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  • Travels 2.0
    Day 123–131

    Homeward πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦

    March 16 in New Zealand β‹… 🌬 18 Β°C

    Almost two months after departing Canada, we're wrapping up this final chapter of the sabbatical. We've enjoyed many adventures, visited family, old friends and met new ones.

    The night flight from Auckland to Vancouver on an Air New Zealand Dreamliner was very comfortable. Though we were not successful getting our bid accepted for a Sky Couch, our seats at the last row of economy were quite nice. Nobody bumping the backs of the seats and able to recline normally! The fellow sitting next to J was a very friendly Kiwi, returning to his home in Canada, who chatted for hours about many interesting topics. J is good at chatting but could hardly get a word in! The food was great, service friendly, a few naps & movies later, and the 14.5hrs flew by ✈️

    After a short layover in Vancouver our final flight up to Fort St John. Friends picked us up at the airport after their afternoon of errands in "the big city." It was an unseasonably very warm weekend of 19°C!

    Sunday we drove 4hrs to Prince George to have dinner with our friend who graciously had our cats with her for 2 months! We then enjoyed watching the early screening of Dune Part 2; it's almost 3hrs long! Monday we fetched the cats and drove home. They were very greatful to be home and settled right in.

    Slowly adjusted to being back home and resetting our sleep clocks so we don't wake needlessly at 3am. Temperatures dipped to more seasonable; freezing πŸ₯Ά and some fluffy snow β˜ƒοΈ to brighten things up. Woodstove fires to keep the cats, and us warm. Sunny days slightly above zero to melt the snow.

    🀞Spring is around the corner ☺️ and we're eager to plan for a stellar garden after a year off. With a few growing seasons under our belt we have a better plan of what we want πŸ…πŸ₯•πŸ₯”πŸ₯’πŸŒ½πŸ₯¬πŸ₯¦πŸ«›πŸŸπŸ«˜πŸ§„πŸ§…

    In what seems at times like a blink of an eye 345 days has flown by! We're grateful for the support of friends and family helping to make this dream happen β€οΈπŸ™β˜ΊοΈ

    That's a wrap! Thanks for following along, πŸ’•    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    1
    Day 122–123

    Spectacular Steamy Sunrise πŸŒ…

    March 15 in New Zealand β‹… ☁️ 19 Β°C

    For whatever reason we both woke up early, way too early! That said, we did want to be at the beach around 5am to enjoy quiet solitude in a hand-dug hot pool next to the ocean πŸ€— With our trusty rented spade and headlamps, we walked along the dark pathway to the beach. There was only one other couple who had arrived slightly before us, and soon we were both hunkered down in our respective pools. We managed to find the spot that had cool and hot veins of water. This was ideal to have both as the hot water is scalding! Every once in a while a burst of hot water would come through and you could really feel it ♨️ πŸ₯΅

    It was very peaceful and relaxing in the pre-dawn light with the lapping of the nearby waves as the tide continued to flood. In hindsight we probably could have dug the pool a couple feet higher up the beach as the waves were lapping around our sand berm. As the minutes moved along more people began to arrive to dig their own soaker pools. Eventually we had to abandon ours as the waves completely washed everything away 🀣🌊. J opted for a swim in the ocean while A dug πŸ’ͺa new pool that shortly succumbed to the fate of our earlier hard work, but worth it 😊. Definitely a highlight of the sabbatical! Check out the great time lapse video πŸ“ΉβŒš

    With the sun up well past the horizon we meandered back to the holiday park to warm up with a hot coffee, shower, and farmstand fresh avocado πŸ₯‘ on garlic bread 🍞. By 10am we were checked out, and back on the road. A had leafed through a magazine and found a couple points of interest. The Macadamia nut farm was first stop. The proprietor was very friendly and informative telling us all about the harvesting and seasoning of the Macadamias. Got to crack our own nuts tooπŸ˜‰. The macadamia brittle looked amazing so we grabbed one for tonight's dessert. We also left with a few items to share later πŸ˜‹

    By this point the weather had turned, and a light mist rain was falling. We drove to the end of the road for a quick peek at the Stella Evered Memorial Park Reserve. A lovely story of a farmer who left his estate to become a park for others to enjoy. Then into Hahei for coffee and a snack.

    A short distance around the inlet and up the coast we came to Whitianga, taking a slight detour to cruise through this beachside town. A few fix'r upper beach view houses for sale.

    The highway meandered lots of tight corners along the beach for a while, then headed east, into the small mountain range. We kept our eyes pealed for more farm stands, and were rewarded for our efforts with a bag of freshly picked figs. We weren't too sure of the variety, and they looked really green but took a chance.

    Once we traversed the pass and twisty road, we found ourselves oceanside once again in the quiet hamlet of Coromandel Town. Our final night in New Zealand was at a quirky, but well maintained nautical themed Motel, the Anchor Lodge βš“.

    A short walk through town, and we picked up a few items to cook for dinner in our kitchenette. We stopped at a smoked seafood shop and picked up chowder and smoked snapper to go with the pasta and salad dinner J had in mind.

    The late afternoon sky was still quite overcast, with the sudden periodic shower, lending to the feeling of a quiet and relaxing night in. It's been a busy three weeks in New Zealand so it's what we needed.

    The dinner was amazing that J cooked up! It's a perfect way to wrap up the final evening in NZ πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 121–122

    HotπŸ”₯ WaterπŸ’¦ Beach πŸ–οΈ

    March 14 in New Zealand β‹… β˜€οΈ 24 Β°C

    Our sleep was ok, but interrupted a bit from noisy doors closing in the hallway of this budget-style hotel/hostel. We took advantage of the communal kitchen and had a simple toasted-croissant with fruit juice for breakfast. No one else was around and we sat on the balcony overlooking the pool and towards the Kuirau Park across the road.

    A walk through Kuirau Park on this sunny warm morning after last night's showers was perfect. It is quiet extensive and also contains a number of geological thermal features. The city installed a few small pools for people to relax and soak their feet. The trails circled and wound around the various cordoned off spots of interest. Safety first as walking into sink holes or scalding water wouldn't be fun. There was a section of trail closed due to hot water covering the boardwalk and access points likely due to shifting ground. Before leaving Rotorua, we made a short loop through a portion of town to shop for some gifts.
    https://www.rotoruanz.com/things-to-do/family-f…

    When choosing our drive on Google Maps, we opted for the slightly longer route north, despite a tolled section of highway as it was more scenic.

    We passed through a number small towns, and some very tight gorges with twisty roads. As we approached Katilati, A noticed a lot of plantations along the highway, and realized we were driving through a avacodoπŸ₯‘ and kiwiπŸ₯ growing area! We did stop at a couple farm stands and bought some avacodo to enjoy for breakfast. The first stop didn't work as we were without small cash for the honesty box. The second stop was at a farm house. All the avocados on the table were too hard, so the owner, G, came over to assist. She graciously found me two avos that were almost over ripe (hidden on the back table) and declined to take any payment for them πŸ₯‘πŸ’• She reminisced about a July trip to Canada which was unseasonably cold too.

    Mid-afternoon we arrived at Hot Water Beach. We checked into our cabin at the holiday park. As the tide was still low, we hoofed along the path to the beach. A narrow strip of sand was already pock marked with eager bathers digging holes to enjoy the hot water coursing beneath the sand. We didn't rent a spade to dig our own pool, but just as well as the good spots were very conjuested with happy people. Since the weather was so nice out we decided to enjoy the ocean for a splash, and it was warmer than expected. Even located another hot spring with the feet in the water.

    Once back at the cabin, we enjoyed cold beverages in the sun on the little front patio before heading off to dinner at a nearby restaurant. Hotties was just a short walk away. We were the first to arrive for dinner, getting the best seat in the house, though they are all pretty epic😁 Started things of with a couple cocktails, then shared a prawn ceviche, capris salad, and the John Dory fish special. Of course we left room for dessert, and enjoyed their peach cobbler with ice cream. The walk home in the dark star-filled sky was lovely and very quiet in this tiny beachside town: not a soul in sight 🌟

    The final glass of wine on the patio made for a good laugh when A noticed a chunky in his cup at the last second of a sip and didn't swallow. It was a small roach! He was relieved of his swimming duties and promptly disappeared under the deck boards😜! The room had finally cooled off from the day's warm rays, with the windows open and fan blowing so we retired for the night.    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 120–121

    Geothermals & Redwoods

    March 13 in New Zealand β‹… β˜€οΈ 23 Β°C

    Today's early 10am adventure was a short distance away from Taupo to watch the first of four daily water releases, creating the amazing Aratiatia Rapids 🌊. Priority stop on the way was at a cafe for good coffee. The date scone & carrot cake spoke to us and we had to buy them πŸ˜‹. We agree with a review that this ultra-nutty carrot cake is the best ever! Maybe they'll share the recipe?

    Fun fact: Aratiatia Rapids was the location used in The Hobbit trilogy for the barrel and rapids escape scene. It took a bit for the upper pool to fill as the spillway gates were only partially open, then the torrent commenced πŸ₯³ Before long the water began to ebb, and we decided to walk to the end of the viewing path and back.

    A couple hours up the road we stopped at the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland. Again another repurchased ticket online provided some savings πŸŽ«πŸ‘. This tourist location can get a very busy in summer, but mid-week early in Fall time was more relaxed. We witnessed some pretty amazing geothermal wonders. We didn't arrive early enough to see Lady Knox Geyser, as it's a triggered event once a day and not necessarily much of a spectacle. The LOTR director recorded the sounds of the bubbling mud in a sink hole for the sounds of Mordor. There was also plenty of sulphur and moisture in air 🀒 to keep us moving quickly at times.

    Finally arriving in Rotorua, we stopped for a snack at a sushi express before continuing on around the block to walk through the Redwood forest. VERY. BIG. TREES πŸŽ„πŸ˜ Sweet smells of the forest were refreshing especially after the thermal aromas (Sulphur).

    Late afternoon found us at our evening accommodation where we got a free upgrade to a larger room with a private bathroom. We freshened up and went to explore dinner options. The Eat Street restaurant area was excessively loud and busy, so we opted for a walk to a quieter area across town and enjoyed a Mexican sampler platter for two. We were hungry, but the serving was large enough for three or four!

    The owner's seven year old son was hanging out. He was playing a bit, but was curious for a visit. It didn't take much to engage him in a conversation and learn a bit about a local's perspective from a young mind. The owner apologized for his interruption, but we quite enjoyed it.    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 119–120

    Vintage Volcanos

    March 12 in New Zealand β‹… ☁️ 14 Β°C

    We purchased online-deal tickets for the Sky Waka Gondola on Mount Ruapehu in the Tongariro National Park. It's hard to not enjoy a 40% savings contingent on arriving for the opening ride of the day at 10am.

    Breakfast was at a local cafe before leaving Ohakune. We saw army soldiers again doing a routine drill walking around town in full combat gear, including firearms. It seemed a bit like a movie set between filming, as nothing exciting was transpiring, nor was there anyone else on the sidewalks πŸ‘€ πŸ˜… at this early hour of the day.

    Once on the road, we stopped nearby at a commemorative historical site where the last spike was hammered in when two ends of the railway were connected in 1908.

    We were a few minutes early for the ride up the mountain. Only a handful of people were there at this hour so we enjoyed a cabin to ourselves. Once onboard the gondola ride was pretty spectacula over the old volcanic rocky landscape. The streaming audio guide had some fun facts, including the $100,000 cost of the cabin we were riding in πŸ’΅πŸ‘!

    After disembarking we meandered up the Sky Ridge trail. It took us just under half an hour to make it to the top. Not much in the way for vast scenic viewing due to the clouds, but some patience provided a few windows for photos. We also noticed some condensing moisture on us from the clouds/mist while traversing the ridge.

    After our hike and decent on the gondola we were back on the road again, heading towards Lake Taupo. Quiet the juxtaposed landscape going from a rocky dessert to sub-alpine, then to forests and shrubed hillsides.

    We stopped at Saddle View Point for a late afternoon snack. The view overlooking Lake Taupo, the largest in New Zealand, is epic! It was a "fine" day as they usually forecast, about 21C, and the sunbeams were their usual roasty hot ♨️

    Once in Tuapo we headed out to explore the area on foot. We eventually arrived at the public Spa Park Hot Pools; a series of cascading pools of varying temperatures next to the Waikato River. It was nice to enjoy a soak with the late afternoon sun.

    We then walked back to the lake front for dinner outdoors on the restaurant's sidewalk. Dinner was nice, though portions a bit small. The cocktails were correct, but watered down with soda water πŸ€”?! Weird.

    Afterwards we shared a tiramisu gelato from the popular store around the corner and enjoyed it on the short walk back to the lake front accommodations.    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    1
    Day 118–119

    Midway to Middle-Earth

    March 11 in New Zealand β‹… β›… 17 Β°C

    Once packed up and checked out of the hotel, decided to explore more of the Wellington CBD, but first a coffee stop! We found a coffee roaster & cafe called The Hangar. It is nice enough place, but a bit over priced and too loud for a conversation πŸ”ŠπŸ™‰. An order of $6 toast was only a single slice 😱!! Normally for that price you can get a whole loaf from a bakery or at least a delicious scone πŸ˜₯! We carried on to the waterfront, then back to the hotel to get the car and motor northwards.

    Decided on the scenic route leaving the CBD via the Aro Valley and Takarau Gorge. This is a gorgeous country loop road with many sections so narrow it was pretty much a single track, but entertainingly painted with a centre dashed line 🀣. We had to completely pull over twice for very wide load transport trucks. Once back on the highway, we continued Northwards paralleling the west coast. Then we turned inland to the rolling hills and intermittent forests, brush, and grasslands.

    By late afternoon we rolled into Ohakune for the night. As the sun was still shining brilliantly, decided the nearby forest loop trail would be a good way to stretch the legs and enjoy the warmth. This small town is busy in the winter with ski tourism, but very quiet now that it is the tail end of summer. A pint on the patio at the trail head in the sun πŸ»β˜€οΈ

    Back at the hotel we found the pub full with a seniors and their vintage car collection. We enjoyed a couple points of beer while waiting for dinner to arrive. J chose the delectable fish and chips, while A had his beet patty burger.    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 117–118

    Whilst in Wellington

    March 10 in New Zealand β‹… β›… 19 Β°C

    Around noon we drove to Picton for the booked 2:15pm ferry over to the North Island. K suggested a drive along Victoria Domain Road, where we parked for a short hike along a section of the Snout Track. We were cutting it a little close for the ferry time and couldn't do the entire walk.

    We arrived on time for our designated check-in at the ferry. In short order we were onboard. Our ferries back home, BC Ferries, definitely seems smoother with loading as they don't have onboard ramps and cars doing 180 degree turns πŸ”ƒ. Before long we were setting sail through the Queen Charlotte Sound toward the open water of The Cook Straight. A booked us a spot in the premium lounge where enjoyed a variety of buffet lunch items (chicken, Lamb, salads...). The fellow we initially sat across from was very socially awkward and we excused ourselves before heading up to the top deck to enjoy the sun and scenic sailing.

    By late afternoon we had arrived at the Wellington ferry port. Disembarking wasn't as chaotic as anticipated, and before long we were on our way to our hotel in downtown. We were able to get the free parking and room upgrade after explaining a couple times our loyalty status from Expedia. The city view was pretty 😍 Though a stylish bathroom with frosted glass walls, functionally it is strange. The hotel parkade was quite the challenge for any experienced driver with very tight corners and awkwardly perpendicular parking spots. The transmission on the car didn't like a steep reverse strategy on a ramp so we had to exit the parkade and try again πŸ˜…. Although we had an assigned spot, we had to find another as it was already occupied.

    For dinner, we went to Mr GO's per K's suggestion. It was a very interesting menu with a creative tapas take on Asia food. The cold peanut noodles certainly did make our mouth tingle from the spice like the waitress mention πŸ˜› After we went for a walk down Cuba Street, and around the CBD. It was fairly warm and quiet Sunday evening 🌟    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 115–117

    Magnificent Marlborough

    March 8 in New Zealand β‹… ☁️ 17 Β°C

    The dive north through the Maruia River valley was gorgeous, including a quick stop at the falls. Soon we were heading more east, along the Buller River, and then the Wairau River valleys. As we approached Blenheim the valley became dense with vineyards; roughly 34,000 hectares, mostly Sauvignon blanc grapes, ready for harvest!

    We arrived at S&K's by late afternoon, and enjoyed the evening on the patio. K treated us to a fabulous garden veggie and bean tart for dinner. Delicious local wine accompaniment too. The evening did cool down rapidly, so moved into the lounge for a lovely visit.

    S&K planned a fun mid-morning tour through Marlborough wine country. We headed off to Clos Henry to sample an array of wines. Due to the unique nature of the property they are able to make estate wines from grapes grown in two distinct soil types due to a fault line. The side by side comparison of their Sauvignon Blanc grown in the rock vs. clay soils was distinctly different; we much prefered the rockier soil, while K liked the clay. Similarly, the Pinot Noir 40/60% (rocky/clay) vs the prefered 100% clay wines.

    We drove through a vineyard with ripening grapes and tasted the unique flavours of the Sauvignon blanc, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Gris, and Gewürztraminer grapes. Lucky for us to visit this time of the year πŸ‡πŸ€The grapes will all be harvested in the next few weeks.

    On the way back to the house we stopped by a popular meat pie shop for a late lunch. By late afternoon we were walking along the Riverside Park to the Fidelio Cafe and Wine Bar for an light bite. Frank's Eatery and Bar was our choice for a delicious dinner which they treated us to πŸ’•

    Sunday was another fabulous morning, and enjoyed a light breakfast and tea before heading off to the Sunday Marlborough Market. We walked through the neighbourhood streets to to the market. Once there J&A stopped to order coffees while S&K were stopping at various stalls to gather items on their shopping list. A quick stop at the Empanada stand, then the fruit stand for plums, and we headed back to the house. S&K took us through the Riverside park trails, getting busier the closer to the CBD we got.

    This was a wonderful visit with friends from long time past πŸ’ Hopefully we can cross paths more frequently 😊    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 114–115

    Maruia Hotsprings

    March 7 in New Zealand β‹… ☁️ 11 Β°C

    The drive through the Victoria Forest Park was gorgeous as the road twisted & turned through the narrow valley nestled tightly with trees. Eventually we passed through a wider valley then back in to a dark forested track towards Lewis Pass.

    Our room was situated at the end on the upper floor near the pools. The exposed wood and beams belayed its mid-century origins, but finished with recent modern touches of large tile, and heated floors πŸ”₯.

    Luckily we arrived just in time to attend their evening yoga session, followed by a late dinner seating in the main building. The restaurant area was quite spacious with high ceilings and a wall of windows. On one end a domineering rock chimney and fireplace. Many mid-century design elements with exposed wood grain.

    After dinner we headed to the pools for a late night soak in the outdoor hot spring pools. Although dark out with subtle lighting, the Japanese influence of large rounded river rock and greenery around the pools providing a natural experience was evident. We tried the stream room initially, but it was far to hot to stay long. The hot water for the pools were definitely naturally sourced due to the wafts of sulphur in the breeze 🫠 Not many other guests were around so we had it all to ourselves! The sky was initially clear and stars over head. Clouds then moved in and a few mist sprinkles on our faces. No possibility of seeing shooting stars πŸ’«

    The bed was very comfortable and it was a quiet night in the mountains 😴 The following morning we went for a walk along the nature trails after breakfast, followed by another dip in the hot tubs before setting off down the road πŸš™    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 113–115

    Westcoast Wonders

    March 6 in New Zealand β‹… ☁️ 16 Β°C

    It was a gorgeous crisp morning in Queenstown, so decided to take a stroll along Lake Wakatipu and spotted the historic coal fired steam ship, TSS Earnslaw, arriving for the day's tours. A fresh load of coal slid off the hopper-truck making a satisfying rumbling noise for its refuel. We found our way back to Fergbaker to pick up a few pastries and coffees to enjoy beach-side as our breakfast. Two meals in a row, can't go wrong! A busker was strumming his guitar and singing. His best friend πŸ• howled along to some sections 🎢😊, adding to the unique experience.

    Our drive east took us through the undulating grasslands. Early on, we opted for the scenic route up the Crown range road, and down on to the Cardrona Valley; definitely a route for motorcycles with all the twists and turns! We settled for the zooming of our Hyundai i30 πŸ˜‚

    Eventually we met back up with the main highway, following along Hawea and Wanaka lakes towards the Hasst Pass. We stopped at the Blue Pools site for a walk to see them, but only managed the forest walk as the suspension bridges were closed as they are end-of-life πŸ˜• Some folks were wading across the knee-deep river water, but decided not to join them.

    As we neared the coast, the forests became denser, and a lot more moss and ferns. The exposed coastline forests looked pretty embattled from the numerous storms they weather. The more protected forests looked almost primeval.

    Late in the day we arrived in Fox Glacier town site for the evening. The motel was basic, and the walls were paper thin πŸ“„ (Micro-waterfall 🚹🚽sounds from the neighbor πŸ’¦ 🀣) Dinner at the nearby Cook Saloon was quirky and delicious: J had the Lamb shank, and A the Salmon.

    The next morning we drove down the road to Lake Matheson, and walked the 3km loop trail. We were fortunate that the warm sun was out, and the clouds mostly cleared revealing the peaks Aoraki and Minarets.

    If you're ever looking for some expensive gasoline, try Franz Josef: $303.9nzd /L! 😱 We suppose it feels good helping the local economy πŸ˜”. Our path continued Northwards, weaving inland and following the coastline, and crossing multiple sections of very wide mostly dry river beds.

    Midday found us in Hokitika, where we had a picnic at the beach front park. We joined a lovely older lady and her dog at the picnic table. We shared a few stories about ourselves. It was her first road trip with her dog. Happy to be away from her retirement home. We hope they knew she was on this multiday adventure πŸ€”.

    We continued northward, but eventually our route took us east, back inland towards Lewis Pass. A found us a hot spring resort for the night!    Read more

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