Heathrow and Home
Trip Start
Nov 12, 2007
1
30
40
Trip End
Aug 01, 2008
Heathrow,
United Kingdom
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Hopefully this site will mean you will be spared our endless stories. Just nod dutifully when we ask if you have read every word and we will not ask questions. Photo viewings will not be mandatory so you do not all need to hide. It is impossible for me to choose even a top ten of favourite moments from the trip which says it all really. If there was a gun to my head I would probably say Queenstown was my favourite place and that the Barrier Reef just pips about 20 other things as the most memorable experience. Look forward to seeing everybody. (R)
The four months have just flown by and I can't believe we are home. We aimed to have the holiday of a lifetime and we weren't disappointed. Australia exceeded my expectations and I especially loved Sydney. Standing at the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock) was a very special moment as I finally realised I'd made it to OZ. The Australian lifestyle and the people were a breath of fresh air and of course I eventually got to meet the OZ side of the family which is something that was long overdue. I want to go back and see more of it.
Initially, I had difficulties adjusting to NZ because I had a rose tinted view of the country from reading too many favourable guidebooks. NZ has the same issues as the UK plus they have the additional problems of the risk of extreme weather / earthquakes which are a real threat.
In case you forgot what we look like
It is not a trouble free oasis but it is incredibly beautiful, especially the South Island, and the guidebook photos do not do it justice. Some of the scenery just stops you in your tracks because you can't believe it is real. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a holiday there. The Tongariro walk was my personal New Zealand highlight.We have been so lucky to have had the opportunity to go and do the trip, sometimes I felt we didn't deserve to be so fortunate. Thanks to all the emails while we were away and to both sets of parents for making life so trouble free at home while we were away enjoying ourselves, especially Rob's Dad for sorting out the bank while we were on the other side of the world trying to access our cash. We would like the Mums to know that we are sorry for any worrying we caused but we hope that by having the best time of our lives you feel it was worth it.
Most importantly, thanks to Rob for being the perfect travelling companion and putting up with me without (verbal) complaint solidly for four and a half months. You will be pleased to know that I managed to keep my job as chief navigator until the end of the trip despite two verbal warnings.
Looking forward to catching up with everyone soon and getting down to researching the next part of our dream holiday...........(E)
