Baba´s Kiwi Newsletter - 9 (english)

Baba´s Kiwi Newsletter – 9

It doesn´t really matter if you are in your daily life or if you are travelling, time flies ALWAYS to fast :) But travelling is definitely more fun!!!

And here our adventures during the last weeks ;)

Day 249 – 252 / MT. MAUNGANUI

As we arrived the weather wasn´t ideal – but at least it didn´t rain. So we went to the hot saltwater pools to relax. As we were already at Hot Water Beach in the morning we simply made it our Wellness day ;)

The next day wasn´t much better so we had a stroll through town, walked around Mt. Maunganui and checked the swell etc. for surfing – no waves :( not even for a longboard... Whatever – so we walked UP Mt. Maunganui, watched animals and enjoyed the wonderful view!

Day 252 - 253 / NATIONAL PARK – TONGARIRO CROSSING

Always having an eye on the weather forecast we found out that Friday would be nearly the only day where the Tongariro Crossing would be even possible. So we decided to make our way there including a stopp in Rotorua. We would have loved to see a geysir but 46$ entrance we just found too expensive and went for the „free“ option, the thermal park. Well, you can´t see water fountains here but you still get a good impression of the open Earth´s crust. With blubbery mud holes, smoking stones and steamy waters we were good and just sat into another hot stream short after leaving Rotorua. Those are just great – and for free :) They are directly on the road and with a cool beer even more enjoyable hehe.

Later we arrived at the worst hostel so far – and actually just booked our shuttle for the next day (as you need to enter the National park and you arrive on the other side – otherwise we would have driven ourselves).

The weather the next morning was foggy and grey again. Even then everone was ready and 2 busses dropped us of at the start of the Crossing. Quite often the wind clears up the clouds so you can see – not this day :( Unfortunately we had real bad luck and saw neither a volcano nor the lakes, what a pity!!! I did the Crossing already and it still is one of my highlights in New Zealand but I felt sorry for Martin! Well, we took it with humour and our imagination. But even the walk was nasty. Just before the summit we were completely wet as it rained sideways and there was still a lot of snow. On the way down the weather got better and we could see the smoke of Mt. Tongariro as well as the damage it has done in the forest. The river down to the valley was still a bit grey from ash and mud and the workers did their best to restore the walkway down. After 5,45 hours with about 10 minutes break we arrived at the bus station.

And yes: 3 days later Mt. Tongariro errupted again and the walk was closed then. So we actually were lucky to be able to do it after all ;)

Day 253 - 255 / TAUPO

On the same day we made our way to Taupo where we met Adam who joined us over the weekend. It was great to see him outside Wellington and the flat :) After our exhausting work we enjoyed a meal at the Thai Restaurant – yummi!

The weather on Saturday didn´t look good either but we had a bad weather plan. First we walked to the Huka falls (really strong waterfalls with an amazingly blue colour) and on the way back we sat in one of this hot streams again – AMAZING! We had beer and wine with us and just enjoyed sitting in the knee high hot water with about 20 other people :) Simply genius!

Sunday started immediately with rain and we all decided to drive to Napier. There we sat on the beach for a while before Adam had to drive back to Wellington.

Day 255 – 257 / NAPIER

Finally we had better weather. Napier is beautiful and has a great art deco charme. We as well started our 2nd try to surf here and it turned out that November is apperently the worst month to surf in New Zealand – the clueless land rats! :) But as we always have a plan B we went up Bluff Hill and did a picknick there. Beside that our hostel had free WIFI which is sometimes helpful, too ;)

Day 257 - 258 / HASTINGS

After one of Jasmins friends offered us an overnight stay we drove to Hastings in the morning. Ok, there is not really a lot to see or do but as it was a nice day we went, armed with a Surfboard, to Ocean beach (well known for good surfing, too). After soaking up some sun and playing soccer on the beach we watched 2 Surfers in the water catching about one wave within an hour. Besides that we had no wetsuits – so it didn´t work again... but we won´t give up ;)

In the evening we found out that Kim is home in Havelock North (10 minutes away) so we caught up for dinner. After that we drove up Te mata peak (mountain) and enjoyed the view. It was great to see Kim again! :)

Day 259 -262 / WELLINGTON

After a run with Whiri (Jasmin´s friend) in the morning we headed to Wellington – finally! Yes, I have to admit that I was really looking forward to it and it felt like coming home (at least here in New Zealand). I couldn´t wait for Martin to see where I lived, worked and made party ;) But on the way there we stopped at „The Fisherman´s table“ (great restaurant directly on the sea with fresh fish on the menu) and Kapiti Coast to enjoy a bit of sun. At around 5pm we arrived at the flat and shortly raised the number of people to 13!!! Yes, after Jen and Abby moved out two travelling couples have moved in. It felt more like in a hostel, really international :). In the evening we had a bonfire and Martin met everyone.

The next day we spent in the city, organising some stuff: we booked the Abel Tasman track (what an act!!! You have to think about so many things!), did some shopping and enjoyed an icecream at the waterfront. We met one last time with Zoe and checked out „The Embassy“ as it was only 5 more days to go till „The Hobbit“ premiere and we actually were in „The middle of Middle Earth“ :) We decided as well to stay one night longer in Wellington to go out with everyone on friday night before we left on Saturday, after one of Trishe´s pies (the best in Wellington) for breakfast, to catch the ferry to the South Island.

Day 262 – 264 / BLENHEIM

At about half 5pm we arrived at Jenny and Ian´s place and got a delicious meal (after Jenny bought another chicken as the dog grabbed the first one :)).

Like expected we had the best weather in Blenheim, with 30 degrees and sunshine, so we lay in the garden the whole day. FANTASTIC! Finally summer! Later I introduced Martin to Runography so that he saw something of the Town as well ;)

Day 264 – 266 / KAIKOURA

Monday morning we headed further to Kaikoura and took off to check out the Peninsula walkway. But except from a few Sealions and Seagals we didn´t see that much.

But we already have booked another Activity for the next day: Swimming with dolphins, take 2 – and this time it was SUCCESSFUL :)

Not long after we saw a mum swimming with her 2 little calfs we as well saw the first pot and got ready. It was UNBELIEVABLE and we are really happy that Martin could do a movie with his GoPro camera because when we were back on land again we just couldn´t believe it. It felt surreal – just INCOMPREHENSIBLE! To see this wonderful animals so close, looking in their eyes and swimming circles with them... another highlight :) Definitely must do!!!

Day 266 – 267 / CHRISTCHURCH

Christchurch said hello with clouds and drizzle and more than the still closed city center and the container city we didn´t see anyway. It didn´t change that much: in the center there were still a lot of barriers and as well on the way out there were a lot of ruined houses. In the container city all is decorated for christmas which gives it a strange contrast. After we couldn´t reach Nicky aso. to catch up we decided to leave the next day already.

Day 267 – 269 / LAKE TEKAPO

Arrived there we immediately bought some WIFI access and organised the next days. With activities planned and a roof over our heads for the next days it´s just more relaxing ;)

Day 268 / MT. COOK

The day after, we went up Mt. John in the morning before we drove to Mt. Cook in the afternoon for a glacier expedition. This activity sounded really great on the homepage and in the flyer and as well the costs seemed to promise something good, so we thought: Let´s do it! We were supposed to drive on a motor boat on the glacier lake and get really close to the glacier, seeing and touching icebergs and even fishing some ice (or ice crystals) out of the water. That was what´s promised... unfortunately this event was rather disappointing :( We didn´t get to the glacier closer than 400 meters, no icebergs or ice crystals at all and in the end we didn´t even spend the full hour on the lake. A lot of people were asking but no one really complained. After all we decided to tell our feedback to the office staff. Price performance ratio didn´t match and after we complained via email to the boss (that was the instruction) we got ALL our money back – INCREDIBLE! That´s what I call service! But we as well could read between the lines that this activity should actually not happen anymore as it is too dangerous nowadays to drive close to the glacier and no one has seen icebergs in 7 month anyway. Whatever, we were happy that we mentioned it :)

Day 269 – 271 / DUNEDIN

From Lake Tekapo we headed off to Dunedin. Passing by the „Elephant rocks“ (Aslans camp in „The chronicals of Narnia“) we couldn´t miss the stopp in Moeraki. A very important place to me, which I definitely wanted to see, as it was a postcard of the Moeraki Boulders (stone balls on the beach which they don´t know where they come from) I got as a teenager which started my couriosity about New Zealand – funny, isn´t it :) Even as it rained I was very happy I´ve been able to see them (it´s only possible at low tide – and as we know about the other 2 little problems we had :)). In the evening we did some bar crawling in Dunedin but already were quite happy after 3.

We checked out the city and the Otago Peninsula the next day. On a beautiful beach we were able to watch 2 sealions really close (about 10 meters). We as well visited Dunedin´s railway station and the „Nzl´s sports hall of fame“, which is within the building, as well as an art gallery.

As we started quite late in Dunedin the next morning (because we still visited the steepest living street in the world = Baldwin street) we had a long day ahead of us. Mainly because we decided on short notice (and recommendations) that we take the drive via the Catlins and Invercargill to Manapouri – which means: far south :) And if you drive through Invercargill you HAVE TO make a quick trip to Bluff hehe.

Day 271 – 273 / MANAPOURI

9pm we arrived in our own little hut and just went to bed.

A cloudy day was awaiting us and after we checked out Te Anau and Manapouri we booked some activities. Milford Sound for the next day and Glowworm caves for the evening. After a short walk we had a look at the Wildlife Center and New Zealand´s birds, including the only alpine parrot, the Kea. On the way back we saw deer (which they breed here) and our first black sheep :) Wooohooo! At 7pm we started with the boat over the lake and into the caves. It was nice to see glowworms again and as well the caves were great.

7:30am in the morning we happily started the 2 hour drive to Milford. Unfortunately it turned out that the rainfall was too heavy in the fjords so we had to turn around after 80km as the street was closed :( What a disappointment! Of course we could have checked that but as we started that early and the weather looked good... Well, at least we saw a BEAUTIFUL Rainbow :). Now, what to do? Staying in rainy Manapouri or Te Anau and wait or getting the money back and drive to Queenstown to do the trip from there with a Bustour? We went with the last option as we didn´t want to sit around and „waiting“ in Queenstown is much more fun ;) Beside that Martin´s birthday was coming up and we didn´t want to celebrate that in a backwater ;)

Day 273 – 277 / QUEENSTOWN

Exactly like the first time I arrived in Queenstown you immediately get caught by the vibe of this town J So much LIFE in the streets, the cafés and shops... simply great after the rainy south. Completely done from the drive and the early start we didn´t do that much, just booked Milford Sound again.

First thing in the morning we had a sleep in and a long breakfast. Martin headed of to climb a mountain while I was going for a run and organised the last presents. After 3 hours he was back already – it was SNOWING on the summit! Aaaaaaaahhhhh! It´s supposed to be summer! I was completely wet as well after my run so we just got ready and went out to eat Fergburgers (biggest and best burger ever :)) and to do some pubbing (we went to an ice bar where even the glasses are out of ice :)). But on the way there we got distracted by „Happy Travels“ and when we left again each of us has booked 3 activities :).

With a little hangover we went to town again for another Fergburger and to get some stuff done online. As we prepared for Milford Sound in the evening we found out that Baba Black Sheep´s battery was empty. Nothing – crap, but nothing we could do at that time.

Day 276 / MILFORD SOUND

Saturday then we started really early as the bus to Milford Sound left at half past 6 already. Kind of a pity. You have your own car and you want to be independent and in the end you have to join a bustour as well. But it has pro´s as well: we didn´t have to drive, a lot of stopps, we saw Kea´s, had better weather and the street was open – JUHU :) So we finally could see the great waterfalls aso. Besides that I have to admit that I wasn´t THAT impressed. Milford Sound is supposed to be one of the „must do´s“ in New Zealand (like everyone says). I hope I didn´t loose my excitement because of all the nice places I´ve seen already but I think it as well depends on what you like and what touches you. I found it really beautiful but in my opinion other places are even more.

Back in Qtown we took Baba Black Sheep for a „walk“ (with help from our hostel manager) to recharge the batteries – all good again :)

Day 277 / GLENORCHY

And another activity was coming up – in Glenorchy. Martin signed up for canyoning while I was going on a 2,5 hour ride. With BEST weather both were a great success and I still can´t believe that I was riding again after my confirmation :) Happiness on earth... In the afternoon we drove back to Queenstown for one last Fergburger and then Wanaka.

And that´s it again fort his time :) A lot has happened the last 4 weeks – AMAZING! It´s fantastic to travel New Zealand again even if I have visited a lot of places already it´s completely different this time. You stay in other hostels and because of this you see a different part of the place, you are more flexible with the car but it is as well more difficult to meet new people. Both ways to travel have pro´s and con´s and I feel really happy that I have had the chance to experience both of them.

Well, that´s enough now. I wish you all „MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR“ as the next Newsletter will be in January – just before I fly to Australia. So have nice celebrations with friends and family, treat yourselves and most important have fun :)

Kia ora – Barbara