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Grand Island Explorer, New Zealand
Entry 15 of 17 | show all | print this entry |
Arrived safely from Australia having had to go through a rigorous process to get in. They are so strict I had to have my boots washed because I said I had been on a farm!! Oh well that over Scenic Circle Airdale Hotel made up for it as I was double-booked into one room they gave me a suite instead - bargain.
Picked up early on day one of my 21 day New Zealand Tour of North and South Islands. Its a bit drizzling but its not cold.
North Island
Day 1 - Auckland to Bay of Islands. Going to Bay of Islands on the North East Coast. Staying for a couple of days in a hostel called The Mousetrap. Its all very nice. We are a small group of six but we are all getting on famously which is great. Wonder how long that will last.
We stopped off en route to our first hostel - The Mousetrap - where we will be staying for 2 nights. We stopped off at the Kauri forest where we were shown a big Cowrie tree which some of them are 800 years old. Check out the pictures. The guy you see in front of the tree is our guide 'Dodge'. He is the only one who got out of the mini bus as it was raining so we could get a bit of perspective on how big the tree actually is.
Weather not very good and we are a bit restricted as to what we can get up to today but tomorrow we have a ferry ride to look forward to. Overnight: The Mousetrap Hostel. Nice hostel in good location. It's a shame about the weather being so rainy as we are in a lovely location, bet its lovel here in the summer.
Day 2 - Bay of Islands. Went on ferry to Russell and had a lovely afternoon. It's so picturesque and went on a trek to Long Beach. Lots of lovely properties for sale! but probably out of my reach unfortunately. Overnight: The Mousetrap Hostel.
Day 3 - Bay of Islands to Waitomo. We've got a six hour drive tomorrow as we are heading off to Waitomo for Black Water Rafting and some abseiling. I can't wait. Water sports are not my thing but everyone is encouraging me to have a go so why not.
Oh my god talk about scary. First we haad to get kitted up into warm wet suits which takes ages as they are very difficult to get into - especially when they are already wet and very, very cold. Having managed that we had to get a mini bus to the entrance of the caves - bear in mind that it is starting to get dark as it is getting on for 4pm. We also have to wear hard hats with a miners light on the front! Attractive. We arrive at the cave entrance and start our descent. We take five minutes to allow our eyes to adjust to the dark and then deeper we go. I'm getting a bit scared now but there is no turning back. We also have white wellington boots on - getting the picture?
We go deeper and deeper and have to be careful as it is also getting wetter and wetter and more cramped and closed in the deeper we go. We are now about knee deep in water and we have to put our rubber rings on! Oh I think I forgot that bie - we have large rubber rings to use as floats.
We have to sit on the rubber ring but link your legs on the rubber ring in front so we make a lovely chain and we are getting pulled further and further into the depths of the cave. Don't worry though when you look up there are thousands and thousands of glow worms which makes it look as though you are looking at the Milky Way. It is mesmorising.
We wind our way further into the cave then come to a mini waterfall - oh my the only way to go further on is to disengage from our chain and go over individually. However, the catch is you have to jump in backwards!!! Can you imagine my horror when I was told I had to just stick my bum in the ring, turn round and jumps down backwards. Well, originally I was third in line but I had to stop so many times I ended up going second from last. I was so scared - don't forget its practically pitch black and the water is getting colder by the minute. Eventually I managed to jump in having previously lost my rubber ring and the tour leaders. I was not popular. I did it eventually and I wondered what was next in store for me as I had already been told the next drop down was larger still.
Well to cut a long story short the next drop was a slide and although it was a long slide I made it without too much fuss.
That over with we emerged out the other side about 6.30pm. Hot shower quick bite to eat then I had stupidly arranged to go on a night abseil that very same evening. So three of us went back out for that but that was brilliant. Having been harnessed in and taken up to the top of the caves we had to abseil into a black cave. It doesn't sound much but when you are hanging over a 150 foot drop only kept on with a harness it starts getting a bit scary. The descent was great and I'm so glad I did it. All the way down there were hundreds of glow worms again. Brilliant.
You've guessed it we got down to the bottom then we had to climb up ladders all the way back to the top because the second time we were allowed to go down on our own. Breathtaking. Our guides went down ahead of us and got down to the bottom in about 10 seconds. However it took us a dam sight longer, but it was worth it.
I don't know what will follow that but whatever it is its got to be good. Overnight: Kiwi Paka Hostel.
Day 4 - Waitomo to Rotorua . Travelling on to Rotorua where we will be going to a Maori Hangi meal and Haka demonstration by the local Moari tribe. It was a fantastic evening. During the day we had also been to the New Zealand Maori Arts and Craft Institute where there are hot springs and gushing geisers which are amazing to see. Stopped off at Waikato River Crossing and walked on the Arapuni Swing Bridge - brilliant. The Maori show was great. They local Maoris performed their Haka which was scary - I was sitting on the front row and I felt fairly intimidated. All good fun. We had a guided tour through the forest and saw more gloworms and saw the Maori Warriors paddling up-stream in their war canoe. A great evening - the food was different having been cooked in a traditional Hangi which is basically a large hole in the ground with hot stones and covered over with wet sacking and left for 3-4 hours. Overnight: Treks Backpackers. OK hostel. One of the largest we have stayed in so far - less personal.
Day 5 - Rotorua to Taupo and Mount Ruapehu. Taupo today where we have a bit of a relax at the Skotel Resort and Spa. It is right at the bottom of Mount Ruapehu. The snow capped mountain is the backdrop for this wonderful Resort . We stopped off at some natural hot springs but most of the group got in but it was so cold outside of the hot spring, I decided to give it a miss. We also stopped off at another beach where there is a large floating pummice stone island. I picked up my own pummice stone off the beach and have been using it on my aching feet - heaven! Overnight: Skotel Resort and Spa. Brilliant accommodation although the Spa was rather small. Great location if you want to go skiing (although there was no snow when we were there).
Day 6 - Mt Ruapehu I went on a trek to Taranaki Falls which is part of Tongariro National Park. Amazing trek. It took me about two hours which is not bad going. Just a relalxing afternoon followed and a quick dip in the Spa then dinner in the restaurant and an early evening after watching the sunset. Overnight: Skotel Resort and Spa.
Day 7 - Mt Ruapehu to Wellington. We head to Wellington today which is the capital city. Went to a marvelous museum - Te Papa Museum. It was about 6 floors and it was probably one of the best museums I've been to in a long time. Lots of Maori Culture - I spent about 4 hours in there and only left for a bit of fresh air. Went on a Cable Car ride and a walk through the Botanical Gardens back into town. Overnight YHA, Wellington. Usual YHA standard.
South Island
Day 8 - Wellington to Nelson. We are now heading from the North to the South Island on the Ferry. Its was forecast to be a rough crossing but luckily it was all calm although it was raining. Ferry took about 3 hours then we wound our way through Marlborough Sounds - beautiful scenery through forestry on route to our next hostel - Accent on the Park which is a lovely hostel and our room has three tiered bunk beds - luckily no-one has to go on the very top! Had a walk through the Town in the afternoon and visited the Cathedral. BBQ for dinner. Overnight: Accent on the Park. Brilliant family run hostel in a great location, near to local shops etc.
Day 9 - Nelson Visit to Abel Tasman National Park. We have to get there via mini bus and then Ferry Taxi. The weather is holding out for us today with some sunshine but there was a bitterly cold southerly wind which took the wind out of my sales. We had to time our boarding the ferry fairly accurately as we had to embark from the beach and had to time the waves. Unfortunately I am not a fit as I used to be and got my feet a bit wet. Oh well. We then had a three hour trek back through Abel Tasman National Park. This follows the coastline and there were some spectacular views. I will have to return in the summer months because the water looked so inviting but was freezing cold!! Went to a Ceroc dancind lesson this evening down the local. Great evening followed by a quick beer! Must take up dancing again... Overnight at Accent on the Park.
Day 10 - Nelson to Kaikoura - Had a leisurely drive and stopped of at Hunters Winery for a Wine Tasting which was very nice. A bit early in the day but some of the wines were very good. After that we stopped off at a Seal colony wich was amazing. We got really close up to the seals and pups. It was through a forest with a waterfall at the end and the seals were cavorting and frolicking in and out of the water. It was amazing. They were playing with a plastic skittle which someone had thrown in and they really looked like they were having fun. Left there and stopped at the roadside to buy some crayfish for dinner. Thought I would try it but I didn't like it. Good job there was chips for back-up! Overnight at YHA, Kaikoura which was right on the sea front looking out to the mountains. Breathtaking. Great location.
Day 11 - Kaikoura to Christchurch - Went Whale watching at Kaikoura today. Saw three sperm whales, it was brilliant. We also saw lots of Dusky Dolphins swimming alongside our boat which was great to see. It was perfect conditions for whale watching and I've got a good video (well average video really). After that we stopped off for another wine tasting - could get used to this. Had some lovely cheese and biscuits to go with it. We left there en route to Christchurch. Overnight: YHA Christchurch City. Rather large YHA but clean and pleasant. Near to the shops and I had a little wander round and had a quick look at the Cathedral as well.
Day 12 - Christcurch to Punakaiki - Early start today as we have a long drive ahead. Had a coffee stop at Darfield travelled throgh Arthur's Pass which is through glorious snow-capped mountains. The scenery is indescribable. I have taken pictures but you have to see it for yourself to appreciate it. The range of mountains seems to go on forever, there are waterfalls, placed where there have been rock falls. One minute we were just driving along on a normal road then next the snow got lower and lower and we stopped. Got out for a photo stop and some of the group had a small snowball fight. We had actually stopped at a place called Deaths Corner! This was a particularly trecherous stretch of the road and the clouds had dropped quite low, but the next minute it had cleared again and the roads were great. We followed the road for part of the way where the Trans Alpine Journey goes which travels from Christchurch to Greymouth. Settled into our hostel which is right on the beach front with an outdoor spa. However it is blowing a gale today so there are no takers. ad a little drive out tis afternon to The Putai Blowole and Pancake Rocks. Well I can't begin to explain what this is like but as the tide was in where the waves crash into the rocks it blows through the rocks and looks like a geiser. It was brilliant. Got a bit wet from the spray but I managed a photo or two. Overnight: Punakaiki Beach Hostel
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