September 19, 2013
The first part of the journey has ended, but not without
leaving me with memories of some of the nicest people I have ever met in my
travels. The people in New Zealand were down to earth, kind and grateful to
help you to the extent of taking you to your destination if you wanted or needed
them to. They live simply and most are farmers of cattle or sheep, own a café’,
a holiday park, an artist trying to make a living or have a job that they are
grateful to have. They serve you with a smile and will take the time to sit and
chat a while with you about anything. New Zealand is clean and the water is the
prettiest blue/green color I’ve ever seen and clear.
We flew into Auckland, spent the night in a hotel there to
regroup from the long flight and collected our campervan the next morning which
would become our home for the next 23 days. Small, but it was big enough for
the 2 of us. We had a sink, stove, microwave, a small fridge and a bed. We also
opted for the additional heater/fan, and we’re glad we did! The weather was
rainy a lot in the beginning to the point I wondered if that was all it ever
did there in New Zealand. It was also cold as the seasons are opposite of ours.
The heater kept us alive at night!
We traveled the north island first to the top at Cape Reigna.
There was a lighthouse there and it’s where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific
Oceans meet. We arrived late at night to the carpark and were unable to do the
hike down to the lighthouse that evening, but the view of the stars in the
carpark was amazing! We camped down the road in another carpark , awoke early
and went back there to photograph the sunrise and hike down to the lighthouse
that morning.
The road was winding most of the way up there and on the way
back down the island, we went to check out 90 mile beach. The sand was so
packed hard that we decided to drive down the beach a bit….we passed every exit
till we couldn’t drive any further! It took us a lot less time than it did on
the way up the island. I was really glad about that as while out visiting
Russell on the way up island, I threw my back out carrying all my equipment.
That was the beginning of a really rough week for me. I had to lay in the back
of the camper for an entire week. I hated it, but had no other choice. I also
had a major flare up with my arthritis. I had brought a heating pad and a power
inverter which got me through that week as well. I still got out to photograph
every opportunity. (!) The heating pad was awesome till it caught fire one
night. I had with draws after it was gone, but I survived. Another thing that
got me through that week was geothermal mineral pools in Taupo. We stayed there
2 nights to help me get back on my feet. During the days while there we visited
a place called Craters of the moon thermal activity area, Aratiatia Rapids, The
Wairakei Geothermal Power Station and a bee and honey place. You’ll have to come to the show to see the
images of these very interesting places!
We drove to Wellington to ferry over the Cook Straight to
Picton. We stayed in Wellington for the night in a Holiday park that was the
back carpark for a motorlodge. Not one of the better camps we stayed in, but we
were in the middle of a bad storm and could no longer drive. Let alone, we had
a booking for the ferry the next morning. The campervan shook all night and
morning. We later found out we also had a 5.2 earthquake that morning. We
thought we had felt something, but figured it to be the storm!
The ferry ride was rough. There were 10 foot swells, maybe
larger. There were people getting sick all around me. I just laid there, unable
to lift my head. At least I never got as sick as the passengers all around me.
We arrived in Picton, spent the night at a camp, then headed
to the top of the south island, the Farewell Spit. Another winding road, up
& down & around the mountains, all the while me still laying in the
back of the campervan. But, it was beautiful. We traveled through little towns,
far and few in between. The coolest little town had to be by far for me was
Collingwood. It was a little hippy town that I could fit right into! We had
lunch, shopped & bought goodies from the bakery there. Eventually we made
to Farewell Spit.
We arrived late and missed the sunset so we decided to shoot
for sunrise. We left in the dark to hike down to the beach that was supposed to
be a 20 minute hike. Lesson learned. Always take a light and more water than
you think you’ll need. We hiked through sheep pastures in the mountains till
sunrise for an hour and 45 minutes till we stopped. We turned around and hiked
back a bit till we found another trail. Getting lost turned out to be a
beautiful thing as I never would have seen what I did had I just done the 20
minute hike! It turned out to be one of the best hikes of the trip! The beach
had huge rocks, arched rocks, caves and we even found a seal pup!
That was just the beginning of the South Island! There were
fur seals all along the coast, a waterfall that the seal pups traveled up to
and played in the pools at the bottom all day while their parents fished for
food, 3 different species of penguins, Moeraki
Boulders on the beach, snow capped mountains and then there was Doubful
Sound. We have seen some spectacular sights in a place that started out as just
an after thought for me in the beginning of the planning stages. I never would
have thought this to be a place that I would have fallen in love with the way I
have.
I can honestly tell you one thing, it was mostly because of
the locals I met along the way. They sent us to some of the best places on
these 2 islands. These aren’t even half
the stories! New Zealand was truly an amazing adventure, one of the cleanest
places I’ve ever been to, and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering
it as a travel to option!
We arrived in Australia yesterday morning. New
Zealander’s…you were right(!), it sure is different here!
I’ll write again soon! It’S busy here trying to take it all
in and keep up with it all. As I always say…It’s not easy being me! Living the
life and loving the life I live…till next time my friends…take care of
yourselves and each other.
I’m off to see some friends in Australia!
Much Peace, Love & Happiness, Holly
P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER CRISTA JOY! You
truly have been the Joy of my life! I’m so proud to be your Mom! Thank you for
all you’ve been doing for me! Love you BUNCHES! XOXOX
