Hi again, it's been a while. Holidaying, moving country, starting a new job, it all takes up a lot of time and doesn't leave much time for writing my blog. This means that this post is going to be a long one, since I have done, seen and experienced a lot in the last 7 months I want/need to tell you about.
Lets start where we left off the last time. The end of March, a month before Janna would arrive and we would start our 6 weeks of travelling through New Zealand and Australia. During that month I mostly worked and there wasn't much else going on in my life (I know, it sounds sad but it's true). With Rebekah I discovered the beautiful Kapiti coast and together we conquered the entire 10 k of the Escarpment Track (sweating and panting, but the views were totally worth it).
Lets start where we left off the last time. The end of March, a month before Janna would arrive and we would start our 6 weeks of travelling through New Zealand and Australia. During that month I mostly worked and there wasn't much else going on in my life (I know, it sounds sad but it's true). With Rebekah I discovered the beautiful Kapiti coast and together we conquered the entire 10 k of the Escarpment Track (sweating and panting, but the views were totally worth it).
Then the moment was finally there. Janna arrived and I immediately took her up to Mount Vic to watch the sunset. The next day was my last day of work at the regional dinner. It was a lovely final shift and I was both sad to leave and excited for the next chapter of my adventure. We spent the rest of the week in Wellington, visiting Te Papa (one of the biggest museums I have ever been to), Otari Wilson's Bush, and the Weta Caves, where we fought some orcs and got to wander through the sets of Thunderbirds Are Go!
From the next Monday on, our whirlwind journey started. In three weeks we drove more than 4000 kilometers and saw some of the most breathtaking sights one can ever imagine. We hiked a lot, we took boat and helicopter trips, and we tried to do some camping as well (however, after being rained away one night, we decided to stick to simple bungalows instead). After a very early start and some coffee on the boat we started our drive through the South Island from Picton and drove straight to Kaikoura, where we had lunch at Point Kean Lookout, where we came very up close and personal with some seals that were sun baking on the footpath. We drove to Christchurch and wandered the city in the morning before heading out to Lake Tekapo. Our arrival at the camp ground was amazing, we had a beautiful view of the lake and the next morning, we woke up to a beautiful sunrise before heading out on the Mt John Walkway. After our 3,5 hour walk, we drove to Mt Cook. However, the weather was taking a turn for the worst as we were driving. At Lake Pukaki the weather was still stunning and I ran into one of my La Cloche colleagues who had been travelling for the last few months. When we arrived at Mt Cook it was raining a little bit, so we decided to quickly set up the tent and then head out to dinner. While having dinner the rain kept getting worse and worse. When we got back to the tent, it was really bad and Janna decided to sleep in the car, because her side of the tent was getting very wet. All throughout the night I kept waking up because of some shuffling against the tent. The next morning I realized that it were the rabbits that were scurrying around the grounds. We decided to do the Hooker Valley Track (three quarters of which was closed off because of flooding) and the Kea Point track. After these two (very wet) walks, we drove to Twizel, the Clay Cliffs (about 2 hours off our route but a pretty cool site to see) and Arrow Town.
In Arrowtown we got to dry our tent while we visited Queenstown and had lunch in the Stratosfare Restaurant, which we reached by going on a lovely gondola ride. After an amazing buffet lunch with stunning views, we set off to Makarora. In Makarora itself there is not a whole lot to do, except watch the stars from outside of our very quaint little hut, without all the light pollution from the big cities. We drove past the massive lakes Wanaka and Hawea, where we obviously had to do some photoshoots.
After a quick walk the next day, we went to the blue pools, with some of the clearest water in the world and we visited the Fantail and Thunder Creek Falls. We pulled over to do the Haast Pass, but accidentally took the wrong path and did not get to see what we wanted at all unfortunately. After this walk, the weather started to get bad again and at Knight's Point, we couldn't see more than 5 meters.
The next morning we walked around Lake Matheson and we were hoping for good weather so that we could do our Heli Hike on the Fox Glacier. However, as we finished the walk, we got the call that it was cancelled and we rescheduled for the next day. We didn't think that the weather was that bad, but when we reached the little cafe, it started absolutely pouring down and it did not let up until the middle of the night.
Our Heli Hike the next day was one of the highlights of our trip. The weather was absolutely stunning and the views and the glacier itself left me speechless. After cramping (walking on crampons, hooks under your shoes that dig into the ice) and crawling through small crevasses in the ice we flew back to the ground and drove straight to Westport where we stayed the night.
For the next day we had the Oparara Basin planned. We got up early and drove there, only to find out that it was a 10 k dirt road we had to drive, with cracks and holes and a lot of mud on the road. After getting stuck in the mud and a lorrie having to pull us out, we decided to call it quits and go back, because we didn't think that the car would survive the trip. Instead of the Basin, we went all the way back to where we came from and visited the Pancake Rocks and the Truman Track in Punakaiki.
After a quick walk the next day, we went to the blue pools, with some of the clearest water in the world and we visited the Fantail and Thunder Creek Falls. We pulled over to do the Haast Pass, but accidentally took the wrong path and did not get to see what we wanted at all unfortunately. After this walk, the weather started to get bad again and at Knight's Point, we couldn't see more than 5 meters.
The next morning we walked around Lake Matheson and we were hoping for good weather so that we could do our Heli Hike on the Fox Glacier. However, as we finished the walk, we got the call that it was cancelled and we rescheduled for the next day. We didn't think that the weather was that bad, but when we reached the little cafe, it started absolutely pouring down and it did not let up until the middle of the night.
Our Heli Hike the next day was one of the highlights of our trip. The weather was absolutely stunning and the views and the glacier itself left me speechless. After cramping (walking on crampons, hooks under your shoes that dig into the ice) and crawling through small crevasses in the ice we flew back to the ground and drove straight to Westport where we stayed the night.
For the next day we had the Oparara Basin planned. We got up early and drove there, only to find out that it was a 10 k dirt road we had to drive, with cracks and holes and a lot of mud on the road. After getting stuck in the mud and a lorrie having to pull us out, we decided to call it quits and go back, because we didn't think that the car would survive the trip. Instead of the Basin, we went all the way back to where we came from and visited the Pancake Rocks and the Truman Track in Punakaiki.
5 days left in the South Island at this stage and still so much to see! A very wet and muddy walk around the Nelson Lakes (just an easy one because the other one was too dangerous because of the rain) and then we drove over to Motueka, where we booked a boat ride to the Abel Tasman National Park. We sailed all the way along the coast. Got dropped off and had 5 hours to walk back to Anchorage where the boat would pick us up. If you weren't there when the boat was due, you would be spending the night in the park. We managed to make it to the beach with some time to spare to enjoy the sunshine and we drove over to Pohara the same night.
In Pohara we wanted to visit the Rawhiti Caves, but three quarters through the track it got too dangerous and we decided to turn around after I landed on my ass. Instead we went to the Labyrinth rocks and Te Waikoropupu Springs, where the water is so clear you can look more than 60 meters deep into the water. The weather cleared up a bit hwhen we reached Cape Farewell and visited the northern most point of the South Island and Wharariki beach, walking through and entire field of sheep, looking at us as if we were trespassing.
On our second to last day we had the best fish and chips on the South Island, visited Tata Beach, the Wainui Falls, the Grove Scenic Reserve and the Abel Tasman Memorial before driving down to Nelson, where we went to the World of Wearable Arts and Old Car Museum, where we saw some mind boggling outfits and some marvelous oldtimers.
The next morning we got up early, drove the Queen Charlotte Drive during sunrise and got on the ferry back to Wellington.
In Pohara we wanted to visit the Rawhiti Caves, but three quarters through the track it got too dangerous and we decided to turn around after I landed on my ass. Instead we went to the Labyrinth rocks and Te Waikoropupu Springs, where the water is so clear you can look more than 60 meters deep into the water. The weather cleared up a bit hwhen we reached Cape Farewell and visited the northern most point of the South Island and Wharariki beach, walking through and entire field of sheep, looking at us as if we were trespassing.
On our second to last day we had the best fish and chips on the South Island, visited Tata Beach, the Wainui Falls, the Grove Scenic Reserve and the Abel Tasman Memorial before driving down to Nelson, where we went to the World of Wearable Arts and Old Car Museum, where we saw some mind boggling outfits and some marvelous oldtimers.
The next morning we got up early, drove the Queen Charlotte Drive during sunrise and got on the ferry back to Wellington.
After a beautiful boat ride, with some Hector dolphins (the smallest dolphins in the world) we drove straight to Tongariro. We booked the Tongariro crossing for the next day, but since this got cancelled, we drove around and went to the opening of the dam at the Aratiatia Rapids where the basin filled up with an incredible speed, we visited the Craters of the Moon where we got to enjoy the lovely smell of sulphur that came up out of the ground in the mudpools, we walked around the Huka Falls and saw one of the boats trying to get up close to the waterfalls without getting absolutely drenched and we finished the day by visiting a Ohinemutu, an original Maori village.
Then the next day we did get to conquer Mount Doom. Arriving at the Crossing, it was raining, but the bus driver said that as soon as we would reach the devil's staircase, we would be through the low clouds and in the sunshine. He was right. It was freezing, but because of all the climbing we had to do, all the clothes that we were wearing were a bit much. The climb was tough, but the result was awesome, the views were stunning and the tumbling down the hill and walking through the clouds later on were great. We were very tired but so happy that we got to do it and managed to pull through.
Hobbiton was our next order of business the following day. Unfortunately I found out that I am not allowed to be a hobbit as I am exactly 8 cm too tall to be one. The set looked really good and we learned a lot of fun facts about the movies, it even made me want to watch the movies, which hasn't ever happened before.
In Auckland afterwards we went for an ice cream and the next day we explored the city and Mt Eden, as well as Murawai where we strolled along the black sand beach and the bird colony that wasn't present when we decided to visit.
The next morning we started driving to the Waitomo Caves, which are known for their glowworms. Walking through the limestone caves and then getting into boats, not allowed to say a work and all the lights turned off so you could see the beauty of the glowworms (but you don't want to know what the light actually comes from).
Because we hadn't seen any kiwi's yet, we paid a visit to the kiwi house around the corner from Waitomo, where we saw a lot of different animals, but the highlights was the two kiwis that came out to have some food and put on a little chasing show for us.
Then the next day we did get to conquer Mount Doom. Arriving at the Crossing, it was raining, but the bus driver said that as soon as we would reach the devil's staircase, we would be through the low clouds and in the sunshine. He was right. It was freezing, but because of all the climbing we had to do, all the clothes that we were wearing were a bit much. The climb was tough, but the result was awesome, the views were stunning and the tumbling down the hill and walking through the clouds later on were great. We were very tired but so happy that we got to do it and managed to pull through.
Hobbiton was our next order of business the following day. Unfortunately I found out that I am not allowed to be a hobbit as I am exactly 8 cm too tall to be one. The set looked really good and we learned a lot of fun facts about the movies, it even made me want to watch the movies, which hasn't ever happened before.
In Auckland afterwards we went for an ice cream and the next day we explored the city and Mt Eden, as well as Murawai where we strolled along the black sand beach and the bird colony that wasn't present when we decided to visit.
The next morning we started driving to the Waitomo Caves, which are known for their glowworms. Walking through the limestone caves and then getting into boats, not allowed to say a work and all the lights turned off so you could see the beauty of the glowworms (but you don't want to know what the light actually comes from).
Because we hadn't seen any kiwi's yet, we paid a visit to the kiwi house around the corner from Waitomo, where we saw a lot of different animals, but the highlights was the two kiwis that came out to have some food and put on a little chasing show for us.
We drove back to Wellington the next day, went past La Cloche, cleaned the car and brought it back to its owner and then we stayed with Hannah's mother for the night where we had an amazing last night in New Zealand. Before our flight the next morning, we had breakfast with Hannah and went for a walk on the beach with Muffin. This trip was the perfect way to end my time in New Zealand. I am so happy that I decided to move to Wellington and I am so grateful for all the amazing people that I met that helped me through the good times and the bad! Thank you New Zealand, I will be back! |
After a 3 week whirlwind journey through NZ, it was time for us to go to Australia and show Janna around Brisbane. We had a few days where we didn't do a whole lot, just rest and relax. We went to Indooroopilly, visited the Santomauro's and Chris's family, Surfer's Paradise and Mt Tambourine. Also Brisbane CBD couldn't be left out and it was really good to be back in Brisbane and catch up with all the friends made over the years.
Uluru (Ayer's Rock) was next on our to do list and we flew out really early on Monday morning. There was a shuttle waiting for us to take us to the resort, where we had lunch before being picked up for our 3 day tour through the red centre. We walked around the base of Uluru saw the sunset and sunrise, walked through the field of light, we did all different walks around Uluru and Kata Tjuta. We enjoyed a visit to the cultural centre, climb the King's Canyon and walked around the rim of it, and finished off our trip a emu and camel farm, where a young camel was being chased by an emu.
For 2 nights we slept in swags (basically a massive sleeping bag with a mattress inside) underneath the stars. It was a shame that I couldn't see much of it as soon as I took my glasses off, but the starts at night were breathtaking.
After our trip we went to Alice Springs, where we had 2 days of exploring the town and resting after an intense 3 day trip. There was one more trip planned, to the MacDonnell Ranges, visiting creeks, gorges and the Ochre Pits. Because we were very excited and quite fast, there were extra things added to our trip. We went 4 wheel driving for a bit and there were a few more lookouts, water holes and walks that we did to fill the entire day.
Uluru (Ayer's Rock) was next on our to do list and we flew out really early on Monday morning. There was a shuttle waiting for us to take us to the resort, where we had lunch before being picked up for our 3 day tour through the red centre. We walked around the base of Uluru saw the sunset and sunrise, walked through the field of light, we did all different walks around Uluru and Kata Tjuta. We enjoyed a visit to the cultural centre, climb the King's Canyon and walked around the rim of it, and finished off our trip a emu and camel farm, where a young camel was being chased by an emu.
For 2 nights we slept in swags (basically a massive sleeping bag with a mattress inside) underneath the stars. It was a shame that I couldn't see much of it as soon as I took my glasses off, but the starts at night were breathtaking.
After our trip we went to Alice Springs, where we had 2 days of exploring the town and resting after an intense 3 day trip. There was one more trip planned, to the MacDonnell Ranges, visiting creeks, gorges and the Ochre Pits. Because we were very excited and quite fast, there were extra things added to our trip. We went 4 wheel driving for a bit and there were a few more lookouts, water holes and walks that we did to fill the entire day.
The day after returning from Uluru, Janna left for Sydney and Chris and I had one more day to get ready for our move over to London. But before actually going to London, we had a 2 week pitstop in Holland. Back home to meet up with my friends and family again. We went sailing for a morning, watched the Dutch National Handball team win a first-ever ticket to the European Championshipand visited the Efteling for a couple of days.
We met up with Janna again and saw Dean Lewis sing live in Utrecht. To show Chris a bit more of Holland we visited the Apenheul and Mini-Holland and we met up with Tiago, who took us on a guided walk through Rotterdam.
We met up with Janna again and saw Dean Lewis sing live in Utrecht. To show Chris a bit more of Holland we visited the Apenheul and Mini-Holland and we met up with Tiago, who took us on a guided walk through Rotterdam.
Another jampacked two weeks, but seeing everyone again and doing all the fun stuff that I used to ove, but this time sharing it with Chris was absolutely amazing and I wouldn't have changed it for the world and a great way to end my travelling chapter and start our new chapter in London.
Thanks for reading and sticking with me through all my yapping :)
Thanks for reading and sticking with me through all my yapping :)