Things have just been flying around here since just before Christmas, so I’ve got loads to catch up on. Sorry for the not-so-brief hiatus from the blog updates! I’m going to have to keep it brief as it is, the Internet isn’t cheap (free?! HA) and the Internet bus (just picture it, folks!) closes in 30 minutes. So I’ll speed through this!

Bart invited me to his Mum’s place for Christmas in Hamilton, with a stopover at his grandfather’s funeral in Napier. It wasn’t probably the way I pictured my Southern Hemisphere Christmas Vacation Kickoff, but it actually wasn’t all that bad either. Got to meet loads of the extended family and hear some really nice stories about a man that obviously had touched many people around New Zealand and the UK. Onwards, to Bart’s family cottage for some time out at a lake, just so that I could stay in bed for 2 days with the flu.

Pictures of The Lake, Christmas, etc.

Then onwards to Coromandel Peninsula, where many of Bart’s friends put us up in their bach’s (=cottages) and we had a lovely time. It’s so gorgeous out there. The highlight would probably be the day that Lundy drove us up a random forestry road, took us on a ½ hour bush walk and then the trees parted and we were on a little secret beach, sharing with 3 other people, surrounded by cliffs and crystal blue waters. Beach cricket ensued. Other than that, I’ll let the photos do the talking…

Photos of Coromandel and New Year’s Eve

From there, it was back to Hamilton, where Bart’s mum Claire put me up (put up with me?) for another night. She was more than accommodating and welcoming, thanks for that!!! Bart had to fly to Christchurch for work so after speeding him off to the airport (only to miss his flight) I drove to Wellington. I’d had a few brief left-side-of-the-road driving lessons, so I wasn’t totally in the dark. I got there without any incidence, thankfully, and without putting off too many people in roundabouts. Eek! The following day it was farewell to the North Island. Caught the ferry to Picton and hopped back on the old Stray bus to start my exploring of the South Island. What a culture shock! I’d had 7 weeks of somewhat normal living in Wellington, and now it’s back on a bus of rowdies, staying at hostels and living out of backpacks again!

The first night we stayed in Marahau, which is basically a nowhere town at one end of the Abel Tasman National Park. I opted not to do a 3 day hike, and instead just did a one day hike, in and out of the park. It rained the whole day, and I twisted my ankle, but it was still pretty sweet. 22 kilometers, my body still aches! After a sleep in a rain-filled tent reminiscent of a Chinese Water Torture Machine we drove on to little Barrytown, a slightly larger nowhere town where a night of drunken debauchery ensued, because there really isn’t much else to do in Barrytown. The next day I spent probably the best $4 ever on admission to Bushman Pete’s Museum, which was a bizarre journey into the backwoods of New Zealand. I had the opportunity to watch a video outlining the beginning of the deer farming industry (see photo of deer flying below a helicopter) among other enlightening experiences. I opted out of the possum pie tasting.

Photos of Abel Tasman, Barrytown, Bushman Pete….

Onwards, to Franz Josef, where I did an AMAZING full day hike, another 14km. It was amazing, and there’s not a whole lot to say ontop of these gorgeous photos….

Photos of Franz Josef

Keep in touch, I miss you and love you.