On our third morning in New Zealand, we were whisked away by an U. of Auckland international student coordinator to the Bay of Islands at the northern tip of the North Island. Having planned for fun in the sun, we were a bit dismayed to discover that the forecast included rain, rain, showers, drizzle, downpours, and rain. But we took it in stride and the elements ended up adding to what was to be a phenomenal weekend.
Our first activity of the weekend was the 'Mack Attack,' a two-hour jet boat ride to see the rock formations Cathedral Cove and the Hole in the Rock. Giant swells sent the vessel flying ten feet into the air and landing in a splash of salt water. As we sped among the islands, I looked out over the lush greenery and began to get teary eyed.
In the short time I have been here, I've fallen in love with this country, the landscapes, and the sheep- aaaaallll the sheep. The countryside, at least up north, is comprised of rolling hills covered my white balls of wool and the occasional cow pasture. Different aspects of the land, from the foliage to the skyscrapers, remind me of different places I've been. Auckland, as I mentioned before, resembles Vancouver. I think the countryside reminds me of a cross between Costa Rica and England, if you can imagine that combination. Perhaps throw a bit of France into the mix. I do have to say, however, that the Bay of Islands is unlike anything I've seen before and is incredibly gorgeous.
Well, after the jet boat, we had a lovely dinner at a local restaurant then attacked the karaoke machines of a dive down the road. Karlee and I kicked things off with a stirring rendition of Born in the U.S.A.
The second day of our journey found us sitting on a tour bus on our way up to the northern-most point in New Zealand. The itinerary included a drive up 90- Mile Beach in a super-stealth- dune rider bus-truck hybrid. From there, we drove up a river into the country's enormous sand dunes. It was quite neat to see the stark contrast between the vegetation and the sand dunes. They seemed to rise suddenly out of the forest, up, up, up. It was here that we were given 'dune riders'- large boogie boards with a smooth bottom. We were instructed to climb said sand dunes and then throw ourselves down them as fast as we could atop our boards. I launched myself down the dune, began to turn, dug my feet in as instructed so as to right my path, managed to buff away a perhaps crucial layer of skin on the tops of my feet, hit the bottom of the run, glided into the stream and spit about a cup of sand granuls out of my mouth. A very fun experience!
Our next stop was Cape Reinga, the tippity top of the island. Just off the coast, one can see the choppy water where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. This is said to be the point where the Maori's spirits jump into the ocean and enter into their heaven. It was a very moving sight that appeared through the mist and fog from our vantage point at the Cape Reinga lighthouse. Very deep moment, I have to say.
Well, the next day we stopped by the Waitangi Treaty grounds in Paihia and were given a long-winded account of the negotiations between the Maoris and the Brits. By this point, I think the group was pretty tired, as evidenced by the silent bus ride home. The trip was was great, though. A winderful mix of information and exhiliration. I feel very lucky to have been able to cover so much ground so soon after our arrival and I feel I have a good footing for getting started with my own travels here. We'll just see about driving on the left side of the road....
Our first activity of the weekend was the 'Mack Attack,' a two-hour jet boat ride to see the rock formations Cathedral Cove and the Hole in the Rock. Giant swells sent the vessel flying ten feet into the air and landing in a splash of salt water. As we sped among the islands, I looked out over the lush greenery and began to get teary eyed.
In the short time I have been here, I've fallen in love with this country, the landscapes, and the sheep- aaaaallll the sheep. The countryside, at least up north, is comprised of rolling hills covered my white balls of wool and the occasional cow pasture. Different aspects of the land, from the foliage to the skyscrapers, remind me of different places I've been. Auckland, as I mentioned before, resembles Vancouver. I think the countryside reminds me of a cross between Costa Rica and England, if you can imagine that combination. Perhaps throw a bit of France into the mix. I do have to say, however, that the Bay of Islands is unlike anything I've seen before and is incredibly gorgeous.
Well, after the jet boat, we had a lovely dinner at a local restaurant then attacked the karaoke machines of a dive down the road. Karlee and I kicked things off with a stirring rendition of Born in the U.S.A.
The second day of our journey found us sitting on a tour bus on our way up to the northern-most point in New Zealand. The itinerary included a drive up 90- Mile Beach in a super-stealth- dune rider bus-truck hybrid. From there, we drove up a river into the country's enormous sand dunes. It was quite neat to see the stark contrast between the vegetation and the sand dunes. They seemed to rise suddenly out of the forest, up, up, up. It was here that we were given 'dune riders'- large boogie boards with a smooth bottom. We were instructed to climb said sand dunes and then throw ourselves down them as fast as we could atop our boards. I launched myself down the dune, began to turn, dug my feet in as instructed so as to right my path, managed to buff away a perhaps crucial layer of skin on the tops of my feet, hit the bottom of the run, glided into the stream and spit about a cup of sand granuls out of my mouth. A very fun experience!Our next stop was Cape Reinga, the tippity top of the island. Just off the coast, one can see the choppy water where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. This is said to be the point where the Maori's spirits jump into the ocean and enter into their heaven. It was a very moving sight that appeared through the mist and fog from our vantage point at the Cape Reinga lighthouse. Very deep moment, I have to say.
Well, the next day we stopped by the Waitangi Treaty grounds in Paihia and were given a long-winded account of the negotiations between the Maoris and the Brits. By this point, I think the group was pretty tired, as evidenced by the silent bus ride home. The trip was was great, though. A winderful mix of information and exhiliration. I feel very lucky to have been able to cover so much ground so soon after our arrival and I feel I have a good footing for getting started with my own travels here. We'll just see about driving on the left side of the road....