www.theblisspages.com - travel: New Zealand
www.theblisspages.com - travel: New ZealandI consider myself very lucky to have visited New Zealand in January 1988, but sad that I only had time to explore North Island. South Island - where Lord of the Rings was filmed, is very different, with fjords, snow-capped mountains, and even more scenic vistas.
It is always exciting to explore a new city, and although Wellington is relatively quiet, there was still much to see.
While I was there, I went to see the play, Steaming, by Nell Dunn. It was very amusing, and I had a great time. I also saw an excellent production of the Mike Leigh play, Abigail's Party.
I was invited for a meal by one of my local colleagues, but it proved to be a trying experience. With most of my overseas co-workers, I immediately hit it off and usually had an enjoyable, and sometimes raucous time. This was not one of those occasions.
The conversation never progressed beyond the banal and formal. The meal was almost uninterrupted by conversation, even between my host and his wife, and I swiftly realised that the glass I had been given on arrival was the only one of the evening. But I suppose I shouldn't be ungrateful, as they had given up their evening to entertain me.
Once I had installed the computer system and trained the staff in its use, I hired a small car and drove about 1,700 km from Wellington to Auckland. Everyone in the office in Wellington was aghast at my decision to hire a car, and warned me of the mad drivers and bad roads. In fact, everyone was most considerate, and the roads were quiet, empty, and mostly in good condition.
I went on a jet boat in Manawatu Gorge, west of Woodville, and it was exciting as we careened up the rapids at breakneck speeds. We were buffeted and we got wet, but it was superb fun and I enjoyed every moment of the experience. You can download a video from the Hiwinujet website.
I found the quality of the food and wine was excellent, and it was nice to see and drink wines from wine-producing areas about which I'd read.
During my week-long trip, I went go-karting, gannet-watching, jet-boating, and white-water rafting in Tongariro National Park.
The rafting was particularly exciting.
When we assembled for the briefing, I realised that everyone else was several decades older then me, but this did not mean we were in for a slow, safe, and sedentary time - far from it!
The river was running fast and furious and the first few rapids were great. We were absolutely soaked, but exhilarated.
On the next rapid, we were thrown about even more than before, and tried to wedge ourselves into the boat, the rocks not looking very welcoming. Suddenly, there was the biggest jolt yet, and the lady in front of me fell sideways with a cry. She was obviously hurt, and I swiftly realised she had broken her ankle.
I sat in the bottom of the boat holding her injured leg in an improvised splint, and I travelled for several rapids at the bottom of the boat supporting her, whilst being buffeted by rocks.
I was covered with bruises by the time we reached a safe landing place, accessible by ambulance. The rest of us then carried on through more rapids before we landed, tired but elated. Back in England, I received a card from the injured lady whose ankle had now fully recovered.
One morning I went to a gorge on the Waikato River to witness an amazing, but purely man-made sight. The peaceful gorge was transformed into a raging torrent within a few minutes as an upstream dam was opened. Aratiatia is the first hydro station and smallest hydro reservoir on the river. About 13 km downstream from Taupo, Aratiatia passes water released from the Taupo Gates down to Lake Ohakuri.
Water is released down the rapids several times each day, attracting more than 60,000 visitors a year. See the Mighty River Power website for more details and water release times, and see more pictures on a website celebrating the Union College Mini-Term in New Zealand in 2001. A bridge across the top of the rapids provides excellent vantage points.
I loved the hot pools in Rotorua, and wandered around them for hours. I also went to Waiotapu, twenty kilometers further south.
See the WaiOtapu website.
I stayed at a local B & B and they had a hot pool, which they invited me to use. Before they let me in, however, they warned me about the risk of amoebic meningitis. This is caused by an amoeba, which can be picked up through the nose if you put your head under the water. I made sure I kept my head well out of the water, but even with this constraint, it was very relaxing.
I briefly visited the coastal resort of Tauranga, and you can access live webcams at the website. See Tauranga City News
I went on a boat trip in the Waitoma Caves, and it was amazing. The roof of the cave was covered with fireflies each hanging from a phosphorescent thread. Photography was not allowed - and would require a tripod on a firm surface to give any chance of capturing the scene, but there is a picture of the cave on the Discover Waitomo site.
When I arrived in Auckland, I managed to surprise a couple of friends I had met on Ko Samet in Thailand. I rang them from a phone box, and they naturally assumed I was half-way round the world. When they asked me where I was, I told them I was standing on Dundale Avenue. "You can't be - that's the next street to us!" was their amazed rejoinder.
...But they had the last laugh. They invited me to stay, and warned me that they had just bought a puppy. I was unfazed by this, being a dog-lover. However, my loyalty to man's best friend was sorely tempted by the continual howling of the pining puppy though the night.
The next morning I flew to Sydney and on to Cairns, but that's another story, on another webpage...
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: © Mike Bliss 2011