Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hello.
We've travelled pretty much the whole length of the country since our last entry and we've managed to see some stuff in between! We left Queenstown on the 13th after a day trip to the beautiful Milford Sound on the 12th. We went on a wet and windy cruise of the sound but enjoyed the amazing scenery none the less. As you can see from the pic above. We travelled for pretty much all of the 13th and spent a couple nights back in Christchurch re-charging the batteries before heading north. We said our goodbyes to Zo's family and made our way to Kaikoura, our first port of call. Kaikoura was a spectacular place and one you instantly fell in love with. The mountains, the sea, ahh, you should have seen it. We stayed in one of the best backpackers yet. It was like a lovely old house with a country kitchen. our room backed onto the garden, which was gorgeous in the sun. They had a dog called Rufus which took a liking to Charlie. The trellis covering the patio was covered with Grape vines full with juicy red grapes.
The next day we hopped on the bus to Picton, which is where we caught our ferry to the North Island. Stopping to take in another seal colony... our camera is full of snaps of those critters, the place is full of them! The crossing was a pleasant one, a touch more scenic than the channel aswell. A fight broke out between a mouthy little girl and a woman... this provided us with our in-boat entertainment. That night we stayed in Wellington. We had dinner in a Morrocan restaurant where a woman about 50 belly danced while we ate....kept giving Charlie the eye and shaking her stuff right by him gazing wonderously at him. He loved it, you could tell he was resisting the urge to get up and dance with her...she kept asking him to. A long trek the next day (17th - St. Patrick's Day), right through to Taupo. The scenery on the way up changed dramatically but was none less spectacular as we passed active volcano's. (Which coincedently splurged boiling mud for miles the day after we passed it!) In the evening we made full use of the towns two Irish bars. We had a fantastic night, they even dyed the lager green! There was great live music and free Lepricorn hats for all. Charlie is still carrying his around with him.
The next day, with slightly sore heads, we made our way to Rotorua or 'Rotten Rua' as its affectionately known. This due to the natural abundance of thermal activity in the area. It smelt, it really smelt. The sulphur was overwhelming, like rotten eggs, feet and fart. We stopped off at the "Realm of Tane", our first real insight to the Maori culture. That evening we went to the Tamaki Village, a Maori village. We were greated by Maori warriors who performed a ritual challenge to see if we were worthy to enter their settlement. Once inside, demonstrations were set up on all aspects of Maori life from hunting to the traditional tattooing, looked painful. We were then treated to Maori performance of their cultural dances and songs (including the Haka), it was brilliant. Next was a traditional Maori dinner (cooked in baskets under the ground) everything tasted slightly smokey, it was delicious. In our Hostel dorm that night we had the pleasure of being joined by a 'Raiki master' called Chris. We were introduced to his stick Fred before him. (A massive stick that had travelled the world with him) He was, to put it bluntly, a nutter. He talked of strange things, we know all about his pention and his previous drug taking. He talked for about 15mins on two peaks which we had no idea where or what they were. We were, to say the least, scared to speak in case we said something that he did not agree with. You would have thought when he was alseep we got some peace....but oh no! He snored like you wouldn't believe. The guy above him told us the bed literally shook. Slighty tired from lack of sleep we journeyed to Waitomo to do black water rafting in the spectacular glow worm caves. We were equipped with wet suits and rubber rings, which we had to sit in as we travelled through the caves. We jumped backwards off waterfalls and had to turn our head torches off from time to time. Leaving us in complete darkness with only the lights of thousands of glow worms above us. It was breathtaking, so much so you forgot you were in a cave floating down the dark depths of an underground river. only when something brushed your hand were you jolted back to reality... a rock, or was it a two meter long eel? Lee you would be proud!! We had to turn our lights out and find our own way out of the cave.
Off to Auckland the next day. Just for a night though, one of relaxation at that as we have plenty of time to explore the city. We were heading further north, to Paihia and the Bay of Islands. There are 144 islands that make up the bay so we could only see a handful. That afternoon we went on a dolphin spotting cruise. We didnt, however, get the chance to swim with them as they had young with them. We were followed for a couple of hours by a massive pod. We did get to lie on the front of the boat while they swam next to you. They even turned on their sides and looked right into your eyes to get a good look at you. We both agree it was truly magical. We came back to land slighty jelly legged at what we had just witnessed. After staying in a luxurious apartment and enjoying a bbq feast that eve we started the next day with a adventurous sea kayak out around the bay. We kayaked through massive mangrove forests and hopped off on various islands to strech our legs and take in the beauty of the bay. In the afternoon we took a ferry to Russel, where Captain Cook first landed. We grabbed some fish and chips, not quite the Kingsteignton chippy but good none the less. We sat and ate them on the sea front and fed the ducks (classic) one even stole half of Charlies fish, teach him to tease them again wont it!!
We are pretty much just chilling out in Auckland and taking it easy, this whole travelling thing is a hard life you know! Went to the Eden Park Rugby Stadium where we watched the Blues v Wharatahs match, cheerleaders and everything. Was a great experience, esp as the Blues won. We have visited the Kelly Tarlton Underwater World, the first underwater aquarium in the world. We saw Stingrays being fed and got took a Snowcat around the penquin enclosure. Our third aquarium now, we're getting quite the marine biologists! Today we experienced the Auckland Harbour Bridge walk, kinda freaky as we were harnessed to the steel walkway above the water and below the traffic. We went on a walk around North Head and had lunch in Devonport town, slightly more attractive than our local Devonport. It known as the boutique town and it has a wonderful chocolate shop! We will be in Auckland until the 29th when we leave bright and early for Fiji. Which will probably be the setting for our next update!
Hope that you are all well, hope you have a lovely easter! xxx
- comments