Spring Break!
Alright, deep breadth. This is going to be a long one. We had 2 weeks for Spring Break here in New Zealand and it was awesome!
Day 1: Dawson's Falls
The Plan:
- Dawson’s Falls
- Taupo
- Mt. Manganui
- Coromandel
- Auckland
- Back to Wellington
Well we're off to a rocky start.*First we boarded a bus to take us to our car rental place, found out it was the wrong bus, boarded the right bus
*took it too far
*past the car rental
*decided to taxi to the rental company
*found out it was only .25 mile back
*paid $6.50
*discovered they had FREE pickup, THEN..*drove about 6 miles up hill with the E-brake on
We made it to our first stop, Dawson’s Falls. Cool little track supposed to be an hour and 20 minutes, we ended up on the wrong track and walked for 3... Not too bad, I feel twice. We literally reached a dead end and turned back. Dawson’s Falls was awesome overall. A very rainforest-like feel to it. With all the rain, good thing I bought some nice boots for a sweet $60NZ. I’m pretty proud. Of course they are a children's size 4...
*took it too far
*past the car rental
*decided to taxi to the rental company
*found out it was only .25 mile back
*paid $6.50
*discovered they had FREE pickup, THEN..*drove about 6 miles up hill with the E-brake on
We made it to our first stop, Dawson’s Falls. Cool little track supposed to be an hour and 20 minutes, we ended up on the wrong track and walked for 3... Not too bad, I feel twice. We literally reached a dead end and turned back. Dawson’s Falls was awesome overall. A very rainforest-like feel to it. With all the rain, good thing I bought some nice boots for a sweet $60NZ. I’m pretty proud. Of course they are a children's size 4...
Settling in to our first hostel was... interesting. A bit weird but not terrible, just old I think. We ate some potato soup, talked a bit and headed to bed. Kristin and I shared a room. My bed literally had me sleeping on the floor so Kristin and I snuggled together the first night...lol
Woke up the next day and we were out of there...
Woke up the next day and we were out of there...
Day 2: The Forgotten Highway
Oh the Forgotten Highway, how I hate you. Today was basically just a driving day. Left the hostel in Stratford and headed onto Taupo. The Forgotten Highway was the straightest shot to Taupo from here, or so we thought. It is nothing but tight curves around mountains, one lane bridges, and half unpaved roads. At times we actually thought we were in Jurassic Park! After about 3 hours we eventually found another major road and hopped on it.
Taupo is wonderful. The city surrounds Lake Taupo with beautiful trees, parks, gardens, and walkways. And from anywhere in the town you have an amazing view of the mountains. The Tiki Lodge is where we stayed. It is a n awesome hostel, very modern, huge kitchen and lounging area, and it had a hot tub. We cooked some pasta this evening, garlic bread, and veggies. Having a few drinks in the hot tub definitely ended the night well!
Taupo is wonderful. The city surrounds Lake Taupo with beautiful trees, parks, gardens, and walkways. And from anywhere in the town you have an amazing view of the mountains. The Tiki Lodge is where we stayed. It is a n awesome hostel, very modern, huge kitchen and lounging area, and it had a hot tub. We cooked some pasta this evening, garlic bread, and veggies. Having a few drinks in the hot tub definitely ended the night well!
Terrible view of Lake Taupo but I was cold and wasn’t leaving the car.
We never did get to eat in the airplane McDonalds...
Day 3: Taupo
After our breakfast we headed out to do some hiking. Kristin and I on one track and MaryBess and Beth on another. Our track left from a dam so we all took a scenic lookout walk to the top to see the water. Upon walking up to the start of the track we were stopped by a police officer. Apparently someone was on a track somewhere and left a note saying he was going to hurt himself. So stopped by attempted suicide, we all headed to the Thermal Park to see some hot springs and geysers. There was also a cave along the walk through and the acidity in the water at the bottom is perfect for cleaning jewelry so we did just that.
The Thermal Park was exciting, definitely a must see in New Zealand.
The Thermal Park was exciting, definitely a must see in New Zealand.
Day 5: Whitianga
Today was another driving day. An ok drive from Taupo to Whitianga, a bit mountainous there toward the end though. We skipped our previous plans of going to Mt. Manganui due to it being a bit out of the way. When we arrived at our hostel the owner informed us of a level 4 earthquake that had happened there this morning. We lucked out of that one! Mary forgot her Credit Card at a gas station along the way, but she noticed right away and called soon after to cancel it.
As you can see our hostel was very colorful. The owner is super awesome as well. She knows everything about the area and is very eager to get us out there exploring!
We went out tonight and enjoyed a nice dinner at a pub. I had the fish n’ chips and a nice drink. It was delicious! I also split a pizza with Kristin, also very tasty!
Whitianga is a pretty cool and unique town. We have also happened to stumble into the weekend of the Scallop Festival...
As you can see our hostel was very colorful. The owner is super awesome as well. She knows everything about the area and is very eager to get us out there exploring!
We went out tonight and enjoyed a nice dinner at a pub. I had the fish n’ chips and a nice drink. It was delicious! I also split a pizza with Kristin, also very tasty!
Whitianga is a pretty cool and unique town. We have also happened to stumble into the weekend of the Scallop Festival...
Day 6: Hot Water Beach
We took off to the Hot Water Beach today. Upon arriving Beth managed to lock herself in the bathroom in the parking lot. I ended up breaking her out of there with a shovel. lol
After we got back to the hostel we took showers, ate dinner and headed back out the Blacksmith’s Bar for comedy night.
The comedians were pretty funny, some New Zealand jokes we didn’t get though... lol
Overall, a pretty awesome day in Whitianga!
The beach was awesome! There is a hot spring underneath the beach so during low tide you can come dig yourself a personal hot tub and relax. Took us a while to figure out where the hot water was but when we did, man was it hot! Finding the perfect distance from the spring, we dug a nice hole and relaxed for a couple hours. Only downside to the Hot Water Beach, or any other beaches in New Zealand are the sand flies. We left with bites all over us. And they are the itchiest things in the world!
After we got back to the hostel we took showers, ate dinner and headed back out the Blacksmith’s Bar for comedy night.
The comedians were pretty funny, some New Zealand jokes we didn’t get though... lol
Overall, a pretty awesome day in Whitianga!
The beach was awesome! There is a hot spring underneath the beach so during low tide you can come dig yourself a personal hot tub and relax. Took us a while to figure out where the hot water was but when we did, man was it hot! Finding the perfect distance from the spring, we dug a nice hole and relaxed for a couple hours. Only downside to the Hot Water Beach, or any other beaches in New Zealand are the sand flies. We left with bites all over us. And they are the itchiest things in the world!
Day 7: Cathedral Cove
Well we got kicked out of our hostel due to the Scallop Festival and all the people it brings. Apparently the hostel was booked way in advance by these scallop lovers. Instead the owner set us up in this really nice motel for $24 a night, which is normally $96 a night! Pretty awesome is you ask me. A little hungover this morning, we headed to a little cafe for breakfast. After a nice and filling meal we set out to explore a cove we had read about on travel magazines.
It turned out to be a beautiful little cove with a waterfall, cliffs, and lots of drift wood.
It turned out to be a beautiful little cove with a waterfall, cliffs, and lots of drift wood.
Day 8: Auckland
I am so very happy I didn’t come to this Massey campus. I have Kelly, my coordinator, to thank for that. Thank you Kelly!
Auckland is fairly large and looks much like Indianapolis or Chicago, not too New Zealand-like.
When we arrived we headed straight for the Auckland Museum. I needed to make observations for an Independent Study back home so, Kristin and I snuck into the museum...
We ended up staying in the International Traveler’s Hotel. It wasn’t too much to look at and it was really close to residential neighborhoods so I was woken up multiple times by people outside being loud.
We woke up in the morning and got the hell out of there at 7am. Caught a taxi to our bus stop and got some breakfast at Subway. My breakfast consisted of a meatball sub.. haha
The 12 hour bus ride wasn’t very bad at all. We had a few stops along the way to eat, stretch our legs, ect, we slept, ate, listened to music, and the driver put on a movie along the way as well.
Back in Wellington and I feel much better! Off to bed for me, Goodnight!
Auckland is fairly large and looks much like Indianapolis or Chicago, not too New Zealand-like.
When we arrived we headed straight for the Auckland Museum. I needed to make observations for an Independent Study back home so, Kristin and I snuck into the museum...
We ended up staying in the International Traveler’s Hotel. It wasn’t too much to look at and it was really close to residential neighborhoods so I was woken up multiple times by people outside being loud.
We woke up in the morning and got the hell out of there at 7am. Caught a taxi to our bus stop and got some breakfast at Subway. My breakfast consisted of a meatball sub.. haha
The 12 hour bus ride wasn’t very bad at all. We had a few stops along the way to eat, stretch our legs, ect, we slept, ate, listened to music, and the driver put on a movie along the way as well.
Back in Wellington and I feel much better! Off to bed for me, Goodnight!
Day 10: Skyline Tramp
Kristin and I took an interesting bus ride out to Johnsonville, a suburb of Wellington, to start our 5 hour hike. The Skyline was very pretty. Full of cows and sheep, hills, and bush, it kept our visual senses occupied. It started in Johnsonville a circled the city, hugging its edges.
Just a very relaxing day after our Srping Break traveling but it for sure kicked our butts. The next day we were both pretty sore.
Just a very relaxing day after our Srping Break traveling but it for sure kicked our butts. The next day we were both pretty sore.
Day 11: Skating Fail
Well, almost as if to continue the craziness of Spring Break we went to rent roller blades for the day but they happened to be all loaned out to a roller disco that was in town for the night. So instead we decided to just hangout and walk down by the riverfront and checkout some thrift stores. We also ended up eating at Heaven, a new, delicious pizza restaurant.
