Oz Day 2

day 2 OZ
We left at 6:45 this morning...ouch!!! We will be driving on some crazy mountain roads and heading into the snowy mountains and passing from Victoria into New South Wales. We enter Alpine National Park and head into the mountains on dirt roads that are about a car and a half wide that fall off the sides to nowhere....Kinda crazy, but also not so many cars traveling here thank goodness. We reach the border of Victoria and New South Wales and the name of the NP changes from Alpine to Kosciusko National Park on the NSW side. We start to follow the Snowy River, which has a poem written about it, "The Man from Snowy River" and the man's name was Jack..and of course we pulled off at Jack's lookout for lovely views of Snowy River! We now enter the Jindabyne Region, the most popular place in Aussie for winter sports. Tons of summer sports as well because of the great terrain and Jindabyne Lake, but really only known for it's winter sports...where it just becomes overrun in the winter. We drive up above treeline to the snow fields, where they actually had snow last night!!! It is only 2 degrees c here today, quite unheard of for this time of year!!! A lovely hike on the rocky terrain, looks just like hiking in the Colorado Mountains....

Will cruise back down to Jindabyne for the night, don't think we will be swimming of wakeboarding as is the usual on this trip...a wee bit to cold today....

Australia!!!!!!!Day 1 Oz Experience

Melbourne
We stayed 2 days in Melbourne in a suburb called St Kilda. It is a cool and trendy little place on the beach. It reminded me a little of The Highlands H...altho it was about 4 times the size with several more cool cafe's and shops. You can get just about anything..and trams run up and down the streets, a block perpendicular to the main street is the boardwalk ad the beach, and an amusement park...it is just a cool little place!

Day 3 Oz Experience...
Left Melbourne bright and early this am heading down the coast. We drove to Wilson's Promontory National Park, in gippsland, the most southern tip of Aussie. The ocean here is the Bass Straight which separates Australia and Tasmania. Wilson's Prom is full of Flora and Fauna only found in Aussie, lots of Tea tree's...., rain forests, eucalyptus forests,sand dunes,coastline,etc...we pulled off at the airstrip and right as we get off the bus there is a Kangaroo and a joey!! We are able to get quite close ad they go on their way eating grass and then they hop off!!, We continue thru the bush and come across a blue tongued lizard, kinda similar to the blue balled monkeys in Africa, same color blue!!! As `we walk on more kangaroo's just hangin out...very cool to just come upon them in the bush..and then!!!!!! a WOMBAT!!! they are nocturnal so it is pretty rare to find one out and about in the middle of the day!! So cool!! I was having trouble picturing one, but they are super cute little bugger's, really cute face and adorable waddle, again he didn't seem to bothered by us and we could get quite close...very cool! Left the airstrip and next up was an akinna, kinda looks like a porcupine with a pointy nose, family of the platypus, likes to hide his face.

We then set out for a hike out to Prominent point across Tidal River, a brown color from the tea tree's sap and then on to Squeaky Beach. Prominent Point has 360 coastal views off to one side is Whiskey Beach and Squeaky Beach to the other, lots of granite rocks and boulders and the gorgeous aquamarine, clear,sea. We ate lunch out on the granite rocks overlooking Squeaky Beach with gorgeous white sand, called that as it squeaks when you walk on it.

Back in our bus and onward, we run across an emu and baby next..the emu and the kangaroo are the aussie national symbols, what they have in common is that the are unable to go backwards or reverse..hence aussie's are always moving forward...

We cruise on to Lakes Entrance where we will stay tonight, called such as there is an inlet where the ocean comes and meets the fresh water lakes, a huge region of fresh water lakes. This is a big fishing region, with fishing boats galore on the downtown strip, so of course we go for some fresh fish and chips for dinner!!!Lovely. After dinner we take a sunset cruise out to 90 mile beach, this one apparently really is 90 miles, unlike 90 mile beach in NZ! It is stunning with the crashing surf, clouds and orange setting sun. The beach goes on for as far as you can see in both directions and is completely deserted. I wanted to stay there and sleep it was so amazing.

Auckland Day Trip

Auckland Day Trip
So Kiwi puts on a free trip around Auckland...and we figured Why not?
We managed to squeeze on the bus around 10am and headed out, they took us thru all the cool neighborhoods with cool shopping and fun cafe's, by Victoria Market kinda like Fanieul Hall in Boston, why can't I think how to spell that any more!!

First stop is the Harbour Bridge where we get to leash up and walk out under the bridge. By leash up I mean we strap on harnesses and once we get out there we are latched on to a cable on the bridge and walk on a 2ft wide plank where you can see the water moving below. awe walk up,up,up and when we reach the middle of the bridge we unhook and climb straight up a bunch of stairs into a "pod". Once we are all in the pod the front side opens and we are hanging up on the underbelly of the harbour bridge at it's highest point!! An Maori tune starts pumping really loud as on of the guys straps on a harness and runs and dives off the platform toward the water below..yikes!!!!!! I am having a hard enough time just standing there with the see thru floor!!!
No one else is brave enough to hurl themselves off despite AJ Hackett's more than easonable price for the Harbour Bridge jump!!! We turn and back, back down the steep stairs and re-leash for our long cruise back! Thrilling!!

On we go to Devonport a peninsula across the bridge to the North of Auckland, we have some lovely fish and chips in the park by the ocean. after lunch we are kicked off the bus and told to climb straight up this hill, an old dormant volcano cone, which once housed a fort to protect Auckland. The views from the top are gorgeous looking back at Auckland and at Rangitata another dormant volcano to the north. "The Big Smoke" Maori name for Auckland looks pretty cool from this vantage point, even on an overcast and blustery day. We leave an head back across the bridge and stop by the Auckland Museum, set high above the city, on another dormant volcano lump, in a very grand roman looking building. We head over to another cute suburb called Parnell, lots of nice and trendy areas to shop and eat in the city...a worthwhile day about Auckland.

Arahi's Moko

A Day with Colin
I have been anticipating this day for the last 3 since I met Andy and heard of Colin. It is fate that I will meet him and that I was on Andy's bus. Our first stop on our trip to the Bay of Islands Andy, our driver, talked of the Kauri wood carvings of the benches and tables done by his brother Colin who is also a tattoo artist. Since getting to NZ I have been asking around for a Maori artist and have been given a few names and even talked to a few, but it didn't work out and now I Know why.

I was picked up by Colin's wife Jeanne, pronounced John, french, she has facial moko too. I already had an idea as to how Colin or Arahi, his Maori name,would look, I looked him up on inkednation.com under NZ artists. Andy told me to look him up so I wasn't intimidated when I met him, he is a big and strong warrior and chief of the Maori people. Their house is in the bush next to a gorgeous beach an hour west of Auckland. I feel welcome and invited as soon as I arrive, a bit in awe, as Colin really is something in person!!

So I sit down and we decide on a location for the piece and then he starts asking questions...about me my family, etc...all the while he is sketching. I won't go into details but it was an unbelievable experience and I was sobbing before I knew what happened to me...he pulled out all this stuff and soon we were talking as if we had known each other for years, there was something spiritual and moving and completely familiar. We stopped for a break and some lunch out on the deck overlooking the bush and waterfall and I learned Colin is a Maori Chief and head of his family, and a priest..also a long time friend of Bill W, putting him in a place to understand my life in a way most can't. We talked alot about my trip, my life, his life, his family, and the future.

Back to work..he sat with the sketch and blessed it's place, Maori tattoo's are very sacred and always have much meaning, and lots of people are refused. It hurt alot more than the other tattoo's I have, not sure why..but even the conversation was not distracting me now, maybe I just needed to feel the pain..sounds like something Colin would say...anyway, it was worth every moment. When Colin finished and explained what each part of it meant and who it represented and what it represented it was AMAZING!! This is a day and a man that will stay with me and in my heart forever, I have been thinking of and trying to live by his words since meeting him...awe...

Strange too... I got back to Auckland and Jeanne dropped me off, I went to go around the corner and grab a drink and smashed right into Andy, full on...wierd...but he asked all bout his bro and got to see the work, cool for him.

Cape Reinga

Cape Reinga
We are heading out to the winterless north. First stop is Puketi Kauri Forest to check out some of the Kauri trees that are dated back some 2000 years, they used to be cut for boats and timber but are now preserved as they take sooo long to grow!

We head to Cape Reinga where the two oceans meet and the light house stands to mark the most northern spot in NZ. The Maori consider this a sacred spot as legend tells this is where spirits pass into the next world via this tapu(sacred) place. WE head over to Tapotupotu Bay for lunch and a swim at a beautiful beach.

We load up and head over to the quicksand river at Te Paki stream, notorius for eating cars and buses...we power thru at high speeds and reach a spot at the base of the sand dunes where we can sand board!! We grab boogie boards and climb to the top and then hop on and speed to the bottom!!!!sweet dunes!!

We drive out onto the beach...90 mile beach..and start driving down the beach...we pull down into the waves and then circle back to test the sand and see if we can park and get out...seems safe, we park and head down to the surf with a bucket and collect a whole bucket of shellfish and open and eat them right there...we hop back on and keep driving...the beach goes on forever and we keep driving, we see noone for the longest time..so incredible. We come across the prints of a herd of wild horses just up ahead of us..we speed up to try to catch them but they disappear over the dunes before we catch up. We drive down the beach for some 50 miles before we head up and off...amazing...when there are storms you can see all the cars that are buried beneath the sand on the beach...apparently it happens quite often!!

We head down to Mangonui and eat fresh fish and chips on the water and then back on the road. Passing Whangaroa harbour and heading back thru Kerikeri to Paihia. Another night at the Pipi Patch.

Today we take the ferry over to Russell to spend the morning and early afternoon investigating the now quaint village. Quite tame from it's harsh reputation of yesteryear. Back to Paihia in time to catch the afternoon kiwi with Andy back to Auckland.

Awesome and Top Bit

Awesome and top bit
Monday am and we are back on the KIwi bus leavin Auckland with Andy. Today we head on up for a 3 day tour of the Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga, the most northern tip of New Zealand. We head out over the Harbour Bridge and follow the Hibiscus coast thru the coastal town of Whangarei up to Paihia in the Bay of Islands. We check in at the Pipi Patch hostel and than head out on the Excitor. The excitor is a high speed jet boat that wil cruise us around the islands and out to the hole in the rock, gotta love these fast boats! The sea is spotted with islands and beaches and moored boats..it is beautiful. The hole in the rock is pretty cool..see pictures..then we cruise back in stopping in Russell, aka Hell hole of the pacific!!!! nice. Back on land we walk along the beach in the small resort town back to our hotel and a BBQ dinner put on by the hostel.

Raglan Soundsplash

Spent Valentine's day in Auckland making more plans and hanging out with a friend in town for the day. It's now Friday and we are off on the airport shuttle to pick up the rental car to head down the coast to Raglan. I was excited to get a manual transmission until Russ reminded me that I would be shifting with the left hand...Yup that would be a bit much to remember...so we have an automatic. I get in and there is a sticker on the dash saying "keep left"..I have to keep repeating it in my head...stay left...stay left...not hard unless you are turning or in a rotary....

We spend 2 hours on the road and arrive in Raglan, a cute little surf town on the west coast.

We drive out to Kaiora Surf Camp where we will be staying for the weekend, it is high above the sea in a tropical garden..really cute and tucked away, good thing we rented a car. We drop our stuff and head down to the sea to watch the surfers on the break, surfers and lots of kite surfers too...We then head out to the venue on the hills above the sea, and one stage downj in a protected valley, the other up high on the hill. It is a bit cool and windy tonight but the bands start and things warm up!! Highlight of the night was Salmonella Dub..a New Zealand band who we have been hearing as we toured the country..they are excellent!!! also tonight was Olmecha Supreme...great!!!! They ended with the motorcycle song..it was crazy!!!! really great time!!! We got back to the lodge in the pouring rain..and saw the glowworms lining the walkway back to our rooms..

Back to the beach this morning, another gorgeous day, some good food at a cafe in town, a short nap and then back to the venue for more music. Soundsplash is also an eco festival...lots of tents and info on conservation and recycling..reduce..reuse..recycle...the eventy is a zero waste event...last year they recycled 80 % of all waste over the 3 days, this year they are hoping for 100%! the eco zone did a great job with info and displays. Tonight the weather is warmer and the tunes are on fire!!! We race from tent to tent as all the performers are on fire tonight. Dubhead,wicked draw and G corp rocked the heavyweight tent...on the mainstage Junior Kelly from Jamaica was hot and the most anticipated locals Katchafire were everything I was waiting for!!!! Back to the heavyweight where UK's Overproof soundsystem were on...we were in the front row...even tho Russ didn't want too...The were incredibble!!!The whole place was rockin! They left the stage around 2am and noone was leaving..soooo Sunshine soundsystem and loads of others took the stage for a good old kiwi jam!!! The rapper from Olmecha joined them as well as some of the boys from overproof..huge dance party..probably went til 6 or 7 am...we took off around 4am..AWESOME time at soundsplash!!!

got up and out on the road by 10am...saw one of the boys from Olmecha supreme packing his car at the surf lodge as we were leaving..still wearing what he had on this am early when we saw him last....so glad we ventured to Raglan!!

Waitomo caves

Waitomo Caves

Today we leave Whitianga and head down the coast and then inward to Waitomo. Waiitomo caves are made of limestone and lie beneath the green countryside. Caves carved by rivers of water..leaving stalactites, stalagmites, cave coral,columns and lots of fossills and GLOWWORMS! by the zillions!! as we float in the underground caves in a boat in the pitch dark the whole ceiling is a glow, looking like stars in the sky, then they shine the flashlight and you can see the webs hanging off them to catch their prey..ewwww
Out of the caves and we board the not so magic bus and head on back to Auckland. and Valentine;s Day

Coromandel

Magic Bus to Coromandel

We are in Auckland at Base for the night and today it is off by ferry to Coromandel Peninsula. the weather is a bit drizzley today which is bit of a bummer, but our weather has been so fabulous the whole trip you can hardly complain! We hop on the ferry and head out leaving Auckland behind, passing dormant volcano's and lovely islands. Whaiheke is our first stop to pick up a few people who were staying on the island, a popular getaway for Aucklander's, next stop is a small island with just a farm on it and we pull in to deliver thier mail! After some rough seas and a short nap we arrive in Coromandel and hop a tour bus to get into town..magic has not been real specific on what or where we are going so we try to find out from the tour bus guy who hooks us up with where to stay and what time in the am we will be picked up...we are used to Kiwi and having every thing handled and learning other tour companies are not the same!!!

We are staying in Coromandel town at Anchor Point,a really cool hotel/hostel. It reminds me of being in kauai, hilly, tropical and on the ocean. Coromandel is an old gold rush town, today it's one main street is lined with fresh seafood places, shops and cafe's.

We head out of Coromandel in the morning traveling along the coast, through the tropical forests and farm lands. Several mussel and oyster farms are visible along the coast as well as spectacular beaches. We head into Thames for some food and to catch up with the magic bus which will take us onward. Next stop is Whitianga. In Maori "wh" is pronounced "f". On the way we stop off at Hot Water Beach. Again on geothermal beds so when you dig into the sand at low tide the water that comes up is hot, you can make your own hot tub on the beach!!

Next we hike to Cathedral Cove and Stingray Bay. Along the coast a huge spie and hole in the rock washed away by years of erosion, beautiful place for a hike and a swim.

We get to our hostel in Whitianga right on the beach. This is the same beach captain cook moored his boat off in1769 and watched the planet Mercury cross the night sky, hence the area is today known as Mercury Bay. Fun little beachside town, quiet and slow paced.

Fly to Rotorua

feb 7 Rotorua

We arrive in Rotorua on a beautiful day, Mark Slade, a friend from so long ago picks us up at the airport and we drop our bags and head to Te Puia, a Maori cultural place NZ's most well known thermal area with Geysers and boiling Mud pools. Rotorua is built on a volcano and so the earth underneath is seeping to the surface and boling hot. The town is known for it's sulphur smell and hot springs and mud baths.

At Te Puia we see a Maori cultural show where the perform the Haka,local song and dance and see local arts and crafts as well as a Kiwi bird...almost extinct and not to be seen unless looking at night as they are nocturnal.

We walk back to town and meet up with Mark and head back to the house where Denise has cooked us a lovely meal and we meet the 2 boys, Mitchel and Cameron. Mark breaks out some very funny pictures from Myrtle Beach so long ago, with sooo many people!! Toledo Travis's plus Russell and Mark Slade, Villigers, Whalen's plus Julie and Robbie..looked like fun. a dip in the hot tub and then bed. We get up and have a big brekkie and head out to the Redwood Forests for some Mountain biking!! Russ and I ren]]]]t bikes and off we go,
quite quickly I remember how long it's been since I was mountain biking...and the downhills are much steeper and narrower than I recall!!! It was great fun..I only crashed 2 times...the second time Denise wiped out on the gravel in front of me and as I swerved to avoid her ended up head over handlebars in a huge picker bush...bloodied and bruised I hop back on and keep going..only to be picking thorns out of my skin for the next 10 days!!!ouch! Gorgeous trails and woods, all so close to town and their house, they go every weekend.

We go down for a swim at the lake, beautiful calm lake with black swans swimming and crystal clear water, then back to the house and out to dinner in Rotorua. Our last night, we leave on the Naked bus in the am for Auckland.

more pic's qtown to chch

church of the good shepard and lake tekapo

Kiwi Qtown to Christchurch

Waitangi Day February 6

So today we leave Queenstown, sadly..as it's Waitangi Day, the 4th of July in New Zealand! and there will be parties and festivities throughout town, including a reggae party down at the wharf cause everybody knows February 6 is also Bob Marley's birthday!! Should be a good time..but off we go to Christchurch.
We head out over Lindis Pass into Mackenzie country. We stop near Twizel for a last look at Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak at 3750m, this time we get to see it from the east side. The Maori name for it is Aorangi meaning cloud piercer. Mt Cook is joined by 22 other peaks over 3050m in the range and the Tasman Glacier is the largest in the world second to the Himalaya's.

Next on to the brilliant blue Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo where the church of the good shepard sits by the lake, with it's bronze sheep dog outside it's doors. The lakes are an amazing blue that looks a bit fake, but so beautiful.

We get back to Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island with about 400,000 people. It has a very English flair and was named the #1 garden city in the world..great facts I know!! Jill picks us up with Jade and we head off to a friends house for a Waitangi Day party!! One night in Christchurch with Flitzy,the huge cat..and we take off and fly north to Rotorua in the morning.9:26 AM 2/26/2008