North island adventures - part 1! :)
Trip Start
Feb 13, 2006
1
14
27
Trip End
Ongoing
Taupo, New Zealand
Sunday, April 2, 2006
QUEEN CHARLOTTE TRACK - STILL SOUTH ISLAND!
On my last day before the ferry to the north island, I decided to do a few hours from the Queen Charlotte track, that goes through a lot of bays, coves and sounds (all have just one word in hebrew for them), and did a 9 hour walk in about 6 or less. It was pretty hard and tiring, and I was exhausted when I got to the car, but the views were wonderful, and I got some of the best pics I got in NZ (but you'll be the judges of that!). It was very hot and humid, and I felt just like home. :) then I proceeded to the town where the ferry goes from, and off to the north island! I must say at this point that this is really a meaningful stage for me, and I feel very different now even though it lookes a bit the same - and not at all at the same time.
WELLINGTON
NZ's capital at the southern tip of the north island, where the ferry goes. I went through the main street (1 street, and 10 cd stores from just 2 companies), went to a tour of tha parliament building (which has a sophisticated anti-eartquaqe system they really brag about), and went to their big national museum. Very nice change from the quite-deserted-like south island. The city itself is just as big as tel aviv.
TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK
This park contains the Tongariro Crossing - NZ's best daywalk. And I must say it really deserves the title! I'd seriously say that if it was just a bit longer and more diverse, it would pass the milford track easily. The walks passes through two giant volcanos, one of which I climbed on (1200 meters climb, but every to steps you take the sand drags you one step down - one of the hardest climbs I ever did). Then it's a walk through lots of black and red craters and light blue lakes that still smoke. It's also where Mordor was shot for lord of the rings (The mountain I climbed was used as Mount Doom). It really was the place a felt the most like frodo...
TAUPO - OR MORE PRECISELY TAUPO'S SKY!
I came here for the main attraction - and it's not the biggest lake in NZ. It's the cheapest skydive in NZ! for just less than 500 NIS, I skydived from 4000 meters (12000 ft) from the smallest plane ever! Like they say, it's really more fun than scary, and probably the best immidiate fun I had in NZ. I didn't buy any pictures or movies, though, 'cause it costs just as much as the jump, and don't even remind of the experience. I only got less than a week (I return the car in 4 days), and then it's off to australia!
Well - that's the "scroll" for now! take care! :)
Comments
pics
Great pics indeed