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January - August 2020
🇳🇿 New Zealand Read more
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  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 1

    New zealand Auckland

    January 11, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    After a 11 hour flight we landed in Auckland New Zealand early evening. Beautiful weather here. Warm and sunny. Everyone in New Zealand so far have been very helpful and friendly. Found our way to Nomad Hostel easily where we are staying for 4 nights. It was so nice to have a shower after not having one for days! We are so jet lagged, so didnt get up to much this evening . Had a large burger and glass of Savignon blanc and wondered the streets of Auckland city. Now off to bed to catch up on sleep.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 2

    Viaduct basin and Devonport

    January 12, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Woke up feeling refreshed  and excited for our first proper day in New Zealand. Made breakfast in the hostel and sat outside on the balcony. We then wondered to viaduct basin a harbour near where we are staying. Next we got a ferry over to Devonport, a beautiful bayside village. We then walked up a volcano called Maungauika and explored the military tunnels. Breathtaking views overlooking Auckland and Mount Victoria.

    We then went to Cheltenham beach to relax and went for a swim. The sea was surprising warm! On the way back to the ferry we saw a dog on her own. We managed to catch her in the end and asked a local to try and call the number on her collar. Unfortunately no one answered. The woman put it on the local Facebook page and called the lost and found number. We looked after her on the beach for a little while then the lady we met took over. We then had fish and chips overlooking the sea and Auckland . We have just arrived to our hostel and had a message from the lady we were with to say Tilly had been reunited with her owner and they were very greatful that we took care of her. We are both tired after a long day so relaxing in the hostel this evening.    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 3

    City sky at night

    January 13, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    This morning we applied for our IRN numbers to enable us to work. Hoping to pick up some work over the next couple of months. We then went to the bank and applied for an account.

    This afternoon we wondered up to Auckland Domain which is a large green space in the city sitting on the remains of a retired volcano. At the top of the mound is Auckland Museum. After following the footpath up through the park which is surrounded with many native trees amongst others, we arrived at the Museum at 4pm to find that we only had an hour there before closing time so decided see the museum a different day. We did however take a look in the conservatory located at the bottom of the park which has many exotic plants and ferns. We then came across Parnell village one of Aucklands oldest areas.

    In the evening we went up the skytower. Beautiful views from the top. We paid $4 extra to go up again tomorrow to see the view in the day time.    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 4

    Wine tour at Waiheke

    January 14, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Weather wasn't too bad this morning so decided to book a wine tour at Waiheke Island in the morning . We catched the ferry from Auckland over to Waiheke Island at 1pm.There were 8 of us on the tour. We sampled many different wines and walked around the vineyards. Unfortunately the weather was a bit miserable and grey and rained a bit but the excellent wine made up for it! We also met a lovely bunch of people on our tour a couple from Arizona, a lady who lived on the North Island of Zealand who was from cardiff and was here with her fiend who was also from Cardiff. We also met a couple who lived in Bristol. Such a small world! The lady who lives in Bristol is friends with someone I used to work with. Crazy who you bump in to the other side of the world.

    We bought a lovely bottle of Mudbrick Vineyard rose wine. We will enjoy that at some point this week. After the ferry back we had some drinks at a bar with our wine tour friends. After that we headed up to the sky tower to see the view in the day time and in to the evening.    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 5

    Auckland Museum

    January 15, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    This morning we went in to the happy travels shop next door to our hostel. We've booked an exiting trip for tomorow. You will hear all about it in tomorrow's blog. Spent quite a bit of money this morning on the trip so we deicided to have more of a quiet day today.

    We took a bus to Auckland Museum in the afternoon. I learnt a lot about Maori culture and there were many fascinating Maori treasures. People were also dressing up in traditional Maori clothes. There was a lot of other things to see/do in in museum including a virtual volcano eruption and the history of New Zealand at war. After the museum the sun was shining so we sat on top of the hill and read our books. We has a quiet evening as we are up early tomorrow.    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 6

    Magical day- Waitomo and Hobbiton ✨ ✨

    January 16, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Today we hired a car and drove from Auckland down to Waitomo caves to see the gloworms. The tour guide walked us down the cave to a small boat that takes you around the waters down there. Guided by ropes in complete darkness, this magical place has thousands and thousands of gloworms which looks like your looking up at the stars (green stars).

    Hobbiton was.. well, one of the coolest places we've been to. If not the coolest. It was far bigger than we imagined. The surroundings of lush rolling hills and mountains in the distance. We learnt a lot of the secrets of how they set it up to contrast with the actors being hobbits or adult humans and also of the lengths that Peter Jackson and his crew went to keeping Hobbiton the same for the movies that followed the fellowship of the ring. But we're not going to tell those secrets for anyone planning a visit there. We finished our journey with a real English ale at the dragon pub. Would definitely recommend a visit to anybody going to New Zealand.    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 7

    And relax...

    January 17, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Today was a bit more of a low key day. We wondered down to the viaduct basin (quayside) and stopped for a cold cider at one of the irish bars down there; it's been very warm today. We then read our books in the sun on some of the loungers at the viaduct. This evening we have cooked and finished the evening with a drink at Mr Murdocks at our hostel.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 8

    Paradise in Piha

    January 18, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Today we met Ashleigh's dads friend Leanne who lives in New Zealand. She picked us up and we went over to Piha on the West coast. It was a beautiful drive up high windy roads, stunning views from the top. We had brunch at Piha cafe then stolled down to the beach. Piha beach is a black sand beach and is popular with surfers . Lion rock which you can see in the pictures is a natural formation dividing North and South Piha beaches. It is an eroded 16-million-year-old, volcanic neck named for its similarity to a lying male lion when viewed from the rear (shore side).

    After a walk on the beach we headed to kitkite waterfalls. We walked a long a wooden trail surrounded by rainforest. When approaching the view of the waterfall it was spectacular and so beautiful. We climbed down a rocky path and went for a swim under the waterfall. It was actually very cold, but we soon dried off in the sun. We then had a long hilly climb to the top of the waterfall. There were a few rockpools which we jumped in. The view from the top was stunning you could see for miles. I could of stayed there all day! After that we headed to elevation cafe piha for a cold beer with a view. We headed back to our hostel then for the evening.    Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 10

    Rangitoto volcano

    January 20, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Today we went to ANZ bank for our appointment. We finally have a New Zealand bank account so we can start looking for work.

    After, we got a ferry over to Rangitoto Island. Rangitoto is Auckland’s largest and youngest volcano. It erupted out of the sea and has been the site of at least two eruptions, the last occurring about 600 years ago. We made it to the top of the volcano after a tough hot climb. Beautiful views from the top and we were able to see the crater.

    We came back covered in volcanic ash so we've showered and made food in the hostel. We have packed some of our things as we are off to Wellington tomorow :)

    We then went to boozy bingo with our friends in our hostel room. Unfortunately we didn't win anything but it was good fun.    Read more

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