Hey all,
So, I realize this is about a month postponed, but things have been absolutely hectic! I finally sat down the other day to start my blogging (at last!), and apparently can no longer log into my account... Epic fail!? I think so. Well, despite the internets best efforts to thwart me, I've created another blog. Newer! Better! Success!
So now, I'm about to ovewhelm you with a detailed account of the most amazing roadtrip ever! I feel like the first few days will be ridiculously long and full of information, so I'm breaking them up into seperate posts. No fear though, every is labelled appropriately! Prepare yourselves...
DAY 1 (Where it all began)
I spent about a week in Auckland completely undecided with what my course of action should be, and ended up meeting two blokes from the U.K. who felt the same way. One spur-of-the-moment, not very thought through decision later, David, Tom and I were renting a car and embarking on an adventure.
We left with high hopes, which I quickly killed. As the "official driver" (according to our paperwork), I had to drive the car (a '93 Mazda Demo, or something to that effect) out of the city.
A note about driving on the wrong side of the road?: IT’S TERRIFYING! Granted, with a bit of focus it can be done. But the problem is that you can NEVER get comfortable, because the second you (kay, me) relax, you start to follow instincts again, which include (but are definitely not limited to) turning right into oncoming traffic, or turning on a red light (WHICH YOU’RE ALLOWED TO DO IN CANADA, when it’s a right turn! So why can’t you do it here on a left turn? I DONT KNOW, but I made the guys fear for their lives.)
A few missed exits, a lot of driving around trying to find my way, and a crapload of angry yelling from the backseat drivers later, we finally made it out of Auckland. Thank GOD!, because I don’t miss it in the slightest. I got to drive until we hit proper hick country, then I was dubbed “backseat bitch” until they trusted me enough to drive again (although quite frankly, I can't blame them!) We hit the country, and came by some brilliant roads. Although New Zealand is relatively similar to BC landscape, it’s entirely different at the same time. Every glance is unbelievable greenery, and there really are sheep everywhere! (PS, sheep look RIDICULOUS when they’re shaved down. Such a peculiar shape...)
While looking for a cute, village type of grocery store, we stumbled across THE MOST AMAZING WATERFALL IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!: Huana falls, in the middle of absolutely nowhere in the outskirts of Auckland. I think we all felt about the same rush of overwhelming happiness (as we quite literally ran towards it!) We remained in awe for about 20 minutes, then went hiking in the surrounding woods until we reached a peak that overlooked farmland, and the forest with the falls. Not one of us could wipe the smiles off our faces. Absolutely brilliant.
Sadly we had to move on, and drove for ages until we found a tiny little town i
n the middle of nowhere (much like EVERY little town in NZ), where we bought a tent, a mini grill, some sleeping bags and some hot dogs. We were prepared to camp out anywhere we could find, but somehow managed to find the most amazing nature type sanctuary. It was HUGE, and we snagged and amazing spot right out front of part of the lake. We were all exhausted from our first day of travelling, but I managed to stay up late enough to see the stars. And, let me just say. OH! MY! GOD! We were easily 50 or 60km out of any town, and at the peak of a mountain, so you can only imagine how brilliant the sky looked! Just an absolutely amazing first day of travelling. We couldn't have asked for a better debut.
But that was only the beginning....
So, I realize this is about a month postponed, but things have been absolutely hectic! I finally sat down the other day to start my blogging (at last!), and apparently can no longer log into my account... Epic fail!? I think so. Well, despite the internets best efforts to thwart me, I've created another blog. Newer! Better! Success!
So now, I'm about to ovewhelm you with a detailed account of the most amazing roadtrip ever! I feel like the first few days will be ridiculously long and full of information, so I'm breaking them up into seperate posts. No fear though, every is labelled appropriately! Prepare yourselves...
DAY 1 (Where it all began)
I spent about a week in Auckland completely undecided with what my course of action should be, and ended up meeting two blokes from the U.K. who felt the same way. One spur-of-the-moment, not very thought through decision later, David, Tom and I were renting a car and embarking on an adventure.
We left with high hopes, which I quickly killed. As the "official driver" (according to our paperwork), I had to drive the car (a '93 Mazda Demo, or something to that effect) out of the city.
A note about driving on the wrong side of the road?: IT’S TERRIFYING! Granted, with a bit of focus it can be done. But the problem is that you can NEVER get comfortable, because the second you (kay, me) relax, you start to follow instincts again, which include (but are definitely not limited to) turning right into oncoming traffic, or turning on a red light (WHICH YOU’RE ALLOWED TO DO IN CANADA, when it’s a right turn! So why can’t you do it here on a left turn? I DONT KNOW, but I made the guys fear for their lives.)
A few missed exits, a lot of driving around trying to find my way, and a crapload of angry yelling from the backseat drivers later, we finally made it out of Auckland. Thank GOD!, because I don’t miss it in the slightest. I got to drive until we hit proper hick country, then I was dubbed “backseat bitch” until they trusted me enough to drive again (although quite frankly, I can't blame them!) We hit the country, and came by some brilliant roads. Although New Zealand is relatively similar to BC landscape, it’s entirely different at the same time. Every glance is unbelievable greenery, and there really are sheep everywhere! (PS, sheep look RIDICULOUS when they’re shaved down. Such a peculiar shape...)
While looking for a cute, village type of grocery store, we stumbled across THE MOST AMAZING WATERFALL IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!: Huana falls, in the middle of absolutely nowhere in the outskirts of Auckland. I think we all felt about the same rush of overwhelming happiness (as we quite literally ran towards it!) We remained in awe for about 20 minutes, then went hiking in the surrounding woods until we reached a peak that overlooked farmland, and the forest with the falls. Not one of us could wipe the smiles off our faces. Absolutely brilliant.
Sadly we had to move on, and drove for ages until we found a tiny little town i
n the middle of nowhere (much like EVERY little town in NZ), where we bought a tent, a mini grill, some sleeping bags and some hot dogs. We were prepared to camp out anywhere we could find, but somehow managed to find the most amazing nature type sanctuary. It was HUGE, and we snagged and amazing spot right out front of part of the lake. We were all exhausted from our first day of travelling, but I managed to stay up late enough to see the stars. And, let me just say. OH! MY! GOD! We were easily 50 or 60km out of any town, and at the peak of a mountain, so you can only imagine how brilliant the sky looked! Just an absolutely amazing first day of travelling. We couldn't have asked for a better debut.But that was only the beginning....
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