December 3, 2010
Today we did the coast-to-coast Eco tour. What is this all about, you might ask. Well, let me explain the whole day to you. Stu and Donna run this tour and Stu is the driver of the van who picked us up at our hotel this morning at 9:30. It was us and an older couple who were originally from new York and had just gotten off a 20 day cruise, Mike and Barb. They were great fun and reminded me of my aunt and uncle.
Our first stop was at the aritaki visitor center, which is basically an introduction to the waiteke range, which is a sub-tropical rainforest. We learned about some plants and maori culture.
Next was a stop at craftworld, which was a great store that sold nothing but new Zealand made products. I was very happy in that store...
Then, we stopped at a wine cellar and did a little wine tasting (not quite as good as the wine down on the south island was, but still good).
Next, it was lunch time at the honey shop. After we ordered our lunch we got to taste some amazing new Zealand honey. Lunch was great!
Next stop was to see the gannet colony (cool birds that only live in a few places) who live on the cliffs by this beautiful beach. The scenery reminded me of the south island.
Finally, we got to Stu and Donna's farm, where Donna was waiting and took over the tour from there. Being part Maori, she gave us a history lesson and gave us a tour of their house to see how many people on NZ live. Then we went outside to the farm to meet and feed some sheep and to learn about the sheep farming industry, along with learning about different plants and trees ( they also plant a treet every tour to offset any carbon footprint). They also had many other animals as pets, including birds and guinea pigs. Then we got to feed the little orphaned lambs their milk in a bottle. I got to feed Pinky, whom I had been following his progress on facebook. They were very cute. We also found out that sheep don't say "baaaaa", they actually say "maaaaa".
Once we saw the outside farm, Donna took us back in the house, where we had a little tasting of some new Zealand foods, along with coffee or tea.
Afterwards, Stu drove us back to the city. It was a great day out.
When we got back to out hotel, we walked down to the waterfront and had some dinner. Then, we went to the sky city complex for a little slot machine action for me. I played for ten minutes, won 150 bucks, then quit. We went up the sky tower after that...
-- Post From My iPad
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
The biggest challenge yet
December 2, 2010
Today we did our most challenging thing ever. It even wore me out. We went canyoning, which is jumping, sliding and abseiling down waterfalls, on top of the long ass hike there and back up some big mountains carrying heavy backpacks.
Pictures and more to come....
-- Post From My iPad
Today we did our most challenging thing ever. It even wore me out. We went canyoning, which is jumping, sliding and abseiling down waterfalls, on top of the long ass hike there and back up some big mountains carrying heavy backpacks.
Pictures and more to come....
-- Post From My iPad
Back to the big city
December 1, 2010
We left Rotorua early this morning to drive back to Taupo at the airport where we were scheduled to fly to Auckland at 9am. Our flight was in one of those tiny planes again...
We got to Auckland before 10am and even with the taxi ride, we got to our hotel in the city centre before 11am, which was too early to check in. So we dropped our bags and walked around the city for a few hours.
We did a dinner cruise with the pride of auckland, which was really fun. We sat with a lady from
The UK who was travelling alone and a guy from Virginia, who was also travelling alone.
-- Post From My iPad
We left Rotorua early this morning to drive back to Taupo at the airport where we were scheduled to fly to Auckland at 9am. Our flight was in one of those tiny planes again...
We got to Auckland before 10am and even with the taxi ride, we got to our hotel in the city centre before 11am, which was too early to check in. So we dropped our bags and walked around the city for a few hours.
We did a dinner cruise with the pride of auckland, which was really fun. We sat with a lady from
The UK who was travelling alone and a guy from Virginia, who was also travelling alone.
-- Post From My iPad
Veering off course
Today started with a few decisions to make: what should we do?
We wound up visiting the rainbow springs birdlife park, which was very nice. As soon as we entered, a bunch of ducklings ran after us, knowing that we had bags of fish food which they loved to eat. They were so friendly. I want a pet duck...
After that, we repeated one of our Queenstown favourite activities into overkill; the luge. We took the gondola up the mountain and rode the luge five times...very fun!
Back into town, we walked to the Polynesian spa (more thermal pools) for yet another soak in sulphur water. You'd think we were all soaked out, but in our favourite over-doing it way, we did another short soak after dinner in our hotel's own private pools...my skin is soft...haha.
Above: rotorua museum
Next: Auckland, the final frontier...
November 30, 2010
-- Post From My iPad
We wound up visiting the rainbow springs birdlife park, which was very nice. As soon as we entered, a bunch of ducklings ran after us, knowing that we had bags of fish food which they loved to eat. They were so friendly. I want a pet duck...
After that, we repeated one of our Queenstown favourite activities into overkill; the luge. We took the gondola up the mountain and rode the luge five times...very fun!
Back into town, we walked to the Polynesian spa (more thermal pools) for yet another soak in sulphur water. You'd think we were all soaked out, but in our favourite over-doing it way, we did another short soak after dinner in our hotel's own private pools...my skin is soft...haha.
Above: rotorua museum
Next: Auckland, the final frontier...
November 30, 2010
-- Post From My iPad
The road to Rotorua
November 28, 2010
The day started with another kayaking trip, this time on lake Taupo to see the Maori carvings. It was a nice calm paddle on the water and at our break stop, I got to feed a couple of ducks that our guide, Andy, had tamed over two years. They were so cute.
Afterwards, we got into the car to head towards Rotorua, which was where we were going to stay for the next two nights, stopping at two places along the way of the hour and a half drive.
First stop was wai-o tapu thermal park, which is an attraction built around the thermal activity from this area. The pungent sulphur smell is overwhelming at first but the sight of all the volcanic craters is amazing.
Next stop was Waikite Valley Thermal Pools, for another soak in natural hot springs. These ones were taken right from the hot creek and cooled down through their special cooling system.
After our soak, we made our way into Rotorua, then checked in to our hotel. I went down to the pool and had a little swim and then we went for dinner.
Next: wandering the area
-- Post From My iPad
The day started with another kayaking trip, this time on lake Taupo to see the Maori carvings. It was a nice calm paddle on the water and at our break stop, I got to feed a couple of ducks that our guide, Andy, had tamed over two years. They were so cute.
Afterwards, we got into the car to head towards Rotorua, which was where we were going to stay for the next two nights, stopping at two places along the way of the hour and a half drive.
First stop was wai-o tapu thermal park, which is an attraction built around the thermal activity from this area. The pungent sulphur smell is overwhelming at first but the sight of all the volcanic craters is amazing.
Next stop was Waikite Valley Thermal Pools, for another soak in natural hot springs. These ones were taken right from the hot creek and cooled down through their special cooling system.
After our soak, we made our way into Rotorua, then checked in to our hotel. I went down to the pool and had a little swim and then we went for dinner.
Next: wandering the area
-- Post From My iPad
Taupo and more jet boating
November 28, 2010
We left Wellington late in the morning for an hour flight to Taupo. Our plane was even smaller than the last one we took. It was really cool to be able to see out of the cockpit. The Taupo airport was one small building and the representative from Hertz was at the desk just for us. Our motel is ten minutes from the airport and we have a spa pool in our living room. Apparently, that is a big thing here with accommodations and I can't wait to use it later tonight.
A little while ago, we drove up the waikito river to do a rapids jetboat ride...very fun. Tonight we are gonna just do laundry and lay low...
Next: rotorua...not really sure what we will do...
-- Post From My iPad
We left Wellington late in the morning for an hour flight to Taupo. Our plane was even smaller than the last one we took. It was really cool to be able to see out of the cockpit. The Taupo airport was one small building and the representative from Hertz was at the desk just for us. Our motel is ten minutes from the airport and we have a spa pool in our living room. Apparently, that is a big thing here with accommodations and I can't wait to use it later tonight.
A little while ago, we drove up the waikito river to do a rapids jetboat ride...very fun. Tonight we are gonna just do laundry and lay low...
Next: rotorua...not really sure what we will do...
-- Post From My iPad
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