Heading on from Hoki

Trip Start Jan 24, 2007

Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand
Wednesday, May 2, 2007

We only had 4 days to spend in Hokitika with the Bro and Sis-in-Law, but we had a lot of fun and got to see the local area as well as spending quality time. The strange Pancake rocks of Punakaiki were different but their highlight was definitely that delcious pancakes with fruit and ice cream afterwards! We also did a lovely walk in the coastal areas with wetlands and bizarre trees then finished the day off with a wander up to some local hot springs just next to a local river. Unfortunately we forgot our mozzie repellent for the dastardly sandflies (little blood sucking flying varmint bugs) and got eating alive, poor lauren coming off worst with a lovely selection of about 25 bites on each leg!
The best things we did were to go to the local cinema and seeing their plot of land.
The local Cinema is basically just a large living room with a fairly massive screen, DVD player and 10 sofas complete with knitted rugs

Boiling Mud Pool

. we wrapped up warm as it was a little chilly inside and went to see a swedish film called "Saa som i Himmelen" (As it is in Heaven, Dir.Kay Pollack). It was fantastic- a bittersweet feel-good film with many of humanity's deepest sadnesses dealt with in new honest ways, exposing the heart of so many small minded communities and showing just how beautiful humanity can be. The actors were very convincing and conveyed the power of a well-scripted film. Its really really worth making the effort to get hold of this film ( a bit secular, a bit sad and a bit soppy- but great).
The other great thing was seeing My Bro's plot of land. He's got a few acres of land which is planned for a house sometime and it was fantastic to see so much space and potential- can't wait to go back and visit when its done. The negative side was that it reminded us just how hard it is to get land in the UK and to get planning- not to worry!
After a class few days with them we bussed up to Nelson, stayed briefly overnight then it was up to Auckland to pick up our rented Combi van for a whirlwind tour of the North Island.

Slideshow

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

Emerald pool with orange	Emerald Pools	Fern Plant Thingy	Gorgeous West Coast
Jumping Josh	Pancake Rocks	Pancake Rocks 2	Pancake Toilet
Pineapple heads	Sandfly Hot Spring hell	Strange rock formations	The Family
Thoughtful Josh	Tongariru -Blue Lake	Tongariru -Lauren in Action	Tongariru -Mt Doom on Ice
Wetland Walk

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Comments

johnston6t on

happy 'mayday'!
hey guys!

sorry this message is so short, just got a few mins online. your trip continues to sound amazing, each new day offering new enlighting and pleasurable experiences! sounds as though you've really fallen in love with NZ.

think my only craic here is that i've started an art class (life-drawing), its on monday nights for eight weeks, and am really enjoying it,

take care,
chat soon,
sarah :)

thecoulters on

How hangs it?
Yo yo. They're great fun yo-yos aren't they? You'd think someone with a degree in IT would have figured out how to leave you guys a message before now! But you were wrong.
Greetings from the green fields of Ulster, or more precisely, from Chez Coulter. We're loving your blog so much it has inspired us to pen this little ode:

The Kwants they took off on the run,
For adventures untold in the sun.
So with passports and shades,
For the airport they made,
With Immodium to harden their dung.

Now the bush doesn't have many bogs,
Nor computers to update their blog.
But they travelled in style,
Over many a mile,
In the Beast, where they often did snog.

There were beautiful rivers and lakes,
Where the cares of the world they would shake.
They would swim in the buff,
But enough was enough,
When the wildlife attacked Josh's snake!

So here ends our ode to this pair,
With hairstyles and poses so rare.
We hope they survive,
And return home alive,
But Josh, please, please, sort out the hair!

(c) thecoulters 2007