Saturday, March 31, 2007
Erm, not too much to say about this place. We've now been here two days and say pretty much the same as everyone does about it. It's a big city, that's really not all that! It is, however, a nice respite from the wet Bay of Islands and a nice enough place to spend our last couple of days, before heading off to a few months of beach life!
Bay of Islands, N. Island
After giving up with Coromandel, we decided to head up to the North of the North Island, to a region known as the Bay of Islands. Again, this area is supposed to be home to some amazing beaches and scenery, although amongst the ever-worsening weather conditions, the area looked far from stunning. Indeed it was actually difficult to look out to sea to see any Islands at all!
After one night here, and no let-up with the weather, we decided to head back down to Auckland before we fly out. However, this was easier said than done and little did we know what was in store for us.
We knew that there had been plenty of rain in the area but we certainly didn't expect the local supermarket car-park to be flooded! Indeed when we filled up with petrol, the attendant just laughed when we told her we were headed to Auckland!
About ten minutes South of the Bay of Islands we came to our first obstacle - a waist deep flood across the road! Fortunately there were plenty of people there helping cars that had got stuck whilst driving through! We were lucky though, in that our car made it through like a dream! As we continued to drive further South, the extent of the flooding became even more apparent. What were once fields, were now lakes and what used to be streams, were raging rivers! Indeed the whole area was awash with water!
That said, the roads were in fact ok, until we hit disaster!! A railway bridge that had collapsed due to the extensive flooding and washed down into a road bridge, causing a complete road block. On top of this was the fact that the road was several feet under water at the lowest point - far more than was possible to drive through. Upon turning back, we soon realised that the water level had risen to a point that made the road unpassable in both directions! At this stage we, along with a number of other cars, had resided to the fact that we were going to be there for some time!
About 6 hours later, the water level had fallen enough for us to make it to the nearby village pub where we met someone that had lost two entire cars, which had been completely washed away from the floods! They told us how the water completely filled the entire downstairs of their house, from floor to ceiling and how, from the upstairs window, they could do nothing to stop their farm animals from a life underwater!
After a further couple of hours, along with a convoy of other cars, we decided to take a detour through some narrow side-roads to the nearest town. Eventually we made it, but not without a few hair-raising skids as we meandered through the wet, winding roads, surrounded by nothing but deep, deep floods!
Bay of Islands in the rain (left) and the start of the flooding (right)
What used to be a field (left) and, prior to the water level rising even further, what used to be a herd of cows (right)
After one night here, and no let-up with the weather, we decided to head back down to Auckland before we fly out. However, this was easier said than done and little did we know what was in store for us.
We knew that there had been plenty of rain in the area but we certainly didn't expect the local supermarket car-park to be flooded! Indeed when we filled up with petrol, the attendant just laughed when we told her we were headed to Auckland!
About ten minutes South of the Bay of Islands we came to our first obstacle - a waist deep flood across the road! Fortunately there were plenty of people there helping cars that had got stuck whilst driving through! We were lucky though, in that our car made it through like a dream! As we continued to drive further South, the extent of the flooding became even more apparent. What were once fields, were now lakes and what used to be streams, were raging rivers! Indeed the whole area was awash with water!
That said, the roads were in fact ok, until we hit disaster!! A railway bridge that had collapsed due to the extensive flooding and washed down into a road bridge, causing a complete road block. On top of this was the fact that the road was several feet under water at the lowest point - far more than was possible to drive through. Upon turning back, we soon realised that the water level had risen to a point that made the road unpassable in both directions! At this stage we, along with a number of other cars, had resided to the fact that we were going to be there for some time!
About 6 hours later, the water level had fallen enough for us to make it to the nearby village pub where we met someone that had lost two entire cars, which had been completely washed away from the floods! They told us how the water completely filled the entire downstairs of their house, from floor to ceiling and how, from the upstairs window, they could do nothing to stop their farm animals from a life underwater!
After a further couple of hours, along with a convoy of other cars, we decided to take a detour through some narrow side-roads to the nearest town. Eventually we made it, but not without a few hair-raising skids as we meandered through the wet, winding roads, surrounded by nothing but deep, deep floods!
Bay of Islands in the rain (left) and the start of the flooding (right)
What used to be a field (left) and, prior to the water level rising even further, what used to be a herd of cows (right)
Coromandel, N. Island
Well after leaving Rotorua feeling decidedly sick thanks to our zorbing experience there, we headed up North from Rotorua to the Coromandel Peninsula. Dubbed as being one of nicest parts of the North Island and famed for it's spectacular beaches and scenery, we inevitably felt the need to check it out for ourselves.
Our first stop within the Coromandel region was the locally well-known 'Hot Water' beach. Here, apparently, one can hire a spade, dig a hole and due to the underground thermal activity, the hole fills with hot water, making it your own home-made spa. Given the dreadful weather, we were happy with just driving to the beach and taking a happy-snap! We were even more impressed with our decision not to dig a hole, when we read in a leaflet that in actual fact, usually the home-made spa thing doesn't even work!
As we worked our way further into the Coromandel district, we realised very quickly that in actual fact, it wasn't as stunning as everyone makes out! It could well me something to do with the torrential rain that was falling, but even still, they weren't the best beaches we'd come across!
Me on hot water beach (left) and the stunning Coromandel Peninsula (right)
Our first stop within the Coromandel region was the locally well-known 'Hot Water' beach. Here, apparently, one can hire a spade, dig a hole and due to the underground thermal activity, the hole fills with hot water, making it your own home-made spa. Given the dreadful weather, we were happy with just driving to the beach and taking a happy-snap! We were even more impressed with our decision not to dig a hole, when we read in a leaflet that in actual fact, usually the home-made spa thing doesn't even work!
As we worked our way further into the Coromandel district, we realised very quickly that in actual fact, it wasn't as stunning as everyone makes out! It could well me something to do with the torrential rain that was falling, but even still, they weren't the best beaches we'd come across!
Me on hot water beach (left) and the stunning Coromandel Peninsula (right)
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Rotorua, N. Island - updated
After a couple of days in Taupo, our next stop was an hours drive North to the town of Rotorua, New Zealands most thermally active town! Unfortunately, due to all the thermal activity spurting out hydrogen sulphide gas everywhere, there's an uncanny smell of rotten eggs everywhere you go!
Our first night found us at the famous Polynesian Spa, which is where you can relax in all the sulphur pools! This was all very well except for after you get out, you too, smell of rotten eggs! Fortunately in this town it doesn't matter since everyone else smells just as bad!
The next day we took a trip to a place called Wai-O-Tapu, one of the towns thermal parks, which is full of hot springs, geysers, boiling mud pools, sulphur pools etc. Apparently it was formed thousands of years ago from a huge volcanic eruption. That's what they tell you anyway!
Later in the afternoon we took a trip back to Taupo to do our skydive! Fortunately the weather was looking better and the skydive was going ahead. Upon arriving we put on all the gear and headed out to the aircraft with our instructors. After a scenic 20minute flight, the plane door opened and woosh, out we went!!! I had a trainee camera man on mine and it was quite mad freefalling at 200Km per hour and joining hands while getting filmed! Utter madness!!
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Reserve
Us about to jump out of an aeroplane!
After our skydive and upon leaving Rotorua, we stopped on the way for a spot of Zorbing! For those of you that are confused, this is nothing short of a big, round, enclosed bouncy ball in which you enter inside and roll down a big hill in a variety of ways. We opted for two runs - the first being where you're harnessed inside and roll down (extremely sickening) and the second where you're loose inside the ball with nothing except a few bucket-fulls of water (AKA the HydroZorb!)
Our first night found us at the famous Polynesian Spa, which is where you can relax in all the sulphur pools! This was all very well except for after you get out, you too, smell of rotten eggs! Fortunately in this town it doesn't matter since everyone else smells just as bad!
The next day we took a trip to a place called Wai-O-Tapu, one of the towns thermal parks, which is full of hot springs, geysers, boiling mud pools, sulphur pools etc. Apparently it was formed thousands of years ago from a huge volcanic eruption. That's what they tell you anyway!
Later in the afternoon we took a trip back to Taupo to do our skydive! Fortunately the weather was looking better and the skydive was going ahead. Upon arriving we put on all the gear and headed out to the aircraft with our instructors. After a scenic 20minute flight, the plane door opened and woosh, out we went!!! I had a trainee camera man on mine and it was quite mad freefalling at 200Km per hour and joining hands while getting filmed! Utter madness!!
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Reserve
Us about to jump out of an aeroplane!
After our skydive and upon leaving Rotorua, we stopped on the way for a spot of Zorbing! For those of you that are confused, this is nothing short of a big, round, enclosed bouncy ball in which you enter inside and roll down a big hill in a variety of ways. We opted for two runs - the first being where you're harnessed inside and roll down (extremely sickening) and the second where you're loose inside the ball with nothing except a few bucket-fulls of water (AKA the HydroZorb!)
Lake Taupo, N. Island
Our drive from Mt Egmont/Taranaki took us through Tongariro National Park, home to some more volcanoes! Unlike Mt Egmont, which is a dormant volcanoe, one of the ones here, Mt Ruapehu is apparently an active one! In the hope to see some huge volcanoe splurting out rocks and lava we just had to take a look! Unfortunately and, not surprisingly, there was no volcanic action! In fact there hadn't been since 1975!
Upon arriving in Taupo we booked into probably the only hostel in the world with a round pool table! Other than that we once again took to the roads and checked out the local sights including the lake itself (New Zealands largest lake - apparently bigger than the whole of Singapore!) and a place called Huka Falls. We also booked on a 12000ft skydive, which was unfortunately cancelled due to the weather!
Upon arriving in Taupo we booked into probably the only hostel in the world with a round pool table! Other than that we once again took to the roads and checked out the local sights including the lake itself (New Zealands largest lake - apparently bigger than the whole of Singapore!) and a place called Huka Falls. We also booked on a 12000ft skydive, which was unfortunately cancelled due to the weather!
Mount Egmont/Taranaki, N. Island
A long drive North from Wellington headed us up towards a place called Egmont, home to one of the highest volcanoes in the North Island (or possibly New Zealand), Mount Egmont/Taranaki. I'm not quite sure why it's got two names but there you go!
We spent the night here in some strange hostel, which was actually someones house, but the next day planned on driving up the volcanoe! After a short while we reached the end of the road, which was nowhere near the top! After asking in the information centre, the top can only be reached by foot...taking about 10hours return! Needless to say we passed on the challenge!
We spent the night here in some strange hostel, which was actually someones house, but the next day planned on driving up the volcanoe! After a short while we reached the end of the road, which was nowhere near the top! After asking in the information centre, the top can only be reached by foot...taking about 10hours return! Needless to say we passed on the challenge!
Wellington, N. Island
After almost four hours, our ferry from the South Island landed us in the capital of New Zealand, Wellington where we spent a couple of nights. We didn't do an awful lot here, except have a look around the town and local sights (which there weren't many except lots of shops!) and chill out.
After a good few nights of not doing too much in the South Island we decided it was time to once again time to hit the bars!
After a good few nights of not doing too much in the South Island we decided it was time to once again time to hit the bars!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Kaikora, S. Island
A short hop, skip and jump from Hanmer landed us in the township of Kaikora. Again famous, this place is known for it's abundance of aquatic wild-life, including wales, dolphins and sea lions.
A must-do in this place was the dolphin encounter, where you swim with wild dolphins. We have to say that this is one of the most amazing things you can ever do! We spent a good few hours taking a boat out to sea and then snorkelling with them. We even had one dolphin stay with us for a good few minutes just swimming around both of us! One of the guides reckoned that there were several hundred dolphins in the pod!
A must-do in this place was the dolphin encounter, where you swim with wild dolphins. We have to say that this is one of the most amazing things you can ever do! We spent a good few hours taking a boat out to sea and then snorkelling with them. We even had one dolphin stay with us for a good few minutes just swimming around both of us! One of the guides reckoned that there were several hundred dolphins in the pod!
Hanmer Springs, S. Island
Not much to say about this place except that they had some really nice and relaxing thermal springs, which, of course, we just had to spend a few hours checking out!!
Fox Glacier, S. Island
After a long, long journey, we finally arrived in the small village of Fox Glacier, home to the, you guesed it, famous Fox Glacier. After several hours of looking we failed in our attempts to find the mints of the same name so I'm guessing the names just a coincidence!
We had booked to take a helicopter ride into the glaciers and skydive over them too. However, him upstairs decided it was time to take a rather long leak and, for two days solid, the weather was wet, cold and cloudy. So much so, in fact, that neither the helicopter, nor skydive could take place.
Despite the fact that we were both gutted, we thought we would attempt to walk as close as we could to the face of the glacier.
We had booked to take a helicopter ride into the glaciers and skydive over them too. However, him upstairs decided it was time to take a rather long leak and, for two days solid, the weather was wet, cold and cloudy. So much so, in fact, that neither the helicopter, nor skydive could take place.
Despite the fact that we were both gutted, we thought we would attempt to walk as close as we could to the face of the glacier.
Wanaka, S. Island
En route to the famous glaciers in New Zealand, we decided to take a break at a place called Wanaka. There's not an awful lot here except the locally famous 'Puzzling World' home, apparently, to the world's first 'modern style' maze. In case you hadn't realised by now, everything in New Zealand is (apparently!) the worlds first for something or other!
This maze was not such a good idea! Given that it was a hot day, it was somewhat misleading in that you had to find four towers, one at each corner. This was actually pretty easy and our chuffedness was short-lived when we soon realised that the hard bit was getting out of the maze!!! About an hour later we emerged!! Other than the maze there were several strange rooms with something or other than wasn't quite as it seemed!!
Ian showing how strong he is and Louise posing...but can you tell what is real in her photo?
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Worlds Highest Canyon Swing - full & hilarious version (>10 mins..grab yourself a cuppa while it uploads!!)
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Queenstown, S. Island - Updated
QUEENSTOWN PART 2
Well after being in Queenstown for nearly a week now, it really is true that this place is the adrenaline capital of the world!!!
Me & Louise jumping the Kuwarau Bridge, Queenstown!
Well after being in Queenstown for nearly a week now, it really is true that this place is the adrenaline capital of the world!!!
After reading the leaflet on the worlds highest canyon swing, we decided that it was definitely for us. I mean, who wouldn't want to throw themselves 109m to the ground!?! Fortunately for us, it gets cheaper the more times you jump, so it was just rude not to try it a good few times (see videos above)!!
Yesterday we decided it was time to do a bungy jump. Although slightly smaller than the canyon swing, it certainly didn't make it any easier throwing yourself off!!
Other than that we tried our hand at probably the best mini-golf place in the world and later today are about to ride the luge (go-carting down the side of a mountain!). Oh, I also decided to do some river-boarding, which is basically the same as white water rafting but on a boogie board!! In addition, we've probably been to most of the bars around here!! Later this week we're hoping to skydive over New Zealands highest glaciers, take a helicopter ride over them for a good snow-ball fight and next week go swimming with wild dolphins in the ocean!! It really is all go!!!
Me & Louise jumping the Kuwarau Bridge, Queenstown!
QUEENSTOWN PART 1
After a couple of nights in Te Anau, we drove up to Queenstown, taking in yet more scenery along the way!
Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown (left) and a rather strange band of clouds that appear to have fallen out of the sky (right)!
Unfortunately within a couple of hours of arriving I was back in the dentists chair for yet more drilling!
After a couple of nights in Te Anau, we drove up to Queenstown, taking in yet more scenery along the way!
Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown (left) and a rather strange band of clouds that appear to have fallen out of the sky (right)!
Unfortunately within a couple of hours of arriving I was back in the dentists chair for yet more drilling!
Queenstown is an amazing adrenaline-fuelled resort town and home to the worlds first bungee site and countless other ways to get your heart pumping! Needless to say, we're just about to go looking for ways to throw ourselves off bridges and the like, before settling down to another night on the town!