|
Post by roverpup on Oct 24, 2023 8:26:02 GMT
|
|
|
Post by roverpup on Oct 24, 2023 15:50:48 GMT
TUESDAY October 24th
Today we visited the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.
They were wonderful! Like watching the Milky Way but instead of just looking at them you were sailing among the stars.
We left Auckland about 8 am. and had a long bus ride heading southeast. About 9:30 we arrived at the caves and divided into two smaller groups with our own little bus and local guide. After driving a short bit they offered us the option of walking down a mountain path to the cave entrance. Four of us, including Dan and I accepted and we met up with the other walkers from the other van and headed down into a gorge. It was very steep but the views were amazing!
It was only about a ten minute walk and soon we met up with those that chose to stay in the van and we all got our safety helmets on and started into the cave.
Within 10 minutes we were surrounded by glow worms, hanging from the cave ceiling! The guides gave us a little talk about the glow worm life cycle and then split the group again into two. Our small group got into a small boat that moved by the guide pulling on a rope overhead, gliding us through the cave's stream (which was only 3 feet deep). Soon there were nothing but glow worms! Their luminescent light was even reflected in the water below! The boat had no motor so the beginning part of the trip was completely silent but further on you began to hear the roar of falling water. By the time we reached the turnaround site, your ears were filled with the waterfall sounds! It was other worldly! We of course didn't go any further (for safety sake) because the boat could navigate the falls. It still must have been a long way off because the water around us was still very calm!
Our group headed back to the spot where the other half was waiting and they went for their ride, while we had an opportunity to take pictures with the glow worms. Finally everyone joined up and we headed out of the cave to a meeting spot sbd tge served us hot drinks and biscuits.
Then we got back into our respective vans and went to a second entrance of the cave system. This one was a "dry" cave. No glow worms but there were lots of cave features and animal bones. The highlight was the remains of a HUGE extinct bird (a moa). They believe it was from about 600 - 800 years ago.
We didn't need helmets with this cave. Because of tge lack of glow worms they had a lit path all the way through the cave.
It was fascinating!
After this was all done we finally got back to our big bus and then went to a little town where we ate a light lunch.
Then the rest of the day we spent en route to Rotorua. We checked into our hotel and by that time it was dinner hour.
Dan and I found a fabulous tapes restaurant and had the chef's tasting menu meal. 😋 it was humongous! Lots of food and lots of wine later we walked back to our hotel and got organized for tomorrow and went to bed!
Tomorrow we are going to the Maori cultural centre and have loads of activities to experience, so it will be a busy day.
|
|
|
Post by roverpup on Oct 24, 2023 16:01:11 GMT
|
|
|
Post by roverpup on Oct 25, 2023 18:06:15 GMT
OCTOBER 26/23 Thursday
Today we started out early - breakfast at 7, on the bus by 8.
Our first stop was at the Waiotapu Mud Pots. Boiling volcanic ash mud pots, all bubbling and gurgling away! Absolutely fascinating! We wandered around the boadwalk area and once you got used to the smell of rotten eggs it was mesmerizing! I got some good video of the mud bubbling up from the ground. Almost outworldly!
Then it was back in the bus for a lengthy ride to the Maori culural experience. We were introduced to our local guide Taz and his helper (trainee) Kelly. They took us for a harrowing walk down some prettty steep paths through the forest to view some ancient rock carvings and give us an overview of the myths and origins of the tribe of Maori living in this area. It was pouring rain at this time and that made the trek through the woods even more precarious underfoot. The head guide Taz noticed I was struggling and gave me his walking stick to use! It was a beautifully carved stick and was actually a reproduction of a Maori battle weapon.
I have a couple of lovely pix of the wall carvings.
by the time we got back on the bus everyone was soaked! We made our way to the cultural centre and the weather cleared up so it gave time for everyone to dry out a bit. Taz gave a small talk about the importance of eel fishing to the native population and then they led us to the Maori cooking pit. A woman helper took over and explained how the traditional cooking is done and came time for the BIG REVEAL! Two guys with shovels cleared the mound of earth away from the pit and after removing several layers of burlap and coverings the cooking pit revealed its bounty - our lunch! At the bottom of the pit was a large layer of heated rocks and on top were racks that held the different meats and veggies. They were cooking several whole chickens and a huge haunch of pork. Plus there were potatoes, yams and bags of stuffing. They pulled the stacked racks out one by one and took them off to the dinning area to be cut up and put into pans for the buffet table.
Meanwhile, we enjoyed chatting just outside the dinning room and soon enough lunch was served. Delicious! After eating we watched a short minute video about the community work this organization does for the youth of the area and also had a fun demonstion of the Poi balls that are used in traditional dancing. Everyone had a great time trying out the balls and learning the song!
Then it was back in the bus for a ride to the rainforest walk. Once again Taz lent me his stick and it made the 2 km. a lot easier. Luckily this walk was mostly on level ground and was easily doable.
We learnt so much about the native trees and plants! And the birds! They were EVERYWHERE!
It was almost meditative to sit in the forest and listen to nature!
A couple of notes : while driving we came across a section of road that had collapsed due to the excessive rains that they had had lately. and we also came across a herd of ferral horses several times. On the way home the horses almost ran right out in front of the bus!
Once home (back to our hotel in Rotorua) we rested and then went for pizza for dinner in a local restaurant.
Tomorrow our airplane for Christchurch doesn't leave until 11:30 so we don't have to be out of the hotel until 10:00 am!
In a short while we are going to the dinning room for breakfast and then I think we'll get showers and if there is time go for a short walk to the geyser park. Talk to you later!
|
|
|
Post by roverpup on Oct 25, 2023 18:12:22 GMT
|
|
|
Post by roverpup on Oct 26, 2023 7:14:24 GMT
OCTOBER 26/23 Thursday
We didn't leave until 10 am. so we had lots of time to have breakfast and take showers. It was a short trip to the Rotorua airport and the flight which left around 11:30, was less than two hours.
It was after 2 when we got to Christchurch and it was very warm and VERY windy! By the time we got to the hotel is was around 3. We settled in and decided that we weren't going on the walkabout walk with the gang. What we finally decided was we were going for a short walk to the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Really lovely to see all the Rhododendrons! They were in full bloom and we saw just about every colour of the rainbow! We also visited the Rose Garden but most of them weren't out yet. The ones that were, were beautiful but it wouldn't be in full blossom for another couple of weeks.
We also got a chance to wander around the New Zealand plants and the water gardens. Saw some impressive trees too! A HUGE ash and an equally impressive cypress.
It was a short walk back to the hotel and since my foot was feeling a bit sore we just had supper in the hotel restaurant.
Tomorrow will be an VERY early rising (got to be on the bus by 7 am!!) so we can catch the Trans Alpine Train. It's a 5 hour trip over the NZ Alps clear across the island. It is supposed to be very scenic and there are observation cars to aid in taking pictures. Hopefully we can get some good shots!
Nevan our guide will meet up with us in a town on the other side, where we will board a bus to take us to the Franz Joseph Glacier. Long day of travel but we will stay 2 nights in a resort near the glacier. We have a couple of events scheduled including for us a Helicopter ride over 2 glaciers including a picture stop on one of them,
Something to look forward to!
|
|
|
Post by roverpup on Oct 26, 2023 7:19:09 GMT
|
|
|
Post by roverpup on Oct 27, 2023 5:26:15 GMT
OCTOBER 27TH Friday
Early start with breakfast at 6:30 and then off to the train station to go on the scenic Trans Alpine Railway. It crosses the Southern Alps straight through the heart of the south island.
First we traversed the rich farmland of the Canterbury Plains and then suddenly we were in the mountains! Lots of glacier and snowcapped streams rushing down the mountain sides. Many farms of beef and dairy cattle and of course there were sheep as well. It's spring so there were loads of lambs in the fields.
Our carriage was right in front of the observation car so we had plenty of opportunity to go to that open car and take photos without the glare of the windows.
But the train cars were specially built for scenic touring so they had HUGE windows and very comfortable seats.
Not very populated area - mostly farms or nature preserves. It took about 4 and a half hours to cross the mountains and Nevan met us with our bus in Greymouth on the other side.
We stopped for a short break in a small town known for goldmines and jade mining. It is also right on the west coast of the south island and has a very rugged coastline. Very, VERY strong winds!
At the end of the day we'll be in Franz Joseph but that will be not for another couple of hours. ***********
We're here in Franz Joseph! It's a VERY small tourist town (only 2 streets in the entire town). The only purpose for existing is the glacier. After a bit of a search we found the company we had booked for the helicopter ride and they rescheduled us for the morning before we go on our boat ride and walk. No problems!
We have a group dinner at the hotel restaurant but not until 7 pm.
After checking in we did a test run of walking down to the helicopter ticket shop to see how long it would take us tomorrow morning.
We have to be there at 8 am.
We'll be back in time for our boat ride and that will be finished by noon. So the afternoon is free. We're thinking of maybe going to the Kiwi house. Or just relaxing. We'll play it by ear. ****************
|
|
|
Post by roverpup on Oct 27, 2023 8:29:19 GMT
|
|
|
Post by mllemass on Oct 27, 2023 12:06:10 GMT
Is this where they filmed The Power of the Dog?
|
|