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Whirlwind, overstimulation, desire to rest but can’t possibly do it when I see something new and beautiful, or meet new and interesting people. I’m in New Zealand now and absolutely love it. I had to refrain from taking photos because everywhere I turned was a gorgeous landscape with sheep, cows, steep mountains, mossy hills or thick forests. I started in Auckland and then hired a car (as they say here) and drove to Whitianga, Rotorua then flew to Wellington.
Below is a sampling of the breathtaking drives through the countryside of Northern New Zealand. It was absolutely serene yet spectacular. I drove well for driving on the left and for all the severe switchbacks on mountain roads. One day I ended up driving 6 hours which was too much for me. The only hazard was wanting desparately to stop and savor the scenery or snap a photo. The landscape reminded me of Scotland or maybe even Iceland.
I struggle to accurately describe Whitianga. It’s a coastal town with some of the most pristine, beautiful beaches and coastline I’ve seen, rivaling Hawaii and California. As usual, the people are absolutely fantastic, curious, and super friendly. They have a very fun sense of humor and are happy to chat. As I walk along the beaches, I take millions of photos, catch my second or third coffee, and think, "Where am I? What is this beautiful place that I never thought about before?" And then I notice boat after boat coming in, and all this energy starts to rise, and I’m told there’s going to be the largest billfish tournament in the world the next day, and the coming days. By night, there are hundreds of boats in the harbor. By morning, over 400 boats are forming a long line to leave the harbor or are already in the bay. It’s going to be a big fish story event. I watch as some huge marlins, striped marlins and yellow tunas are brought in, so heavy they need to be lifted by a forklift. What a great way to experience the local culture. I was dying to tell all the fishermen about Wisconsin sturgeon spearing.
striped marlin and yellow tuna. The yellow tuna was in the running for a $10k prize the Marlins get a much larger prize of course. Both of these were caught from small boats.
I did one tour on a small Zodiac out to Cathedral cave and some of the coastal landmarks. Absolutely beautiful. I was fortunate to have met a wonderful couple from France. They had been to the cove seven years ago, so we made sure to recreate the same photo at Cathedral Cove, had coffee, exchanged photos and memories. Now, I have added them to my WhatsApp and Instagram accounts so we can stay in touch. I continue to love all the people I’ve met along the way.
By night, after having a good dinner, I’m walking back to my apartment and realize how beautiful the stars are. I remember that I wanted to focus on stars while I was here, knowing it would be super dark. As I’m walking, a lady is looking up in the sky, and we start talking about stars. Behold, her husband is from Wisconsin, and they were looking for the Southern Cross. I got out my sky tracker app, and eventually, we found it. What a treat to gaze up into the stars in the southern hemisphere. I continue and lay down flat on my back on my deck with a glass of wine, staring up at the stars, hearing the waves in the distance. What a way to end the evening.
Next, to Rotorua, where I could sit on the balcony of my hotel room overlooking Lake Rotorua. I watched the thermal steam float closely along the surface of the water. I heard the birds chirping, sitting along the water's edge. The sun was beaming a beautiful warm glow on my face. And yes, there is the smell of sulfur to keep me in reality. I realize every time I travel, and I’m so grateful that I have the means, health and drive to do it.
I came to Rotorua to visit the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, which is the youngest geothermal valley in the world. The Mt. Tarawera volcanic eruption created this beautiful valley with its last eruption in 1886. The eruption regenerated native forests and created the constant smell of sulfur, colorful mineral pools, steam, sounds of bubbling mud and water. The Rotorua-Taupo region lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire". There are all types of microorganisms, craters, ponds along a beautiful trail and landmarks with names like Echo Crater and Frying Pan Lake. The lake water is acidic, and the carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gas bubbling make it appear like the lake is boiling. The Emerald Pool with algae and moss made me feel like I was in a highly edited landscape photo.
Kia Ora (welcome): I also attended a the local Te Pā Tū Maori cultural experience. I thought it would be a little campy like Hawaii's Luaus, but it was fantastic. Educational, interactive, and the music, dance, and food were spectacular. I was super impressed with their singing voices and sense of humor and respect for their unique culture. Adding to the richness of the experience was that they were all from the same extended Maori family. Once again, I was able to join other travelers at the dinner table and met some more interesting people: A couple from Barcelona who travel the world giving swing dance class lessons; a German man who camped on the beaches and trails for five days, a 50+ year old retiree from Texas going through a divorce, and another high-energy man from San Francisco who had us all enraptured in his hiking tales. So fun!
Next off to Wellington. Yes, I am exhausted, but nothing a good cup of coffee can't take care of or yet another new adventure.
