You might want to grab a snack, because this is a long one.
On Thursday, 8 April, Hayley and I left Hawera at 7pm NZ time and drove to Paraparaumu to pick up Christie. Then the three of us drove another 45 minutes to Wellington. Our ferry was scheduled to leave at midnight, but we had to be there an hour early. And I LOVE to be early for things. We were on the slower of the 2 ferries, so it took us 3 hours to travel from Wellington on the North Island to Picton on the South Island.
When we got on the ferry, we threw our pillows down on the floor and slept along side the seat rows. We couldn’t be bothered staying awake, even though it was quite cold and the man I was next to mumbled in his sleep every time we experienced turbulence.
By the time we got off the ferry, it was 5am on Good Friday. Hayley said she was alright to drive, so I stayed awake to keep her company on our way further south to her Grandparent’s house in Kiapoi—near Christchurch.
Things were going just fine—after dawn we could see the Pacific Ocean crashing its waves against jagged rocks along the shore (to our left). And (to our right) we could see the frosty snow-tipped mountains of the Southern Alps.
If you like Autumn, you would LOVE being on the South Island right now. The trees are beginning to change colour. Picture hills and mountains (some covered, some sprinkled) with deciduous trees in colours of big-bird yellow, juicy orange, and fiery red. All amongst deep, lush evergreens.
As I said, all was fine until we realized that we had a quarter of a tank of petrol left. WHICH would have been fine IF at LEAST ONE of the petrol stations would have been open along our route to Kaipoi. Everything was closed in honour of Good Friday.
When the orange warning light came on, we started looking around for country houses that might have a spare litre or two of fuel to give us. We made 4 stops before we were successful. The first no-go house was owned by a little old lady who lectured us for not listening to our radio. Because “if we would have, we would have KNOWN that everything was going to be closed.” Yes, mam, I’ll get right onto wiring up a magic antenna that picks up radio waves through mountainous areas. Thank you for your lengthy advice while our car is running on fumes.
The next 2 houses looked too shady to approach…so we finally found a grumpy old man to help us on stop numero 4.
He obviously didn’t see the humour in our situation, and he took full advantage by charging us heaps more than the fuel was worth.
Oh well, at least we were safe and on the road again. Still no radio yet though, I couldn’t get my magic to work properly.
We finally got to Hayley’s Nan and Grandad’s house at about 9:30 am. The rest of Friday wasn’t overly eventful, but I did enjoy meeting Hayley’s extended family, including some of her aunties, uncles and cousins.
On Saturday, 10 April, we backtracked about 45 minutes to Hamner Springs. The thrilling highlight of Hamner Springs was our BuNgY JuMp off a bridge. We actually hadn’t planned on jumping that day, but we went into an information/booking centre at 11:15 am, read their brochure, and signed up to jump at noon. I would have liked more time to think it over, but if I would have, I probably would have talked some sense into myself and NOT done it.
Christie insisted jumping second, Hayley wanted to be last, and before I could begin to express my opinion, I was nominated to be first.
Once I got to the bridge, I realized I was quite happy to be first; I couldn’t have handled the anxiety of watching the other 2 girls go before me.
We only had the bungy cord attached to our feet—we didn’t have that safety harness thing around our waist, like some places offer.
So, here I am, standing on the ledge of the bridge with the tips of my shoes beyond the edge. Steep rocky hills are on both sides of me and rippling water is below. I might be having second thoughts.
Count down from 3-2-1.
And....I don’t jump.
I am far too scared to jump.
I am a NON-JUMPER.
I'd like the guy to just push me, but I don't think he is allowed to.
They only way I could calm my nerves after my third and fourth non-jump, was to shove part of the hood of my sweatshirt into my mouth and clench my teeth as hard as I could.
I jumped, and I hit the water with my hands…just up to my elbows. I whipped back up and down again…STILL biting my sweatshirt. I didn’t spit it out until after the jetboat picked me up and got the harness off me.
I was petrified. But it was fun. I’d do it again—maybe, I’d have to think about it.
So, who’s going with me?
You can be first.
On Easter Sunday, I went to church with Nan and Grandad. Then, Grandad, Hayley, Christie and I drove to a French settlement called Akaroa. I have a few pictures of that to show you….it was really cool.
Christie and I could have stayed there all day, but Hayley and Grandad wanted to go home as soon as we got there. They didn’t see the enjoyment in it that the Americans did.
On Monday, Nan, Grandad, Hayley, Christie and I took the Tranz Alpine scenic train ride through parts of the Southern Alps. Again, gorgeous views of the mountains. We were just one car away from the outdoor viewing platform, which was convenient for picture-taking…since flashes don’t always work through glass…
Our train took us from Christchurch to Greymouth and then back to Christchurch again. Nan is a very pleasant lady. I enjoy her company. Grandad….is entertaining. I laughed at almost everything he said, but some of his insults…although I could still see humour, where OVER the line. Hurtful and unnecessary. More than once I broke down and called him the c word to his face.
Crotchety old man.
Don’t feel bad for him, he earned it.
If you ever want someone to tell-you-like-it is with a “touch” of humour and insult….give Grandad a call. You are guaranteed to laugh and/or cry.
Tuesday we left Crotchety and Nana to drive down along the coast and over to Dunedin. On the way, we stopped at the Moeraki Boulders. The Moeraki boulders are huge spherical stones that are scattered over the sandy beaches.
I told you this in an email, but Dunedin is a great University town.
I kind of want to be a freshman again and start over in Dunedin. Who wants to pay my tuition??
The city was really crowded with some inter-university sports competition thing, so it was REALLY hard for us to find a hotel.
After a long search, we finally found one that was in our price range. It had a casino in it, just beyond the lobby. I wasted two whole dollars, but I had a MUCH better experience than my PFY trip to Shooting Star. I just drank the free coffee.
On Wednesday, still in Dunedin, we began our day by visiting the WORLD’S STEEPEST STREET. I received a certificate for walking it—thank you very much. Hayley and Christie had no desire to venture up, so they stayed on the bottom and took pictures. Recently, an intoxicated teenage boy rolled down the street in a garbage can (rubbish bin) and was killed.
The moral of the story: think twice before you roll yourself around in a garbage can. Even though it sounds like a lot of fun.
Next, we went to NZ’s only castle: Larnach Castle.
I would have called it an impressive mansion, not a castel, but hey, I don’t work for the NZ board of tourism. The “castel” had an amazing view of the city of Dunedin from its prime location on a peninsula. The castle itself was pretty cool too.
After the castel, we went to the Cadbury chocolate factory. Yes, think Willy Wonka with people running around in purple suspenders. The highlight of the tour was a giant chocolate waterfall. If the wonka dude wouldn’t have been watching me the whole time, I might have tried to skulk off and go for a little swim. Come on, wouldn’t that be fun!!?
Heather Anderson, I know you would have gone with me.
Wednesday evening, Christie and I walked around Dunedin’s city centre and went to the Dunedin art museum. I love art museums, so I thought it was great. Christie was a good sport, so cheers to her. Korey, I could have used your company.
Korey is an excellent travel companion. Ladies, if you are single, over 18, and not related to us….I’ll set you up.
Almost all shops in NZ close around 5pm, (There is no such thing as 24-hour Walmarts nor grocery stores….Americans are spoiled with conveniences).
And nice restaurants, don’t usually open until 5pm. (McDonalds, KFC, etc, are open all day).
So at 5pm, we dropped off our purchases at the hotel and drove to an Indian restaurant. I love well, all food really, but I love Indian food. Your choices of “hotness” are: very mild, mild, medium, and HOT.
Hayley got hers very mild, Christie wanted medium, and I picked HOT. What was I thinking? It was really good, but I thought my lips were going to burn off. I couldn’t eat even half of it because I thought I was going to die. I couldn’t feel my tongue for about 2 hours.
Then I did what any normal person would do. I ate the rest for breakfast at 8am.
Afterwards I thought about sneaking back to the chocolate-fall for a little dip, but reason kicked in.
We checked out of our hotel on Thursday and drove to Te Anua. Te Anua was very touristy, but I didn’t mind. I am, after all, a tourist.
Christie and Hayley stayed at our cute little motor-lodge, while I walked around the town. Te Anua is on a lake—the second largest in NZ.
If you have been observantly reading my journals—you may recall which lake is the largest.
Need a hint?
It is near (and shares a name with) the city that held the NZ IronMan Competition.
Answer: Lake Taupo.
Give yourself 10 points if you got it right.
Te Anau had a slight Minnesotan feel to it. It made me miss the Midwest just a little bit.
On Friday, we took a double-decker tour bus to the Milford Sound. During the hour-and-a-half ride to the Sound, we had an amazing view of the area. Parts of LOR were filmed around Te Anau. Because of its scenery, it is a very popular place to film movies and commercials. We saw a crew filming something, but we didn’t know what, because they didn’t advertise.
Information Tip: The Lord of the Rings was filmed in 150 different locations in New Zealand.
I just bought two excellent books about the making of the LOR movies—just ask and I’ll let you read them. Or I’ll force them on you, whatever you choose.
While I’m off on a tangent, I might as well tell you another LOR fact I just picked up.
Christie’s host family consists of a crazy lady named Claire and Claire’s 12-yr-old son, Scott.
A couple years ago, Scott was at a Rugby stadium, minding his own business, waiting for the game to start….. when Peter Jackson shows up. He asked the entire stadium crowd to chant and stomp their feet. The production crew recorded the noise that the rugby fans made and used it one of the movies—when the thousands of orcs (sp?) are coming to attack.
So….I can hook you up with Scott’s autograph if you want. He’s practically Orlando Bloom.
Okay, Back to the Milford Sound trip. So, during various parts of the bus ride, we were allowed off the bus to look around…take a short nature walk and see a closer view of the waterfalls. During one of the stops, a blonde girl from one of the other busses came over to me and asked if I lived in her dorm during our freshman year. I was thinking probably not, since I lived in Fargo, ND…but I said, “3rd floor Weible at NDSU?” She said, “Yeah, I lived down the hall from you.”
After our freshman year, she transferred to Bozeman and now is student teaching in the Midwestern part of the North Island.
Weird, huh?
Then we had to get back on our busses, and I never saw her again.
Anyway, After our bus ride, we took an hour and a half long cruise through the Milford Sound. It was freezing standing up on the top deck, but that’s where you could get the best view. One would think that a ND and MN girl could tough out cold weather better----but we struggled a bit; okay I struggled a bit.
We got close enough to one of the largest waterfalls to be both splashed and deafened by it. I love waterfalls. Too bad that one wasn’t milk chocolate.
After the cruise, we took the same bus back to Te Anau.
NZ has heaps of birds that I don’t think we have in the States--including tuis, wekas, magpies, fantails, albatross, and keas.
Keas are alpine parrots, and they have an odd obsession with rubber. They use their beaks to strip rubber from vehicles, causing LOTS of damage…so watch out for them.
From our bus, we saw a kea hop from car to car, pecking at the windshield wipers.
Back at our hotel on Friday night, we ordered in from a local restaurant. Christi was real happy with herself that she went out of her comfort zone, ordered Chinese and enjoyed it. I busted her bubble by telling her that lomen is one step above spaghetti noodles. Sorry Christie.
Now she’ll probably call me a bizzo for telling you that.
On Saturday, we drove all the way back to Christchurch to stay with Nan and Grandad again.
On Sunday and Monday, Christie and I bussed ourselves into Christchurch and did some touristy things—we went to the botanical gardens, the Cathedral, and walked around the Cathedral square.
If I’ve gotten the story right…my cousin, Heather, knows a guy at NDSU who’s brother, Eric, is in the South Island right now…near Christchurch.
If I would have made arrangements with him sooner, we could have met up and had some fun. Not that Nan and Grandad weren’t a good time.
On Tuesday, we had to get up at 5 bells to drive to Picton to catch our ferry back to the North Island. I didn’t want to leave the South Island, it is as pretty as Switzerland.
On the way to Picton, we pulled over to have a look at the ocean. Right below us was a colony of resting seals.
The ferry—this time in daylight—was fabulous. The Marlborough Sounds were very serene. I saw two pods of hector dolphins: the second was a HUGE group of them, jumping in and out of the water.
The ferry might possibly have been my favourite part of the trip. Seeing the dolphins made up for me NOT getting to go whale watching.
Some day, I am going to visit Boston. When I am there, I am going whale watching. Who’s coming with me?
Marlbourough Sounds:
Since we left the South Island early, I stayed with Christie for a few extra days in Paraparaumu. On Wednesday and Thursday, we took an hour-long train ride into Wellington. We went to some really cool shops, an amazing museum, and we saw The Passion of the Christ.
The Passion was a really good movie.
I think everyone should see it. I am going to try to never sin again.
As you all know, I’m not a big fan of blood, so I had to face the side wall of the movie theatre and watch the screen from the corner of my eyes. Staring directly at it was too painful.
The museum in Wellington,
Te Papa, was one of the best I have ever been to, plus it’s free.
There are 6 floors, the top two had art exhibits (which change every few months). The 4th floor had a morae, Maori exhibits, “made in NZ” exhibits, and a café.
The third floor was all about birds, planes, and other things with wings. There were albatross, which look kind of like seagulls but their wingspan is like 8 feet. The second floor was my favourite. There was an earthquake simulation, and tons of stuff about weather, mountains, volcanoes, storms, etc. I can’t possibly describe the museum and make it sound as fun as it was-- but I have a fairly short attention span, and I could have stayed there for weeks. I learned a lot, and it was VERY entertaining.
Oh and it has a freaky skeleton of a blue whale. Every time I see one, I can’t help but imagine a live blue whale swimming towards me.
Don’t laugh, it could happen.
Te Papa also has fantastic, interactive activities for kids, and little theatres on each floor to watch presentations.
If you are in Wellington, it is a must-see.
Maybe I should work for the NZ board of tourism.
On Wednesday night we had to take the midnight train out of Wellington. We didn’t get back to Paraparaumu until 1am. Since busses weren’t running that late, our only option to get back to Claire’s was by taxi. However, there was only one taxi on duty that evening (from the train station). We were the only two people at the station, and the taxi wasn’t due back for another 45 minutes.
We were sulking in our misfortune, when a cop car pulled up in front of us. The cop inside asked us what we were doing… so we told him. He said he couldn’t have 2 girls out at night alone, so he let us in his car. He drove us back to Claire’s place. Even though he was the hottest cop I’ve ever seen, we told him we hoped we never had to see him again.
Information tip: NZ police officers do not carry guns. They have guns inside their vehicles, but only carry batons on their person.
Also, in NZ, “baton” is pronounced
BAT-on, not bat-ON.
You are welcome for that.
Well, I guess that’s all I have to tell you for now. I hope you enjoyed my trip.
I’ll be seeing most of you in about a month, so mark your calendars.
My mom…my real, ND mom…helped me switch a few things on my plane ticket. So…to whom it may concern, here are my plans.
After flying from Auckland to Fiji to LA to Minneapolis, I am now flying to Fargo (instead of Minot). I arrive in Fargo at 11:15pm on Tuesday 25 May. I might be a little crabby, because I will have been awake for a long time.
Then I will stay in Fargo until Friday 28 May (My sister’s 21st birthday).
Friday morning, my sister, Janelle, and I are driving to Minneapolis. She is a bridesmaid at her friend, Asta’s wedding.
Then, after the wedding, we are going all the way back to Minot for our brother, Jason’s high school graduation on 30 May.
I will come back to Fargo sometime in June to finish up my requirements at MSUM, so Fargonians, I will see you for sure then!
Enjoy your spring weather! I miss you! | 
