October « 2009 «

New Zealand 2

October 13, 2009

Hello friends..

seven months already done, five months left..It is a long time and many things happen when I’m travelling.. I had a lot of time to think about what’s gone on in the last few years back home and before I started to write about NZ, I would like to say..THANKS to all of you..It is beautiful to know everyone and I hope when I’m back we have a great time again..But for now I’ll still enjoy this part of my life..
One day before I left Christchurch, I met Dan (do you remember, he is the guy from England?) in a Backpacker and now after six’s weeks travelling,digging, knitting and drinking around NZ, I can say that English mates are not too bad.. Cheers mate for the English lessons..
I even don’t know how to start, because there are so many nice spots.. We went for some extreme activities to Queenstown..On the way we have hiked in Takapo, Mt.Cook and kayaked with Sarah from Canada in Wanaka..Sarah joined in for a couple of days..Thank you too..
In Queenstown I did a bungee jump off a bridge into a river and i went snowboarding for a second time.. The first bungee jump in my life and it was great..Free fall and at the end I dropped my arms into the water..
The next days we went to Milford Sound and the Catlins..Milford Sound is one of the famous spots in NZ and is now on the list of the 24 natural wonders of the world.. Before we drove to the West coast, we spent three nights in the student town Dunedin..
On the West cost we went climbing on the Franz Josef Glacier and enjoyed the beautiful Landscapes (Pinnacles)..
North of the south Island in Nelson we mountain biked around the city and I went for a hike to the Abel Tasman National Park..One of my favorite places..
We took the ferry from Picton to Wellington..I met my friend Karsten again..We cooked dinner and spent a nice evening in a Pub..In Wellington we met Johannes and I promised the guys (Dan and J) to take them to Lake Taupo for a skydive because it was the only sunny day for the next week, but I missed the time change..It was a quick drive, we were caught by the police,but Dan and J did the skydive and at the end nothing bad happened..As ever..
The next days we went to the East coast of the north’s Island (Napier, Gisborne and East cape) Nice places, too..The last days we have spent in Tauranga, Roturua and Coromandel Region.. Good to relax after 7000km driving around NZ..Before I forget NZ has 4 Million people but 16 Million Sheep..They are everywhere.. Spent the last few day with my friends in Auckland (Pippa and Jess, thank you so much and it was a nice concert) and went for a hike back to Tongoriro National Park near Taupo..At the end I can say, that it is a adventure to sleep in a station wagon, to have a bath in a 9 degree cold lake and cook wherever you want.. I’ve done it.. Next stop San Francisco..