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Kia ora! Saying bye to new friends at the kiwi bunkhouse in Blenheim wasn't easy as we all went our separate and onward journeys wherever in new Zealand, our directions took us. Grape harvest was over so we had to get work elsewhere. Picking grapes off the vines for nz's premium wines from award winning vineyards was at times an arduous task in the heat of the day but surrounded by beautiful golden hills and pink sunsets made the job worthwhile.
For me my journey was back to the northland in kerikeri to work at kerifresh in the packhouse packing gold kiwi fruit to export to japan and European markets. First I arrived in picton to once again take the interislander ferry thru the cook strait into Wellington where I spent the night to take the 12 hour long boring bus journey to Auckland the next day. Leaving a very wet gale force winds in windy welly behind, our intercity bus took in the scenery that makes nz so unique until tongariro national park where the sky was a blank canvas and snowflakes falling to the soft or rocky grounds. Arriving into taupo, there was no hint of snow or a winter wonderland just blue sky with clouds hovering over the lake.
Getting closer to the city of sails, the sun was beginning to set over Waikato river, the longest river in nz, was equally stunning and eventually pulled into skycity bus terminal to once again spend the night before heading onto bay of islands the next day.
Back in kerikeri , a small town, 25 km from paihia means dig dig after people who used to dig for gum in the old days. These days it's thriving farmland with a few vineyards and orchards for kiwi fruit, mandarins and olives. Hideaway lodge owned and run by Brian and Sue skedgewell, was heaving with a mixture of all nationalities on working holiday visas including islanders from Vanuatu. Within 2 days of returning to kerikeri, work began in the packhouse packing kiwi fruit ready to ship. It's a long, arduous job that starts at 5pm and finishes at 2am.it's not the best job in the world but working with locals and Maoris is an experience that I will not forget. This will finish in 2 months next stop will be queenstown. Ski season and adrenaline capital of the south with drinks and the iconic fergburgers.
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