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January - August 2020
🇳🇿 New Zealand Read more
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  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 11

    Mount Eden and Mission bay

    January 21, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We checked out our hostel this morning. Off to Wellington this evening. We took a train from Britomart to Mount Eden. Also known as Maungawhau, meaning mountain of the whau tree, is 196 metres high and the highest natural point in Auckland. Spectacular views from the top and a large crater.

    We then got a bus to mission bay beach and chilled on the beach for a bit. Mainly in the shade because it was so hot! We then went for food at viaduct basin in the crab shack. We are currently on a 11 hour overnight bus to Wellington.. It's going to be a long night. When we booked it we thought it was a good idea as it was cheap and we are saving a night in a hostel.    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 12

    Windy Wellington

    January 22, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    After a very long coach trip we arrived in Wellington. We took a bus in to the centre to nomads hostel. We got there very early in the morning we couldn't check in until 2pm. So had a nap on the sofa in the lounge area. We didn't get much sleep last night. We had a wonder around Wellington Harbour then went for food on Cuba street. It is full of historic buildings, vintage shops, alongside cafés, restaurants and bars. Below is a picture of the bucket fountain on Cuba street. Wellington is very windy and a lot colder than we expected. We miss sunny Auckland already but looking forward to exploring Wellington for the next 5 days.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 13

    Cable car and botanical gardens

    January 23, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Woke up late this morning because we didn't get much sleep last night the room was so hot and unfortunately missed free pancakes for breakfast. We complained about it this morning about the temperature and they are moving us to a different room this afternoon.

    We took the famous cable car up to the botanical gardens today from Lambton Quay to Kelburn. Colourful lights lit the tunnels on the way to the top. We had a wonder around the museum and tried on some clothes from the early 90's and had a picture next to an old cable car. We then had a lovely walk around the gardens.

    When we got back to the hostel we moved in to a different room a lot cooler and a smaller room only a 6 bed dorm rather than 10 where we were staying before. We are now having a cold beer at the bar next to our hostel. We have also applied for a few fruit picking jobs this evening.    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 14

    Zealandia and Magic Gardens Gig

    January 24, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Today we visited the Zealandia nature reserve which covers 225 achres in the Wellington suburbs. First built as a dam to supply the city with all of its water needs, they later realised that the area laid directly on the fault line so improvements were needed to prevent the water from crashing down in the event of an earthquake and flooding everywhere in its way.

    As it wouldn't be sensible to develop houses on the fault line, it was proposed that the area could be reserved for nature to take over and restore its former native glory. Today it is covered in lush forest (the bush as it is called here) and a large lake where the dam is. Plenty of native birds, plants and other species are now able to flourish here and they plan to restore the land to how it was before human impact within the next 500 years.

    We would definitely recommend a visit to this amazing place if ever in Wellington.

    In the evening we got the cable car up to the botanical gardens to watch a free gig at the botanical gardens which is part of a series put on by the Wellington City Council. We chilled on the grass and shared a bottle of wine that we had got from one of the vineyards on our Waiheki Island visit. After dark, the trees leading the paths back were magically lit up.

    However, we went off the lightened path and found that the forest had its own lights. After the trip that we had driven over 2 hours for and paid 55 dollars for a tour in the caves, we realised that we had fallen for one of the tourist traps. We were were amazed to find that the forest was covered in thousands of glowworms and realised they must be pretty much everywhere when you know where to look. Still, the caves was a pretty good day anyway and it was exciting to find them for free.    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 15

    Oriental bay beach

    January 25, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We went to oriental bay beach to relax after all the walking we did yesterday. Only a 15 minute walk from where we are staying. We then went out for pizza and wine to celebrate our 8 year anniversary. We met a couple in the hostel called Tom and Hannah from Rugby in the UK. We went to a few bars with them in the evening.

    When we got back from the bars. The couple in our room said there has been a small earthquake towels fell of the bed and the room shook a bit. We didn't feel a thing when we were out!    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 16

    Te Papa

    January 26, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    This morning we had a bit of a lie in then made plans for the next couple of days. We have booked a couple of nights in Taupo.

     We then headed to Te Papa which is the national museum located in Wellington . Te Papa translates to container of treasures. The most interesting exhibit was called Gallipoli: The Scale Of Our War. This was the story about Gallipoli campaign in World War I through the eyes and words of 8 ordinary New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Below are some large life like sculptures of these people. You could see the veins, wounds on their body and sweat on their foreheads. The attention to detail was amazing.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 17

    Huka Falls

    January 27, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    We got up at 6.45 to pack and leave our hostel in Wellington. We got the intercity bus from Wellington Station to Taupo. The journey took about 5 hours. Beautiful views along the way. We went along this road called desert road. Desert Road is a section of State Highway 1 running along Rangipo's desert surrounded by volcanoes.

    We arrived at our hostel haka lodge
    at 2pm. Lovely hostel with views of lake Taupo. We walked up to Huka falls about an hour and a half walk from our hostel. We walked past a natural hot spring which you can bathe in. We are planning to go there one evening. After a hot climb we made it to the top. The water was so quick with more than 220,000 litres of water per second barreling over 11meter high waterfall. Such a beautiful place. Will definitely be going back. We've decided to stay in Taupo as its beautiful and lots of things to do and hopefully find a job here for a couple of months.    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 18

    Kayak trip to the Māori carvings

    January 28, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Today we got up bright and early to go on a kayak trip. We arrived at the canoe and Kayak Taupo shop. We got a bus to the lake and kayaked over to the ancient Māori carvings. We had a two person kayak with a rudder which made it easier to stear. The guide told us the Lake is a super volcano. It erupted 26,000 years ago. The ash cloud caused dark days as far as Rome. The volcano lake is as big as Singapore. When it erupted the crater filled with water known as a caldera.

    The Māori carvings in the rock were an impressive 14 metres high. While the carvings look like they have been in place for centuries they were in fact carved in the 70s by Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell. These carvings depict tupuna (ancestors) and kaitiaki (guardians) that are pivotal to the history of the local Maori tribe.

    We then paddled over to the beach for a coffee and biscuits. The sun came out just in time for a swim in the clear lake. We got back for lunch. In the evening we went to the world famous Tuesday night quiz at Mulligans!! with a few people we met in the hostel. We came 2nd which was not bad!    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 19

    We've got ourselves a part time job!

    January 29, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    We saw the hostel we are staying at, Haka Lodge are hiring for housekeeping and reception work. We spoke to the manager this morning and he's offered us both housekeeping and reception work. Easiest interview I've been to. Paperwork filled out and we start tomorrow. I am starting at 7 tomorrow morning doing housekeeping training and Ashleigh starts at 8 doing reception training.

    We thought we would have a more chilled afternoon. Did a food shop then went for a walk down the harbour and went to hide in a coffee shop as its been raining here today. We are going to have a relaxing evening in before an early start tomorow.    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 20

    Morning of work and Otumuheke

    January 30, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Got up bright and early for a 7am start. I spent 5 hours cleaning the kitchens, bathrooms and making beds. Very busy but productive morning. Ashleigh spent his time on reception learning how to book people in, check people out and make bookings for tours/activities. Ashleigh is finishing at 4. He's doing 8 hours today. I'm currently relaxing by the lake in a cafe with a latte and reading my kindle. It's been raining here most of ths day but it brightened up late afternoon so I had a wonder down to the lake.

    In the evening after Ashleigh finished work we went to some natural hot springs at Otumuheke.    Read more

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