Sharella Motor Inn Wellington

... sports club & there was a club 8k race. Not really the best start to testing out a new running club - but got chatting to some ladies afterwards & I can join them for a weekly run every Thursday eve, which is great. They also do larger pack runs most Saturday afternoons & regular 5k races (so short - it has to hurt)... Can't cycle as don't have the, skill, a bike (or the leg muscles), but I've seen some Swim & Run races. I do ...

... couple of days!) We then walked along the shop front before deciding we were going to have a night out as we were parked up in the centre of town. The next day with a hangover we lazily wandered around the museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, which is massive and has loads of interactive features, all for free!

We are still in Wellington now and will catch the interisland ferry over to Picton (South Island) tomorrow.

... Crossing, a day hike which takes you up past Mt Doom from lord of the rings, and a skydive. Unfotunately when we arrived the weather was **** and both had been cancelled so we decided to move straight on and do it on the way back. On the way down we stopped by the Hukka Falls, a massive waterfall in the middle fo the forest. We are now in Wellington, Captial of NZ and it's very cold here so I've had to buy some new clothes. But ...

... Helsinki on? :-) Ilmat oli tällä vierailulla todellakin suotuisat ja aurinko paistoi täysin pilvettömältä talvaalta, joten mikäs tässä oli pyöriessä ja chillaillessa. Ihan tästä hotellin vierestä lähti legendaarinen, kirkkaan punainen kaapelivaunu (5NZ$, about 2,2€ edestakaisin) ylös Botanic Gardensille, jossa tietysti käytiin katselemassa maisemia ja nauttimassa auringosta. Ylhäällä sijaitsee myös ...

So sad to leave the South Island as we have enjoyed so much here and we have only scratched the surface!! Wellington is a nice enough city but the great out doors is what we want. WE meat Jo and Danny on Wednesday and had dinner with them Then Thursday we were leaving to get to Rotoura ...

Saturday 14th February - Day 32 - At Sea On waking this morning the sea was still quite choppy although the swells had subsided a little, however as a matter of precaution the ships doors to the outside decks were being kept firmly taped closed. As it was Valentines Day the ship had been decorated with pink, red and white balloons along with similar coloured garlands. Once again it was off to the gym and then breakfast after which Nick wanted to ...

... Once on the boat I hurried to get out of the wet suit to go to the bathroom, and then got sick again. Jackie also had a better dive. We got back to the mainland without me getting sick again, and I had a tentative dinner on my sensitive stomach. That night we went on a small hike to see a huge kauri tree and a waterfall next to the hostel. We also saw glowworms in the ground at the base of the trees.. .they looked like fairy lights! More on those in a few days though...

... very interactive where you are encouraged to press buttons for more information. One of the more interesting exhibits was a giant squid caught in 2007 (I think) in Antarctic waters by a fishing vessel. When the net was brought to the surface the squid was still clinging to the fish it was trying to eat.. The change in pressure let to its demise and it was frozen and brought back to land. It eventually ended up in the museum as an important exhibit.

... muuseumis. Naastes aga üritasime natuke ka linnahõngu tunda ja käisime cablecar'iga sõitmas, jalutasime botaanikaaias, vaatasime ära parlamendihoone ja lõunalolevad murul einet söövad inimesed, einestasime ise vee ääres ning uurisime niisama tänavaid ja inimesi. Lõpuks õhtustasime koos politseineiuga (see, kes meid majutas) ja tema sõpradega ning valmistusime viimaseks ööks pealinnas.