Lins and Rich’s Travel Blog

Hi everyone, well its been a while since we did a blog entry again. Lots of travelling has been done so I am going to split the blog entry into two otherwise it will take forever to read!

Carrying on from the last blog entry we had a week ago today we picked up our car  for a five week tour of the north and south islands. We arrived at Jucy car rentals at ten oclock and picked up a …..wait for it. Nissan Sunny, yes you heard right. And just in case anyone is in any doubt, its a heap! We had opted for a slightly bigger engine as we knew New Zealand would be hilly but the countered this by giving us an automatic. Now whenever we go up hills it trys to constantly change up and down gear and we just get slower and slower. Very funny but very frustrating.

Our first destination was the Bay of Islands which is north of Auckland. After picking up some food we headed off with the plan of calling into Goat Island marine park on the way. Finally we got a glimpse of the scenery that New Zealand is famous for, rolling green hills, huge drops and winding hilly roads. It made for a really pleasent drive.

Coming up to lunch we pulled into a small beach a little way from Goat Island and had a picnic lunch while taking in the view. Massivly diffrent to Australia, its nice that everything looks so health if not a little cold.

Goat island was about a twenty minute drive away and is a stunning place. It takes its name from the idea that the island could have housed goats for shipwreck victims to eat. The idea was well and good but when they put goats on the island they simply swam to shore and scarpered!!

As Lins still cant dive and its a marine reserve we thought it may be a bit lost on us but after clamebering over some rocks and walking along an outcrop we came to a deep crystal clear channel which was full of large snapper and blue maw maws. We spent about fifteen mintues sat watching them patrol for food before heading back to the car.

Now the car park was overrun with ducks as they are obviously fed by tourists so as I went to reverse a duck stood behind the car. I sent Lins out to move it, she decided to use verbal persuasion to get it to move. Of course the duck gave her a confused look and loads more flocked over. Picture the scene, ducks everywhere with lins running around trying to steer them away and telling them off.  Genius!

After a detour down a dirt track which was shown as a main road (!) we arrived in the Bay of Islands as it turned dark. After dinner we spent a few hours talking to some english girls from exter before passing out for the evening.

Next day we walked to the look out over the bay as we had arrived in the bay at night and took in the views. Captin Cook named the bay after the 144 islands situated around. In another amazing feat of naming he said “I shall name this the bay of islands due to the large amount of the”. Trained monkey and typewriter spring to mind.

After the lookout, I had booked on a fishing trip into the bay. Having not fished since I has about eighteen i was really looking forward to it, especailly as everyone at work in Oz was fishing mad. Heading out on a glassy sea we reached our spot, i dropped the sinker over the side and five minutes later i was dragging up a very angry looking snapper of about 3lb. Easy this fishing lark I thought and dinner was set for the evening. In total I caught six snapper but four were thrown back as they were too small. One small lad who was fishing with his dad managed to land an 18lb one. At one point I thought it would drag him in!

Back at the hostel Lins made a nice pasta in sauce and I pan fried the snapper in  a little butter and it was amazing. If you ever get the chance to try it do as its one of the tastiest fish I have eatten. Feeling very hunter gatherer I sat and watched the rugby with a very full stomach!

Next day was up early for a tour around the bay on a bright yellow boat called the Dolphin explorer. We wove in and out of the islands and saw some amazing houses and privately owened islands with picture perfect beach fronts but alas no dolphins. They had decided to take the day off. We were given a free crusie next time were there though. Apparently someone took them up on the offer twelve years later.

After the cruise it was back to Auckland to meet up with Mags for the final time. We have met here numorous times since India but alas this is the last so we (Me and mags) commiserated with a beer or seven. Not good when you have to be up early in the morning!

 Well dinner is calling and the computer is rubbish so I will leave it there for now. Were currently in Rotorua and the tempreture is dropping every day. Next updated will feature sinking pools of bubbling mud, maori hakas and little glowworms and hopefully some photos.