Nathan's Insights

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

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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

  • 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