North Island Adventures

A map!

"Greetings, loved ones. Let's take a journey." 

This blog is a departure from my usual format, because words are boring and pictures are awesome!

Palmerston North

Friday

6:30 Take shuttle to airport.
7:30 Fly from Christchurch to Wellington.
8:30 Take city bus from airport to bus departure point. Walk around aimlessly, kill time by stopping in a cafe and ordering chocolate caramel muffin and Earl Grey. Kill more time by watching one-footed pigeons fly around the railway station.
10:40 Board bus.

Statue outside of rugby musem

1:15 Arrive in Palmerston North, walk around town, visit small museums on Maori and European history of the area, mirrors, Manawatu river, and Rugby. Succeed in kicking a small rugby ball through miniature posts. Be pestered by elderly museum guide who is the grandson of Charles Monroe, the man who brought rugby to NZ, and is apparently important enough to have a bronze statue on the street.

5:00 Meet Ray and Micah for dinner at kebab shop.
6:00 Eat licorice with Micah.
10:00 Fall asleep.

Saturday

7:30 Wake up
8:00 Go with Ray to Sue's house (Sue being a lady who Ray works with at Toyota, who has friends in Napier)
8:30 Go with Ray and Sue to wind farm look out outside of Palmy
11:00 Arrive in Napier, meet Ian and Sandy, Sue's friends. Walk around Napier and see art deco architecture, as well as old-fashioned cars and people dressed in 1930s fashion.
1:00 Sample fancy chocolate, dark chocolate covered damson plums in liqueur. Have "duck and pork rillettes with onion jam" for lunch.
2:00 Drive around Napier, stopping at various look-outs.
4:00 Go to aquarium, see assorted fish, sharks, etc. See a kiwi bird!

Famous building in Napier

5:30 Bring Thai take-away back to Sandy's house and spend the evening with Sandy and Lily, a three year old she's babysitting. Watch Finding Nemo and Monster's Inc, and rugby. Try vegemite, which to me, tasted like very thick soy sauce.
1:00 Fall asleep.

Craters of the Moon

Sunday

8:30 Wake up.
9:30 Eat cake for breakfast.
10:00 Depart Napier.
12:00 Go to Crater's of the Moon geothermal site in Taupo. See craters, fumaroles. and mudpools. Get soaked with Rain.
1:00 Go to Huka Falls. Continue to be rained on.
1:10 Got to Huka Honey Hive. Learn about bee hives and taste several different kinds of honey, including Manuka Honey, which is famous NZ honey, and Five Finger Honey, which is tasty, but rare because it is only produced every 5-10 years.
2:00 Eat at Subway. $5 footlongs do not exist, the cheapest 6" sandwich is $4.90.
2:30 Depart Taupo
5:00 Arrive in Palmerston North.
6:00 Have fish and chips for dinner, with kiwi pavlova for dessert.
7:30 Return to Micah's apartment. Chat and watch TV.
10:30 Sleep

Huka Falls

Monday

4:45 Wake up.
5:20 Board bus to Wellington
8:30 Arrive in Wellington. Have tea and scone. Walk around. Have more tea.
12:45 Fly from Wellington to Christchurch.
2:30 Return to apartment.