Still here...
Trip Start
Dec 06, 2006
1
84
188
Trip End
Ongoing
Wellington,
New Zealand
Friday, August 3, 2007
I've been in my job for about 2 months and I'm still pottering about generally trying to look busy with the minimal amount of work that's available. Ignoring work, as that's the dull bit that's filling the account back up (sloooowly), I've been on some weekend day trips to see what's in the area. Not much is the answer, there's no spectacular southern alps around here, there's some hills and some coast so that's where I've been. I also went over to see Louisa in Nelson for a weekend and there was even less going on there so I think that could be my last trip to the south island
001 rugger buggers
. I was originally thinking of a trip to Queenstown to see the stunning views when it's a winter wonderland, but it's horrendously expensive so I'll head north for a long weekend to Ruapehu to have a go at skiing there instead. I've been heading on my trips with a lass called Lex who's a geordie (I know, shocker, I shouldn't be speaking to her) that I met whilst in the backpackers. She's still living there now in one of the long stay dorms and rounds up a person or two to share petrol costs with.
The first day trip was along the coast road around the city which winds right the way past the airport to the peninsula. We saw quite a few dive schools which was surprising. One of the lads at work said that they sank a wreck in the harbour so it must have been people training up to see that. Bit too nippy in the water for that I reckon. We drove past loads of mad houses in the hill face including Peter Jackson's battered old house, you'd think he could at least afford to get his paintwork done. There's also some houses that are so far up the hill they're accessed via individual lifts! We headed around to a walk at red rocks, I'm sure you can guess what was there, a lot of red rock, it was a couple of hours to a seal colony and back. We managed to walk past quite a few before we realised they were lazing there although we should have realised sooner due to the stink
002 Nelson
! We then headed back to grab some food - took just 5 minutes drive to get back in the city - then headed to the top of Mount Vic to see the views up there. The sun was in the way a bit for photos, but there were some good views across the harbour.The next week we headed up the Kapiti coast to wander along a beach, then back via Lindale which is a small farm tourist centre place. Not much to see there particularly but the ice cream was very nice!
Last weekend we headed over the Rimutakas and around to the Wairarapa coast. We stopped to grab some food at Martinborough on the way but it was just another run down looking small new zealand town. The main attraction on the trip was the Putangirua Pinnacles which were a load of mad rock formations, quite similar to the clay cliffs near Bananarama I saw on the south island. It turned in to a little bit more of an adventure than it should have been as I only glanced at the map then set off thinking we just follow the stream. Unfortunately there was a (/an obvious) turn off before that but I kept on full steam ahead clambering over rocks until the stream was becoming more of a river and there was a waterfall ahead. At that point I thought turning back seemed sensible and just 5 minutes up the other way we found them
003 Centre of New Zealand
. After that we drove along to the lighthouse at Cape Palliser which ticks off the south of the north island as another landmark. Then back via some more fur seals. That was quite a drive, probably about 3 hours in each direction and about the limit for a day trip so I think I'll be starting to look at weekend trips. To make sure I get the best price for my car I'm going to try and finish my sightseeing from here rather than tour about at the end. I've seen the north of the north so there's not really that much left. The main thing is the Tongariro crossing to see Mt Doooom but I've got to wait for the snow to melt for that one.
Anyway, back to work on Monday, I'll report back in another while....
