02 Aug 2007 16:43 - Thailand
Hi there,
I felt bad for you guys for not writing anything about New Zealand on my site so here's a short summary of my adventures in the land of the Kiwi's.
After traveling trough Australia in my trusty Ford Falcon I decided it was time for a change. So I started looking for a car with 20" rims, a bigger engine than the Ford's, tinted windows, a maximum of two doors and a nice sporty colour. So this is it, my ride for NZ:
Yes indeed, my trip trough NZ will be done by bus. This has several advantages, the main one being that the roads will remain safe since I won't be driving. The other advantage is that the driver guides will book my accommodation, tours and activities and provide entertainment during the trip.
My trip started and finished in Christchurch and I visited both the North- and the South island. Although I landed on the South island I effectively started my trip on the North island where I met some great people and did some fun activities. The highlights were:
- Hanging out with Jennifer and introducing her to Dutch onion soup :)
- Nearly freezing to death attempting the Tongariro Crossing, the best day walk in NZ (if you've got the right gear that is...)
- White water rafting in Rotorua, including a 7 metre drop down a waterfall, a rather nice waterslide :)
- Experiencing a Maori cultural night (song, food and dance) in Rotorua
- Zorbing (rolling down a hill in a big plastic ball), it's a Kiwi invention, kinda had to be really...
- Looking at geisers, boiling mud pools and bizar coloured lakes in a vulcanic reserve (Rotorua)
- Sailing and kayaking in The Bay of Islands, incredibly beautiful even though it was a bit chilly
- Black Water Rafting in Waitomo, abseiling, flying fox, climbing waterfalls, jumping in to underground rivers and looking at glow worms while floating along, awesome experience!
- Catching a movie in the cinema where "The Return of the King" premiered
- Walking and tree hugging (for that extra adrenaline rush!)
- Jumping out of a (perfectly functional) plane at 12000 feet, than falling for about 45 seconds and reaching 200kph before opening my pink parachute. A very enjoyable way to wake up in the morning :)
Okay, that was the North island, but I didn't exactly get bored on the South island either:
- Hanging out with Hannah and Louis and introducing them to Dutch onion soup :D
- Walking in Abel Tasman National Park and having lunch on a rock in the river
- Going to a costume party in an old pub with the entire group. Although some of the costumes were very very scary...
- Climbing a glacier in Franz Joseph while recovering from a severe throat infection, the view was amazing, and so what if I could not swallow my lunch:)
- Looking at strange rocks in Punakaiki
- Snowboarding at The Remarkables near Queenstown, I can actually control where I'm going now :)
- Feeling very humble during a boat cruise trough Milford Sound. The scenery was absolutely spectacular and it didn't rain!
- Eating Fergburgers in Queenstown!
- Eating meat pies everywhere else!!
- Looking at old buildings in Christchurch and feeling culturally justified
Well, these are the highlights of my trip. I did a lot more of course, but if I had described all of it you would be asleep by now.
For now, Kia Ora from
Bangkok :S
Bart
