28 DAYS IN NEW ZEALAND - NELSON - GREYMOUTH

Sunny, 23^rd July 2010, Friday, today is the day I have been waiting for. Yes, I will visit the amazing of Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki via Cape Foulwind. Cape Foulwind is home to a fur seal breeding colony which you will have the chance to view. After driving through Paparoa National Park, we take a stop to visit the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, which is also another pretty amazing sight, especially the sea is in the full swing. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the high tide’s hour for us to view the amazing of the full swing (the best time to view is in the evening btw 6 to 7pm, high tide). According to the witness of the full swing, the water will flush high up to 10 meters from the sea level. We stayed there approximately an hour before go ahead to overnight stop, Greymouth.

Pic1: Me and Liz at Buller Gorge, Pic 2: Punakaiki

At Greymouth, you can choose to join Monteith Brewery tour (typical Kiwi tour), including BBQ dinner (NZ30). It is a great chance to meet some of the interesting local. However, it wasn’t suit for Asian like me, Carol and Ivan. We plan to do a free walk in the city. We walk in to the supermarket for the dinner food. Then, we visited one of a historical railway station in Greymouth, and enjoy the dusk view along the river. We sat on the bench to view the dynamic colour of the sky from blue to purple, from purple to orange and red, then yellow. The day was getting darker and darker. We forced to leave even thought we felt reluctant.

Free style jumping at Cape Foulwind

I spent one night in Neptune Backpacker house. The hostel is not bad and pretty near to the town center. This is the place where I met Choi, an insane Korean-But-Looks-Like-Japanese, who is full of joy and fun.

Clock tower and dusk view at GreyMouth

28 DAYS IN NEW ZEALAND - WELLINGTON - NELSON via PICTON

Me and Paradiso, Nelson

Raining, 22nd July 2010, Thursday, the day seemed like not too good in the morning. However, it wasn’t affected our mood to next destination. Today was the day to across from North Island to South Island. It took approximately 3 hours ferry’s trip from Wellington to Picton. There is another 2 hours trip from Picton to Nelson via Marlborough. What is famous in Nelson? Yes, it is a good question! Nelson is famous in mountain trekking. You may consider to join a day trip in the Abel Tasman National Park. However, I only plan to stay a night at Nelson. I couldn’t involve myself into many activities while my traveling time was restricted. On that night, even though I don’t have any amusing activity. I still did my night walk around the town together with Ivan and Carol. We shopped at The Count Down(super market), prepare food and snacks for the next day’s journey

Me and Carol at ferry, palm tree at Totara Walk

Queen Charllotte Sound

I stayed in Paradiso International hostel. Yes, this is the best (excellent) local hostel I had ever lived. They provide hot soup in the dinner and breakfast too. Plus 5 packs of free instance noodles as I requested. hehe!! In the winter you can spend your night with hot and sauna. In the summer, you can put off your shirt or naked?? and jump into in the swimming pool. It is ALL FREE!!! The most important is the staff is friendly, and the entire hostel is clean.

Kicthen and Dorm at Paradiso

28 DAYS IN NEW ZEALAND - TAUPO - WELLINGTON TE PAPA

Maria, me, Elizabeth and Elodie, the best memory we had ever

Raining, 21^st July 2010, Wednesday, It took around 4-5 hours from Taupo to Wellington. On the way to the capital city, we passed through the Rangigo Desert. It is a unique barren landscape forms part of New Zealand's only official desert. In the middle way of the freeway, Glen make a rest stop, giving opportunity to everyone takes amazing photo with Mt. Doom, Tongariro National Park.

Mt. Doom, Tongariro National Park.

Finally, we reached the capital city of New Zealand. It is also known as the second largest city in New Zealand. Without wasting the time, we go ahead Te Papa Museum after checked-in hostel. For me, Te Papa Museum is one of a must go museum in Wellington. It is free access (you can contribute donation as you like). As a Magic passenger, we got a free dinner from the bistro next to the hostel. Free meal wasn’t good. Well, nothing good is free in this world. Everyone got a western curry chicken. Yes, it wasn’t spicy. For sure, it can’t satisfy my stomach and eventually I need to buy a Burger King set meal for my second dinner before get on the bed. The night hasn’t ended. Our “super hot” France girl came in with tipsy and swaying motion. She invited me and Maria to join the bar party where plenty Magic passengers were there. With hesitated, we were grabbed by her to the crazy party. Well, we had lots of fun on that night. Craziness and wildness party night make everyone’s relationship get into next level. Obviously, I had a “super” great sleep after the drink. I admit that I was tipsy on that night. But, not drunk.

Bee Hive, and Tepapa Museum

I spent my night at Nomads Wellington. I lived in the ten beds dorm. It is spacious with reasonable price. I will say the dorm is not bad. However, I dislike the small kitchen, and the TV room is attached together with the kitchen.

28 DAYS IN NEW ZEALAND - ROTORUA-WAITOMO-TAUPO

Lily and me at Lake Taupo

Sunny, partly cloudy, 20^th July 2010, Tuesday, Yes, I was ready for the adventurous activity today. After departed from Rotorua, we went ahead to Waitomo, glow worm caves, which is 30 million years old. There are few activities you can do here like black water rafting, abseiling into cave, and glow worm cave walking. I chose the glow worm cave walking while I worried the black water rafting will too freezing to me. Unfortunately, I chose the wrong activity while I didn’t see any special on the walking. I will say black water rafting will be more fun. Maria told me it was fun and she saw massive of glow worms L. Anyway, the walk wasn’t too bad. After the walk, we head toward to Huka Fall, a stream of throwing over 200,000 litres of water each second. Those in for an adrenaline rush will have the chance to try out the jet boat on the Huka river. We make the rest stop in Taupo, situated on the edge of a lake bigger than Singapore. Taupo is a small town, nothing much we can do here except lake walk. It is a lovely town to relax and retire. At night, I cooked dinner with my Hong Kong friends, Carol and Ivan. We make T-bone steak as our dinner and it was absolutely delicious.

Picture from up to down: entrance of the cave, Huka Falls and T-bone Steak

28 DAYS IN NEW ZEALAND - AUCKLAND - THAMES - ROTORUA

Sunny, 19^th July 2010, Monday, it was my first day with Magic Bus. Glen was my bus driver, cum tour guide for the North Island journey. He is a fun guy with always repeat “Sweet As” at his mouth. I reckon he speaks more than 100 times of “Sweet As” in a day. When I stepped in the bus, I couldn’t understand what the meaning of “Sweet As” is while he was talking with me. I tried to skip and ignore him. But, he don’t let me go until I response the same the same word– “SWEET AS”. Hey Hey! This is the first new word I learn in Kiwi Island. It means “cool” or “good”

Piture from Left to right - LP bottle, Redwood Forest, Museum of Rotorua

I missed out of the scenery view of Mt Eden while I waited the bus at Manuka Shopping Mall bus station at nine in the morning, where is a stop in between Mt Eden and Rotorua. The first place we went was L&P bottle. This is a typical NZ drink where it only sells in New Zealand, “NO EXPORT”. This is the place where “all of us” met and started our friendship. I met Matleena from Finland, Carol and Ivan from Hong Kong, Maria from Canada, Elodie from France and Lily from Japan. The bus went ahead to town Hobbiton. If you are the fan of LOTR, you can have a chance to take the picture with the statue of Hobbiton and you can join the optional Hobbiton tour. Sorry, I am not the fan of LOTR. The bus spent 20-30 minutes in the town and then we go ahead to Rotorua, where Maori culture and thermal activity combine to make a very unique destination. Rotorua is also famous in hot spring. I chose an unusual activity where I have never done before – Mug Bath. This is also a place where our friendship was getting better. Maria, Elodie, Matleena and I were the only person joined the mug bath, and it is also a place where strengten our friendship. We had lots of fun in the dirty shower. Before we get into the mug bath, Glen took everyone into the stunning Redwood Forest. The forest is really amazing with the mature redwood. We took lots of stunning pictures, with the stunning redwood trees, and stunning people. Super cool!!

Picture from left to right - Lake Roturoa, Mug bath

I spent first night in YHA Rotorua(Good).