South to North

---

Hello everyone, sorry about the delay, but yes, your eyes do not deceive you, that is in fact a Giant Carrot! Not quite the golden one we've been after, but let me explain how we got here.

Last week we caught the ferry from Picton on the South Island to Wellington on the North, and have been making our way up the North Island since.

Picton was a beautiful port town set into the tip of the Queen Charlotte Sound, one of many breath-taking bodies of water that make up the Marlborough Sounds. The ferry crossing was amazing, as we sailed through huge islands of green, arriving in Wellington just before midday.

Mt Victoria is actually just a hill, but set right in the middle of New Zealand's capital it provides a fantastic 360 view of the city. The highlight however is Te Papa, a free interactive museum dedicated to everything wonderful in New Zealand. The guide said we needed eight days to see the whole thing, but I think he was lying. We did as much as we could do in a day, but by the evening our brains were fact-frazzled, so we continued towards the country's volcanic centre.

And then we saw it! The first major indicator that we have been on the right track!

For those who haven't really followed the story here's a brief summary:

* Eleni found a map indicating the whereabouts of the legendary Golden Carrot in Rio, Brazil
* Map in Rio explained Carrot was returned to Machu Picchu, Peru
* Inca in Peru explained a young Kiwi, Chester Copperpot, had discovered the Carrot and brought it back with him to New Zealand
* We have been looking for the Carrot in New Zealand

As you can see, this was no coincidence! This enormous carrot that has greeted us at the entrance of Ohakune was the town's prize asset. They love carrots here, and they grow loads of them, so as you can imagine Eleni loved this place!

So we went to the Tourist Office, and discovered that Mr Copperpot had brought the Carrot back to his home town to a hero's welcome. Everyone was enthralled by it, suddenly everyone was finding work. A giant carrot was erected at the town's entrance in celebration, they were happy times for everybody.

But then, in 1962, disaster struck.....

The Carrot was stolen! The safety cabinet inside the Town Hall had been smashed, and the shrine they had created had been vandalised!

But foolishly, the thieves had left a clue behind: a small eucalyptus leaf was found resting on the ground......

....and thus we knew our next destination......

Australia!

---

Photos

An eagle attacking a moa
Moas are the largest birds that ever lived, and cannot fly.

Comments

[Maman]

A la recherche de la carotte geante !
La fameuse carotte ! C'est donc de la qu'est partie l'histoire de cette carotte que vous deviez trouver a tout prix ? Bravo pour votre imagination ! Celle d'Eleni ou la tienne, Eric, ou la votre a tous les deux ? En tout cas, voila l'explication ! Merci pour les belles photos, mais aussi pour les commentaires plein d'humour ! (Pardon pour les accents qui ne veulent pas s'afficher). Bisous et bonne continuation.xxxxxxxx

[mum and dad]

Well done Eric!! We assume that this whole trip was a cunning plan just to give Eleni the pleasure of seeing a gigantic, pretend carrot!!! Does this mean that you wont need to buy her any more valentine presents? You seem to have about 20 years worth there!!xxxxxxxxxxxx