Almost tiki-tour time!
I’ve finally reached the point where I am close enough to exciting travels that I feel like I can touch them. It’s been a long haul, these last six months, and I’m super excited that in about six weeks I will FINALLY be playing tourist in the country that has been my home for the last year. It’s taken a few weeks to sort everything out to a place where Im confident sharing my plans, but I think I’ve everything in order. Now all I need is money to pay for everything.
DECEMBER 2009
West Coast Road Trip with Kat
This is going to be great, 10 days starting Christmas Day out on the West Coast and up in the Golden Bay area of the South Island. For the most part we will be camping to save costs, but we’re planning to stay in a few hostels to even things out. Lots of amazing things planned for this trip, I cant begin to guess what will be the highlight. New Year’s Eve will be spent up near Abel Tasman Park.
- Franz Josef Glacier, helihike
- Punakaiki — Pancake Rocks
- Karamea — Oparara guided cave tours and kayaking
- Abel Tasman 1/2 day hike & 1/2 day kayak
- Marlborough Sounds — horse trek
JANUARY 2010
A new year, the excitement continues. A few short weeks after our return from the road trip, I’ll finish work for good here in Christchurch, then Kat and I will be hopping the ditch for a 12-day Aussie Adventure. We’re off to Melbourne to see my friend Stephanie, and head out to Rainbow Serpent. Before the festival Kat and I are planning to camp for a few days along the Great Ocean Road and check out Phillip Island if we have enough time.
Australia
New Zealand
- Christchurch — for one day to do laundry and say final goodbyes *sniffle*
- New Plymouth/ Mt. Taranaki — surfing, day walks, maybe a helicopter tour of the mountain if I come back from Oz with a little extra cash.
- Auckland — 1 day
FEBRUARY 2010
- 5 Day Surf Tour — leaves from Auckland and heads north up into Whangarei, Bay of Islands, Ahipara and Cape Reinga
- Auckland — 2 days of rest and recover
- Waitomo — TumuTumu Toobing, glow worms
- Rotorua — Te Puia, Wai o Taupo
- Taupo — Chill days
- Tongariro Crossing — day hike up a mountain through craters filled with crazy coloured waters. Rated one of the Top 10 day walks in the world. Dont worry, am not doing this alone!
- Mt Maunganui — Chilling, exploring and more surfing!
- Auckland — a few days rest and recovery
- Whangarei — to spend a few days surfing (if I haven’t gotten sick of it by now), snorkelling, kayaking and diving
- Auckland — for Ash and Elisa’s wedding (yaaaay!)
I thought about taking one of the several bus tours that operate here in NZ but realized I rather relish travelling on my own and not feeling like I *have* to do something. A few of the available tours went places I wasn’t interested in going, or did adventure sports that I wasn’t planning on doing. Ive left space in most places to decide on the day if I want to stay longer or move on sooner, and to discover things to do or see as I go. Sadly, I wont get a chance to return to Wellington, although I am going there next weekend to head off to the Toast Martinborough Food and Wine Festival with my friend Donna (who’s flying down from Auckland for the occasion).
So, that brings me up to the start of March, and my departure from Godzone for Thailand. Crazy huh?! I cant believe that I left Toronto a year ago *tomorrow*. It really stuns me to think Ive been gone for so long, yet have so much yet to do! I know things would have been different had I not gotten that accidental extension on my work visa, and am forever grateful to the NZ Customs and Immigration Officer who mis-stamped my passport. None of the above would be happening the way it will be had that not happened. So thank you!
Possibly related posts:
Leave your response!