On The Road To Queenstown

Queenstown is in the middle of South Island as on the circuit list.  The photo you say above I took somewhere on the road.  I don't know exactly but it reminded of the American West like Montana.  New Zealand is a combination of the US West, Hawaii, Ireland, England, New England and a little bit of France thrown in.  The great thing about traveling is not all the places you visit but the traveling in between.  I spent Christmas eve in Queenstown and left the next day at noon.  There was not much to do there and I was itching to get back on the road. Driving can do that to you.  You can get addicted to the road.

Christmas Eve 

Everything was pretty much closed Christmas day but I found a Chinese noodle place open.  Incidentally the only other people in there were a couple from Hong Kong that were on my Glacier expedition.  New Zealand is really a small country.  You bump into people you know even if you don't know any people.  Photo below is Queenstown at dusk.

Ice Elated

This area is not very inhabited and borders on a rustic coast on the west mountains just east.  There are several points of interest on the way to Queenstown.  There are two glaciers Franz Josef Glacier (named after the King of Austria) and Fox Glacier.  I opted to go to Franz Josef.  On the way there I stopped late to sleep in a small town and did not want to pay for whatever they were asking for a hotel room.

I was steered toward a Youth Hostel and my slumming experience began.  As I mentioned before there is a whole slew of young people traveling around New Zealand.  The places that I am traveling to are pretty much a circuit.  Young people in their twenties and thirties are primarily from Germany, US, Israel, Holland and some French.  They travel in cars, rent small vans, hitchhike or can buy a pass on the Magic Bus, which goes from place to place and is a hop on hop off type thing. 

This hostel that I stayed at had a whole contingent of Magic Bus Travelers.  I took a single room that had a high ceiling and was not too bad.  Just down the hall was a TV room with about twenty kids in sleeping bags watching a movie.  Although I had my own room, you share shower and toilet.  I survived my night there and throughout the rest of the trip, a hostel was always an option.

When I got to the town of Franz Josef I opted at staying at a hostel too.  Each hostel is different and this one had adjoining cabins that were like ski chalets.  I had a shared cabin so I had my own room and shared a common area and bathroom with  one other person.  The other person did not show up so I had it to myself.  I loved that place.  It had a lot of character and felt like I was in a ski resort town in the 60s.

The next day I was primed to climb the glacier.  I took the expedition around 12:30 PM.  There are around 40 on the trip and that equip you with gear including jackets, pants, socks, boots and clampons.  I kept thinking they were saying tampons.

They put you all on a bus for mourned ten minutes and then  you hike in the woods uphill, at a fast paste for around twenty minutes.  You then arrive at a clearing en route to the base of the glacier. 

This was not an easy trip and it probably took around an hour and a half before you actually came to any ice.  The glacier is around 20,000 years old and is from the ice age.  It is not that very high up as far as elevation goes.  The reason the ice has stayed so long, is that the gorge it is in has compacted it.  The compacted ice also gives it its blue color.  There is a prism effect occurs that makes it so blue.

This was one of those once in a lifetime experiences.  To top it off as part of the deal, we got a free ticket to the town hot p

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ools, which felt great after the hike.

Ready, Willing and Abel having to go to Pu Pu

In a country where Christmas is in the summer, cookies are called biscuits, the date is tomorrow, they drive on the wrong side of the road, an appetizer is called an entree, they say thank you to the bus driver, and they like the sound of my voice, it is no wonder that they name the source of the purest water in the world, Pu Pu springs.

Pu Pu is actually short for Waikoropupu which is a Maori name.  The Maori are the natives of New Zealand and most of the names for everything here are Maori names.  The spring was really a side trip to the Abel Talisman National park. 

 

I had planned on going to Golden Bay a beautiful strip at the top of South Island but it was raining terribly and decided to cancel that part of the trip.  I stayed in a hotel room which was like a small room in a basement made of concrete blocks.

The next day, I actually was going to forego Abel Talisman also but right when I got to the junction to turn, it looked like the weather was going to break.  The park is accessible by foot path or water taxi and I opted for the water taxi.   

They dropped me off on the beach you see above and I stayed there for around 2 hours.  I was basically the only person there and I would say this is the closest to paradise that I have been to.  

 I was thinking about doing a shoot here but the logistics did not lend itself to this location.  I am glad the rain broke for that short time because the park was spectacular. 

 

Doing Well In Wellington

I have now traveled all the way to the southern most point of North Island to the capitol of New Zealand, Wellington.  Wellington is a bit like San Francisco and the harbor like the South of France.  It has a lot more character than Auckland.  I stayed in the Cuba area, which is a street with lots of restaurants and shops and part of it is sealed off to make a pedestrian mall.  

There is an active promenade area with parks, shops, museums and restaurants by the water.  You can see a little bungy jumping ride set up for kids.  I think bungy jumping was invented here. 
I spent time by the harbor and then took the cable car up to the top of the hill.  There is a botanical garden there and then I walked to a beautiful rose garden. 
 I walked down the hill and got a little lost.  I stumble upon a youth hostel and the kids there were making Christmas ornaments from egg cartons.  There are so many young people here from all over the world traveling.   In fact, any where you go, their is a good chance the people serving you are from another country.  New Zealand has a very liberal work program for traveling young. 

The next day it was on to Picton.  Picton is the most northerly town on the South Island.  I had to catch the car ferry between the two Islands.  It left at 8:30 AM and arrived at around 11:30.  I enjoyed my short time at sea and forget how much I loved sailing.  You pull your car right up and get on the ship.  Getting off was easy too.  I then drove up to Nelson and stayed overnight.  It rained pretty hard and the weather did not look promising.

The Road Less Traveled

Caved In

My first stop was the Waitoma Worm Caves.  Waitoma is a region south west of Auckland known for their caves, sheep and cows.  The Maori (native New Zealander)  guide took us into the caves for a tour of some stalactites and stalagmites, that as far as caves go were not that interesting.  After a half hour of that, you are lead down to a underground river and put in a small aluminum boat.

The guide pulls the boat along the way on ropes, throughout the dark, and then you come upon the most magnificent site.  The cave ceiling is covered with glowing blue light.  The light is made by a type of worm.  I would say it was pretty miraculous by in and by itself.  The amazing thing is that this was all natural, not an amusement part ride.  This again was much better than expected and something I will never forget.

Falling In Love

Next stop is around a half hour to another waterfall that again was spectacular and worth the 10 minute or so hike.  Along the way, you meet other travelers.  There are a lot of European kids traveling from Germany, Holland and England.  Many rent or buy Vans and live in them.  At this stop I asked them about heading south, which would be shorter to my next destination.  The problem is that the road is not paved.  I think I asked three different groups during the day, if I should take the unpaved road.  Each had a different answer and had not been on the road in question but different unpaved.  They said if you want to see things in New Zealand chances are you will have to go on an unpaved road.  So I am still thinking about it.

In The Middle of Life

Next stop is a natural land bridge.  Again another 10 minute hike.  OK this I could have missed but unexpectedly, past the land bridge, there was a passage to a meadow and farm land.  Sometimes, when you are traveling to a point of interested, you find something better along the way then the place you are going.
This was the case.  I was immersed in a wonderland of greenery and hills.  This is exactly what I imagined New Zealand would be like and was hoping to be able to hike a bit in this type of environment.   The scenery was spectacular in a very down to earth way.

The Moovies

I decide to take the unpaved road, worst case scenario, I will turn around. 
It will save me quite a bit of time if I take the road.  As I drive west toward the road, the countryside is breathtaking.  It is amazing that you hardly see any other cars.  There are no diners or anything but sheep, hills, cows and farms.  I have never seen such a deserted road but you don't feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere.  The feeling is very safe.

A Sheepish Grin

I finally hit the unpaved road and it is not too bad at all.  In fact the length of it is much shorter than shown on the map and I don't think I was on it more than 20 minutes.  A short while back on pavement, passing more country side and all of a sudden a shock.  Ahead I see a herd of sheep crossing the road.  Barking dogs following.  Not an every day experience in Miami.  I start shooting pictures out the side of my window.  I catch up to them to stop and talk to the herder.  I ask him, if he loves what he is doing.  He said, he wouldn't be doing it if he didn't.  The whole thing was miraculous.  I stopped another time to get out of my car to take more sheep pictures.   I paused and heard the sound of 100s of sheep bleating (official name of baaaing) in unison.  One of the most amazing sounds I have ever heard.

I keep heading south towards New Plymouth.  In life, it is possible to have peak moments and unforgettable days.  This was one of those few days that will you never forget.

When Falling Is Good

Bridal Veil Falls

The river leading to the waterfall is just a little stream.  Something average becomes something miraculous in a moment.  Back on my journey I flow south to the bottom of the Island.  New Zealand is made up of two Islands North and South.  Auckland is on the North Island.

The first day has been very challenging.  I have rented a car that is from another century and the steering wheel is on the wrong side.  Stay left and look right is my mantra.  After having the car ten minutes, I already had gotten a parking ticket.  Things did not start out so well.

Not Baad

I head south to Waingaro Springs and decide to take the scenic route and surprisingly get lost.  I got lost a lot that first day, but the country is so beautiful you almost don't care.   Love the sheep and cows.

Spring Time For Scott In New Zealand

I have made it a point to visit as many hot springs as possible as they are littered throughout the country.   When I finally arrived around 3 hours later than I imagined.  I was greeted by the owner from India who micorwaved a meat pie for me and I had a ginger beer to drink.  Ginger beer tastes something like a combination between ginger ale, root beer and sprite and is my adopted soft drink of New Zealand.  A meat pie is ground beef in dough.  I soaked for around 20 minutes and dried in the sun as I had no towel.  The place is for families and is a bit run down but the water felt great. 

This Cow Knows I Had a Meat Pie

Next stop was Bridal Veil Falls.  It was a round a 10 minute hike or so to the falls and you could see the falls from a perch or trail down to the base.  Often when these things are advertised, they are short of expectations, the falls were beyond expectations.  They were glorious. 

I headed to the Waitomo Caves area as night fell.  I had a Big Mac at Mc Donalds which I don't think I have had in 20 years.  I guess I wanted something familiar.  Auckland to Waitamo Caves, my destination is around a 3 hour drive.  With my stops, photo stops and getting lost my trip took 9 hours.

I arrived at a lodge style motel in the country and very tired went to bed.  A challenging but great first day.

PLEASE NOTE: You can click on any of the above images to enlarge.

Leaving Auckland

A Room With a View

I am leaving Auckland in 2 days to travel around the country.  I hope to resume blogging but felt that living in Auckland was more like real life and not traveling, so I did not have the yen to blog.  Auckland is not an incredibly cosmopolitan city and is a bit generic.  I really like the parks here a lot and the birds have a beautiful song.  There is always a breeze in New Zealand and the clouds are fluffy and the Sky is a beautiful blue.

The picture you see is a view from my apartment.  I have a one bedroom apartment that is clean, simple and modern and a good value.  The view as you can see is amazing.


There are so many Asian people where I live, that you would think that you were in an Asian country.  Mostly Chinese and Koreans.  The signs on so many shops, you find are in Chinese and Korean.  One great thing about Auckland is the abundance of cheap and good Asian food.  For $12 New Zealand, which is less than $10 US, you can get a huge Korean meal and this includes tip and tax.  There is no tipping in New Zealand, and tax is usually included.

The other thing that is a good value is massage.  They have a few places that give incredible foot massages.  Other things can be very expensive, like clothes.  People here can be very friendly and helpful but not everyone.  One crazy thing is that a couple people have told me that they really like my accent and to listen to me talk.  It is a bit like bizarro world.  Another crazy thing is a lot of people say thank you when they get off the bus.  Just like in New York.

I have been working with a trainer-physioligist and we are working on balancing my yin and yang.  For anyone that does not know what that is, it is the basic Chinese philosophy of balancing opposites.  Tomorrow we are going to make a video of all the exercises he has given me.

I did eat at probably the only kosher restaurant here and have bumped into a few Jewish people and Israelis, "wherever you go there is always someone........."

Well back to traveling on Wednesday and taking more pictures.