rotoura

Rotorua and Waitomo Glowworms

Huntly Power Station

Our next trip out of Auckland was to our furthest south destination in New Zealand, the City of Rotorua. It was a mixed bag of weather, nothing like the previous day which had included a tornado that claimed two lives in north Auckland. The showers mostly happened while we were en route between adventures. On the way we passed the coal and natural gas fired power plant that supplies electricity to Auckland, and may fields filled with cows, which outnumber people in New Zealand 6 million to 5. They are down to just 30 million sheep from a peak of 60 million. We also drove by the Maori King's house. The King was created by the Maori to negotiate with the British crown over land rights.

Typical Pasture

Maori King's Gate

Our first stop was to visit the Glowworm Caves, located in the Waitomo area, meaning “Water entering a hole in the Ground”. Our tour guide escorted us through, the Aranui Cave, a maze of limestone beauty where the dripping water from the roof over the cave walls leaves deposits of crystalline calcium carbonate forming amazing stalactites from the ceiling and stalagmites growing up from the ground. It has been estimated that it takes a 100 years to from a 1 cubic inch of stalactite. We were also told if the water drops on you, you are a lucky person. Frank had two droplets and Linda had four, one down her back neck. Part of the cave is an area referred to as the Cathedral. Because of its shape and height, people gather there to sing. It doesn't echo, but gives harmony to the voices, so good are the acoustics. As we journeyed deeper into the caves where it is much darker, one started to see the Glowworms. It is the larval stage of a winged insect that gives off the light. They have around 30 extremely fine lines hanging down which catch the food that is attracted by their bioluminecent light. The insects display similar to a star constellation. At our deepest penetration we boarded a large flat-bottom boat to travel the waterway inside the cave. Pitch black, the guide has series of cables to reach up and pull us along as we see the stunning, breathtaking Glowworms!!! Sorry no pictures allowed. Flashes disturb the glowworms.

Back aboard our bus, a box lunch was served as we continued on to our next stop, the Agrodome Complex, a New Zealand farm. We boarded our covered wagon, bouncing along being pulled by a tractor through pastures to see the animals closeup. The different types of cows, farm raised red deer, alpacas, Ostriches and sheep. When we arrived the sheep and lambs came scurrying over as they knew what was going to happen. FOOD from the visitors. We were given handfuls of kibble type food and were targeted to get as much as possible. One of the alpacas helped itself to a container left on the seat of the  wagon. From there to a pigpen with 2 grownups and 3 piglets, all black, came for there turn at the food. The guide was the only one to feed them as they aren't as careful in what they munch on. The Ostriches were next. They quickly pecked the food from your straight out hand.

The next stop was at a small corral where Queen the dog gave us a “Sheep Dog” demonstration of her skills with 5 sheep. Obeying whistle tones and voice commands, she showed her skills. Afterwards we had a sheep sheering demonstration with the guide managing to have the years wool accumulation come off in one big piece. We were then shown how the fibre is combed, twisted into thread and then woven on huge machines.

Leaving here we were onto our final stop the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where we had a performance of the Poi dance, singing in harmony, the use of the haka and the Tititorea, stick games. The performance was disrupted by another bus group getting up to video and take pictures. They were requested to go to the sides but just doing this interrupted the performance for others. Our guide asked us how it was and we made the comment. They are aware of the problem and are trying to resolve this issue.

Pohutu Geyser

Next we walked through a life size replica of a traditional Maori Village. One of the units was up on stilts, which stored the food goods. The height was to keep the animals from getting into the food. We continued on through the geothermal area of the hot bubbling mud pools and the famous Pohutu Geyser. The final part was viewing Maori carvings and flax garment weaving. They teach people these trades and then they take the skills back to the tribes to pass on.

Matamata Visitors Centre

Linda Enters the Hobbit Hole

Aboard the bus heading back to Auckland an unplanned short trip was to stop in the town of Maramata, the town where the Hobbit was filmed. We came across a Hobbit House which is being used as a visitors centre. There is a day trip to the Hobbiton to see the largest green movie set. The day ended at about 8:15 pm, but well worth the time travelling.

Rainbow from our Bus

Rangitoto

 Rangitoto

Rangitoto Island with the sun out days later

 600 year-old lava

Our first day we had an afternoon tour of Rangitoto Island. A short ferry ride across the harbour brought us to this lava based island which erupted from the sea floor about 600 years ago. Today it is still covered in lava as it apparently takes about a 1000 years for soil to develop. Lots of natural floral and fauna some being very rare and over 400 native plant species with 40 different fern types, grow on the island. The Pohutakawa is just starting to bloom and will have the island covered in red blossoms just around xmas.

Pohutakawa Flower

Tractor pulling wagon of wet tourists

We climbed aboard our train, a 4 wheel tractor pulling a seated wagon, for our Volcanic Exploration tour. We ended up being part of a school tour with two gals sitting next to us, Myah and Chantrel grade 9 students who were very friendly and inquisitive. They were on a tour with their class from Tauranga.

At the top of Rangitoto

Kids try the water

As we jostled along the lava made road, the guide told us the stories how the island became under the protection of the government. Several people in the past tried to change the island by introducing foreign animals and plants, but were stopped as it was destroying the natural vegetation that they wanted to preserve. We first stopped at the base of the summit cone for a climb of 300 steps to get to the top to see the crater. Unfortunately, this was a cloudy showery day and couldn't see much at all, but we did get to the top. From here we viewed more terrain on the western side of the island and stopped for a few minutes to walk on the lava.....not easy.... before returning to the wharf.

A few “batches”, (basic cottage no running water, electricity) remain on the island with no permanent residences. You can tour the island yourself with many tracks and one to some lava caves, to explore which we didn't have time for. One can even backpack and stay on the island camping with you bringing and taking away everything you need.

Aussie Over

Hobart to Auckland, 'Bye Australia

Our trip from Hobart started out on time but landed late, as Sydney was experiencing some strong winds and only one runway was open for a time. Thus the congestion had us circling around for 20 minutes before being allowed to land.

Our time in the land of Oz has demonstrated som language anomolies. These are a few phrases and words we came across:

• restroom = toilet
• passing on the highway = overtaking
• cookie = biscuit
• ketchup = tomato sauce
• pizzas = thin crust with very few meat toppings
• bread = white most of the time (and they don't ask)
• beer = is pale, low alcohol content, an light on taste
• our 911 = 000
• sandwiches with tomato always, but no pickles
• speedo-check = odometer mileage check
• lift = elevator
• hole in the wall = ATM location
• yield in traffic = give way

Safe Travels - No Worries

Money... no pennies, 5, 10, 20, 50,1.00, 2.00 in coin. Purchases are rounded up or down when paying with cash.

Christmas season starts later, with only a few decorations around before December 1.

If you're coming to Australia, Tasmania and Cairns area are highly recommended to be on your agenda.

Our Aussie time is over so now onto New Zealand for a week.

Port Arthur

Port Arthur

Our last journey from Hobart was a drive to the Historic Port Arthur Penal Colony.  On the way,  a stop at an un co-operative blowhole, Eaglehawk, but the Tasman Arch  and Devils Kitchen were quite stunning.

Our tour guide gave us our marching orders including the what, when, and where we needed to be at the site. We were each given a different playing card which represented a convict. You could find out what happened to him by looking for your card on the displays. Rather an interesting display. This colony was only for male convicts, the women were housed in Hobart. A 9 year old was sent here for stealing 3 boxes of toy cars. The youngsters were housed on a small island away from the men. Back in the 1830's a small crime in the British isles could see you on a voyage to Australia. Their hard labor created the colony and  much of Australia's infrastructure, but the way that they were treated was inhuman. I don't think the Auzzie psychy is quite over this trauma.

We met a tour guide outside the Visitor's Centre who gave us a general talk about what we could find on the grounds and some history as well as the rain fell. A lot of the buildings are just standing shells.  A couple of bush fires and general embarrassment about the convicts treatment had meant the buildings were long abandoned before there were thoughts of preservation of the history. A cruise to take you out to the harbour around the Isle of the Dead, where over 1100 convicts and soldiers/guards lay buried, gave you a sense of what these people saw when arriving. Convicts were taught to read and write and to work at one of the more than 30 trades the community consumed. For most, that was a better life than they would have had back in the UK, but punishment was harsh, 30 lashes for smoking in the blacksmith shop for example.

Isle of the Dead

 Commandant's garden

Not a pretty piece of history.  The community even tried to erase the facts after the site closed down, by demolishing buildings and changing the name of the place. Now it is a world heritage site , preserved for all time.

 Port Arthur harbour view

Bruny Island

 Yellow Boat, with 3x300hp Merc Outboards

 Wind-driven waves crash on the ferry dock

Our next tour was the Bruny Island Adventure, for a cruise along the coast of Tasmania. We left at 8 am on our bus with some short views of historical boats and a few houses from the 1800. A ferry crossing, a two story open barge style, took about 20 minutes, to get us onto the island. The north part of Bruny Island is sheep farming, with most inhabitants, 650 population, spread throughout  the south portion. The two islands are joined by a narrow sand spit created for the car traffic. During the holiday season it grows to 9000. Lots of cottages, one petrol fuel station, and many cottage type industries, fudge shop(yummy), oyster haven, cheese shop to name just a few.

Arriving at our destination, we had “Tea” before departing on our 3 hour cruise which took us to Tasmania's most southern edge. Upon seeing our watercraft and the wind blowing this was not going to be a peaceful ride but a ................
BOUNCY TOPSY TURVEY SEASICK EXPERIENCE. YUK!!!!

Linda was somewhat apprehensive, as the boat was really rocking all over with the winds, but she climbed aboard making sure she had the less bouncy part of the boat, the back end..... just bearable was more like it. All boarded we left the dock to some bit quieter spot ( not by much) for handing out the red waterproof coats and the necessary ginger base sea sick pills to everyone. The pills actually worked really well.

White caps on the waves as out we sped, water splashing, bouncing along at about 20 knots looking at the  rock walls of coastal beauty. A coastline has it's own splendor but can be ruined by stupid people. A couple of days ago a couple of idiots decided to light a campfire in the National park, which is forbidden, with the fire danger at extremely high. They put the fire out, but decided to throw the ashes over the cliff......!!!???

 A fire broke out along the cliffs which had been battled for several days and basically was out until the winds arrived. As we had to go by this point we got some extra excitement, a closeup look at what was happening. We ventured further out to sea to get around the smoke that was blowing out over the water to get to our many stops. The water calmed a bit in the different inlets as we looked at Breathing Holes, Sea Caves of different shapes, rock formations, penguins and seals. We crossed the line where the Tasman sees meets the South Ocean. We never thought we get far enough south to reach this point.

 A faster trip back, and not as bouncy as the wind had changed directions, we hoped to spot some whales and dolphins but no luck. The migration happens in November, so we missed by a week or so. As we approached the fire it was now going back on itself. We have heard the culprits were caught but have not heard if or what punishment they'll endure.

No one was sick, at least not enough to throw up, and Linda relaxed and enjoyed the adventure after she got used to the swerving of the boat. Back to the visitors center, with our lunch served right away as we sat down......Pumpkin Soup, very popular in Australia and really tasty. Then our sandwich was presented ....

Frank thoroughly enjoyed the outing and got some pretty neat photos in between the water drenching. However he did loose something again. His ball capped got ripped off his head even from underneath the hood. So somewhere his blue Gold Coast cap is bouncing along on the waves of the Tasman Sea.

 Cave #1, lovely water colour

 There she blows!

 Cormorants breading time

 Seals rookery

So in the end ...........we'd do it again this TERRIFYING EXHILARATING ADVENTURE!!!!!!

 Smoking tower

 We left around 3 pm stopping at the Chocolate Fudge Shop and at the oyster shack. We were dropped off at the dock at about 5 pm. We then had the tortures to find supper. A lot of places were packed or not the style of dinner desired. We finally looked at a Greek restaurant and had a scrumptious meal to end a fantastic day we'll not forget too soon.

 The Southern Ocean

 Bruny Island with the yellow boats is the place to come in Tasmania..............

Hobart Tasmania Tour to the Huon Valley

An early morning start (5:40 am pickup) had us on our way flying to Hobart, Tasmania. Another smooth routine through airport security, and a shuttle bus close by to get us to our new digs. The drive from the airport revealed it was quite different from what we have been experiencing. A lot more like the interior of BC in both size and geography. Hobart gets about 600mm of precipitation annually, three times Kamloops.

 Hobart from our hotel room

Upon arrival at our hotel, Innkeepers Lenna of Hobart, we were warmly welcomed with our room ready for us at 10:45 am. A little unpacking, then down the street, it is hilly, almost like 1st Avenue, to find what is close by. A lunch at an Irish Pub, then we wandered over to the dockside and checked out a place we needed to be for a tour. After a rest out of the sun, as Hobart was having one of it's warmer days, we walked over to a Quilt Shop about 20 minutes away. We have collected Australian Indigenous Fabrics to  encourage Linda to eventually do a story quilt of this journey.

 Our first tour was to the Huon Valley, 2 hrs southwest of Hobart. Once into the countryside the lush rolling hills with deciduous trees instead of coniferous trees reminded us of the very familiar Alberta Foothills. A quick break to stretch our legs in the town of Cygnet had the delight to see a beautiful rose garden in full bloom. WOW it is the last day of November.....

One more stop was in a town called Geeveston where we stopped at a forestry exhibit. As we approached the tour guide talked about the  Feb 7th, 1967, Black Tuesday event. A ferocious bushfire destroyed 2/3 of Tasmania. 67 deaths and 1500 hundred homes lost. To this day the landscape still has haunting barren grey tall trees, referred to as the Ghost Tree, scattered throughout the area.

Onwards from here to the Tahune Airwalk located in the deep Aussie bush, a tree was down on the road, stopping our passage. Smaller vehicles were able to continue but not our Grayline Tour Bus. It was evident the tree was too big to move manually. fortunately a worker on the way to Tahune came by, went and got a chain saw, came back and cleared our way.

 Linda takes on the Airwalk

We had no idea what Tahune was about, but quite an adventure came our way as we hiked paths through forest. There are 3 walk arounds recommended. First we tracked our way to the Airwalks. A metal frame walkway suspended an average 30m over the forest with views of the Huon and Picton Rivers. This is listed as a 50 minute hike, about 600m of elevated pathway.  It ends up at a cantilever platform with a view of the confluence of the two rivers. Linda overcame her anxiety such entertainment usually generates, and enjoyed the view, while I suffered somewhat from the burning in my right thigh, but made it to the end before having to sit.

 One of the tree species that made the Tas industry

 Linda on the first Swinging Bridge

Made it over:-) 

From here we continued on to the Swinging Bridges, a 1 hour hike according to the map. Trudging through the forest we arrive at the first swinging bridge which crosses one of the rivers. Once over another short walk the next bridge gets us over another river. From that excitement we journeyed back to the Visitor centre which was another hike on it's own. We encountered along this trek a snake slithering back to the bush, black and about 3' long. We stayed clear which was very wise as we have found out it was a tiger snake, the 4th poisonous snake in Australia. We didn't have the energy to do the last walk to see the stand of the famous Huon Pine, as it was quite warm. Hobart hit 34 c. which is very rare for this area. One last stop to see a 400 year old, 90m high Gum Tree, then the long drive home. We would definitely recommend this adventure.