Aotearoa New Zealand
PART 2
As always, this Overseas Adventure Travel trip will be hard to surpass with our excellent Trip Leader, Mike. We enjoyed a combination of coach, boat, and air travel. Our schedule had us in the North Island for 4 nights, the South Island for 6 nights, and another 3 nights in the Capitol, Wellington before returning to Auckland for our departure.
We returned our car and gathered from the four corners of the planet and met in Auckland..... finding the Scenic Hotel, met our trip leader, Mike Matthew and 13 fellow tour companions, 4 from CA (Sri Lanka), 3 from AZ, 1 from Illinois, 4 from VA.
Many thanks to Mike, Michelle and Victor for their excellent photographic skills.
We took a short walk to the Ferry Terminal for our welcome dinner in Devonport.
We enjoyed delicious lamb shank and snapper, oyster entree and antipasto salad, Pinot Gris & draft IPA. We learned about the Maori cultural dinner & show, the need for a chief and a song. Peter volunteered to be chief.
Judy smiles at the Harley owner who is pleased that she wanted to ride.
Many thanks to Mike, Michelle and Victor for their excellent photographic skills.
We took a short walk to the Ferry Terminal for our welcome dinner in Devonport.
Judy smiles at the Harley owner who is pleased that she wanted to ride.
The next morning we are encouraged to sit beside a local and chat, while riding the City bus to Aukland War Memorial Museum where we met Prince who welcomed us to his territory, Peter represented our OAT group & "pa" is exchanged (touches noses & exchange breath in friendship), with help, we sing "the gift".
We are invited to meet Prince's wife Katherine & granddaughter, Constance, & learn about customs, and life of the Maori over tea. We were introduced to fajoi, a local fruit, and learn how to eat it. All questions were answered.
Afterwards, we heard a presentation by Steve Abel, a Green Peace volunteer who gave us the background on how NZ became a nuclear free country.
After a lunch in the museum, we visited the native bird & mammal areas, Maori, Polynesia and South Pacific masterpieces and lifeways sections. Impressive were the Maori Court with life-size reproductions and restoration of community halls, the native dress, and a special exhibit of Making Music in Aotearoa.
We experienced a simulated volcanoe/earthquake eruption in a small room, with a televised documentary of the event.
We saw the now extinct flightless Moa, who fed many Maori before they began to grow kumara (sweet potato) that they brought from the South Pacific. "The moa is no mo(re)".
We strolled through the museum gardens where everything grows.
We joined Marianne to walk down Lover's Lane to the Wharf for a quick visit the Maritime Museum, learning about the America's Cup and Sir Peter Dodge, of New Zealand's Team.
We joined Marianne to walk down Lover's Lane to the Wharf for a quick visit the Maritime Museum, learning about the America's Cup and Sir Peter Dodge, of New Zealand's Team.
There were many sports outfitters, but we were pleased with Kathmandu where Peter bought a merino underlayer and we ate dinner at the Occidental Restaurant & Belgium Brew Pub. We enjoyed raw oysters, fried oysters, roast vegetable salad and mixed toppings of grilled green tipped mussels with Occidental IPA & Hoegarden beers.
New Zealand is a country of unparalleled beauty, not just in its scenery but with its locals. From the Maori tribes that wish to educate the world on their heritage, culture, and the European descendants that have cultivated the terrain creating a pastoral wonderland to the sophisticated technology, New Zealand is full of friendly inhabitants whose presence is as important to the Kiwi experience as the land itself.
It was one of the first nations to elect a female head of state, the first to abolish the second chamber of Parliament, the first country to have women vote. There is something for everyone, and unique cultural experiences wherever you choose to live. Visitors, we learned, accommodations/job "WWOOFing " can be had in someone's home in exchange for providing some service. (helpx.net)
It was one of the first nations to elect a female head of state, the first to abolish the second chamber of Parliament, the first country to have women vote. There is something for everyone, and unique cultural experiences wherever you choose to live. Visitors, we learned, accommodations/job "WWOOFing " can be had in someone's home in exchange for providing some service. (helpx.net)
A coach to Rotoroa with stops in Hartley, outside Hamilton, took us to Jill Matthew, Glass artist, after career as a nurse.
Jill covered both sides of NZ medical system and explained how it led her to become a glass artist and small business owner. We learned about ACC, the NZ accident compensation
We had wonderful coach drivers, but not certain about the latest.
We continued to Ray & Dorothy's organic sheep farm for a delicious home hosted lunch with recipes shared.
We stopped at Rainbow Springs Kiwi Sanctuary to see live kiwis in a nocturnal setting, geckos, lizards, native birds and trees, and introduced rainbow and brook trout.
We stopped at Rainbow Springs Kiwi Sanctuary to see live kiwis in a nocturnal setting, geckos, lizards, native birds and trees, and introduced rainbow and brook trout.
We drove around Rotoroa and arrived at Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort. We invited tour companions to our room for wine before enjoying a first class dining experience: pumpkin soup, salad, steak filet, and ..could there be anything else? But of course, marmite and vegemite!
We departed early for the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, a Scenic reserve and a wildlife refuge protected from development & exploitation.
We were in the Okataina Volcanic Centre, part of the "Pacific Ring of Fire" where the Pacific Tectonic Plate meets the India -Australia Tectonic Plate. The Waimango Geothermal System was created by the 1886 Mt Tarawera volcanic eruption. It took 30 years for native plants begin to regenerate. This was home to Waimango Geyser, the largest geyser ever recorded from 1900-1904 sending black scalding water, rocks, sand & steam up 450 m.
It is also home to Frying Pan Lake, one of the world's largest hot water springs and the Inferno Crater, a beautiful blue bubbling geothermal lake. Temperatures reach over 100 degrees C and have a pH of 2.1-3. Steaming monolithic rocks were seen such as Cathedral Rocks.
Many colourful terraces and fumaroles were enjoyed during a 45 min boat cruise around Lake Rotomahana to see steaming and colourful cliffs which covered 15 craters and the Pink and White Terraces destroyed by the Mt Tarawera eruption.
These colours were formed by the presence of rare sulphides colouring the Silica deposits, but have been covered by rise of the lake now & cannot be seen. Trace elements such as antimony, molybdenum, arsenic & tungsten, blue-green algae form spectacular orange, brown, green & yellow colours could be seen along the edges of the hot springs such as Warbrick Terrace, a set of multi-coloured fast growing Silica platforms formed over an old stream terrace.
After a pleasant lunch at the cafe we headed off to see the marvel of the bubbling mud sink in Waiotapu (sacred water).
We managed to tear ourselves away so that we could walk and stare at the marvel of our silent, fern filled redwood forest.
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The rest of the afternoon offered well deserved rest, and hot tub for the chief to meditate.
Symbolizes growth and life
One of the highlights of the tour was the optional Mitai dinner, involving the unveiling of a hangi feast, a traditional Maori feast that is cooked in an earth oven. This was followed by the Maori canoe arrival for the lively cultural performance, where our chief, Peter, interacted with Maori chief. Our chief really did us proud convincing the chief and tribe of warriors that we came in peace.
A little rain didn't deter us flying to Queenstown, South Island where we settled in to our comfortable accommodations for the next 3 days.
We were happy to join friends for a happy hour.
Queenstown was a short walk with Judy from our Inn, nestled in the middle of ski resorts and Lake Wakatipu. Bought Hamilton Chief's rugby jersey (Gallagher Fencing sponsor) and NZ cycling jerseys and tested the claim for Ferguson Meat pies for their great meat pies.
Next day, the weather was terrific for a long coach ride to Milford Sound. We passed some lovely scenes.
The drive to Milford Sound brought us to many scenic photography spots. The perspective "U" shaped valley, the mirror lake, knobs flat and the mighty Chasm walk.
Roaring Billy Falls, Te Wahipounamu, West Coast, continuous mountains to sea native kahikatea forest and ancient podocarp rain forests made this special country unforgettable.
We boarded the MV Milford Explorer and motored west on the fjord to see the Fairy & Lady Bowen Falls, hanging valleys and a newlywed Asian couple with their selfie-stick.
Milford Sound, the eighth wonder of the world, was well worth the journey. We started with a lap around the lake, complete with stories of giants and beating hearts, extinct birds returning from extinction and daring helicopter leaps to capture live deer.
The drive to Milford Sound brought us to many scenic photography spots. The perspective "U" shaped valley, the mirror lake, knobs flat and the mighty Chasm walk.
Roaring Billy Falls, Te Wahipounamu, West Coast, continuous mountains to sea native kahikatea forest and ancient podocarp rain forests made this special country unforgettable.
Milford Sound, the eighth wonder of the world, was well worth the journey. We started with a lap around the lake, complete with stories of giants and beating hearts, extinct birds returning from extinction and daring helicopter leaps to capture live deer.
A scenic and photographic drive up to the head of the lake was followed by an adrenalin filled jetboat journey up a windy braided river on the Dart River by jet boats and a narrated bus ride to Glenorchy, and visit to Mt. Aspiring National Park, part of Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area, guided nature walk complete with hobbit chair, and inside look at locations for Lord of the Rings. Our driver showed us a hidden piece of greenstone along the river.
The walk through the ancient southern beach forest (Nothofagus) was a beautiful contrast to the speed of the jet boat. We learned about one of NZ’s high tech methods to wipe out our unwanted Australian invaders (Bush Tailed Possum) in the form of an automated trap.
We even stepped inside a tree to see what it’s like to be one (Kind of a hollow existence).
One very large Fairy House
The walk through the ancient southern beach forest (Nothofagus) was a beautiful contrast to the speed of the jet boat. We learned about one of NZ’s high tech methods to wipe out our unwanted Australian invaders (Bush Tailed Possum) in the form of an automated trap.
We even stepped inside a tree to see what it’s like to be one (Kind of a hollow existence).
One very large Fairy House
Ken in Glenorchy, Otago
They keep us busy! We departed early for west coast and we visited the first commercial Bungi jumping operation on the old Kawerau Gorge suspension bridge. Sadly, we didn't have time to jump.
We stopped at Mrs Jones’ Fruit Orchard to sample local and imported fruit and nuts.
We visited a local organic Vineyard, Aurum, for sampling of Riesling, Pinot noir & Gris and lunch at Makarura, Thunder Creek Falls, Haast National Park Visitor Center, and several stops on the Tasman Sea.
Another scenic day, with stunning views spoke for themselves, stories about marino sheep and a restful journey took us to lunch in the little town of Makarora East (Due south from Makarora West).
The Kiwis were very creative with their restroom decor. Unisex, Ewes, Rams or part of the mixed flock.
Then found ourselves up Ship Creek looking for Pounamu greenstone and enjoyed the thunder of the surf before moving on to Bruce bay, one of NZ’s top 10 beaches.
We rolled into the township of Fox for the loop bush walk through dripping moss covered trees, spectacular during the day and educational at night when some of us visited the home of the native glow worm.
In Hokitiki we were fortunate as helicopters operate around 1/5th of the time in Fox and once again the weather gods blessed us with perfect conditions. We flew up to Fox Glacier, over the highest mountains, Mt Cook and Mt Tasman. We made snow angels at dawn on the neve (Snow field) of Mt Cook, threw snowballs and flew down the Franz Josef glacier.
In the evening we were led by Mike to see glow worms in the rain forest once again
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Cliff led us up the Franz Josef glacial valley and explained how glaciers work in classic kiwi style and humour.
We learned about plate tectonics, geology, history and hiked up the valley. This brought most of us to a very thin Dept of Conservation worker, who like a scarecrow, kept us from jumping over the fence and endangering ourselves.
We wound our way south along the rugged coastal highway to Hokitika Wilderness Gallery, where we were introduced to the natural beauty of the region through photography, artwork and sense of humour. We then learned about the weaving arts with Ann Daniel, using the local Harakiki flax.
Lunch was with Anne and Pete in their classic simple West Coast home, where we learned more about what is is like to be an artist in New Zealand. It was a great opportunity to meet actual kiwi people through good, down to earth conversation and share recipes once again.
We stayed in a lovely resort, near a stunning Punakaiki walk, with blowholes, crashing waves and a well timed sunset followed by a good local pub meal.
After a huge lunch we rocked on up the coast to Hokitika where we learned about Ponamu Greenstone, how it was created, how it is found and what the local carvers do to shape it into works of art. Definitely a very sacred stone for the Maori.
Safe in the knowledge that we will return to Hokitika (The place of return), we drove north past numerous road engineering marvels including shared roundabouts and single lane bridges with trains and cars.
Punakaiki was a wonderful place to rest before our return to Hokitika the next day. We opted for a glorious pontoon ride in a whitebait reserve. Some of us even saw the rare white heron..
We bought several souveniers for our family here, that we hoped they might appreciate (books, holographic bookmarks, artistic photos).
We stopped at the Toby Sheep Station on the backs of the Waimakariri River, under the Southern Alps. Trevor & Heather and sheep dog, Jack (sheep and cattle herding dog) demonstrated herding, sheep shearing & wool handling.
Then we crossed the rubicon and did more research into New Zealand's sheep industry with the help of a barbecue. Lunch was part of a learning and discovery adventure.
We were joined on our trolley by Gandor, a very interesting part of Christchurch.
We learned the extent of the building progress on board an antique tram and the resilience of the locals for a new Cathedral.
The flight to Wellington went smoothly and we enjoyed the atmosphere of a local bustling street food festival to end our day.
A superb narrated Bus Tour of Wellington included a stop in Miramar at Weta Cave to see props from Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, Avatar.
We enjoyed a Scenic Walk to top of Mt Victoria which again was special astrologically and spiritually to the Maori.
We visited the Wellington Museum which provided an historical summary of this interesting University town and protected harbour.
After lunch we met for a Guided Tour of the Parliament buildings and a dinner at Portofino on the waterfront.
We visited the Wellington Museum which provided an historical summary of this interesting University town and protected harbour.
After lunch we met for a Guided Tour of the Parliament buildings and a dinner at Portofino on the waterfront.
The next day, we had a guided tour of Te Papa, National Museum with theme scale Weta Workshop and World War I exhibits.
The afternoon, Peter and I visited Zealandia Bird Sanctuary, with a great video, lots of tuis and kakas. We took the Cable ride back down to town. Our Farewell dinner was at the General Practitioner.
The afternoon, Peter and I visited Zealandia Bird Sanctuary, with a great video, lots of tuis and kakas. We took the Cable ride back down to town. Our Farewell dinner was at the General Practitioner.
The next morning, Mike introduced us to Tim Tam Slam, "a different way of drinking hot chocolate".
We gathered all our gear and made our way to the airport which was properly decorated with Weta Hobbit creatures. We said our farewells and flew to Auckland filled with great memories.
We gathered all our gear and made our way to the airport which was properly decorated with Weta Hobbit creatures. We said our farewells and flew to Auckland filled with great memories.
Fun fact - Kiwi's have the shortest beak in the bird kingdom because scientists measure beaks from the nostril to the tip. Kiwi's have nostrils near the end of their beaks.
, Meanwhile, back in Nova Scotia, we enjoyed a special evening.
Hope that you enjoy this exciting report of our adventure!
Catherine & Peter, presently in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
