Recap With Pictures
Ok ok, so most of my posts have been pretty rushed. I didn't want to write at length and bore you all in this catch up entry, just in case some of you won't be able to read it all *irf-cough-irf*.
Auckland Nov 30-Dec 2
The most exciting event I got to witness in auckland:
The Crossing of the diagonal sidewalk....
Auckland is also home to the southern hemisphere's (and possibly the world's) most creepy santa clause:
He beckoned you with his pointer finger and his right eye winks at you!!! AH!
Another highlight is the various parks and green spaces you can find around the downtown area. This is Albert Park:
Complete with statue of the Queen.
And its crazy trees... :)
Unfortunately, I missed the hari krishna parade that took place, in downtown Auckland, on the 2nd; but lucky for me, I got to spend that day on the top of Rangitoto Island. The largest and youngest Volcanic cone in the Greater Auckland area.
The ferry boat
The forest bit
There were pockets of lava rock everywhere, even inside the thickest part of the trees. These dark piles of stones looked like fresh dirt from a distance, but were actually jagged hard formations left after the lava cooled 600 years ago.
This is Jade, one of my dorm mates, who accompanied me on the trek to the top. It was an absolutely beautiful day, with full sun and just a few spots of white fluffy clouds.
That's me and the view, and then Jade and the view. We are so squinty and photogenic at the same time :)
I stalked the little birds until I was quick enough to catch one on camera. This is one of my favourite shots!
We took the long route around to the ferry and stopped at a little windy beach on the bay to the right of this photo. It was gorgeous, but we had to hoof it pretty hard to get back to the boat. We made it with mere minutes to spare! We were so exhausted!
NORTHLAND Dec 3-6
I travelled from Auckland to Paihia, then from Paihia up to Cape Reinga, and back again. It was a whirlwind adventure that makes me glow just thinking about it. I met incredible people on my journey and acquired some brilliant stories and other things to smile about. I went kayaking, biking, hiking, wading, and SAND SURFING! I hung out at the pub, I snacked at bakeries and other nooks around town, and loved every minute. Here are some highlights:
The first evening I hung out with my hostel room sharer peoples. That's (from left to right) Adam from Wales, Daniel from Chester, Donna from London, and Matt from Wales. They were all crazy and wonderful.
I'd been taking photos of the moon the night before, so this bright exposure was accidental, but rewarding as well. The boys were brave enough to get past the "chicken wing and tippy-toe" stage of wading and dove right in. I on the other hand, kept it at waist level.
The kayakers: Daniel (our guide), Matt, Adam, Four German Girls, and Daniel (not our guide).
This oyster catcher was absolutely mad! She was protecting her nest and at one point began to swoop at us to stay away.
We biked up and down some crazy steep hills to get to Haruru Falls. I look refreshed and happy, but my legs were like rubber.
This Kauri tree is 300-400 years young. It is a baby among giants. There are Kauri trees in other areas of Northland as old as 1200 years. The largest tree ever recorded was in 1850. It was said to be 23.43 metres in girth alone.
Cape Reinga. A very spiritual place for the Maori people. It is where the spirits of the dead pass through on to the land of their ancestors.
90 Mile Beach. An official motorway of NZ. Another guide harvested tuatua, a clam like animal, from the sandy surf and allowed some of our passengers a chance to try the delicacy ... raw! Needless to say, I think the name 'tuatua' might have something to do with the sound people made when they spat it back out! haha!
Matapia Island. The Maori spirits pass through the giant hole on their way to Cape Reinga. It is the cleansing of the spirit.
SAND BOARDING!!!
An awesome last night in Paihia, involving our first night in the hostel pub as well as another adventure to the Salty Pub around the corner. This is Daniel, Dave, Will, Matt, a guy from Virginia, and Adam...all looking giddy.
Before the bus left to take myself and a few of the others back to Auckland, the boys and I went to Russell. The famed town used to be known as the Hellhole of the pacific as it was a whaling town which filled with pubs and brothels to entertain the dirty sailors. It is now, however, a tiny lazy town with old buildings and a story about a flagpole.
SWEET AS, BRO!!! The ferry ride over was on a little tug type boat that took its time chugging across the bay.
Flagstaff hill. You really can't learn this kind of cool, it HAS TO come naturally.
Sundials serve very little purpose when there is cloud cover. Even though this one was intricately tiled with a map of the bay of islands.
I think the ducks were a little too used to being fed by tourists, because they became meaner and meaner the longer we sat there and ate. One actually nipped Adam in the butt, but that might have had something to do with Matt putting crackers in his back pocket!
Then, I went back to Auckland. Said goodbye to the boys, maybe forever, maybe just til next time.
I hope you enjoyed this little photo blog :) Another one about my day in Auckland and my adventure to Katikati are still to come!
Auckland Nov 30-Dec 2
The most exciting event I got to witness in auckland:
The Crossing of the diagonal sidewalk....
Auckland is also home to the southern hemisphere's (and possibly the world's) most creepy santa clause:
He beckoned you with his pointer finger and his right eye winks at you!!! AH!
Another highlight is the various parks and green spaces you can find around the downtown area. This is Albert Park:
Complete with statue of the Queen.
And its crazy trees... :)
Unfortunately, I missed the hari krishna parade that took place, in downtown Auckland, on the 2nd; but lucky for me, I got to spend that day on the top of Rangitoto Island. The largest and youngest Volcanic cone in the Greater Auckland area.
The ferry boat
The forest bit
There were pockets of lava rock everywhere, even inside the thickest part of the trees. These dark piles of stones looked like fresh dirt from a distance, but were actually jagged hard formations left after the lava cooled 600 years ago.
This is Jade, one of my dorm mates, who accompanied me on the trek to the top. It was an absolutely beautiful day, with full sun and just a few spots of white fluffy clouds.
That's me and the view, and then Jade and the view. We are so squinty and photogenic at the same time :)
I stalked the little birds until I was quick enough to catch one on camera. This is one of my favourite shots!
We took the long route around to the ferry and stopped at a little windy beach on the bay to the right of this photo. It was gorgeous, but we had to hoof it pretty hard to get back to the boat. We made it with mere minutes to spare! We were so exhausted!
NORTHLAND Dec 3-6
I travelled from Auckland to Paihia, then from Paihia up to Cape Reinga, and back again. It was a whirlwind adventure that makes me glow just thinking about it. I met incredible people on my journey and acquired some brilliant stories and other things to smile about. I went kayaking, biking, hiking, wading, and SAND SURFING! I hung out at the pub, I snacked at bakeries and other nooks around town, and loved every minute. Here are some highlights:
The first evening I hung out with my hostel room sharer peoples. That's (from left to right) Adam from Wales, Daniel from Chester, Donna from London, and Matt from Wales. They were all crazy and wonderful.
I'd been taking photos of the moon the night before, so this bright exposure was accidental, but rewarding as well. The boys were brave enough to get past the "chicken wing and tippy-toe" stage of wading and dove right in. I on the other hand, kept it at waist level.
The kayakers: Daniel (our guide), Matt, Adam, Four German Girls, and Daniel (not our guide).
This oyster catcher was absolutely mad! She was protecting her nest and at one point began to swoop at us to stay away.
We biked up and down some crazy steep hills to get to Haruru Falls. I look refreshed and happy, but my legs were like rubber.
This Kauri tree is 300-400 years young. It is a baby among giants. There are Kauri trees in other areas of Northland as old as 1200 years. The largest tree ever recorded was in 1850. It was said to be 23.43 metres in girth alone.
Cape Reinga. A very spiritual place for the Maori people. It is where the spirits of the dead pass through on to the land of their ancestors.
90 Mile Beach. An official motorway of NZ. Another guide harvested tuatua, a clam like animal, from the sandy surf and allowed some of our passengers a chance to try the delicacy ... raw! Needless to say, I think the name 'tuatua' might have something to do with the sound people made when they spat it back out! haha!
Matapia Island. The Maori spirits pass through the giant hole on their way to Cape Reinga. It is the cleansing of the spirit.
SAND BOARDING!!!
An awesome last night in Paihia, involving our first night in the hostel pub as well as another adventure to the Salty Pub around the corner. This is Daniel, Dave, Will, Matt, a guy from Virginia, and Adam...all looking giddy.
Before the bus left to take myself and a few of the others back to Auckland, the boys and I went to Russell. The famed town used to be known as the Hellhole of the pacific as it was a whaling town which filled with pubs and brothels to entertain the dirty sailors. It is now, however, a tiny lazy town with old buildings and a story about a flagpole.
SWEET AS, BRO!!! The ferry ride over was on a little tug type boat that took its time chugging across the bay.
Flagstaff hill. You really can't learn this kind of cool, it HAS TO come naturally.
Sundials serve very little purpose when there is cloud cover. Even though this one was intricately tiled with a map of the bay of islands.
I think the ducks were a little too used to being fed by tourists, because they became meaner and meaner the longer we sat there and ate. One actually nipped Adam in the butt, but that might have had something to do with Matt putting crackers in his back pocket!
Then, I went back to Auckland. Said goodbye to the boys, maybe forever, maybe just til next time.
I hope you enjoyed this little photo blog :) Another one about my day in Auckland and my adventure to Katikati are still to come!
so said Crys at 1:51 PM
:
I'd be offended if it weren't for the fact that I didn't read anything after the first line ;)
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