The North Island
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008
Chloe Writes: Wellington really did live up to its reputation as the windy city. Gale force winds were so strong we had to move the van to prevent it from tipping over (well, it felt like it could tip). So due to the weather on the first day, we ended up in museum I could have spent a few days in, I lost Pete after a few hours however and found him in the van reading the lonely planet.
From Wellington we made our way to Tapou where we enjoyed a walk round the craters of the moon which is basically a thermal area with steaming craters of boiling hot water, a result of the fault line which runs down the centre of New Zealand and separates the indo-Australian and pacific plates. We then visited the hidden valley, where we took a boat to another thermal area with some beautiful multi-coloured terraces, boiling mud pools and geysers which chuck out steaming hot water.
After visiting Napier for a wine tour of the region, it was on to Gisborne to experience the first sun rise on the planet due to its placement as the most easterly point, and a beautiful one it was too. From there we journeyed to Rotaura to meet up with our friends Steve, Zoe and baby India. We had a fantastic few days, drinking our Napier wines and eating some amazing food. We did however make some time to visit a city buried by a volcano at the turn of the century, a village built along the thermal activity where we experienced some traditional Maori culture and was even performed the Haka to (scary), the boys went fishing one afternoon and caught a tasty trout for dinner and us three girls went out for some sushi (yummy), India had a lot of fun wearing the sticky rice.
After parting with Steve and Zoe, we drove up to the North of the Island where we took a scenic boat tour along the bay of Islands, a 16 kilometre wide area of sea full of islands, some privately owned with some beautiful beaches and some only big enough for a couple of trees and wildlife. It was then time to part with our home and transport for the last 6 weeks in Auckland and stay with Steve and Zoe for 5 days. We’ve had a really great time here in Auckland, a night on the town, dinner in Steve’s restaurant where he is the head chef, another wine tour (i know, i know) and a trip to the aquarium where the main aim was to entertain India but I think the adults were more entertained, especially with the amazing collection of king penguins.
Pete Writes:We managed to get a clear day in Wellington and decided to take a ride on the Cities cable car, which was actually a tram that ascended up the hill to the botanic gardens, after a 5 minute journey to the top we took a leisurely stroll back through the gardens to the centre. After a long stroll, we decided what would better than a bit of retail therapy which actually involved re-purchasing one lost coat and one uncomfortable bag! Joy:)
Once we started heading further North, New Zealand’s thermal activity began to become more evident. It felt like walking on another planet as the ground bubbled and steamed away at your feet! It is amazing to think that the Maoris still use the thermal steam to cook there native Hangi (food left to steam cook throughout the day).
It has been great to see Steve again and to finally meet his family. We all spent a few days in Rotorua chilling out and enjoying the good life! Steve and I spent a day fishing with the promise of dinner hanging over our heads. Luckily Steve caught a fish (I did help net it!) just as the rain came in, so we all ate that evening 
After a few nights in and around the bay of islands it was finally time to say goodbye to our home, and come to terms with squeezing all of our stuff into 40L bags again! To be honest though I am looking forward to hitting the beaten track again :o)
So having not got enough of the Weeks family the first time we had arranged to surf their coach for 4 days in Auckland. Steve and Zoe managed to get a babysitter for a couple of nights which meant that they could show us around Auckland in the evening which included a very nice meal at the Bistro Steve works at. We also headed up to Mount Eden to check the views over the City and the surrounds, It is really interesting to see all of the dormant volcano’s surrounded by the sprawl of Auckland.
So now its time to say ´Ka kite anō´ to New Zealand and Hola to Chille
Page Gallery
Wellington Tourist Tram
Worlds Longest Footbridge
Whangarei falls
The Haka being performed at the Living Thermal village
Napier Vineyards
Craters of the Moon
Also Craters of the moon
The Hidden Valley
The hidden valley Terraces
Diamond Geyser
Thermal Cave
Mudpools
Sunshine on the Mudpools, Hidden Valley
Steve and Baby India
Steve with our dinner, it was yummy!
Gisborne Sunrise
Huka falls
Bay of Islands
Sheep Chilling, Bay of Islands
Hole in the rock
View from Mount Eden
Standing at the top of Mount Eden
Penguin at the Aquarium in Auckland
Star Fish
Seahorse
Giant Squid… and Chloe
Tequila! Tequila!
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