The day I saw a baby kiwi

Trip Start Aug 14, 2008
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Trip End Sep 25, 2008


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Sunday, September 21, 2008

Day 202 - Beautiful day today and as I met Linda (a family friend from home) under the giant metal trout by the lake in Taupo, the weather was on our side!  I was early and so sat by the lake and admired the stunning view of Tongariro from across the lake.  When Linda arrived we got a coffee outside by the lake in Taupo and she had some very exciting news that she had been asked for a job interview the following day!  Having seen all there is to see in Taupo, we left and set off for a day touring around some of the North Island - Linda had got the day off and graciously took the role of tour guide and companion, which was so good of her (and perhaps her calling in life!)

We drove to Rotorua and went up the gondola for fantastic views of the lake and city below.  I bought us lunch at the top and we basked in the sun with an enormous milkshake each.  At the bottom of the gondola I had an opportunity to do something that I'd be dying to do in New Zealand... see a kiwi!  The cashier at the Kiwi House thought I was under 15 (two days before my 23rd birthday!) and we had a really good tour of the conservation centre.  It was very interesting as we heard all about how they steal the eggs in the wild in order to ensure the babies survive, and later release them back into conservation areas.  Not only did we see a few adults but also a newly hatched baby, which has got to be the cutest thing I have ever seen!

We drove on to the zorb (rolling down a hill inside a plastic ball) but I couldn't face it after that milkshake and couldn't justify spending the money.  Instead we drove to the Bay of Plenty on the east coast to Mt Maunganui, which is a seaside town with a lovely beach.  I went for a paddle in the Pacific before we sat on a cafe by the beach for afternoon tea.  The drive back to Rick and Lindas through the Waikato region was beautiful and I thought it quite ironic how the place they have chosen to live is the most like Herefordshire of all the places I've seen in NZ - that is lots of farmland and little holdings.

Reached Te Awamutu to see Rick (& Bonnie the dog) and after a relaxing G&T, we went to the local pub called Redoubt in town for a meal.  It's a lovely little pub with lots of atmosphere and we met two of Rick and Lindas friends; Marion and Clive and had a really nice meal - it's nice to explore the country away from the Stray bus and see a more realistic side of everyday life... and it's a lot like home!
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