The Bottom Bits!
Trip Start
Aug 01, 2007
1
57
91
Trip End
Jan 11, 2009
Invercargill,
New Zealand
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
First things first, on Saturday I headed out with the Bottom Bus to the Super 14 (Highlanders vs. Western Force) rugby game in Queenstown. I was happy to get the chance to do this, since most (ok, all but this one) games are held in Dunedin, and it was the positive side to not being able to get on the bus as scheduled on Thursday. It was a good day, they took us there quite early to chill out with some sausages and beer, and we got a cool T as well.
The next day, it was up bright and early to get back onto the bus- the Bottom Bus this time. This one focuses on the "deep south". What we were to soon learn was that the company doesn't feel it necessary to let you know that being a holiday weekend, half of the planned things to do were shut.
First stop was Dunedin. Seriously- ghost town on Easter Sunday! I felt lucky that I had already been there, but everyone else felt pretty ripped off. The highlight of the day would have to be (well, partially the only thing of the day!) walking up Baldwin St- mentioned before, the steepest street in the world. Luckily the path I had to go up numerous times in Nelson to get to my hostel acted as training!!
Monday was the "big day". We made numerous stops through the Catlins, on the way to Invercargill. First stop, Nugget Point, the view the lighthouse and some fur seals from a distance. We walked along some beach ad got pretty close to some massive Hocker Sea Lions, and to a pretty cool waterfall as well. Then, in Curio Bay, we chilled out along the beach (no dolphins) and then kept an eye out for some yellow-eyed penguins returning to their nests (no penguins). Invercargill was the stop for the night.
Yesterday we headed to Te Anau- we were supposed to stop at a paua shell factory to make our own pendants, but- you guessed it!- closed. That was probably the most disappointing actually. LUCKILY, the farm visit was still a go! The highlight of this was definitely the chance to shear a sheep ourselves! We also got to see some adorable puppies, the dog performances, etc etc.
Today was Milford Sound day trip round 2! (This was booked before mom & dad came over!). Our driver guide was absolutely fantastic, and I was happy to find out that the trips were actually quite different, so it kept me from getting bored! We got a buffet lunch on the cruise (helpful for stocking up on condiments!) and the underwater observatory as well. And, most importantly, it was NOT RAINING! Photos to prove the sky was actually to be seen in Milford- as well as Mitre Peak, which was difficult to find last time!
All in all, the bottom bus is probably quite good but we really had a lot of bad luck with it. Milford trip was excellent though! Now I am back in Queenstown for four more nights before heading into Christchurch on the 30, and flying out bright and early on the 31st... the excitement for Australia builds!
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