Trekking: The hikes across New Zealand plus some kayaking

After arriving in the south island, we decided that we were in paradise. We started with the Queen Charlotte Trek. We left right out of the port and headed on a boat to the 3 day trek. We chose only to do one day of it (because our trip was shorter-- and I giggle as I say this because everyone else was there for at least a year doing Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia).

The trek took about 5-6 hours (can't remember anymore), and it was beautiful despite the fact that it was overcast.

After Picton, we headed toward Nelson (to a sister hostel with more chocolate pudding -- more like bread pudding -- with ice cream). We met two nice sisters from the UK, a Canadian lass, and a German girl named Janna who ended up joining us for part of the trip). In Nelson, we mostly hung out the first day, but on the second, we were picked up for kayaking with Dazza (Daryl). He was about 40 years old, blond hair, and he was great fun to have as a guide for sea kayaking. He also taught us some choice slang phrases...

Even though it rained early on, it was GORGEOUS for the rest of the day. The last bit was to go see the split apple rock (as pictured here). Awesome. Plus, I was proud of myself for sea kayaking and steering in a tandem...

After kayaking, we left to go to Greymouth. It is a lot like it sounds despite our sunny-looking hostel.

From there, we headed to the Greenstone (Jade) capital of New Zealand (and maybe beyond) and then onto Fox Glacier. We took a shorter walk (about an hour total), and we got REALLY close to the glacier... enough to see the blue in the ice. It was really cloudy when we arrived, but it soon cleared up for us.

Then, we took a lovely walk around Lake Murchison with the reflection pool. Unfortunately, we didn't quite get the reflection because of wind, but it was beautiful nonetheless.

Then, we landed in beautiful Wanaka. I have included a photo of the side view mirror of our travels here to this great place.

So far today, we have taken a hike up 775 m high to Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain. Also took a walk through the cute down and around part of the Lake. Tonight, we go to Cinema Paradiso to see a movie with freshly baked cookies and you can either sit on sofas or in a classic car (I'm hoping for the car). Great fun. Beautiful country, but I can't wait to sleep in my own bed by now.

Thermal Activity (including a spa), Windy Welly, and some wine

While in Rotorua, we decided to trek towards the south for a day trip to Wai-o-tapu, a place with great thermal activity. It has a geyser and lots of great colors in the thermal pools. Drew has better pictures (since mine died along the way), but there was the champagne pool with beautiful magentas, oranges and blues, the oyster pool that looks like an oyster-shaped pool of blue and the devil's bath (a lime green pool in a crater-like format). I included a pic of the bridge that we crossed to get to these wonders. More pics will show up at the end of the trip when we can upload all of the pictures.

Then, we headed to a thermal spa with acidic and alkaline baths. Our muscles and skin felt tons better (no pics on this one -- thank goodness).

After that, we took the long trek from Rotorua to Wellington to get to the ferry. I included a picture of Lake Taupo where Drew went Bungy jumping. It also has some of the best trout fishing in the world. Other than some dealings with traffic, Windy Welly (as they call it as it does have some ferocious winds) was great. We went to the Te Papa Museum there where we saw the Giant Squid (which was truly amazing), and I particularly enjoyed a new exhibit there called "reactive architecture". The brief exhibit included information on Passivhaus (so cool) as well as new ideas like light reactive fabrics to keep and hold the sun or power generation in the house. Very cool.

From Rotorua, we headed on the largest ferry that I have seen. I slept most of the way (as I am a traveling narcoleptic, but Drew said that there were really nice dolphins playing in the water in the three hours that it took to pass through the sound. It looked amazing.

Once we landed at the wonderful Sequoia Lodge (which had chocolate pudding and ice cream -- to our delight), we headed toward the Marlborough Wine Region (yeah!) to try some wine. The first place that we went was Highfield Estate (which has the picture from the gate) and then onto the first carbon neutral winery in New Zealand.

Dinner, chocolate pudding, and some wine. My life is set.

Birds, Caves, and the lovely smell of sulphur

Well, we left beautiful Paihia (have included a pic of her lovely beach), and the surfer town where Drew and I were the only ones that did not surf or snowboard (either as a living or a major hobby). They were really great people (mostly from the UK and the US), but it was time to get going.

We drove in the morning to the Kiwi House to see the beloved Kiwi birds. We saw a great giant gray one (that was the size of a turkey), but it had no wings and really no tail feathers, so it was amazing to see it stand upright and hop from space to space. We couldn't take a pictures, but we did get a pic of the x-ray of the female bird. If you look at it, she is mostly squished up and mostly egg -- AMAZING.

Then we headed onto the Waitomo Caves. Whoa, that was an experience in the glow worm caves. If you know me, I am not the most adventurous soul, but I jumped down 2 small waterfalls (and one practice run) backwards in an inner tube. It was great fun. Also, we saw the glow worms in the caves (which the guide explained to us are glowing, cannabalistic maggot shit that then shags itself to death and starts over -- his words, not mine). We have pics, but they are on a CD, which I will upload when we get back in two weeks.

Lastly, we headed to Rotorua (or as New Zealanders say, Roto-vegas). It was fun to walk around and see the shops, the architecture (which has some German, some Mediterranean, and somewhat turn of the century American). It also has thermal pools, so it was the smell of rotten eggs as you get closer to the water. I have a picture of part of the lake steaming as well. It was pretty cool.

After some fish and chips (a mainstay here) and some pints, we are off to bed.

God of the Forest and the biggest beach of my life

So, after two glorious days in the Bay of Islands, we headed to go see a tree, yes, a tree. I was a bit skeptical until we say the tree. Wow. It was the biggest tree of my life (in width), and hopefully you see a photo below. It was called in English, the God of the Forest. I felt like an ant next to it.

Then, we headed towards Raglan, a total surfer community with some great people (theme of the trip), and we are staying in a caboose. Yes, I said a caboose. It's cozy, and it has bunk beds (and yes, I did just fake turn 30).

The beach, which is about 20 minutes away by bush walk is one of the most amazing beaches of my life. Hopefully, there is a pic here too...

Another dinner of pasta and wine, and we are off to the races again tomorrow here in paradise.

Whangarei and Bay of Islands - An Adventure Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road

Drew and I both drove on the OPPOSITE side of the road. Actually, I ended up at one point driving on the right side for us (WRONG SIDE for them). Oops.

Whangarei Heads (which I cannot remember to pronounce correctly) was GORGEOUS - as you can see from the photo. We climbed up the summit (I need to exercise more), and we met some great people who showed us their house via binoculars. (They had skipped work to watch a yacht race.)

Then we headed to Paihia (Bay of Islands), which is a small, chill town with some nice people. And now, wine.

PS. The tiny computer had to be featured.

Auckland Photos

Ah yes, we landed, and off we ran to the city. Pictures follow...

You will see our walk through Albert's Park and Auckland Domain, and then headed to the Auckland Museum where I kissed a penguin (pics to come on that one). Lots of cool Maori culture, and Drew got to be near a volcano.

The Land of the Kiwis

Alas, after a comedy of errors with United and some really nice people who helped Drew and I, we made it to New Zealand. People are super-friendly, and we even got invited to Bruno's house on the beach in Christchurch. Yeah for nice people.

We landed with luggage, and we made it to Base Backpackers in Auckland. After showers (I was smelly), we will human again and just start on our travels... no waiting for us now that we have gotten here.

Here is our view from our room at 8am in the morning :) More to come soon.