stories are wicked - like your campervan! (Which I liked the most..) Looks like your adventure is rolling smoothly and that you are just having a wonderful time! Miss ya Loads Bobs