There and Back Again: March 2012

The drive to Nelson was very windy and Devon got particularly car sick. She dozed in and out of consciousness for a majority of the ride. However, I enjoyed a very scenic and sick-free ride all the way to Nelson. Once in Nelson we made our way to the library to check our email again, still no responses. So we got some groceries and paid for a campsite in town. We paid 36 bucks for one night in which the rain was falling so hard we slept in the car. Neither of us slept very well and the feeling of paying so much money for a crappy time just doesn't sit very well sometimes, but thats what happens when you are traveling.

We shook it off and headed to the library to check our email once again. We finally got a response and had a confirmed place to stay in 3 days time. Saturday at noon we were to be staying with Ben and Miranda Van Dyke in Nelson. It being thursday, we packed up the car and headed to Abel Tasman National Park to at the Canaan Downs campground. Small note: Abel Tasman is the smallest National Park in New Zealand but considered among one of the most beautiful for its coastal walking track and beaches. Devon and I happen to be camping on the inland side, still pretty, but no coastal paradise. We were aware of the fact that we were camping on the non-mindblowing side of the park but we didn't have enough time in advanced to organize and book the 3-4 walking track. We hope to accomplish this on our way back up New Zealand.

The New Zealand style time-out corner for bad children

A typical breakfast of Muesli, yogurt, and tea. Missing from pic: Fruit.

Needing some exercise, Devon and I did some trail running through the forest.

Trying to travel and eat healthy at the same time can be difficult but it can be done!

Kumara: the New Zealand sweet potato, we are in love.d

The campground in the distance sitting just along the forest line

The forest was beautiful and alive but had an air of ancientness

We were astounded by the erosive effect on these rocks.

I loved these rocks and took so many photos it was hard to narrow it down for the blog.

Tree nose?

Progressive Rummy by flashlight

Devon and I left Taupo and headed south for Wellington. It was close to a five hour drive in which we passed a Military Museum and Mokai Gravity Cannon. In Mokai you can bungy, zipline, flying fox, or swing. Its also the river and canyon used to shoot the Gates of Argonath in the Fellowship of the Ring.(The river sequence with giant statue of the two kings) I added both of them to our list of to do's on our way back North in a few months.

We made it to Wellington where we stayed with Mike and Vivian Hill. We met their son Darren who is flat mates with Tysen and Mel in Auckland. He graciously extended the invite for us to stay with his parents if we ever go through Wellington. Our original host plan fell through so we took Darren up on his offer and very glad we did.

We spent a couple of short but awesome days staying with the Hill Family. They were very warm, welcoming, and friendly. Fun fact: They bought and converted the old Malaysian Embassy into their current home.

While in Wellington Devon and I did two things. We visited the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum. We spent a solid 3 hours meandering our way around the various attractions of the museum. We saw and learned a lot about the natural and human history of New Zealand.

The next day we made our way over to the Weta Cave! The Weta Workshop and Weta Digital is a NZ based company that was responsible for all of the costumes, armor, weapons, minitures, digital effects, etc for the Lord of the Rings films and the soon to come Hobbit movies. They dedicated a small section called the Weta Cave where people could come in and see the various pieces on display. It was pretty much a gift shop but a gift shop with stuff in it from awesome movies and hand made by the artists at Weta. I wished for a more in depth look into the stuff made for the LOTR and other movies but I will take what I can get. We still got to see a 30 min video of the History of the Weta Workshop and some really cool collectors items and memorabilia.

The next day, Wednesday, Devon and I drove onto the Interislander Ferry and took the 3 hour cruise to the South Island! It was a beautiful cruise once we reached the Marlborough Sounds of the South Island. From their we weaved our way inland to the port of Picton.

Picton is a small town but kept busy by the coming and going of the ferry 3 times a day. These are very big ferries by the way. Holding several hundred passengers and at least a hundred or so vehicles.

Once off the fairy we made our way into town for some lunch and to check our email. We stopped at a place of which I now forget the name of because it has been so long since we were there. I do remember I had a smoked salmon egg bagel sandwich. Delicious. Devon got Greek Chicken and Cous Cous, also delicious.

We headed to the library which has free Wifi and checked our email. Having no responses from any of the hosts we sent inquiries and then made our way towards the town of Nelson.