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Week Twenty-Six cont ...
Thu 28th Dec 2006
Packed up the tent, stopped off at Buller Gorge swing bridge which was pretty cool stuff, Paul jumped on the flying fox back over the gorge as i steadied myself on the swing bridge. Then off to the Abel Tasman for a drive, it was a gorgeous day and the drive was amazing, blue ocean, cliffs and white sandy bays stretched out for miles. Stopped off at Kaiteriteri one of the many bays along the route for a picnic, literally drove the car onto the beach, which was already occuped by a kiwi family with a beach buggy which shot back and fore speedily along the grass bank.
Had the picnic then went for a walk along the amazing beach dipping my toes in the Tasman sea. Packed up and went to another bay further up the Abel Tasman national park. Stopped off at another gorgeous beach along the way, watching a man kayaking along the still blue water. Wow it was hot!!! Noticed later that we had gotten bitten by the pesky sand flies. Set up camp for the night at a small town with a harbour called Havelock.
Fri 29th Dec 2006
Woke early and headed off to Picton to catch the 10.00 ferry across the cook strait to Wellington. Wow the day was beautiful, sunny, blue skies and calm ocean, the trip through the sounds was breathtaking, very picture perfect. Arrived at a windy Wellington just after 1.00, scouted around for a cafe for lunch and then explored the city, Paul took us to the interesting architectural buildings and took lots of pics. We then headed up Mt Victoria for a view over the city, harbour and beyond - wow!! We decided to camp out of Wellington and pitched our tent at Otaki, north of Wellington.
Sat 30th Dec 2006
Drove on Northwards to Taupo along the Thermal highway. What a huge lake - apparently the lake which is 606 sq km in area was formed by one of the greatest volcanic explosions of all time some 26,500 years ago and produced an estimated 800 cu km of ash which covered the entire North Island with hot ash up to 100m deep!! Which is pretty amazing if you consider the size of the North Island (see picture below). Anyway enough of the history - stopped at Taupo for a leg stretch and headed a little out of town to set up for the night at a small camp site in the Wairakei Valley Hot Springs. We paid a little extra for a tour of the camps thermal hot springs, which were really cool, we walked through clouds of steam and watched mud pools gurgling (very small thou).
Sun 31st Dec 2006
Headed to Rotoroa for the hot springs-thermal springs expereince. Paid to go into Te Puia where we saw the giant bubbling mud pools and hot steaming geysers spraying in the air. Also included in the price was a Maori cultural experience with maori haka and dancing within a marae.
Headed up to Tauranga to meet up with Paul's friend Stu and his mates Rachel, Scott and Emma. A party at Mt Maunganui. Stopped by wardens as we tried to walk from town centre with our booze for the party to the flat a street away, as there was trouble on the beach last year. Rach does look like a trouble maker!
Anyway an eventful night was topped off fireworks on the beach. ok we missed half of the 60 second display - so we had 30 seconds of fireworks to top off the year and our welcome into 2007 ! Cheers to Stu for the eventful new year c ya sometime soon in the Queens own country when you ask David for a bit of time off!
Mon 1st January 2007
Woke up with a slight hangover from the the night before - decided to head back to the Mount so we could pick up the car. Bit of a walk but at least some buses were running to take us the second half of the trip to the Mount. Gorgeous white sand beach and the sun was out i guess not many new years like that in the UK. Strolled along the beach got a falafel for lunch and chilled for the rest off the day.
Finished the day off with a game of Uno - Paul decided at the end that it was a 'stupid game' - yes he lost resoundingly!!! a very sore loser!
Wed 2nd January 2007
Headed east east to Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. Weather got worse and we sought shelter in a campsite with a hot springs nearby in a place where we can't remember the name of between Gisborne and Napier. Very nice little hot pools in wood, though.
Wed 3rd January 2007
Headed to the Te Mahia Peninsula for a very grey windswept drive along the coast. Quite a fine kiwi summer day!
Then to Napier for a taste of the Art Deco town built after a big earthquake sometime in the 1920s. Quite pretty in the grey weather. Camped up for the night in Napier.
Thirs 4th January 2007
Headed back to Napier for another look decided it was much better in the sun. Strolled along the black gravel beach and then headed up the hill for a better look of Hawkes bay. Amazing ! Got chatting, ok its was mostly them, with a Norwegian couple who raved about NZ and South America - just the sort of thing to get us in the mood for the adventure again!!!
Went to Mission Estate for some wine tasting and then hit the road back for Taupo. Forgot to fill up the tank though - so kept driving only to find out that there where no petrol stations for 150km - so had to buy a v expensive tank of fuel from a man in the pub who must have a stack of these containers for this very reason.
Fri 5th January 2007
Taupo adventure capital of the north island - so we had to do something adventurous. So it had to be bungy!!!! A very beautiful location over the Waikato river. Paul decided to get hyped up, to put off any worrying, and head for the platform 47m above the scary drop and just throw himself off. A bit of screaming later and he appeared shaken but not stirred after his ordeal. After an hour or so of contemplating I built up the courage to go for it too. So I headed out to the platform. I looked over the edge and thought about not doing it then took a leap - wow what a rush! Once was enough! never again though!!!
Headed out of Taupo, via Huka Falls to Whakapapa, pronounced Fakapapa, in the Tongariro national park for the night.
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