Day 3 was jam packed full of activities! For starters it was Sarah's birthday so she busted out the tiara immediately (and wore it non-stop for 2 days). Our day began at Knight's Point on the West coast which had an absolutely gorgeous lookout over the Tasman Sea! Let me tell you... from here, it looked as if the Tasman went on forever!!!! Then we were off to Ship Creek. Ship Creek had everything going for it: awesome rocks on the beach, beautiful sea, dolphins, cool rocks to climb on and crashing waves... but, it did have one thing going against it. SANDFLIES. They're like mosquitoes but the bites hurt for 10x longer and are 10x itchier. But don't worry, I only walked away with 23 of them on one foot. :o The rest of the days activities were dependent on the one goal we had in mind..... make it to Queenstown by sunset.
We stopped at Lake Wanaka which was absolutely gorgeous in every aspect. The water was crystal clear blue, the mountains were in the background and it smelled absolutely fantastic. We then stopped at Lake Hawea... it was gorgeous but not as picturesque as Lake Wanaka. The city of Wanaka brought a kickass experience.... PUZZLING WORLD..... It's like a museum full of illusions and puzzles for people of all ages. We went in and our first puzzle to complete was the maze. We attempted to find the colored towers in the order that the people suggested was the "difficult" way and really.... finding the towers was not all that difficult (I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I'm pretty good at mazes). The most difficult part was literally finding out way back to the start after hitting all four towers in order. We simply could NOT figure it out... so what did we do....the unbelievable. We cheated. We absolutely climbed under a wall that we knew would lead us to the beginning and eventually the exit. I never thought it would be so difficult to cheat, but it was. I wanted so badly to finish it but I was just so frustrated with not being able to find the start that I did it... I cheated. But, I was finally out to do other things and that felt great :)
After Puzzling World, we searched for churches for Becca and went to get groceries. The search for the church failed miserably so we just decided to head to Queenstown. Upon arrival in Queenstown, we got a whole roasted chicken, sat by the lake and ate chicken while drinking the worst sparkling red wine ever and eventually had dessert. THICK MINTS! Clearly the best invention ever. Then it was lights out for the night so we would finally be able to get to our hostel the next day.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
South Island Trip Day #2
Wake up when the sun rises?!? Who the eff does that?!? Apparently I would and not just for that day... for every day for the next two weeks.
First.... we were headed to Franz Josef Glacier. The biggest and most epic glacier in NZ, it has been receding at a quick pace and many say that my generation is the last to see it in its current state. The tramp to the face of the glacier was indescribable. The scenery was gorgeous and the first glimpse of the glacier was jaw dropping. we continued our tramp to the face and were continually stopping to take pictures. When we finally reached the front (we were 100 meters away), we realized just how huge this thing was. It was a mountain of ice and snow. You could see faint blue streaks within the chunks of ice and you could also see where the glacier was melting and creating an ice cold "river" that flowed from the base. I really can't explain any more of what it looked like. It's just one of those things where you'll have to check out the pictures I have on facebook to get the feel, and even then, if you've never seen a glacier, you still won't understand the majestic beauty of it.
We found a nearby rock on to sit and each lunch and afterward we explored a bit.... Becca and Sarah further past the warning ropes than I. What can I say... I'm a giant wussy when it comes to natural formations that I have no idea about.... so sue me. After more pictures and the return tramp to the car park we were off to Fox Glacier. Still a pretty glacier but not as epic as Franz Josef. If any of you plan on traveling to NZ someday, seeing the glaciers is a must. I even recommend the half or full day glacier hikes. We didn't do either because the hikes are very expensive, but if you have the money, take the time and do it, I've heard it's simply gorgeous.
Later we were headed to Lake Matheson, one of the lakes you're supposed to see the perfect reflection of Mt. Cook in. Let's just say, the weather didn't want to cooperate that day and no reflection was seen. Zero, Zilch, Nothing. Lame as. The lake was still gorgeous and the 50 minute hike around was worth it until it started raining and we had clothes hanging out to dry on Ferdinand from the day before. Luckily, we got back to the carpark right as it started raining heavily and our clothes were no wetter or dryer than they were before we set them out. SWEET AS.
After Matheson we were in search of another place to sleep the night away and we landed upon Bruce Bay during our scavenger. It was this gorgeous beach with these rock pillars everywhere. At this point we were missing the ocean so it was nice just to be able to hear the ocean and see the waves crashing upon the beach. The night ended effortlessly with a drive down a sketchy road to find our "camping grounds" for the evening. Keep in mind... the night ended when the sun went down, just like the day began when the sun came up. This led to usually about 12 hours of uncomfortable "sleep" in the car, parked on a sketchy road in the boonies of NZ :)
First.... we were headed to Franz Josef Glacier. The biggest and most epic glacier in NZ, it has been receding at a quick pace and many say that my generation is the last to see it in its current state. The tramp to the face of the glacier was indescribable. The scenery was gorgeous and the first glimpse of the glacier was jaw dropping. we continued our tramp to the face and were continually stopping to take pictures. When we finally reached the front (we were 100 meters away), we realized just how huge this thing was. It was a mountain of ice and snow. You could see faint blue streaks within the chunks of ice and you could also see where the glacier was melting and creating an ice cold "river" that flowed from the base. I really can't explain any more of what it looked like. It's just one of those things where you'll have to check out the pictures I have on facebook to get the feel, and even then, if you've never seen a glacier, you still won't understand the majestic beauty of it.
We found a nearby rock on to sit and each lunch and afterward we explored a bit.... Becca and Sarah further past the warning ropes than I. What can I say... I'm a giant wussy when it comes to natural formations that I have no idea about.... so sue me. After more pictures and the return tramp to the car park we were off to Fox Glacier. Still a pretty glacier but not as epic as Franz Josef. If any of you plan on traveling to NZ someday, seeing the glaciers is a must. I even recommend the half or full day glacier hikes. We didn't do either because the hikes are very expensive, but if you have the money, take the time and do it, I've heard it's simply gorgeous.
Later we were headed to Lake Matheson, one of the lakes you're supposed to see the perfect reflection of Mt. Cook in. Let's just say, the weather didn't want to cooperate that day and no reflection was seen. Zero, Zilch, Nothing. Lame as. The lake was still gorgeous and the 50 minute hike around was worth it until it started raining and we had clothes hanging out to dry on Ferdinand from the day before. Luckily, we got back to the carpark right as it started raining heavily and our clothes were no wetter or dryer than they were before we set them out. SWEET AS.
After Matheson we were in search of another place to sleep the night away and we landed upon Bruce Bay during our scavenger. It was this gorgeous beach with these rock pillars everywhere. At this point we were missing the ocean so it was nice just to be able to hear the ocean and see the waves crashing upon the beach. The night ended effortlessly with a drive down a sketchy road to find our "camping grounds" for the evening. Keep in mind... the night ended when the sun went down, just like the day began when the sun came up. This led to usually about 12 hours of uncomfortable "sleep" in the car, parked on a sketchy road in the boonies of NZ :)
South Island Trip Day #1
First, I woke up at the buttcrack of dawn in order to shower, get the rest of my stuff packed for the trip and be at the bus stop with Sarah and Becca by 5am when the bus to the airport came. First of all, we had no idea where the actual bus stop was, so we ended up walking down a giant hill just to walk back up it again (this typically happens in Auckland because the whole city is filled with stinkin' hills). So we made it to the bus stop with 5 minutes to spare after asking some locals if they knew where it was. None of them were of any help considering they were just going home from the bars and partying the night before. So after finally making it on the bus and heading to the airport for our 7:30am flight to Christchurch, we were dreading going through airport security. Little did we know, airport security simply does not exist in NZ. I was never asked to show my id once, not at the ticket counter, not going through security, and not when getting on the plane. Sooooo easy to get through and no dumb liquid rules. Basically, don't take a lighter, don't take a knife and don't take a bomb and you'll be okay to fly.
We boarded our 1.5 hour long flight to ChCh on this plane that literally had more room than the Air NZ giant plane had for a 13 hour flight (and this flight only cost 70 bucks). Once we landed in ChCh we realized we hadn't called the A2B shuttle to pick us up so we could get our rental car. They came and got us and I filled out all the papers for our car, signed my life away and paid with my credit card. We loaded up the car, which we later referred to as Ferdinand the Knight, and we on our way to find a grocery store. So here's the thing.... in NZ, they drive on the left side of the road. Pretty messed up when you've driven many miles on the right side of the road in the left side of the car. The weird thing is, driving on the opposite side of the road and car wasn't the hard part. Nor was driving through the city and these crazy things called round-a-bouts. The hardest damn part about driving in NZ, was remembering that the turn signal is on the windshield wiper side and the windshield wipers are on the turn signal side. I cannot tell you how many times I turned on the windshield wipers while trying to turn on my signal to switch lanes. RUBBISH I tell you, simply RUBBISH!
After finding a grocery store and getting out of ChCh to start our two week road trip, we stopped at this scenic reserve along the way that was supposed to have a pretty cool cave you could go through. We had our flashlights, our non-slip shoes and tons of layers on and we still weren't prepared for how cold or the deep the water would initially be. First, the water was waist deep and FREEZING, but we continued on. The inside of the cave was pitch black, except the light from our flashlights, and there were giant rocks to step on to get through the cave. It was absolutely so much fun and so cool to see all the natural formations that occur without the cave. It was sad because there wasn't a single glowworm :( Getting out of the cave was the hardest part. We had to climb up this creepy, slippery, metal ladder... shimmy across a tiny path above a pool of water and climb out to safety. Once out we changed out of wet clothes, put warm ones on and took many pictures of the mountains and green grass all around us. Then we were off to the Devil's Punchbowl Falls right before heading through Arthur's Pass.
The Devil's Punchbowl was epic. The hike there was beautiful despite the 98709872049857209 stairs that had to be climbed and in NZ these stairs aren't normal. They're like one and a half step stairs so you're constantly pushing up and landing on the same feet. Makes stairs difficult for a girl like me who has had two knee surgeries. Nonetheless, I persevered and made it to the gorgeous falls, where we again took tons of pictures. After that... it was back to the car to find somewhere to sleep for the night. Not an easy task for 3 American to find somewhere "safe" to sleep, in a car, in BFE. We prevailed and found a place to sleep for the night that wasn't too sketchy. We had to mentally prepare what was waiting for us the next day...... the glaciers :)
We boarded our 1.5 hour long flight to ChCh on this plane that literally had more room than the Air NZ giant plane had for a 13 hour flight (and this flight only cost 70 bucks). Once we landed in ChCh we realized we hadn't called the A2B shuttle to pick us up so we could get our rental car. They came and got us and I filled out all the papers for our car, signed my life away and paid with my credit card. We loaded up the car, which we later referred to as Ferdinand the Knight, and we on our way to find a grocery store. So here's the thing.... in NZ, they drive on the left side of the road. Pretty messed up when you've driven many miles on the right side of the road in the left side of the car. The weird thing is, driving on the opposite side of the road and car wasn't the hard part. Nor was driving through the city and these crazy things called round-a-bouts. The hardest damn part about driving in NZ, was remembering that the turn signal is on the windshield wiper side and the windshield wipers are on the turn signal side. I cannot tell you how many times I turned on the windshield wipers while trying to turn on my signal to switch lanes. RUBBISH I tell you, simply RUBBISH!
After finding a grocery store and getting out of ChCh to start our two week road trip, we stopped at this scenic reserve along the way that was supposed to have a pretty cool cave you could go through. We had our flashlights, our non-slip shoes and tons of layers on and we still weren't prepared for how cold or the deep the water would initially be. First, the water was waist deep and FREEZING, but we continued on. The inside of the cave was pitch black, except the light from our flashlights, and there were giant rocks to step on to get through the cave. It was absolutely so much fun and so cool to see all the natural formations that occur without the cave. It was sad because there wasn't a single glowworm :( Getting out of the cave was the hardest part. We had to climb up this creepy, slippery, metal ladder... shimmy across a tiny path above a pool of water and climb out to safety. Once out we changed out of wet clothes, put warm ones on and took many pictures of the mountains and green grass all around us. Then we were off to the Devil's Punchbowl Falls right before heading through Arthur's Pass.
The Devil's Punchbowl was epic. The hike there was beautiful despite the 98709872049857209 stairs that had to be climbed and in NZ these stairs aren't normal. They're like one and a half step stairs so you're constantly pushing up and landing on the same feet. Makes stairs difficult for a girl like me who has had two knee surgeries. Nonetheless, I persevered and made it to the gorgeous falls, where we again took tons of pictures. After that... it was back to the car to find somewhere to sleep for the night. Not an easy task for 3 American to find somewhere "safe" to sleep, in a car, in BFE. We prevailed and found a place to sleep for the night that wasn't too sketchy. We had to mentally prepare what was waiting for us the next day...... the glaciers :)
Saturday, April 23, 2011
South Island Adventures
I know I haven't updated for awhile and that's because before mid-semester break I had a crap top of stuff to do and then I've been gone for the last two weeks traveling the South Island and now I'm back in Auckland trying to re-cooperate from sleeping in a car for 10 days.
Hopefully within the next couple of days I'll begin to update you on the sweet as things I did over break but please... bare with me. I did a lot of cool things and only have the attention span of a five year old when writing about them. I guess if I were you, I'd look forward to a couple posts a week on what I've been doing for the last two weeks. Anymore than that just might be overkill or create jealously among you folks that I don't exactly want to be the reason for.
Anyway, I shall post later.
Hopefully within the next couple of days I'll begin to update you on the sweet as things I did over break but please... bare with me. I did a lot of cool things and only have the attention span of a five year old when writing about them. I guess if I were you, I'd look forward to a couple posts a week on what I've been doing for the last two weeks. Anymore than that just might be overkill or create jealously among you folks that I don't exactly want to be the reason for.
Anyway, I shall post later.
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