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Around the world with Sally
Kia Ora fellow bloggers! (that is hello and welcome in Maouri, Kiwi language)
I write this from New Zealand! I landed here around 3rd October and only have one month to cover both north and south Islands. Barclays Bank also informs me that this is more than enough time!
So my journey begins as i land into Auckland, New Zealand. It takes approximately 2 hours to get out of the airport as customs were most interested with my Nepalese soiled hiking boots and the random apple i forgot to take out of my bag... email me for the details...! So I stay in Auckland for a few days and catch up with Carmen and Kerry whom i met in USA a few years ago which was wonderful! In Auckland we visited all the main sights like the skytower and the Ice bar! Yes a bar made totally out of ice! even the glasses!
From Auckland i then head up north with the Kiwi Experience bus (same as the Oz experience but much better!) to a small town called Paihia, in the Bay of Islands. May i just add...its also my 25th birthday...and on my bus are a load of friends i had met in Oz which was a fantastic surprise! So we celebrated in style in our hostel with a meal fit for a king of pasta and tuna and a ton of wine!!! The next morning (having had 3 hours zzzz) i jump on the bus (stupidly booked) to do the day trip out to Cape Reigna which is the most furthest part north you can get in New Zealand. We were pretty lucky with the weather and it was nice and bright. Perfect for our first activity which was sand boarding! How much fun, even with a hangover! Yes this involves lying down on a piece of foam and sliding down a huge sand dune!!! Great fun! So after this excitment its back on the bus to a few view points for pictures and to a local chippy! Quite a disappointing "fsh and chps" kiwi language... however not a patch on chip alley thats for sure. Long live chips cheese and gravy on a saturday night in the diff. Also up at Cape Reigna we visit the 90 mile beach, spot a dead sperm whale on the beach...nice, see the lighthouse, and the tasman sea and the Pacific sea join. We also stop for a short walk to go and hug a tree. This tree is called the Tane Mahuta tree and supposidly cleanses you of your sins and bad spirits. I was told it makes hangovers vanish too. Guess who was first down the path to it? And im still waiting for my sins to disappear...
Back in Paihia i take a day trip with some friends that iv met out on a Waka canoe! A waka is a large canoe which was used traditionally as a war ship to take into battle back in the day. Our trip started out by paddling out to some protruding rocks to stop and pick mussles off the rocks. Next stop was a small island where our Maouri guide whipped out his BBQ and cooked up our mussles yum yum. So as we ate those we made some seashell necklaces and bracelets! We then headed over to the first capital of NZ a town called Russell and stopped for a small drink and a wander round.
Back in Auckland i spent one night and then was back onto the bus to head South to begin my real NZ adventure of the North and South Islands! Just before leaving Auckland we head out onto Mount Eden, a now dormant volcano in Auckland. Heading South and the first place we stop at is Mercury Bay, On route to this place we head to Cathedral Cove a gorgeous stunning beach with an enormous hole in the rock (the cove) where the sea has eroded the rock. Also on route we head to a place called Hot water beach. Which is exactly what it says on the tin! You dig a hole in the sand and the water is hot there! Its just like magic! Soooo nice to stand in! I was most impressed.
From Mercury bay we head to Rotorua, via Matamata, Hobbiton....this is where alot of the lords of the rings was filmed, so here was a photo stop with Golem and grab a sandwich. Also on route we stop for a walk at Kharangihake Gorge which is a series of ancient gold mines and caves where we spot a load of glow worms!
The onto Rotorua, which is offically the most smelliest place in New Zealand! It has an enormous amount of volcanic activity here, luckily no recent activity has occured. On route to Rotorua we stop off for a small activity of luging! For those who arent familiar, it involves whizzing down a steep hill in a little plastic go kart type thing! Imagine mario brothers and there you go! So our group of about 30 have a few practices and then meet round the corner and race each other! Also btw its pouring with rain! And total carnage as the brakes failed! But awesome hilarious fun! Anna, i challenge you to a race! In Rotorua we also attend a Tamaki Maouri night which was awesome. Maouri's were the first settlers in New Zealand and this was a concert put on to demonstrate how they used to live and what they used to do. We are given a welcome dance and parade before we are accepted into the Maouri village. Once inside we are shown around their recreated village and a show is put on to welcome us. This included traditional dancing, singing and even the Haka! Which was amazing! Not quite as good as the All Blacks but it was nice to see it done by the professionals.
From here we then went into enjoy a traditional maouri cooked dinner. It is traditionally cooked in the ground with hot rocks and stones and roasted slowly for hours...yes...in other words...delicious. This ladies and gentlemen is the best dinner i have eaten since being away. Yes it beats the blood duck and pigs brains. We tuck into roast chicken, fish, roast lamb, roasted sweet potatoes, carrots, stuffing, boiled potatoes, and to top it off a pavlova for desert. OMG was it good! Fantastic infact. One i wont forget!
So from the Maouri village it was to the bar to party the night away! Next day with a minor hangover...we head to Waitomo a very small town with not alot there! So we just did a short walk into the Ruakuri Caves.
Taupo....is a small town with an enormous lake, quirky small shops and also Huka falls. Which were so fast. No canoeing here! See pics... In Taupo, i caught up on mails etc whilst also experiencing a small quake!!! Quite common. Here is also where the Tongaririo National Park is. The best day hike in the world is the Tongaririo Crossing, which goes across the top of a huge volcano! I was jumping at the bit to do this...however, the weather cancelled it. And i never got to do it. So i think i will just have to come back! wooohoo!
Onto River Valley which is a small unique stop by Kiwi Experience. Its a tiny lodge in the middle of nowhere, so rustic and basic. Just a wonderful place to chill. Here we all had a mass game of UNO to pass the evening time. Also we were given dinner here, another stonking roast! Get in! The next day my chosen activity was of course...Horse Riding! What a choice as i got a fast, young mare and got a gallop and a jump out of her!
And on to Wellington...THE WINDY CITY! And yes it was! Nice place Wellington, too windy for me though, especially whilst travelling without hair straighteners! Here i visited the museum, Te Papa to experience and find out about Maori cultures, history of NZ, geographical info including earth quakes and volcanoes. Awesome day and it was free! bingo! Then the evening was celebrated with new friends i had met and on the way home from out night we stop into a chinese takeaway. I just couldnt resist having another chat in chinese...nihao!!!
And then on to Nelson - here we went to Pelorius Sound for a walk and up to the centre of New Zealand! Yes this is the most centre part of NZ. From here we head to Westport which is an old gold mining town and did a pub crawl with the locals! We also visited the West coast beach and Cape Fowland to view some NZ fur seals! Also we stop at the pancake rocks and blow holes (heath and lucinda - you'll know all about this from geography lessons!) After this we stop in Greymouth, a great little town to purchase some fancy dress outfits for the legendary "poo pub night! So then we head to Lake Mahinapua, which is one of my all time favourite stops. A stunning enormous lake with a back drop of snow capped Mountains and sheer rock faces. Then uniquely just 500m away is the untouched west coastline. Mahinapua is the beach, the lake and an ancient pub! AKA the "poo pub" this stop is a fancy dress stop only on Kiwi Experience. Our theme was "super hereos" So not wanting to spend too much, it was black hot pants, a green vest, sunglasses, hair in a ponytail equipped with a gun...yes ladies and gentlemen tonight mathew i am Lara Croft. lol.
From here we head south to another favourite place, Franz Josef. What a stunning place. The photos wont do this justice. Franz Josef is the 2nd largest glacier in the world and is just magnificant. I signed up to do the full day glacier hike which is a 8-9 hour hike up the glacier in stunning surroundings. Its so surreal to be hiking on ice in the mountains.
From Franz we head to Wanaka and visit lake Mathesion, go through the gates of Haast and visit thunder Creek Falls. In Wanaka i only spend one night. Wanaka is a beautiful place and so clean and fresh. It has an enormous lake there which is surrounded by beautiful clean countryside.
From Wanaka we head further south to Queenstown where i stayed for 4 nights for parties, games of tennis, bit of wine tasting and viewing the city.
On route then to Christchurch we catch a great sight of Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo. From Christchurch we head up the east coast to Kaikoura. A stunning little town where i signed up to go fishing! As id never been before and it was only a 2 hour trip...my sea sickness wouldnt come on surely? So i get started and i catch 5 perch!!!! Soon afterwards, there i am hanging over the side of the boat as sick as a dog! And btw, ginger doesnt work!
So from Kaikora, i basically head all the way back up north to Auckland, going through most of the stops on the way down.
NZ roundup - NZ is the most beautiful place i think i have been. It is clean, the people are friendly and my photos just dont do it justice. I have had the time of my life here. The scenery is stunning. There are snow capped mountains, green green fields, whildlife in abundance (no killer animals) and gorgeous lakes. An outdoors persons paradise. Having read this blog back to myself, i dont think i have done it justice through my writing. I have doen so much here and seen an enormous amount. Not everything is listed. However, i have a giant stack of pics to bore you with. Best just ask me in the pub about various things, and id be happy to talk your glass eyes to sleep!
However, all good things eventually come to an end. I have completely exhausted myself and finally run outta money. And so the call has come and its time to face reality and get back to the UK. I have cancelled my trip to South America (ok...postponed it!) It will always be there and quite frankly im too knackered to even think about another country or continent at that fact. A little too ambitious when booking i thinks! So its back to the Uk to earn some cash and sort out this life! I will infact be home (Weymouth) on 11th November. The usual phone number will be working and i hope to hear from you all soon!!!
So this is the last of THE blogs, boohoo i hear you cry! However, it is only the last for now. I have had the absolute time of my life and i have lived and enjoyed EVERY single moment. China is still number one and this whole trip has been the experience of a lifetime. If you are thinking about travelling...dont, just do it!
Ta ta for now! Love to you all and speak to you soon!!!! You can place bets on this website to see how quick the AWESOME tan will take to fade... waaaa!!!
Sally, Xie li, Apple. xxx
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