The Road Trip

02-03 May 2012 – Buy a van and hit the road

Buying a car in New Zealand is pretty easy, just go to the post office and register it on your name. Therefore and because of the cheap price we bought Michel’s van. We shared the price and the risk of having an old car, more than 20 years and nearly 400.000 km.

Our first stop was the Abel Tasman Track. We didn’t do the whole track but just a few hours gave us an impression of how nice the track is. Beautiful beaches and blue water. Luckily we could enjoy sunset as well as sunrise as we slept in our van at the car park.

Abel Tasman Track

04 May 2012 – Nelson Lakes National Park

The next day we were at the Nelson Lakes Nation Park, mainly because there was a free campsite and we have heard that the national park is pretty nice. It was absolutely right.

05 Pancake Rocks

Waking up at the sea, driving along the coast, visiting a glow worm cave without glow worms and keeping eyes up for some rocks for breakfast…

06 May 2012 – Franz Joseph Glacier

As you might know from Argentina already, I love glaciers. The two famous glaciers of New Zealand are the Franz Joseph and Fox Glacier. Since they’re pretty close to each other we went to Franz Joseph first and to Fox at the next day. The Franz Joseph Glacier, named after the Austrian emperor, was ok but pretty far away and accessible by helicopter only. But there was a nice 5 hours hike to the summit of Alex Knob, with a great view above the clouds.

 

07 May 2012 - Fox Glacier

The Fox Glacier was much better, you could even touch it! Good but not as good as the glaciers in Northern Patagonia and very touristic, like nearly everything in NZ.

08-09 May 2012 – Copland Track

Michel told us about a great track with hot pool at the hut, the Copland Track. Actually it was declared as a 7 hours hike but as we took the wrong way first we had to do it in 4 hours before it got dark. Finally it was more like a run than a hike but the hot pools with some beers at the end were great.

The Track

 

The Hot Pools

10 May 2012 – Being sad because of the lost jacket ;-(

Unfortunately, I forgot my jacket at the hut but couldn’t/wouldn’t do the track again. Now I have to hope that the Department of Conservation will send it to Christchurch, where I could pick it up before I leave to Australia. Else I would have lost my good old Burton winter jacket in New Zealand. Now I have to wait and pray…

Next stop Queenstown…

Welcome to the South

29 April 2012 – Hitchhiking… you should know, where you want to go

Jan and Sasha took Malte and me closer to Tataka, but only closer. After lunch at an outdoor pool in the sea, we had to hitchhike the last 50 km. Since hitchhiking is allowed and very common in New Zealand, we just waited some minutes for a lift to Kaiteriteri. Actually we thought that every road leads to Takaka but while waiting in Kaiteriteri we realized that we are actually at a dead end. That meant that we had to go back. Luckily we found some Taiwanese who brought us back to a junction to Takaka. Late in the evening we arrived in Takaka, where Michel, a friend I worked with at ISC in Constance, was already expecting my arrival.

30 April 2012 – Climbing with Michel

Arrived in Takaka, I could sleep in Michel’s van. Luckily my sleeping bag was good enough to keep me even warm at about 0 °C, when you think your breath is freezing in your nose. After surviving the night, we went climbing just a few meters beside from the campground. The rocks were pretty good but my climbing skills very bad. Nevertheless, it was a great day and a good feeling to go climbing again after a few month.

01 May 2012 – Test drive to the Farewell Spit

Since Malte (alias Malton) and I wanted to buy Michel’s van to drive down the west coast of the south island, we made a quick test drive to the Farewell Spit, the most northern point of the south island. Actually only a lot of sand, sand and sand. But at least a good test drive, which took us the doubts about the car car.

Next stop The West Coast…

North Island-New Zealand

22-26 April 2012 – The Nanny’s Life

In Auckland I slept at Florian’s guestfamilies’ house. Florian, who I knew from Germany already, since he was in Konstanz to celebrate New Year’s Eve with me and some other friends, is the families’ nanny for a year. He has to look after the children, bring them to school and cook dinner for the family in the evening. To be honest, this would never ever be a job for me. Not that I don’t like children nor that my cooking skills are that bad but for me, and may be just for me, it would be a waste of my time. However, it was very nice at Florian’s place, we had a good time and he has shown me a lot of Auckland and its surroundings.

Thanks to Florian for those great days in Auckland and the experience of being a nanny. 

25 April 2012 – Piha Beach – Surf Lessons (Part 2)

On Wednesday there was a bank holiday in New Zealand. Luckily Florian got free and we could drive to Piha Beach to improve our (very very little) surfing skills. The weather was great and the waves quite good but I could not even stay once on the board. Probably because of my too tight wetsuit. But I will keep on trying.

26-27 April 2012 – Waiheke Island – Some Beaches and Rain

The beaches were nice and the hostel one of the best (and most expensive) I stayed in but in total Waiheke Island wasn’t stunning at all. But the skyline of Auckland, seen form the ship, was quite good. Am I getting tired about travelling or is it just the fact, that I expected much more form New Zealand than I have seen till now?

27 April 2012 – Wellington and the Ferry to the South

After 1 week on the northern island, we (Malte, who I met on Waiheke Island and I) headed to the south island. From Auckland we took a Naked(night)bus to Wellington. It was “just” a 11 hours bus ride but the busses were much worse than in South America. There were like the busses you know from Germany, very uncomfortable to sleep. Wellington is “a cool small capital" – Lonely Planet. There is nothing more to add. We did a guided tour through the parliament building and walked a bit around the city centre.

From Wellington to Picton with the Interislander Ferry in the afternoon. On the one hand it was a bit like the Irish coastline on the other hand there was awesome blue water and pretty nice small beaches.

Ireland	New Zealand

 

28 April 2012 – Jan, Sasha and their Van

On board of the Interislander Ferry we met Jan and Sascha, two Germans with a van, who took us from Picton to Nelson. In Nelson I got confronted with the reality of New Zealand. Backpackers, Backpackers, Backpackers, Hostels for more than 18 € per night and at least every second person is from good old Germany. So far I don’t like New Zealand. The landscape is ok, hostels are expensive but good and the culture… are backpackers a culture? (What do you think about the radio on the right picture, good idea, isn’t it?)

Next stop Takaka…