So here I am, back in Auckland for Christmas with my exploration of the north island almost complete. From Waitomo I headed up to Cambridge near Hamilton. Couldn't find any of the ususal pubs and all the streets seemed to have moved about, so I had to stay in on a camp site! A picture is below, so you will be able to see that's it's not much like Cambridge back home, the sun was shining for one thing.
From Cambridge I went up to a small place called Hopuhopu where I met up with a guy called Julian, who I met in the Coromandel. He is a maori who works for his tribe, the Tainui. He had given me his business card in the Coromandel and told me to drop by, since I was very interested to learn more about maori culture. Despite being busy trying to get work tied up before the christmas/summer holiday break, he took the time to show me around the tribal administration and the Tainui college, which was extremely impressive. The college is opening next academic year and is for post graduate research into ecological and environmental issues and well as the study of matters relating to indiginous people from all over the world. They are already set up to carry out exchanges with inuit and aborigini (might have spelt that wrong) students. They also have a workshop making huge maori carvings as well as the debating chamber for the Tainui administration committee - for want of a better description. It was a very interesting visit, for which I was exceptionally grateful, especially given that Julian has also offerred to take me to a very important marae - which is where maori conduct most of their local social interaction. Should be very cool.
So now I'm back in St. Heliers and have slept in a proper bed for the first time in about 6 weeks. Ah, heavenly! The preparations for christmas are just about complete over here, but the weather actually ain't too good at the moment, so sitting on the beach might be out for christmas day.
I wish you all a fabulous christmas, I hope you all eat and drink to excess and as a result are very merry (instead of sick). Take care everyone.
December 23, 2004
December 19, 2004
Worms in the dark
This morning I underwent one of the most surreal experiences I have ever had - and that's saying something.
I now understand why so many people come to Waitomo to see the glowworms doing their stuff. Of course, I couldn't just go to the main glowworm cave 500m from the campsite. Instead I went to a slightly less commercial area and went on a guided underground thingy. After going through the initial limestone cavern, everyone apart from the guide switched of their torches and we went on in the near pitch blackness. We came to an underground river where one we got on board an inflatable boat, the guide switched off his torch as well and we floated down the river with the only light coming from the glowworms which covered the roof of the tunnel.
It is impossible to explain what the experience is like, you have to do it to appreciate it! Once your eyes become accustomed to the dark, you actuall only need the glowworms in order to see where you're going - as we discovered after getting out of the boat and continuing on foot, with all torches still switched off.
Despite some concerns I had about it being claustrophobic, it was all easy going and very, very well worth doing. I have to say that the fact that we could hear a very noisy waterfall ahead when we were floating downstream was somewhat disturbing though. Not quite sure that I'm ready for the black water rafting though (racing through underground tunnels in the pitch black on a rubber ring). Maybe if I had company with me, but not on me tod!
So, if you come to NZ, come to Waitomo and go to one of the less visited caves . . .
I now understand why so many people come to Waitomo to see the glowworms doing their stuff. Of course, I couldn't just go to the main glowworm cave 500m from the campsite. Instead I went to a slightly less commercial area and went on a guided underground thingy. After going through the initial limestone cavern, everyone apart from the guide switched of their torches and we went on in the near pitch blackness. We came to an underground river where one we got on board an inflatable boat, the guide switched off his torch as well and we floated down the river with the only light coming from the glowworms which covered the roof of the tunnel.
It is impossible to explain what the experience is like, you have to do it to appreciate it! Once your eyes become accustomed to the dark, you actuall only need the glowworms in order to see where you're going - as we discovered after getting out of the boat and continuing on foot, with all torches still switched off.
Despite some concerns I had about it being claustrophobic, it was all easy going and very, very well worth doing. I have to say that the fact that we could hear a very noisy waterfall ahead when we were floating downstream was somewhat disturbing though. Not quite sure that I'm ready for the black water rafting though (racing through underground tunnels in the pitch black on a rubber ring). Maybe if I had company with me, but not on me tod!
So, if you come to NZ, come to Waitomo and go to one of the less visited caves . . .
December 18, 2004
Cavernous things
Well, here I am in Waitomo which is a land of underground caverns, glow worms and limestone ridiculousness.
Jos, still feeling ill after his South America trip, has taken his various stomach problems to Australia for a short holiday. All being well, he will return along with Tris and Julie between christmas and new year.
I can't quite believe that christmas is just around the corner. After a few days of rain and wind, the sun is now shining again and it'll be time to break out the sun cream and the shorts again this afternoon. I am hoping that when I get back to Auckland and see Andy and Sarah again, with Sally and Madelaine arriving on Christmas eve, it'll all start to feel more festive.
I spent a few nights at a place called Stratford not far from Mt. Taranaki with Jos prior to his departure, but didn't get up the mountain until after he had gone. The mountain is quite bizarre, being a classic volcanic cone mountain, about 2500m high with snow on the top, in the middle of a flat green dairy farming area. The views from the mountain are pretty cool as you look down over alpine woodland that then turns into rainforest before becoming dairy pasture. Really most strange.
From Stratford I moved on to New Plymouth, which is not much like the original apart from the fact that it's by the sea. The sea in this case is the Tasman, which is a lovely turquoise colour instead of the grey/brown sea off the coast of the "old" Plymouth. The city is very laid back and has a thriving arty community. I spent my time there wandering around galleries and watching the Wind Wand sway around. The Wind Wand is a 45m high carbon fibre pole on the sea front, which sways with the wind, designed by a local kinetic artist. Sounds a tad rubbish, but it's actually an impressive "sculpture", especially with the high winds which were blowing at the time I was there.
And so today I cruised up to Waitomo, where I plan to do some walks, see some caves and enjoy the re-appearing summer.
Are you all prepared for christmas then? I hope so. Any snow on the way? Let me know everything . . . .
Jos, still feeling ill after his South America trip, has taken his various stomach problems to Australia for a short holiday. All being well, he will return along with Tris and Julie between christmas and new year.
I can't quite believe that christmas is just around the corner. After a few days of rain and wind, the sun is now shining again and it'll be time to break out the sun cream and the shorts again this afternoon. I am hoping that when I get back to Auckland and see Andy and Sarah again, with Sally and Madelaine arriving on Christmas eve, it'll all start to feel more festive.
I spent a few nights at a place called Stratford not far from Mt. Taranaki with Jos prior to his departure, but didn't get up the mountain until after he had gone. The mountain is quite bizarre, being a classic volcanic cone mountain, about 2500m high with snow on the top, in the middle of a flat green dairy farming area. The views from the mountain are pretty cool as you look down over alpine woodland that then turns into rainforest before becoming dairy pasture. Really most strange.
From Stratford I moved on to New Plymouth, which is not much like the original apart from the fact that it's by the sea. The sea in this case is the Tasman, which is a lovely turquoise colour instead of the grey/brown sea off the coast of the "old" Plymouth. The city is very laid back and has a thriving arty community. I spent my time there wandering around galleries and watching the Wind Wand sway around. The Wind Wand is a 45m high carbon fibre pole on the sea front, which sways with the wind, designed by a local kinetic artist. Sounds a tad rubbish, but it's actually an impressive "sculpture", especially with the high winds which were blowing at the time I was there.
And so today I cruised up to Waitomo, where I plan to do some walks, see some caves and enjoy the re-appearing summer.
Are you all prepared for christmas then? I hope so. Any snow on the way? Let me know everything . . . .
December 13, 2004
Chillin' wit Jos
Just spending a few days kicking back in Taupo. Jos arrived from South America a couple of days and is recovering from various food related infections which he picked up there. So we are just ambling around the area slowly and not much else!
I reckon it'll be two or three days before I am off again and then I will be heading west towards Mt Taranaki before turning north and making my way back to Auckland for christmas. I plan to be at Andy and Sarah's from 22 Dec, where we shortly afterwards will be joined by Sally, Madelaine and Sarah (L). Should be a christams full of barbeques, beers and fun!
The weather here has not been too good, you will be pleased to hear. Windy and overcast, but shorts are still ok and due to the deceptive clouds, I have managed to turn my face red through lack of sun protection! It must be about the fifth time I've burned my nose since I arrived.
Well that's all for now, when I've got more news, I will return . . .
I reckon it'll be two or three days before I am off again and then I will be heading west towards Mt Taranaki before turning north and making my way back to Auckland for christmas. I plan to be at Andy and Sarah's from 22 Dec, where we shortly afterwards will be joined by Sally, Madelaine and Sarah (L). Should be a christams full of barbeques, beers and fun!
The weather here has not been too good, you will be pleased to hear. Windy and overcast, but shorts are still ok and due to the deceptive clouds, I have managed to turn my face red through lack of sun protection! It must be about the fifth time I've burned my nose since I arrived.
Well that's all for now, when I've got more news, I will return . . .
December 10, 2004
Mountains and snow
Ah, hello everyone. I am now relaxed in Taupo after having spent a couple of days in the Tongariro National Park.
I was camped in Whakapapa village, which is not really a village at all but just a collection of about five buildings and a huge hotel, on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu. Just up the road was Whakapapa ski field where quite a bit of the Mordor part of the Lord of the Rings was filmed. The snow was still hanging around and my campsite was not far below the snow line, so it was a touch chilly. It's a bizarre place where along with fire escape instructions, the buildings come equipped with instructions of where to go and what to do if the mountain should erupt! It's still a live volcano and has been known to cause the odd problem . . . However, that makes the landscape all the more interesting, since the lava flows and such like have not really been weathered down and there are not many plants which have taken hold.
I would have liked to have walked the northern circuit around Mt Tongariro while I was there, but the winds were too high and the cloud kept on dropping down too far. But having spoken to Andy and Sarah a couple of nights ago, it looks like I will be back there with them early in the new year.
Jos should be arriving in NZ today, but I don't know his flight details. Hopefully he'll be contacting me and nipping down to Taupo to say hello. It's not as though I haven't seen anyone I know for a while though. I keep bumping into people I've met before! On the lake Waikaremoana walk a met two people I had already met in NZ, then in Napier and Whakapapa I met people who had been staying in the same huts as me on the walk. I think that I am now off the type of route that they will be taking, since most of them are heading towards the south island now. Having said that, I have got a couple of mobile phone numbers so I'll try to catch up with them when I get south.
Anyhow, I'm now rambling on. So take good care one and all and I'll be back in a few days.
I was camped in Whakapapa village, which is not really a village at all but just a collection of about five buildings and a huge hotel, on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu. Just up the road was Whakapapa ski field where quite a bit of the Mordor part of the Lord of the Rings was filmed. The snow was still hanging around and my campsite was not far below the snow line, so it was a touch chilly. It's a bizarre place where along with fire escape instructions, the buildings come equipped with instructions of where to go and what to do if the mountain should erupt! It's still a live volcano and has been known to cause the odd problem . . . However, that makes the landscape all the more interesting, since the lava flows and such like have not really been weathered down and there are not many plants which have taken hold.
I would have liked to have walked the northern circuit around Mt Tongariro while I was there, but the winds were too high and the cloud kept on dropping down too far. But having spoken to Andy and Sarah a couple of nights ago, it looks like I will be back there with them early in the new year.
Jos should be arriving in NZ today, but I don't know his flight details. Hopefully he'll be contacting me and nipping down to Taupo to say hello. It's not as though I haven't seen anyone I know for a while though. I keep bumping into people I've met before! On the lake Waikaremoana walk a met two people I had already met in NZ, then in Napier and Whakapapa I met people who had been staying in the same huts as me on the walk. I think that I am now off the type of route that they will be taking, since most of them are heading towards the south island now. Having said that, I have got a couple of mobile phone numbers so I'll try to catch up with them when I get south.
Anyhow, I'm now rambling on. So take good care one and all and I'll be back in a few days.
December 05, 2004
December 04, 2004
Tramps
Just been tramping. That doesn't mean that I have been nursing tins of Tennents extra strong lager, sleeping in doorways and mumbling incoherently (although that may be true). Tramping is the NZ word for hiking or walking.
Yesterday I finished a four day tramp around Lake Waikaremoana, which is simply gorgeous. It is a large lake about 500m above sea level in the middle of a huge area of untouched forest and bush land. Overnight you stay in huts dotted around the wlaking route, which are really just bunk rooms with a communal area for cooking and chatting. The walking was great, you could wander through the dense bush and along the lake side without seeing a single person all day. There was a side track up to a beautiful waterfall in the middle of nowhere and from the highest hut you could see Hawkes bay and the pacific ocean in one direction, with nothing but bush covered hills in the other direction. It was a real escape from the world - no mobile phone reception, no computers for miles and only rain water and stream water for drinking. Met lots of good people who were staying in the same huts as me, two of whom I had met before - which was quite bizarre! All in all, despite the tired feet, it was well worth the 40Km of riding along gravel roads to do it.
Now I am in Napier, which seems like a pretty laid back kind of town. It's stuffed full of Art Deco buildings, and is judged to be one of the finest collections of buildings of it's type anywhere in the world. I plan to stay here for a couple of days, just looking around and taking in the atmosphere before heading off again. I'm not sure where the next stop will be, but I've got a couple of days to decide . . .
I hope you're all feeling tip top and getting in the christmas spirit. The christmas parades have started up over here, but when you're wandering around in shorts and a t-shirt it all seems a tad surreal.
Anyway, have fune everyone and I'll write more rubbish soon. While I'm in Napier, I'll see if I can get more photos on the blog too.
Yesterday I finished a four day tramp around Lake Waikaremoana, which is simply gorgeous. It is a large lake about 500m above sea level in the middle of a huge area of untouched forest and bush land. Overnight you stay in huts dotted around the wlaking route, which are really just bunk rooms with a communal area for cooking and chatting. The walking was great, you could wander through the dense bush and along the lake side without seeing a single person all day. There was a side track up to a beautiful waterfall in the middle of nowhere and from the highest hut you could see Hawkes bay and the pacific ocean in one direction, with nothing but bush covered hills in the other direction. It was a real escape from the world - no mobile phone reception, no computers for miles and only rain water and stream water for drinking. Met lots of good people who were staying in the same huts as me, two of whom I had met before - which was quite bizarre! All in all, despite the tired feet, it was well worth the 40Km of riding along gravel roads to do it.
Now I am in Napier, which seems like a pretty laid back kind of town. It's stuffed full of Art Deco buildings, and is judged to be one of the finest collections of buildings of it's type anywhere in the world. I plan to stay here for a couple of days, just looking around and taking in the atmosphere before heading off again. I'm not sure where the next stop will be, but I've got a couple of days to decide . . .
I hope you're all feeling tip top and getting in the christmas spirit. The christmas parades have started up over here, but when you're wandering around in shorts and a t-shirt it all seems a tad surreal.
Anyway, have fune everyone and I'll write more rubbish soon. While I'm in Napier, I'll see if I can get more photos on the blog too.
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