Ok, just got back to good ol Wellington after 10 days on the road, although it seems like I just left. I cruised up to theLake Taupo and Tongariro National Park area. Spent a night singing with some drunken German girls, then did a killer 8 hour hike over this pass between a volcano (pictured as Mt. Doom in LTR), and a mountain. At the top the winds were about 100 mph, there was a huge red crater, and a number of pristine alpine lakes. It was a great hike, very rugged and beautiful country. Met a couple other American girls up there, the first I had met in NZ. They were from LA and were going to spend 3 nights up there! I wished them luck but I have to think they perished up there, no shopping or In&Out Burgers and all. I unfortunately caught a wicked virus up there, so spent the next two nights pamper'n myself at the Tongariro Grand Chalet. I felt like crap, but during the day still managed to do some exquisite 2 hour hikes full of streams, waterfalls, and alpine meadows. When I was feeling better I went back to the other side of the lake, picture Tahoe with no people or jet ski's, and did a nice afternoon kayak ride to these big rock carvings. It was me, a Canadian girl, and a British chap with our guide from Virginia. We had a great time, and then we met up for drinks that night. We also were hanging out with a crazy girl from Holland who was very excited to spend the next two months milking cows for $50 per day! I told her I preferred milking goats, so would have to pass. After that I hit the road again up to the East coast town of Tauranga. This was this upscale beach get away for the people of Auckland it seemed. It has a huge boulder of a mountain coming right out of the beautiful bay. It made for a great morning hike on my 30th birthday, then drank the night away with a group of Irish surfers. The last week I have been hopping from town to town down the coast, noting the similarities to the communities like Moro Bay, Big Sur, Santa Cruz and the like. They all have a distinction of some sort, but are largely similar. The most unique place I stayed was in the tool shed side cabin of this old farm house at these amazing hot springs. The forest there was more like the jungles of Costa Rica, huge tropical trees and ferns and tons of exotic birds. It was quaint and just the break I needed from the usual hostel scene. Finally, last night stayed in Napier, the "Deco capital of NZ". It did have some Art Deco buildings, but I wasn't all that impressed. I hung out with a guy from the UK and drank Guinness. Now I prepare for Christmas in Wellington, then on boxing day I'm off to the wilds of the South Island. Here are some of the best pics, or follow the link to more. Happy Holidays!
http://picasaweb.google.com/ethan.ahlberg/NorthIslandRoadTrip
