Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Sarah's Travels
Hi guys
It's only been a few weeks since my last update, but somehow I've managed to cram in an entire country!
After leaving Franz Josef I spent a relaxing few days in Wanaka before heading to the party capital of the South Island, Queenstown. I spent about a week in QT, which was longer than anticipated, but after meeting some really nice people in my hostel I stuck around for a bit longer. QT is only an hour's drive away from some of the best ski slopes in NZ and it would have been rude not to hire out the gear and hit the slopes. It's been ten years since I last put on a pair of ski boots but it was amazing how it all came back to me and my fears of spending the whole day on my ass were totally unfounded! The rest of my days in QT were spent chilling out and the evenings were spent having some drinks with my new friends.
Next was on to Dunedin where the highlight for me was visiting the Cadbury's factory. For those that perhaps do not know about my Cadbury addiction, I was in heaven! The smell of the chocolate was like perfume to me and they were even really great with giving out samples! After all that chocolate I was feeling a little guilty so to make myself feel better I had a look around the Otago Museum, which was really interesting.
The next few days were a quick succession of towns and cities - Lake Tekapo, back to CC for a night, Kaikoura and Picton. Picton is the gateway to the North Island and you can either take the relaxing three-hour ferry or as we decided you can take the 20 minute ride in hell in a 12 seat plane. I'm sure on a good day the flight is a fantastic way to see the beautiful landscape but the day we flew the wind picked up and our little plane bounced around like a puppet on a string. It was an experience that I really will never forget!
Once safely on the North Island I spent a few days in Wellington, the best part being the amazing Lord of the Rings exhibition on at the Te Papa Museum. It was a fantastic display if props, costumes and film footage of the actors and what went on behind the scenes. You get so absorbed by it that you hardly notice that it's taken you three hours to see it all!
Next was a night in Napier Prison...that closed in 1997 and is now a backpackers hostel! It's a great novelty idea as they have kept the exact structure of the prison (cells & all) and have converted them into rooms for people to stay in. Two of the guys on our bus were really brave and slept in a cell for the night, the girls were not so brave and opted for the wardens room. Then it was on to Taupo where apparently the thing to do is a ski dive (I chickened out of that one) but instead I did what some call the greatest one day hike in NZ, the Tongariro Crossing. It's an 8-hour hike up between Mount's Ngauruhoe and Tongariro and at the highest point you are just under 1900 metres above sea level. Its 3.5 hours climb straight up and then just 4 hours down the other side! Not for the faint hearted or those like me who are afraid of heights. But I did it and the sense of achievement at the end is fantastic (as was the cold drink and hot chips they give you!).
I had a quick stop in Rotorua where I went to see a Maori concert which was fascinating. They performed the Haka and some other traditional songs and dances. After the concert we were treated to a Hangi (Maori feast), which had been cooked the traditional way and tasted real good!
For the next few days I'm at my final destination in NZ, Auckland. From here I fly to Fiji next week but not before climbing a few (smaller) volcanoes, seeing the view from the sky tower and also visiting a few more attractions Auckland has to offer.
Wow that really is a lot I have managed to fit in over the last month. I have loved my time in NZ but am looking forward to some relaxation time in Fiji!
I hope you are all well, let me know how its going...
Miss you all
Sarah xx
- comments