More North Island Pictures

It's been a bit, but I'm back from break and starting to get into school work again. I had a test and project due the first day back, so Sunday night and monday morning were occupied with that, but the week was done after that. Had a birthday celebration with all the IES kids (my flatmate outdid herself putting that together!). It was a good week of celebration and not much work. Even got Wednesday off to go climb at Flock hill for ANZAC day (veterans day equivalent, except the entire country has the day off, supermarkets are open for a few hours, everything else is closed).

Back to break though, here's a few pictures I didn't have time to post on the boat.

I got to stay with a few Kiwis on this bit of my trip, all family friends. Our families met during WWII when my grandpa's ship was nearly sunk and in the drydocks for 3 weeks. He decided to take a tour of the country rather than sitting in a bar for the month, ran into Les Morris, dropping milk off at the dairy in the morning, went to the Morris house (I stayed in the same house 60+ years later!) and kept in touch after he left in the evening.  A few generations later, here we all are!

Auckland Sky Tower! been her before. Didn't remember how hilly the downtown is.. you notice a whole lot more with a big, heavy backpack on containing 2 weeks of clothes, shoes, swimming togs, cold weather layers, some food, my laptop and gifts - I needed my big bag

..Museum in the bottom of the sky tower. Carrying that bag got old.

Here's how you get on the bus! Pretty nice system

The redwood forest in Rotorua. I was shown around by a kind off duty policeman

Aratiatia Rapids they flood the river for 30 minutes 3 times a day. Pretty spectacular and interesting. I'm with the James K. here!

On top of Mt. Tauhara in Taupo with the James and Nicola K. Fun hike up through the bush

Zorbed!! 

One of Brian's old cars. This was a Bedford, driving around opening gates for the fertilizer truck coming around the next day.

Here's the truck! I got to ride around for a bit, they had a pretty cool gps system that showed  exactly where had been sprayed, hydraulics to adjust the arms as we went around turns and hills. All home built! I spent a bit looking at how it was put together. It was well done

View from the Hawera water tower. The ocean is just beyond wat you can see. Lots of pigeons nests right outside windows... nice closeup view of life there

Real NZ weather

Took the bus down the coast, transferred in Palmerston N. and went to Wellington where I got to stay with a HS friend for the night! We walked around town for a bi then stayed up late catching up. It was a great 12 hours in a city that deserves more time! Took the Interislander (as seen previously) across. Thought this map caught the landscape well (most maps do... but the ruggedness and valley fill is so clear!)

Tranz Scenic down to Chch! The viewing car was great on such a sunny day. Got to sit with a friend from school who happened to be riding as well!

Coming up to Kaikoura. Fun to see the same mountains and rivers as when we went up to sawcut gorge. Even saw our tiny little rock of a campsite. Must have gone through 20 tunnels in as many km.