The past two weeks I’ve been travelling around the North Island of New Zealand and started with Wellington, the current capital of the country, I say current because both Russell in the Bay of Islands and Auckland have previously had the privilege. Wellington wasn’t too kind on my finances, as although the museums were free, I couldn’t resist the lures of cafes and found myself eating out a lot. My excuse would be that I’m very much always on the go and a lot of the time I can’t be bothered going back to the hostel to prepare something when I can get Chinese food for $6 or a chicken and avocado (my current favourite) wrap for $4. Anything I prepare never tastes as nice anyway! I was also very good in Dunedin and Te Anau where I never ate out, the occasional hot chocolate I’ll admit to but I figured I might as well experience what the capital can offer me whilst I was there.

My first full day in Wellington, I decided to go on the famous cable car up to the Botanic Gardens for some spectacular views of the harbour and the city. I visited the adjoining museum and watched three interesting short videos on the history of trams in New Zealand, Why I love Wellington and private cable cars in Wellington. The latter was a fascinating insight into the life of some Wellingtonians who need private cable cars in order to access their house. Then I wandered around the Botanic gardens and walked back into town.

After lunch, I decided to walk to the former cathedral of St Paul, which is a lot nicer than the newer and current cathedral in my opinion.  I ended up taking the long-winded route and found myself at the Westpac Stadium. I soon got back on track and got my map out, only for a female jogger to ask me if I needed help. I thought that was lovely and it left me with a positive image of the city. 

After leaving St Paul’s, a lovely Gothic building that dates back to 1866, I walked around and happened to be passing the current government buildings when a guided tour was due to leave. So I spent the best part of an hour being shown round the new and old parliament buildings of New Zealand. The tour guide was very informative and given that I couldn’t even name the Prime Minister of this country before coming here, I’m a lot more knowledgeable now.

I carried on walking and came across a street called Bolton Street. I’m sure people thought I was a little strange taking a photo of a street sign but I couldn’t resist.

]The following day in Wellington, I went to Te Papa, the national museum that was very interesting. That evening, I went to the cinema as it was Tuesday evening, which means dirt-cheap tickets. I went to Rialto, which specialises in foreign language films so I saw The Lives of Others, a German film which I believe won the Oscar this year. I highly recommend it.

My last day in Wellington, I went to the National Maritime Museum, an interesting museum and walked along the quays.  At the hostel I was staying at, there was a guy from Manchester working behind the desk and that got me pondering. He was the first person I’ve met from anywhere near me on my travels, well other than two Bolton Wanderers shirt wearing fans in Cairns on my first day there and a couple from Orrell on the Neighbours tour.

However, all would change when I got to Rotorua, my stop after a very brief stay of one night in Taupo, the highlight of which was walking by the largest lake in New Zealand, coincidently called Lake Taupo and getting to see a decent thunderstorm. Taupo is supposedly the cheapest place in the world to skydive but I was a wimp and as usual being sensible I took into consideration that my insurance didn’t cover me for that type of activity. The weather also prevented me from walking to Huka Falls.

Rotorua is a heavily commercialised place but a nice one in which to spend a couple of days. My hostel there was lovely, although thin wall. It’s relatively new and no bunks. Sometimes I would forget that I wasn’t against a wall and find there was nowhere to rest my head. I was thankful the bus journey from Taupo to Rotorua was only one hour because the bus driver was incredibly annoying.

I got there early afternoon and went exploring the town. I walked down to the Government gardens, which houses the museum. Unfortunately, it started pouring down and with no umbrella on me, I had to pay $11 to go in the museum. It was pretty good value in hindsight but I’m used to free museums now. In the museum there were two videos, the second of which was about Maori soldiers in World War Two. That was so sad.

The museum was actually the town’s former Bath House so I got to find out how it was used for treating sick people and it is supposedly the country’s most photographed building. There was a viewing platform from which I was able to get a good view of Lake Rotorua, Rotorua city and the government gardens as the rain had subsided to a little drizzle.

That evening, I went to the Mitai Maori Village, which cost me $75, but it was worth the money for the food alone. I had a ‘Hangi’ meal, a traditional Maori meal cooked on the ground. I got to see a Waka, an ancient warrior canoe, a traditional cultural performance, which was ended with a performance of the Haka, some very special in front of my own eyes. I saw glow worms too, which made me for not having time to go to the Waitomo Caves.

The next morning, I went zorbing at the Agrodome. I went rolling down a hill zig zag style in a puddle of water so I got absolutely soaked. It was so much fun though, I had of course to buy the photo package as a souvenir. In the afternoon, I walked around Kuwara Park, home to numerous thermal areas. It was pretty cool seeing all this steam rising around you.

I walked back to the hostel where a girl from Bolton had checked into the same room as me. It was so nice to meet someone from home. Someone who totally understands your accent, especially when in Taupo I was actually corrected on my pronunciation of a word. We went to Burgerfuel for dinner, voted New Zealand’s best ‘relatively healthy’ fast food place, freshly prepared in front of you with lettuce that tastes fresh. It’s quite cheap too and very popular with New Zealanders.

The next day I left for Auckland, the country’s biggest city. I arrived and I was unable to check in so I dumped my stuff. I browsed the shops including Borders for my magazine fix, which opens until midnight here.

However, walking down the main shopping street, I saw some young people kicking a guy already on the floor in the head, body screaming at him. I think the guy was homeless and had obviously said something to offend them but still people just watched or walked past (i.e. me) because we were scared to intervene. I mean I missed whatever happened to start the incident and as I turned back, I saw the aggressors walking off but that’s the first time since arriving on my travels, I have seen that type of behaviour.

 I had ice cream at the harbour, as it was sunny. I choose Hokey Pokey and Banana Split. I don’t know how I will readapt to life back home in terms of ice cream flavours, this place even sold brown bread flavoured ice cream.

I left Auckland at 8am the following morning for Paihia in the Bay of Islands. Paihia is a coastal town, which was very tranquil and tiny. Unfortunately, I didn’t bother to check the weather forecast before leaving; well I have no television or radio so that can be a problem.

The afternoon I arrived, it was drizzling on and off so I decided to take a little walk to Waitangi and Treaty House which was nice although I’m still not convinced the building was worth $12 to get in especially when a ten year pass is only $20.

The following days were a nightmare though, a huge storm lashed Paihia with a deluge of rain and gale-force winds, a lodge hostel where you had to leave the building to access the kitchen wasn’t much fun. I was pretty much trapped in my room because the time I did brave it, I got so soaked and my shoes were sodden that I found myself walking around in my flip-flops for the rest of the day. My phone died for a while but the heater dried it out fortunately. I wanted my music so much; remind me why I was so stupid not to bring my iPod. The power kept going off too, definitely the worst storm I can recall witnessing.

I really started to panic through the night when the rain continued, so much so I couldn’t sleep. I managed to change my bus reservation for an earlier bus but since the roads out of Northland were closed. The first one got cancelled and they had no idea when they would reopen. So much for the winterless north. We did however get out and saw fallen trees, landslips and roofs blown off.  We stopped to refuel at one point but couldn’t because the power was off – it’s so weird seeing traffic lights not working. I even got stuck in my very first traffic jam over here about forty minutes from Auckland on a windy road.

Unfortunately I haven’t had time to see much of Auckland, maybe another time.

Tomorrow I leave New Zealand for L.A and that means I’ll have been travelling for three months. It’ll be interesting to see how the flight affects me since I arrive like seven hours before the time I left New Zealand.

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