Into the Able Tasman

Yesterday, from Nelson, a friend and I went for a tramp into the Able Tasman, in the pouring rain. It was a beautiful walk, but we were cold and wet for most of the day... The Abel Tasman is the smallest of the National Parks in New Zealand, being only 200 square kilometers, but it is easy to see why the park is considered one of the Great Walks. Long, unspoilt golden beaches and lush native bush on the mountains around. I was glad to have a walking companion, otherwise it would have been miserable. Rachel, from London England, made everything better, we were missrable together. At one stage of the walk, you have to cross a lagoon at low tide, but there are still channels full of water you have to wade across.... In the summer it would have been wonderful, but we were already so cold. We chose to take off our boots and walk across barefoot, to save our shoes for the other side (wet shoes are terrible) but we didn't take into account the shells... Lots and lots of sharp shells, I mean everywhere. I think it was worth it, it was stunning, the picture above is just one of the many sights. Afterwards we went and had some fish and chips, local caught fresh fish and real chips I might add. It was a fantastic end to an interesting day.

Today, Rachel and I went for a walk in the downtown of Nelson, the city we are in, at the north tip of the South Island. Nelson is one of the best cities I have been in so far, very relaxed and full of culture. It helps that the hostel, the Green Monkey, is a beautiful place. With only 16 beds it is more of a home then a hostel. Our host, Jamie, also from England, bakes a cake every evening and joins us at the pub every night. It is a lovely place, so lovely that I have extended my stay by another two nights. This afternoon, we decided, because of the weather (RAIN) to bake some muffins, cheese and onion muffins, they are so yummy.

Well, on Sunday I will continue down the west coast of the South Island. I hope you all have some sun shine for me!

So Much Beauty

Right now I am sitting at a friend of a friends family friends house... It is an amazing feeling, meeting someone completely new and let the show me something that they believe is truly New Zealand. Judith took me up the coast of the southern tip of the north island and showed me the rugged beauty of the ever changing coastline. That is what travel is about, the little trips that are out of the way.

Any city is a city, Wellington is like Queen St West and the Annex combined in Toronto. I will be heading back to Wellington tomorrow afternoon on the train. I plan on spending a couple of days there before trekking south. The picture above is me on the coast with the one pink tractor. The fishing boats get pulled out along the beach to protect them from the tide. I had to have a picture with the pink tractor, the rest were all rusted and sad, this one stood out.

Well, I will say good bye for now, it is nearly time for bed, so good night and have a good May 24 where ever you are!!

River Valley

I just spent three days in heaven... A remote "adventure" lodge 45 min from anything, up the end of a valley next to a river. I had to stay three days it was so beautiful, and on my second night I was the only guest as everyone on my bus continued on and there was no bus arriving after them. That was the experience of a lifetime, the staff and I sat back beside the fire and watched three movies on the projector, just chilling out. The lodge offers a variety of activities from class 5 white water rafting to horse trekking. I choose to do the horse trekking, a huge reason being it was through a deer farm, imagine riding through a herd of deer 100 strong... I can't really put it into words. I am thinking about going back and working for room and bored if I have time on my way back north, spending a week or two there would be easy. The picture above is from the horse trek, personally I think it looks like the foot hills in Alberta.

I arrived in Wellington in the early evening, so I missed much of the scenic drive because of the dark, but the city its self does remind me of Toronto or Montreal. The downtown is like Queen Street West, vibrant and colourful. I am going out for an explore! Tomorrow I will be backtracking north a little bit to go to Carterton to visit a friend of a friend. It should be a blast! Hope the weather is warm were every you are!

Hello from Hobbiton

Yes, I know, I am such a tourist sometimes. I couldn't resist this though, I think everyone I knew who has passed though town has taken a similar photo. This is Matamata, the town near where Hobbiton was filmed for the Lord of the Rings. I didn't actually go down to the site as it is just a farmers field, the sets were removed and the land put back to its natural state.

On to other things now, I have found many fantastic walks to go on, and a few fun walking partners. The people who you meet when you travel will amaze you, my friend Germany, I can't pronounce her name so we call each other by country, can live on 30 dollars a day... I don't know how she does it, but we have managed to find some fantastic walks.

This morning, in Taupo, the largest body of fresh water in the southern hemisphere, we set our for a long walk along the lake front with beautiful sunshine. About and hour and a half in, there was an increase in the wind, and suddenly it was pouring rain in all of 15 minuets. We managed to find the main road and hitch a ride back from a lovely local who is a local baker. That is what traveling is about to me, the little things.

Tomorrow I am heading off to a place called River Valley, a lodge in the middle of nowhere between Taupo and Wellington, the countries capital. I plan on spending three days there walking and maybe doing some horseback riding, depending on the weather.

Well, that is all from my end! Have a good week!!

Cathedral Cove to Gold Mines

Sorry, I couldn't come up with a witty name for this post, I am quite exhasted today, we started at 730 so we could go for a sunrise walk to Cathedral Cove. Let me say this, if you ever get the chance to come to New Zealand, you must go to Cathedral Cove. This is just one of the many picutres that I snapped this morning.

New Zealand is known for its beautiful country side and shit weather forcasting system. We had calls for sunshine yesterday and all we got was storm after storm, but today we had calls for showers and had beautiful sun. It was a great day.

That is all I can say.

Sorry the post is so small, I am heading to a hot bath and then bed! Have a good night all!

The Ring of Fire

Arrived safe and sound to Auckland two days back, the flight was uneventful and extremely long as anyone can imagine. Yesterday, I had quite and adventure with a couple of people form the hostel I am staying at, fantastic hostel, but back to the adventure. We decided it would be fun to climb up the local volcanic island Rangitoto, it was wonderful and the weather held for the entire day. The view from the top was stunning, as one can imagine, but the climb up was just as amazing. Auckland is a semi-tropical area, so we climbed through what I would call jungle, bright lush green plant life. A nice change from the airports I had previously been experiencing.

Now, about the hostel, it is amazing. Never have I been in a home with so many languages, French, German and English to name a few. There is a real mixture of people, some who are ending their adventure and others who are just starting. Dinner time is by far the best time, everyone comes together and cooks and then talks about their day. There are many other hostels in Auckland, but the Brown Kiwi is much smaller and intimate then most. I cannot forget to mention our host, Neils, and his love for singing at all hours. It isn't strange to be woken up by Neils voice as he works down stairs.

That is all for now, tomorrow I am planning on doing to the tourist sites, the Museum and Art Gallery. Then after that I am beginning my trek south!

Let it begin...

Well, everything has to start somewhere, that is just a fact. So here I sit, in my parents home wondering what I am going to do with my self. Of course I can't sleep, tomorrow at some ungodly hour I have to be up and on... But New Zealand is in sight, after a couple of airports and way too many line ups. Hurry up and wait, that is all I can say.

The fire in the wood stove is still burning brightly, it will the be the simple things I will miss most I think, a fridge full of food, knowing where I am, friends and family. I know that I will meet so many people and see such amazing sights, but I still find it daunting. Maybe that is why I am going, to do something that deep down, scares me.

My first stop is Vancouver, my plans are simple, WALKING! I am going to do my best to walk all over central Vancouver and see the city from the ground up, in 8 hours. Wish me luck!