Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas


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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 11 – Wellington to Picton to Kaikoura, New Zealand

    Sunday 21 November 1999
    Highlights    : Ferry crossing, Scenic train journey Picton to Kaikoura.

    We travelled from rainy Wellington to sunny Picton via the ‘Top Cat’ ferry which took about 1 3/4 hours.

    Picton seems to be a lovely place. We ate lunch on the shore and caught some sun sitting and laying on the glass. A nice small town to start our South Island experience.

    Our next transportation mode was a train to Kiakoura though some fantastic country. Kaikoura is a very small town. We are here for the whale watching tour which costs about $95NZD. Unfortunately today’s boats were cancelled due to the rough conditions, hopefully tomorrow will be better.

    BTW Queenstown, the south islands major tourist attraction is underwater. New Zealand is getting very bad weather at present.

    World Trip 1999-2000 Facebook Photos

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 10 – Wellington, New Zealand

    Saturday 20 November 1999
    Highlights    : Wellington Museum, Cable Car Ride, New Zealand Parliament.

    Today we were still tired from the events of the Turangi walk from two days ago however with this being our only full day here we had to get out and about.

    Among the places we visited was the Wellington Museum (which is free) and had displays on the make up of the earth’s crust and why New Zealand has so many earthquakes at about 1,5000 per year. The Maori display was interesting as well, a war like people who the British never really beat.

    We then went on the cable car to the Wellington gardens which offered some great views. After this Kara went shopping leaving Jon and myself to head to the Federal Parliament.

    The Parliament offered and informative tour. It covered the history of New Zealand politics, how they are currently setup and possible future changes. I learnt that they used to have Premiers not Prime Ministers and almost become part of Australia. We also got to go onto the floor of the House of Representatives but they didn’t allow cameras 😦

    World Trip 1999-2000 Facebook Photos

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 9 – Turangi to Wellington, New Zealand

    Friday 19 November 1999
    Highlights    : Snow capped mountains.

    We spent about about 4 hours travelling to the windy city that is the New Zealand capital of Wellington. A good part of this journey was seeing snow on a couple of mountains, I really want a white Christmas this year when we are in New York City.

    We return the rental car a little earlier than planned due to the driving conditions on Wellington being very difficult ie one way street. I took the opportunity to change so more money at a worse conversion rate than I expected 😦

    For the first time on this this trip we shared our hostel room with a stranger. Jon thought he could do with a bath. The town offered almost nothing to do at night.

    World Trip 1999-2000 Facebook Photos

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 8 – Turangi, New Zealand

    Thursday 18 November 1999
    Highlights    : Rescued by retirees in the Tongario National Park.

    We got up around 6.30 am in order to catch the early bus to Tongario National Park. We were forewarned that it might rain but ignored that little piece of advise.

    In the end it did rain and I’m sure a cold is in our future as a result. We only managed a 5 hour walk. We turned back when the conditions got to hazardous. There were Rangers advising people to turn back and we later heard that a couple got airlifted out. New Zealand weather can turn on you very fast.

    Before the rain however Kara was finding it very difficult after she was the fastest one out of the blocks. At one point she asked Jon and me to leave her, I didn’t really want to explain that one to Mum so we kept waiting for her. To be fair it was a lot harder than either Jon or myself expected although if we hadn’t of waited I tank we could have made it to the end.

    After we turned back we waited in the rain without inappropriate clothing for the weather. Luckily a retiree group came to our rescue (Walking with Joy) and offered us a much appreciated lift to their cabin. We spent 2 1/2 hours around a firing trying to dry out, we were that drenched. Without their help we would have likely waited those hours in the rain with very little cover. We we don’t get sick we know we should thank this group of retires or as I saw them angels 🙂

    World Trip 1999-2000 Facebook Photos

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 7 – Rotorua to Turangi, New Zealand

    Wednesday 17 November 1999
    Highlights: Hot bubbling mud.

    After waking up very late at 9.50 am we had to rush to check out by 10 am and not get charged for an extra night, I think an alarm clock is needed.

    I haven’t received any replies to the email I send on 13 November from the Bay of Islands. To remind the family I’m still alive I posted my first postcards.

    We stopped at Lake Taupo on the way to Taupo on the way to Turangi. The sights were supposed to be great but it turns out the weren’t that good. We also saw a mud pool. The mud is boiling hot and bubbling due to all the volcanic activity in the area.

    We arrived early in Turangi and we found little to do until tomorrow. Turangi is our base for a 7 hour hike over 17 kms in the Tongario National Park which should be great. Finished the day drinking home brew and shooting pool which Jon won. I later got revenge by winning at UNO, that is 5 out of 6 times, I should turn professional 🙂

    1999-2000 Photos (Facebook)

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 6 – Rotorua, New Zealand

    Tuesday 16 November 1999
    Highlights: White water rafting, Kiwi Paka Spa

    Today was the first wash day, something that will become a regular task on this world tour from this point onwards 😦

    We went white water rafting today on a grade 4 river. The grade 5 rapids was unfortunately (fortunately??) shut because of recent rains making it too dangerous. We put on the wetsuits and away we went for 1 ½ hours of fun. Jon ended up in the water, although I believe the guide did this on purpose for our amusement.

    We purchased a set of photos without seeing them. Kara will have them at her house by the time we return. We had a really good time, the food was also very nice, very good actively, well worth the price. We finished the day in the Kiwi Paka Spa, nice and relaxing.

    World Trip 1999-2000 Facebook Photos

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 5 – Rotorua, New Zealand

    Monday 15 November 1999
    Highlights: Hot springs, Tamaki Maori Village, the Buried Village of Te Wairoa

    Had three beers in the pool last night, two Lion Reds and one Export Gold Ice, later watching Billy Connelly ‘live in Auckland’. Kara matched to get drunk off 3 glasses of wine. These NZ beers aren’t bad.

    Saw the “Buried Village – Te Wairoa”. This village was buried after an eruption in 1886 (the most recent one in NZ) Rotorua being classed as an active volcano area (and why there is so much sulphur in the air) . The 1886 eruption destroyed the Pink and White Terraces (hot springs) which were considered a wonder of the world at the time.

    Rotorua is very active still, no lava, but heaps of hot springs and mud. It will erupt again, but luckily enough for me not today. We also visited the Rotorua Museum which complimented the “Buried Village’ tour nicely.

    The highlight however was easily the “Tamaki Maori Village”. We had an evening of fun and entertainment. Learnt a few Maori words and saw lots and lots of dancing and for dinner was specially cooked underground!

    World Trip 1999-2000 Facebook Photos

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 4 – Auckland, Cambridge and Rotorua, New Zealand

    Sunday 14 November 1999
    Highlights: Waitomo Caves Glow Worms

    We left Auckland today, will be back hopefully by the 26th to fly to Honolulu for the next stage of the trip. First stop today was at Cambridge for lunch with John & Shirley Stormont (a friends of Kevin Dagg, Jon’s dad). Very nice people.

    The next stop was Waitomo Caves, famous for their ‘Glow Worms’ cost $20 NZ which was too much. Couldn’t take photos still they were good at with an interesting history.

    Then we arrived at Rotorua. Very smelly with the ‘sulphur’ in the air. This time our hostel had us in a five bed dorm but at present only Kara, Jon and myself are using it so more space for us all!

    You’d expect a hostel to be basic but this one has a stream pool with a bar, I’m looking forward to using it. We have two full days here with white water rafting and a Maori experience on the agenda, should be fun.

    World Trip 1999-2000 Facebook Photos

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 3 – Auckland and Bay of Islands, New Zealand

    Saturday 13 November 1999
    Highlights: Russell and Maiki (Flagstaff Hill)

    Today we hired a car and went up to the Bay of Islands. Also we decided that we will ditch the car in Wellington and instead of driving catch from Picton to Kaikoura to Christchurch only costing $35 NZ which seems like a bargain.

    Unfortunately by the time we got to the Bay of Islands we were too late for the major ferries. But we did manage to catch a ferry from Paihia to Russell which was fantastic. We went on a walk up to the Maiki (Flagstaff Hill) which took about 20 minutes to climb on foot. Great views, there were quite a few wars and battles between the Maori’s and the British over this flag pole. We were in the car for about 6 hours today which was a small preview of the US bus trips later on.

    A disappointing day as we missed out on what we really wanted to do i.e. the Bay cruises however we must expect this to happen occasionally.

    World Trip 1999-2000 Facebook Photos

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 2 – Auckland, New Zealand

    Friday 12 November 1999
    Highlights:     America’s Cup yachts, Ferry ride, Looking 50 floors straight down from a Sky Tower glass floor, Auckland Museum.

    First full day of the trip after a unexpected very hot night! I could barely sleep because my sleeping bag generates so much warmth. USA and UK winter weather later in the trip should mean this isn’t a problem, New Zealand however in summer is a little different.

    I was the first up at about 8.30 am to find that it is bloody raining. Hostel’s facilities are first rate, warm shower and I was able to buy some strawberries for breakfast.

    We converted some money and went off to visit the wharfs. We went on the ‘Coffee and Cookie’ ferry. Unfortunately because of the rain it was hard to see anything and the water was fairly rough. I took some photos of dormant volcanoes. It would not be very good to the local population if they actually go off in the future.

    We saw the America’s Cup 2000 yachts. Looks like a very expensive ‘sport’, hopefully the Kiwis can hold onto the cup longer than us Aussies. The Cup runs from October 1999 to March 2000 so they were having preliminary races while we are here.

    We went to the Sky Tower (and the Sky Casino). Tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. Great views of the whole city plus there was a see-through floor at the top. Very weird looking down 50 floors to a certain death with seemingly nothing holding you up. Got a photo of the experience, I didn’t enjoy watching a kid jumping up and down trying to break the glass.

    Jon won $20 NZ at the craps table. Kara lost about the same so the universe is in balance. I didn’t bother betting this time, Las Vegas will do later in the trip.

    Finally we visited the Auckland Museum. The Maori artefacts were interesting but the War Museum was both brilliant and very moving.

    They had a special Jewish section on World War 2, although I didn’t enjoy the anti-Christian messages (Christians did little to nothing to stop Hitler when he started) I was very moved. The museum taught me a few things about World War 1 and World War 2.

    I did not know exactly how Hitler raised to power and New Zealand’s role in World War 1, in particular the Maori’s key battles and victories. Museum’s like this one are a must for all future generations. Lest we forget.

    Unfortunately we had to leave the museum at 5 pm. Could have easily spent the whole day here.

    Only other notable point was Kara beating Jon at the World Tour Uno Championships. This was made more interesting by the fact it
    was supposed to be a strip game. Jon did not come clean at the end thank goodness!

    Auckland is very weird for weather. It rains for 20 minutes and is then hot and clear for the next 20 minutes.

    World Trip 1999-2000 Facebook Photos

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