Archive for new zealand
Arthurs Pass and the Kea Birds
After leaving methven we headed up slightly to Arthur’s pass to join onto the west coast to get over to the Franz Josef Glacier. We set off early with some nice directions from Tom to go a scenic and shorter route. All was going well until we reached the main highway to realise the petrol was low…and that the nearest station was 40km, but in the opposite direction. Doh! We head to a place called Springfield, refuel with petrol and refresh with a lolly and back onto the road…50km later and back on track we come across a family in distress at the side of the road, broken down. We pull over and we are asked if we know anything about cars…we smile kindly…erm no. After some discussion we offer to take one of them back to were we came from were there was a phone reception so help could be called. Off we trundle.
We have a nice chat, turns out her name is Dawn too and her family are from South Africa. They moved to NZ a few years ago to bring up the kids in a less turbulent place. They worked in the police, so I guess they saw a few too many things. I mentioned by borther and his wife lived there and she seemed concerned when I said Jo’berg but reassured her they were in a safer area. We pulled into a little ski village, which has no shop so ended up knocking on a door for help. Turns out this happens quite alot…the lady is helpful and lets Dawn use the phone etc, after a while its all sorted and help is enroute, so we drop her back off and head off, a few hours behind schedule but the suns shining and we have hopefully earned some good karma!
We get to Arthurs Pass and do a walk to the devil punchbowl falls, which was a short but really steep walk, we see some Kea birds on the way up being followed around by some Japanese kids. The walk is worth it has we reach the top but foot of the fall, refreshed by its spray off. We admire for a while and then head back down. When we reach the cars, the Keabirds are getting up to mischief on the cars by going up to them and pulling at the rubber. One has burst a tyre on a car and another is having a good go at the windscreen rubber, those kids winding them up I believe the Kea’s have come to get their own back. We shoo them off the best we can but no doubt they will carried on when we left for our long drive along the west coast.
view enroute to arthurs passstream from devil punchbowl fallsdevil punchbowl falls
kea bird in flight
kea bird
Blenhiem
It said in the guide book that there isn’t much too hold a tourist in blenhiem but we hung around for a few days as Steph knew some people here that we wanted to meet and catch up with. We ended up having a lovely couple of days, wine tasting, walking, feeding lambs, meeting the piper family (thanks guys for the hospitality) and visiting their clam business.
mount vernonm blenhiem
Geraldine and AntThe above is were Geraldine and Ant lived, an amazing place which was converted container units that Ant built on a plot of land with beautiful views.one of ants clam boats, mid build
Harriot the dog
Jen the dog
kerry and baby lamb
lamb feeding
Steph with lorraine & ross at the clam HQ!
Lake Taupo Sky Dive
We headed to Lake Taupo and on the drive down I had a flick through the lonely planet guide to see what it has to say about the area. One thing stood out and i quote… ‘there’s no better place in the world to throw yourself out of a plane’. With over 30,000 jumps there a year, its also one on the cheapest places to do it due to the competative market.
I didn’t need anymore convincing. First stop, the Taupo airport to get booked in before i changed my mind. The video they showed as I booked made me abit unsure as it became more real, but I booked it for the next morning.
Got picked up from the campsite and Steph came along to watch, also in case she changed her mind and decided to do it. Not sure why but I didn’t feel too nervous, everyone in my group was in good spirits, so relaxed into the experience. This was made even easier when I met the sky diver, Mike, who i would be jumping tandem with but me at ease straight away, very easy going. We had all opted to do the big jump from 15,000ft, which meant we would need oxygen from 12,000ft.
So off we set, all piled in. I had chosen to be filmed and photographed so also had Michelle jumping with us who would record us during our 1 minute freefall, then leaves when the parachute is pulled. I was the second on the plane which meant out of the 5 of us, we would be one of the last to jump. It was a beautiful clear day and mike showed me the land marks, you could see for miles. We had a good laugh as we climbed higher.
Then it was time. One by one we dropped from the sky. All i knew was I was going to be jumping, no choice now so I might as well embrace it. As I dangled of the edge and we nose dived for a couple of seconds, i thought…oh no…but then we flattened up and it was amazing. The wind rushing against you, waving to Michelle doing a few poses and taking it all in. When the parachute was pulled, there was abit of a jolt but we soon began gliding and mike loosened my harness and made me comfortable, as we took in the sights.
We landed smoothly with huge smiles and I can’t wait to do it again.
jumping out
freefall
Mauri and Kiwi Experience
After all of our early nights we decided to spend an evening with some of the local talent, ie ‘mauri warriors’.
We saw them arrive by longboat onlong the river, perform tribal dances, rituals and met the chief. The food that we ate had been cooked in the ground for 3 hours, including there traditional dish of sweet potatoes.
Bizarrely South Koreon TV were there, who came to interview us and also requested an interview with the Katapult Monkey!
After food we took an evening walk to see glow worms and walked onto rainbow springs to see the endangered kiwi. It was a very cute little creature.
mauri man
Mauri Food
mauri tattootattoos on chief
rainbow springs at night
Horse Treking
In rotorua we booked a horse trek through the mountains, Steph was abit nervous and I have an allergy of horses. So there was a chance this activity was going to be a disaster. We arrive, there is a girl called clare from birmingham doing the ride with us and the instructor Jo. The weather is all over the place from bright sunshine to rain showers. I get ready with my buff (cheers Cheryl, come in use again), sunglasses, hat and allergy tablets. We meet our horses, they all look a tame bunch and we mount, ready to go.
The ground of the trek was very uneven and really hilly but the horses are used to the route and amble along until the slow horse Ted at the rear decided to make his way to the front which the rest of the horses weren’t best pleased with. So abit of chaos unfolds for a few moments, which results in Steph being close to tears (and refers to the incident as a stampede!!!) but it all settles down. After that it’s a amazing trek through the hills, with the odd stop as the horses sneeked off for a feed. the best thing of all, not one sneeze or ichey eye from me! Yippeee…looks like I have grown out of my allergy, which means the chance of more riding when I am back home.
Horse treking
Hobbiton
We headed to Matamata on sunday evening after picking up our new van, we arrived at the site just before the sunset, so we made some food and had an early night. Up early and a lovely start to the day with a soak in the hot spring before packing up and heading off for our little hobbiton adventure.
The rain was coming down but this didn’t matter as the cheery guide welcomed us to the tour. This tour was brilliant learning about what went into the planning, set building, permissions, contracts, behind the scenes and the impact it has since had on the town due to the tourism trade. The site was due for complete demolition but due to the re-negotiation of contracts, which took 2 years, the Alexander family who are the ‘sheep farm’ owners managed to keep some of the set in situ from which the tour company spawned.
Dancing in the hobbits Party Field.Us in Bags End, Frodos Hobbit House
We had good time exploring the different areas, taking pics and hearing all the stories. Afterwards we got to see a sheep being shawn and also bottle fed some lambs who were adorable. Note to self, must get a house with land so i can have some sheep.
bottle feeding a lamb
Back onto the road we headed to Rotoura through beautiful landscapes. As soon as we arrived headed to the info centre to see what mischief we could get up too. It was late afternoon so we went for a quick jet boat ride at agroadventures, for a fast spin.
Then onto the campsite for some food, wine and rest. It was a cold night in the camper, with us waking in the night with cold noses!
To jump or not to jump
We arrive for a night in the city, and miss the outdoor life pretty much immediatly. Even though we have got a really good deal on a plush 5* hotel, we miss the back of the van but we wanted to experience the city so thats what we are going to do. Our hotel is the sky grand right next to the sky tower, as we arrive some nutter has just done a jump off it. I look up and think no way will I be doing that! Erm…well give me 16 hours time and i might have talked myself into it.
We off load and head out, we go up the tower and my palms sweat just looking down from behind the glass and the safety of the viewing platform. Steph has done well just to make it up the lift! We spend some time up there and see a couple of people fall past the window. I begin to entertain the idea. Steph certainly isn’t. As we leave I go to enquire about a jump, see how you are attached etc. No more bookings left for the day as they are shutting, so maybe I will come back in the morning.
We head down the the viaduct harbour for a meal, wine and go the the ice bar, minus5, which was fun and the tourist thing to go check out, we have a few more drinks and then head back. I take in easy, in the back of my mind thinking i might jump in the morning before we pick up the van to head south.
Next morining, we get up and I have a think. Dangerous!
I head straight for the sky tower and book on. withing 5 minutes I am getting kitted up and put into a jump suit and harness. Steph is laughing at me. Up into the lift and i am having some second thoughts, the staff are making some jokes at my expense…I force a nervous laugh. At the top I let the guy who was with me go first. While I am on the waiting platform an australian guy comes up and makes me feel better by saying he has done it before and its a great feeling.
Its my turn…the lads working at the top are great, they keep chatting and everything happens so quickly you dont have much chance to think. I did my NLP trick and anchored a good thought, this helped…thanks Adrian. I was taken to the edge and the harness was attached…I lent forward, and ask ‘you sure its attached?’ … he counts…1…2…3… then…I let go.
11 seconds, 192 metres. WOW, I loved it. Brilliant. I now have a taste for it.
Sky Tower Jump
Sky Tower Jump
at observation deck
me jumping off sky tower
World Foote Steps 