Friday, March 6, 2009

N.Z.

I don't really know how to summarize my 6 months in New Zealand but I'm going to try:

It all started with this:
From New Zealand, North Island

Yes! As a matter of fact we do need a car!
It took us one week, but we finally found Albert and it was love at first sight. We bought Albert from this nice Italian guy and his girlfriend.
From New Zealand, North Island


Then there was no stopping us. Here's a summary of the first three months:

Karekare (famous...and dangerous! surf spot)
From New Zealand, North Island


Enjoying the view in Piha
From New Zealand, North Island


Albert enjoying the view
From New Zealand, North Island


It was spring (October!) when we arrived and lambs were everywhere
From New Zealand, North Island


One Tree Hill (p.s. the tree is no longer there!) with Auckland in the background
From New Zealand, North Island


Got the car fixed in Onehunga
From New Zealand, North Island


The view from my bedroom window was different everyday!


Our first big splurge: the Waitomo caves! Abseil 37 meters into the earth, ride a zipline through the dark, float down a freezing cold river in an innertube, serenade glowworms, pause for tea and biscuits, climb up a waterfall, go towards the light, emerge from the darkness and call it a day!


From New Zealand, North Island


Where Beer Road intersects Pukemoremore Road...
From New Zealand, North Island

From New Zealand, North Island


Rotorua has some pretty gardens...
From New Zealand, North Island

but beware the bubbling stench



The upside is the naturally occurring hot pools...ahhh!
From New Zealand, North Island


Then in beautiful Taupo...
From New Zealand, North Island


we learned about Tim Tam Slams. Please observe:


A hike to Huka Falls
From New Zealand, North Island


Then strip down
From New Zealand, North Island


and take a soak in these lovely hotpools!
From New Zealand, North Island


This is our friend in Taupo: Sir Walter
From New Zealand, North Island


Baby goats are, (how do i emphasize this) the CUTEST things in the whole world! seriously.



Then we let the chickens out because we thought it would be fun...until we had to figure out a way to put them back in their home. Trapping chickens is not easy!


pit stop at the rugby museum
From New Zealand, North Island


Our first big rugby game. P.S. they sell donuts at 'The Rugby'
From New Zealand, North Island


then out for drinks with our pal Chris
From A.A.'s NZ pics, North Island


we promise never to forget the little yellow house on rugby street!
From New Zealand, North Island
From New Zealand, North Island

I'm a pirate. Arggg.
From A.A.'s NZ pics, North Island


Then the ferry ride over to the south island with a few of our sheep friends
From New Zealand, South Island

Through the sounds
From New Zealand, South Island


( quick reminder that yes, I am currently driving around and living in this van during all of this:
From New Zealand, South Island
)

Two days in a kayak + one day hike + sleeping on the ground = awesome!



From New Zealand, South Island


From New Zealand, South Island


we call this 'ocean hair'
From New Zealand, South Island


The nice thing is, they give you a cute guide...p.s. it's only for the first day! After that you're on your own. Good Luck!
From New Zealand, South Island






This seal decided to come over to our kayak for a visit
From New Zealand, South Island


We made it!
From A.A.'s NZ pics- South Island


and that boat there is coming to pick up the kayak, not us! we still have a day and a half of hiking left and we have to get to camp before the tide comes in. oops!
From New Zealand, South Island


taking it all in
From New Zealand, South Island
From New Zealand, South Island


Time for the long hike
From A.A.'s NZ pics- South Island


we beat the tide by a long shot
From A.A.'s NZ pics- South Island


a Maori symbol for new life and new beginnings, a baby silver fern;
From A.A.'s NZ pics- South Island

From New Zealand, South Island


That was our trip to the Abel Tasman.
From New Zealand, South Island


When we got back, there were horses guarding our car
From A.A.'s NZ pics- South Island


Everyone's been asking for a picture of our van 'down by the river!' Well here it is:
From New Zealand, South Island


While eating breakfast this morning, I watched the locals prove once and for all...there's more than one way to launch a boat:
1) back down the ramp with a boat trailer
From New Zealand, South Island


2) Just simply stick the boat on a dolly and wheel it down there
From New Zealand, South Island


3) Recruit some friends to help carry it down
From New Zealand, South Island


4) Or simply drive down to the edge of the water, then hoist it off the roof of your car
From New Zealand, South Island


Ahh, Kiwi ingenuity never fails to impress!

What really kills me is that once the boat is in the water, they spend 10 minutes starting the engine so they can just putt over to the other side of this little stream. It might be 30 yards, but probably more like 20.
From New Zealand, South Island


They are going white bait fishing. Later I had a white bait sandwich:
From A.A.'s NZ pics- South Island

Yum!
From A.A.'s NZ pics- South Island


Gift shops never cease to amaze me:
From New Zealand, South Island
From New Zealand, South Island

seriously?

Then the event I've been waiting for: hiking a glacier!
From New Zealand, South Island


From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island


All these steps have to be handmade with a pick axe
From New Zealand, South Island


From New Zealand, South Island


why yes i am a mountaineer
From New Zealand, South Island


From New Zealand, South Island


you've never seen this color blue before, ever!
From New Zealand, South Island


inside the ice cave:
From New Zealand, South Island
From New Zealand, South Island
From New Zealand, South Island
From New Zealand, South Island



There ain't nothin' like spending a day with your ass is a crevasse!
From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island

It started snowing which was perfect!
From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island


pure glacier water!
From New Zealand, South Island


From New Zealand, South Island

Yay!


We bunkered down in an RV site to watch the election news unfold. Yay Obama!

We were really pissed when they cut off the acceptance speech but we had lots of interesting conversations with other travelers. It was definitely a happy thing because if it had gone the other way, we seriously considered marrying some kiwis to become New Zealand citizens.


This is Albert in Albert town!
From New Zealand, South Island


We couchsurfed pretty much everywhere. These was the crazy group of people we stayed with in Queenstown. Firepit + marshmallows = good time
From New Zealand, South Island


Stupid tourist attraction
From New Zealand, South Island


Mirror lakes
From New Zealand, South Island


Oh my gosh this water is amazing!
From New Zealand, South Island

seriously, this water was the best tasting water ever, cause it didnt taste like anything. If i could bottle this stuff i'd make millions!
From New Zealand, South Island


On the boat in Milford Sounds
From New Zealand, South Island


Made it to the bottom of the south island
From New Zealand, South Island

This was a turning point, literally. We were finally headed north!

We loved Christchurch and Craig Smith was one of our favorite CS hosts. He's a corporate guy turned childrens singer/songwriter. He invited us to one of his shows. This song, the Wonky Donky song won best New Zealand childrens song. If you watch this the song will get stuck in your head for a long time, so don't say I didnt warn you.



This is also an original.




There was a French couple being hosted at the same time and we ended up traveling around with them for the next week.

We went to the A and P Show and saw wood chopping and lots and lots of farm animals.
From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island

Talking to a very big sheep
From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island


We finally got to hold baby lambs
From New Zealand, South Island


Then Craig invited us to a music festival at Gore Bay

Farmer's Market pit stop
Park your dog outside:
From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island


Gore Bay
From New Zealand, South Island


fishin'
From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island


We went to go collect mussels for dinner and we almost stepped on a hairy rock! SEALS!!! AAAHHHHHHHHH!
From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island


Us and the frenchies
From New Zealand, South Island


Proper mussel finding position
From New Zealand, South Island


this big guy got close!
From New Zealand, South Island


From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island


Benjamin wanted to get close to take a photo


Unfortunately we got stopped by the department of fisheries on the way back to camp for a (hardly) undersized paua but after writing me a ticket, they let me go with a warning, although I did get a phone call from the police department about three weeks later!!

favorite Benjamin moment:
his girlfriend makes fun of him because his flipflops are really flip floppy and he makes a lot of noise when he walks. So we were hiking around and we started to get worried about mosquitoes and he said (with a thick French accent) "Do not worry, I will scare them away with my flip flips!) and then he went running down the hillside flip flopping and scaring off the mosquitoes.

We decided to drive to Kaikoura that night so we stopped at a public barbecue to cook up our mussels.
From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island


Yum! Doesn't that look amazing!! and it was free!!!
From New Zealand, South Island


A little wine rounds it out
From New Zealand, South Island


From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island

Most amazing mussel dinner i've ever had and will probably ever have in my whole life.

The next morning we woke up at the crack of dawn to swim with dolphins

From New Zealand, South Island


The boat drives in front of where the pod is headed,
From New Zealand, South Island

then we jump off the back of the boat
From New Zealand, South Island

Then after the initial shock of cold water, you can stick your mask under and watch them swim right by you (i didnt use the zoom under water at all. this is actually how close they were!)
From New Zealand, South Island
From New Zealand, South Island
From New Zealand, South Island
From New Zealand, South Island
From New Zealand, South Island

They are very curious and playful so it was definitely worth it cause we got to see a lot.
From New Zealand, South Island


And i got a picture of this strange species
From New Zealand, South Island


a mom and baby
From New Zealand, South Island

these guys can really jump too
From New Zealand, South Island

From New Zealand, South Island


After the dolphins, we pull off by the side of the road for one more dinner with our French friends in Kaikoura before we head north to Picton for the ferry ride back to the north island.
From A.A.'s NZ pics- South Island


A little last minute wine tasting before we head back to the North Island:
From A.A.'s NZ pics- South Island
From A.A.'s NZ pics- South Island
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