Dec 28, 2012-February 4, 2013
This is a blog of our two-part New Zealand trip. We will be renting a car and driving the South Island for sightseeing, hiking, white-water rafting and kayaking on our own using an itinerary arranged through www.experiencenz.com. The second part of the trip is bicycling the North Island with www.backroads.com.
First, we had to get in shape for the hills of New Zealand.
It seems like preparations for this trip have gone on for weeks. Not only trying to get ourselves in biking shape but we've got miles to walk on our various hikes.
Packing was a particular challenge in that we are anticipating everything from warm summer temperatures to glacier environs. We have biking outfits, hiking outfits, glacier walk outfits, swimming, river rafting and kayaking attire and of course our "dress-up" clothes. We are not "traveling light".
Finally, our departure day arrived and we happily set off.
Dulles Airport
We flew from Washington-San Francisco-Auckland-Wellington and, finally after 19 1/2 hours flying time, landed in the Middle of Middle Earth, land of the Hobbits, Wellington, NZ.
Wellington International Airport
The Museum Hotel, our home for the next four days, was initially located on the other side of the street, moving to its present site in 1993. Facing demolition to make way for the new and now famous, Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, the hotel made a 120-meter journey down an inner city street on wheels and temporary railway tracks.
The Museum Hotel
Not wanting to waste any time, we struck out to see some of Wellington. Our first stop was the Sunday market across the street from the hotel. We were looking for a tasty bite.
The Harbourside Outdoor Market has fresh fruit and produce along with some unusual food stands, including Cambodian food, a Canard Croissant stand and a farm-raised venison food tent.
Naturally, we headed for the venison tent where we met a happy, chatty, New Zealander, John Douglas, who supplies deer venison to restaurants,and local farmer’s markets from his farm and B&B, Lovat Downs www.lovatvenison.co.nz located on the South Island. John takes the ferry to Wellington to the market. We indulged in his tender, tasty venison pita.
What a find!
Looks yummy Jerry!
As we walked along the waterfront we spotted something we never would have expected, ships from the famous Sea Shepherd fleet. The ship named the Bob Barker and featured on the tv show "Whale Wars" is one of the vessels owned by the International non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. They use direct- action tactics to investigate, document, and expose violators of the world-wide whaling treaties.
Thanks to a $5,000,000 contribution from American television personality and icon Bob Barker, Sea Shepherd was able to quietly purchase and refit the former Norwegian whaler in Africa. The ice-strengthened, fast, chaser boat quietly departed from Mauritius on December 18th to head for Wellington harbor.
Accompanying the Bob Barker is the Brigitte Bardot, a 115 foot stabilized, monohull trimaran with a maximum speed of 24 knots.
During their stay at the Wellington docks the crew was provisioning for a trip to Antarctica to confront the Japanese whaling ships.
For more information look up www.seashepherd.org.
We shall continue to document our trip with comments and photos so watch for additional posts.
In the meantime, we wish every one a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
