Sweet As Bro!
I’ve been in Kiwiland for a week now, so about time I let you all know what I’ve been up to!
The Big Green Bus
Sam and I are on the Kiwi Experience bus is going to take us all around the north island, down the west coast of the south island and then back up to Christchurch where our frustratingly short taster of the country will come to an end.
The busses are great – nothing like the Greyhounds I used in Canada – because:
1) you’re with a group of like-minded individuals instead of just randomers
2) the driver is legen... wait for it... dary!
3) the views are stunning
4) the journeys are short
5) and perhaps best of all: they sort out all your accommodation and activities for you!
5th Feb - Auckland
I arrived at 6-or-so AM (local time) at the airport and trundled my way from there to downtown Auckland where the airport bus driver dropped me right outside my destination: a Base hostel where I could get some much needed shut eye!
A quick ride up the elevator and I was stepping in to the reception area where a little old cousin of mine was waiting to greet me! Due to jet lag, Sam was already up, and for the same reasons, I needed to just sleep for a while. Unfortunately the Base hostel had other ideas... Yes, I appreciate it was still early, but the upshot was that I had to kill 5 or so hours before being allowed to lie down in a comfy bed.
So I abandoned my bags there and Sam and I went for some breakfast even though it didn’t feel like the right time for either of us. After a drink at a lovely [and expensive] coffee shop on the waterfront we headed up to the local park to enjoy the beautiful blue sky. Essentially, the whole time in Auckland was spent wandering, lounging, eating and consuming copious amounts of alcohol – a good time had by all!
6th Feb – Mercury Bay
After a couple of hours (and a number of little sight-seeing spots/breaks) on the <big green bus> we arrived in Mercury Bay. I had persuaded Sam to go out on the Kayaks instead of just slumming it on the beach like the majority of the other travellers and I’m sure he will agree – it was the absolute correct decision!
Mercury Bay is a beautiful place and what an afternoon we were gifted to enjoy it: clear skies and high temperatures brought out the most beautiful colour of ocean I have only seen on TV, in film and on postcards.
So instead of an hour’s round trip to the beach like the crowd, we were driven right down where our tandem vessels awaited us. The kayaking cost NZ$75 and was worth every penny. We hit the waters, Sam up front while I was placed at the rear of the craft with the extra responsibility of rudder control (which took an embarrassingly long time to perfect). Once we were in, we were sent out to sea where we paddled out in the bay and along the shoreline to a little cove (see attached pics!) where we were given 15 minutes to play in the sea without our boats before our cappuccinos, teas and hot chocolates were ready and waiting along with a pile of cookies. As most of you will already know; I do not like hot drinks, but there I was, on a silver sand beach under a clear blue sky staring out in to the beautiful bay sipping away at a frothy choccy... maybe there’s hope for me yet!
Back on board our kayaks we went further out to sea where we drifted through the archway of an island before rounding its biggest neighbour where the sea was choppy and therefore great fun. Throughout our water bound fun our guide dropped nuggets of information about what was surrounding us along with tales of the first Maori settlers. Fascinating and fun – a great way to spend our first day on the Kiwi-Ex.
7th Feb – Rotorua
This place is home of some pretty cool stuff – geysers, boiling mud pools and even a couple of Kiwi birds that they are breeding in captivity and for a little over $20 you can see it all in one convenient park! If you can, try spend as much time there as you can as there is so much we didn’t get to see in our couple of hours there.
We had the option of attending a traditional Maori dinner and what not but politely declined (at $85 a head it seemed like an expensive meal) and instead spent the afternoon in the naturally heated swimming pool at the hostel and then afterwards the evening in the bar. It was pyjama party night at the pub so we rocked up in our gear, where we were the only people other than bar staff to do so... oops! Free drinks made up for the embarrassment people thought we were feeling but weren’t.
When on these big green busses, please don’t just hole yourself up in your room. Hit the bars with the people you’re sharing a room with or something. Even if you don’t drink, or want to that night, you will meet a ton of new people and that is one experience too many folks on our bus seem to be making.
8th Feb – Waitomo
On the way out of Roturua the next day you are taken to “The Agrodome” which is basically a farm show. For 13 bucks you may think: “hey, the show might be worth it”, which is the same thought we shared... don’t. Seriously. Just don’t bother with it – it was a bore and a half!
Luckily after the tedium at the farm was over, we hopped half a mile up the road to an activity centre where, as a Kiwi Experiencer, you can try any of the things they have on show for $25! So for 25 bucks each, Sam, our new friend Courtney and I signed up for “The Swoop”, which is basically a 43m high swing that you ride lying down parallel to the ground. For $25 (about £14) you’d be a fool not to try it.
We had wanted to go on the glow worm caving experience that afternoon in Waitomo, but after a mathematic hiccup by our driver, we were bumped to the following morning, so instead we enjoyed the sunshine, a BBQ and some beers down at Curlys bar.
9th & 10th Feb – Taupo
Before heading out to Taupo we went and had fun in the glow worm caves at Waitomo. You may look like a complete pleb in your wetsuit, helmet, gum-boots and Kevlar shorts, but who really gets to see you that way in the darks underground. Sam and I went on the Labyrinth, which is a lazy 3 hour expo underneath the earth’s surface. Glow worms (which are actually maggots!) stick to the ceilings of these caves and bathe it in their eerie greenie-blue glow. The ride sees you in your togs with a rubber ring either under your arm as you walk, or under your bum as you meander downstream staring at the mesmerising dots of light on the caves roof. Whilst by no means a thrill ride, it is still great fun.
...Taupo Bungy!!! A special mention has to be made to Amy who made the jump possible through her fabulous Christmas gift – thank you Amz!
The bungy was the most exhilarating thing I have ever experienced! A 47m drop from a suspended platform into the turquoise river below. When you jump in Taupo (which you absolutely should do!) you have the option of staying dry or getting wet - anywhere from your fingertips to your ankles. I chose ankles. Sorry mum.
What a rush! The jump lasts only seconds, but the buzz lasts days, and the memories will never leave me.
After a mind-blowing afternoon activity we decided to chill out with a bunch of the people from the bus in the nearby pub. Even the threat of a sub-6AM start the following morning didn’t put any of us off! We didn’t win the pub quiz, but our team did win the most free drink tickets in the games. Don’t worry Kiwi-Experience readers, I won’t be posting any pictures from that night... yet!
After a very few hours sleep we were back up and outside waiting for a bus to take us to something called the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, home of Mt Ngauruhoe , an active volcano a.k.a. Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings. This trek was over 20km long which includes the hike to the top of Ngauruhoe and took us until 3pm to complete.
It’s a difficult and exhausting walk, but it more than worth giving up your lie in for. If you’re going to do it then make sure you wear the appropriate footwear, lots of sun-tan lotion (yep, I forgot to coat my legs in the stuff so they’re a nice shade of lobster right now) and plenty of water (1.5l was uncomfortably enough. Take more, remembering that it gets lighter as the walk progresses) and food (I wish I had packed some mars bars). If you have the time in Taupo, this should be on your to-do list for sure.
Now
Well, I am [obviously] incredibly tired after the walk and the early start, so unless I can find a couple more people to share a taxi fare with to the hot springs, I will be heading to the land of nod!
Night all x
