Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Kia Ora from Napier, North Island, NZ
Long time no blog- much has happened ere we last spoke. Since leaving Queenstown we have travelled to Dunedin, which is like Scotland apparently, Lake Tekapo, back to Christchurch, Kaikoura and then by ferry to the North Island from Picton to Wellington. Then on to our present location, Napier. Phew- all this in just about a week and a bit, no wonder we havent written- we have been so busy. Not too busy to upload some excellent photos so if you haven't seen them yet shame on you!
In Dunedin we were in a touring sort of mood- doing both the Speights brewery tour and Cadbury's factory. Surprisingly we both preferred the Speights tour the most, especially the plentiful free beer! Cadbury's tour was a bit dull but we the free chocolate was goooood. They have a chocolate bar here called a perky nana which is a banana covered in milk chocolate- I will be petitioning to have it exported to UK as soon as I get back.
After leaving Dunedin via the 'Steepest road in the world' and dragging our tired feet up it at half seven in the morning we bussed it to Lake Tekapo. This was very pretty, nearly as picturesque as Queenstown (check those piccys!) The first day there we had a bit of a sunbathe by the lake and a late night drinking a few beers, the next day we worked off all that beer by hiking up Mt John. Sarah was also eaten alive by bed bugs and her flip flop broke. All together now- ahhhhhhhh. She did get quite excited about buying a new pair though so don't feel too sorry for her!
Then we went back to Christchurch to catch the Transcoastal to Picton, stopping at the whalewatching centre of NZ Kaikoura. The dreaded bed bugs seemed to have piggy backed on Sarah to Kaikoura where I was munched to pieces and now have both arms covered in about 50 bites. Woo. It wasn't all bad though, we did have a walk to a seal colony where you can get nice and close to them. I got a little too close though and one growled at me, causing me to run away like a frightened little girl. I think he was a little camera shy.
Having traveled to Wellington on the North Island by ferry we took a bus to our hostel but the dumb driver forgot to tell us to get off and we were left in the suburbs. Fool. Wellington itself is a pretty typical city but we did stare death in the face by renting roller blades and 'skating' (lurching from pillar to post) along the beach. True to form I managed to nearly break my arm trying an audacious stop manoeuvre. Will I ever learn? We also took a cable car to the botanical gardens and had a good sunbathe.
Napier is a very quiet town, all the buildings were all rebuilt in 1931 so they are all in the Art Deco style which makes the town centre seem an odd mish mash of old and new. I never thought Id see an Art Deco Subway, until now. We have been swimming today in a spa pool (bit of a sauna as well, bit of a steam) and head off to Taupo tomorrow.
- comments