Hi Everyone!
We are having an amazing time so far. There is loads to update you on and we are going to try to add some pictures as well.
Firstly, our bags did arrive! (minus my hiking poles but that is another story!) I eventually got those back as well!
We loved Auckland and explored nearly the entire city on foot. From the trendy, young, full of cafes Ponsonby to the beautiful harbourfront to an old cobblestone section of town named Parnell (where we had fantastic burgers at Al and Pete's!) to Albert Park surrounding the University where we relaxed and watched some uni students playing rugby to the Auckland Museum and surrounding Auckland Domain, a huge beautiful park where we stumbled upon Wintergarden (my favourite!), an indoor greenhouse full of flowers and the a nearby Fernery which smelled of cedar. We trekked to One Tree Hill which was so great as well although it should be called One Stump Hill as the tree has fallen now and is replaced by a huge obelisk in memorium. Awesome views from the top on a sunny and really blustery day.
On Saturday, our first day of Stray!!!!! We were waiting outside, bags all ready, the suspense was killing us.....as 30 minutes went by. The front desk of our hostel puts in a phone call and Stray has forgotten us. Awesome. So on we wait as the bus turns around to come pick us up! (We were silently wishing this wasn't a bad omen for the first day of a 2 month tour!) Thankfully our bus driver (James) was hilarious and we quickly made friends on the bus.
Day 1 - Auckland to Hahei - We offroaded through gorgeous rainforest on the way to Hahei and stopped to see a huge 1500 year old square Kaori tree. The pictures don't do it justice, it was amazing to see. Just before Hahei we stopped at Purangi vineyard to have a little tasting. It is a fantastic, family owned little placed with a hilarious host named Danny. We sampled all types of wine and liquors including Kiwi feijoa fruit liquor! We picked our own kiwis and were given feijoa as a parting gift. Awesome! We hiked to Cathedral Cove which was so beautiful and ended up on the beach surrounded by huge rock formations and sunshine. The tide was in so we couldn't stay long but the pictures are amazing. The took the beach back to our hostel and hiked up to the bluff of an old Maori pa for a sunset view. The Maori culture is everywhere and it is fascinating to learn about. (More on that later!)
Day 2 - Hahei to Raglan
Quite a long drive the the landscape in New Zealand is totally beautiful. It is so lush and green and rolling hills as far as the eye can see. Dairy cows and sheep are everywhere!!! We stopped to admire Bridal Veil Falls which is New Zealand's 2nd highest waterfall and we made it to Raglan in time for Andrew to get some surf in before the rain came! (I'm saving up for Byron Bay!) Our hostel was smack in the middle of the rainforest, a surfer's getaway complete with bush sauna!
Pictures are coming we promise!! I can't seem to load them at the moment.
We have so much more to tell you!!! Can't wait to post next! We LOVE it here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss you back home.
SarahandRoo
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