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Hello
Hopefully you received our last post that we're both alive and well and nowhere near Christchurch.
Since our last update at Hanmer Springs we've travelled from the South Island to the North. Before dropping off our campervan (very sad day) we headed to Kaikoura. After an afternoon walk across the peninsula walkway with stunning views back across the bay we stayed at a 5 berth campsite which sounds snug and was considering we were the 40th (and last) van to arrive! At least it was free!
Next day was an early start and Alex was able to achieve one of her pre 30 life goals (time's running out!!) by swimming with dolphins. Paul decided to take a passenger seat and go as a spectator (and before anyone says it - not scared of dolphins, just done it before - honest!!). Alex on the other hand was fully suited up and ready to go! 30 minutes after leaving the bay dolphins were spotted and everybody headed to the back to get ready to drop into the sea. We were told to make as much noise as possible in order to attract the dolphins and Alex found this suprisingly easy to do! It was an amazing experience, they came up so close and it was great to play with them by going round and round in circles! At the end of the day we headed back and came across a pod of 150 dolphins playing. Brilliant day!
We headed back towards Christchurch to hand the van back. Given what's happened since seems strange to say that we were driving the hills around the city and were in Lyttleton (a town outside the city where the epicentre of the quake was) exactly a week before it happened and saw footage of the road we were driving, part of which had slipped down the hillside!
Got a late bus to Picton where we had a day to do some of the Marlborough Sounds. Much to our disappointment (especially Alex's) we had no time to fit in the wineries around Blenheim. We spent a day walking 15km of the Queen Charlotte Track, alongside the Queen Charlotte Sound - weather was absolutely stunning and so were the views. All our hard work (probably doesn't sound like it!) was rewarded with a couple of cold beers at a pub only accessible by foot or water where we'd (conveniently) arranged to be picked up!
Next was the short ferry to Wellington on the North Island and our worst (and most expensive) hostel experience to date. Our fellow residents seemed to consist of recovering addicts and kleptomaniacs - given most of our stuff in the fridge had mysteriously disappeared overnight! Didn't spoil Wellington though, we both really enjoyed it - Alex's highlight possibly came when the Parliament building was shut so we couldn't do the 2 hour tour! Also had 2 great meals out (largely because eating in wasn't an option obviously) - a rare treat - we're not on holiday after all!!
We then flew up to Auckland and headed straight to Waiheke Island (where the wealthy Aucklanders all live apparently - our hostel wasn't quite as glamourous but enjoyed sleeping in a twin room with bunkbeds!). We spent the afternoon soaking up the rays (none of which got through Paul's rug!) and headed back to Auckland the following morning to pick up our rental car.
We headed straight to the Coromandel Peninsula. Again absolutely stunning scenery and we went on a walk which really took it out of us (most walks in NZ seem to, you rarely get a flat walk here) but a bit of light relief was provided by Alex stepping in a cow pat - warm wet and seen by Paul but not pointed out made it (and Alex's reacton) even more amusing.
Then down to Rotorua - main impression was that it stunk - literally! But made the most of it by heading to see the geyser and Maori village at Te Kuipa.
Due to the weather our plans were slightly changed and we headed to Turangi along the shores of Lake Taupo to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Not something either of us had heard of but thanks to Jackie for the recommendation - definitely one of the highlights of the trip. A 20km walk up and across the crater of an active volcano (and back down the other side). We had 2 options for a side walk from the main track, unfortunately we decided on the higher one - Mt Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings) 2291m high as Alex thought it'd be a challenge. Well it certainly was and on reflection not the smartest choice! Although described in the brochure as very challenging, we didn't think oxygen and ropes would be needed as it was near vertical in places. We got about 3/4 of the way up and then had to turn back as Paul, in a spectacular handing back of most of his man points gained for the sky-dive, started to get dizzy because of the sheer height of how far we'd climbed - not his finest moment!
Rest of the walk was great although we still had 10km to go after the summit attempt and the day ended with Paul atoning for earlier by carrying both back packs after a minor hissy fit by Alex (think "are we nearly there yet" for 25 mins!). Again a great day and a real sense of achievement.
Then we headed back to Lake Taupo for a look around - nice place, big lake and having missed out on hot water beach in Coromandel we got our (free) geothermal bathing experience in a hot water stream flowing into the Waikato river - very cool but very rammed with people as it was a Sunday.
We drove across to Waitomo to see Glow worms. There are 2 options to see them, either dry or wet. We chose wet, which involved changing into freezing wet suits and jumping onto an inner tube (which kept Paul afloat this time) and heading underground to see the exactly what all the fuss was about. Was really great but absolutely freezing!
We're now up in the far north with less than 1 week left in NZ. We're heading out tomorrow for a day's sailing in the Bay of Islands aboard a proper sailing boat and we've also decided to treat ourselves after 5 weeks of van and hostels ... to a motel - doesn't get more luxurious than that.
Hope this finds everyone well and let us know what you've been up to.
Love Alex & Paul x
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