Blogs from New Zealand, Oceania - page 2388

As usual I'm running behind with my blogs again!! Here's the update on our xmas adventures!! This Christmas was the first one that I have spent abroad and in the sunshine - and it was fab! The trip didn't start too well for Aileen, Helen and I who got thoroughly ripped off with the taxi ride to Welly airport (two english and a scot obviously sounded more like tourists than locals!), but that was more than made up for by the lovely taxi driver we had when we arrived in Nelson - he took us the scenic route to our hostel and gave us a running commentary on local sights and history as we drove along!! As the seven of us were all arriving at different times we'd decided that Ails, Helen and I would be ... read more

We woke up to a gorgeous day, not even a cloud obstructing the mountain peaks. We got ready, packed up and called the porter to come get our bags. They took us back to the lodge and took our bags to store and put on the bus for us when it came this afternoon. Michael and I ate a continental breakfast in the coffee shop and set out for a short walk up a nearby mountain to a viewpoint. Our legs are a little sore today from the five-hour hike yesterday and my knee doesn’t like the steep climb too much. The little Asian ladies in their regular shoes are like mountain goats, having no trouble with the steep climb. This is puzzling me until I remember how difficult it was to use the Asian squat ... read more

We woke up and the sun was shining brightly, so we hurriedly got ready and went to the lodge for the big buffet breakfast before setting out on our hike through Hooker Valley. It was really windy on the hike and we were hopeful that it would not get too bad until we returned. The hike through the valley to Hooker Lake took about two and one-half hours. We arrived at Hooker Lake and were surprised to see icebergs floating in the lake. We took some photos and were starting to leave when Michael realized that the huge rockslide at the end of the lake was actually Hooker Glacier. The glacier was covered up with rocks but it was obvious from the edge of the glacier by the lake that it was solid ice. As we ... read more

Lake Coleridge, called Whakamatua by the Maori, is 17 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide, and lies nestled in the Southern Alps. The majestic local landscape was formed from the combined forces of glaciers, earthquakes, wind, rain, frost, and volcanoes. Mount Gargarus rose above the basin, and was an arm’s reach from our “Base camp”. We joined up with Andy and Dave, two British transplants as crazy about New Zealand’s countryside as we are, on a Boxing Day trek. Andy, our fearless leader, started the trip off with a bang as he escorted us through a section of dense broom brush. From a distance this bush looks deceivingly soft, with its butter yellow flowers shining in the sun. Up close and personal, the bush engulfed and swallowed us whole. We dipped down into the bush and ... read more

I am finally able to access the server and upload some pictures of my most enjoyable stay at this organic farm. First of all, if you don't know what Woofing is, have a look at the website for the New Zealand organization. Wwoof New Zealand. I became a member of the Canadian organization before leaving, but had no time available to do a week or two before coming to NZ. So I just had my first experience Woofing last week, and it was Faaaantasic!!!! First, see what the host Heather wrote in the book that attracted me in the first place: TARODALE The work: establishing "mandalas" for fruit and vetables. Maintaining existing gardens. Raising miniature cattle and small flock of sheep. As per The Permaculture Home Garden, two mandalas are underway with the possibility of a ... read more