North Island
Well, since we are getting these posts up here so
So basically, from Auckland we drove about 4 hours north to Paihia (pronounced something like PIE-HEE-YAH) which is on the Bay of Islands. It also happens to be where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the British and the Maori (New Zealand natives) back in 1840. The highlight for me (and probably for Carly, too) in Paihia was some time we spent with a few Maori folks there doing a couple of tours, which were highly personal - and not at all commercialized (unlike Rotorua). We got to row a Waka (read: big war canoe thing) across to a small island, where we witnessed what was a typical and traditional Maori welcome ceremony. They told us some stories, and it was a really fabulous time - despite the fact that it was raining all over us and freezing cold. The "owner" or "leader" of the group was named Hone (pronounced something like HO-NAY) - and later that evening, Carly and David and Noer and myself went on another little tour with him where he took us to some of the historical places of interest (fighting grounds, the church where the Maori are credited for inventing trench warfare, he also took us to his house, where we had tea with him and he introduced us to his wife). It was a fabulous experience. After that he took us to the Ngawa (pronouced something like NA-FA) hot springs, which are naturally occurring hot pools. Also a super-neat experience.
So, all that being said, here are the photos from our trip North up to Paihia:
Picnic on our way to Paihia from Auckland
A typical meal (box of food and junk scattered across table)
The Waka (canoe)
The four of us with Maori guy and Waka in the background
Carly with Hone - this is a typical greeting for the Maori - symbolic of sharing the same "breath of life"
This was a shot we took while we were out being shown around that evening by Hone
This is Carly, Noer and me in one of the hot pools at Ngawa. This particular pool was almost too hot to get in to. I think I was the only one of the four of us who actually made it in up to my neck. What was crazy was that there was one called the "Favorite" that I could barely put my feet in for 3 seconds. I think if anyone actually went in - they'd be scalded. It's crazy how all of these are completely naturally occurring.
Ok - so there's Paihi. After that, we drove back to Auckland, spent another night with Anne and Paul - and then headed down to Rotorua. On our way down, we stopped in Hamilton (which is about half way) and had lunch with Keri-Lee and her parents, and her husband Miles. These are some of Carly's co-workers. We ate amazing food, cheese, berries and all sorts of good breads. A stellar time.
The hostel in Rotorua was awesome, staff was great. Our highlights here I think included the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, photographing the boiling mud pits, going to Lake Okataine and walking through the Redwood forest.
These first two shots here are from Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland which contained a phenomenal display of boiling sulphur pits and all sorts of geo-thermal goodness unlike anything we've ever seen before. A little smelly, but really really interesting.
Once we left Wai-O-Tapu we saw a sign that pointed to "Mud Pits" --> That way - or something like that, so we took a slight detour and we were greeted by some super awesome boiling mud!
Here are a couple shots of us at Lake Okataine. Some of the scenery around here was just fabulous - but we can't put up all 500 photos - we'd bore you to death - and it would take me 1/2 a lifetime.
Here are some of the shots from the Redwood forest... Um, not a lot of Redwood in these pictures, but like so many things in New Zealand - the photos you take don't seem to do justice to what you see (I guess that's not all that different from back home in Canada - try to take some photos of the panoramas you get heading up the Sea-to-Sky, just doesn't quite capture it).
First up here, we have Carly and Noer - I don't think this was actually in the Redwood forest - but I'm not exactly sure where it was taken (might have been in Paihia?) - but whatever - there are some trees.
Nice shot that Carly took of a fern tree.
Me and David looking "tough".
Another really nice shot by Carly.
After we finished up our time in Rotorua, we headed back to Auckland where we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas. It was really super spending that time at Paul and Anne's place, they were fabulously hospitable. We opened up a few presents on Christmas morning (there's a story behind that bandana I'm wearing in one of the pictures - that can wait for another posting).
This is a shot we took on our way to church on Christmas Eve - Paul and Anne drove us up this mountain in Auckland - which is actually this huge volcanic crater (inactive). Really quite beautiful up here - you can see the sky tower in the distance.
Us.
Carly - looking mighty spectacular if I do say so.
After our huge Christmas lunch (where much turkey, ham, hokey pokey ice cream, and christmas pudding with brandy sauce was consumed), Carly and I went for a nice walk up "One Tree Hill", which is the neighborhood where Paul and Anne live. Paul and Anne led us around a bit, super nice walk, and some good scenery along the way.
We decided that none of the photos we took on the train from Auckland to Wellington on boxing day were "blog-worthy", so that just about concludes our North Island entry.
More to come!
