Nathan's Insights

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

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

November 21, 1999

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

November 20, 1999

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

November 19, 1999

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

November 18, 1999

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

November 17, 1999

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)

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

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

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

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

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