Holiday!

Busy, busy, busy.... these last few weeks have been very "full on" as the kiwi's would say.  Liam and Phoebe had a two week break from school (the week before and after Easter) and not a minute was wasted.  The first week we took off for a South Island adventure and the second week we had some V.I.P. visitors... Grandpa and Nana Adams.  This week has just been getting back to normal... finally to the point where I feel like I can blog again.  First, I am going to have to report on our travels to the infamous South Island.

For those of you who don't know, New Zealand is comprised of two main islands (and a third smaller one).   The North Island, where we live, is most populated, but the South Island is more of a tourist destination.  All of New Zealand is considered very beautiful, but people say the beauty of the South Island is one of kind.   As we still wonder in the beauty outside our window each morning, we were very excited to see what else there could be.  And, I have to say, we were not disappointed.

Our itinerary for this trip was pretty daunting.   I don't even like having itineraries for vacations, but, as we are finding out, you kind of need them when traveling over the holidays in New Zealand.  My idea of a vacation now is usually vegging out on a beach, reading a book, and soaking up the rays.  I left my days of touring back in Europe in college.  But, now that we live on a beach, and have a fabulous new country to explore, I didn't mind so much the thought of getting in a car and just traveling, seeing, and even getting caught in some of the tourist traps.    However, I was very nervous about the amount of actual travel time that was involved (as, if you remember, the kiddos have not been handling the long car trips so well).  I had originally planned for us to do a portion of the trip by train, ending in Christchurch and flying home from there.  The same day I thought I had figured it all out, yep, the big earthquake happened and I had to start the planning over.  So, this is what I ended up with.

Sunday... leave Gisborne on 7:00 am flight to Wellington, arrive 8:00 am
Tuesday... leave on 8:45am ferry to South Island (3 hours), ferry was late, didn't arrive until 12:30.  Pick up rental car and drive 2 1/2 hours to cottage outside of Nelson.
Wednesday... drive another hour and take 45 minute water taxi out to Abel Tasman National Park.  Return to cottage by same travel distance.
Thursday.... leave cottage, drive 4 1/2 hours to Greymouth (however stop in Buller Gorge makes it into a 7 hour trip)
Friday... leave Greymouth for ANOTHER 4 1/2 hour trip to Kaikoura!!!  this time a stop in Hanmer Hot springs turns it into a 9 hour trip!!
Saturday.... Kaikoura (Kelly wakes up at 5:00 am to swim with dolphins, otherwise we just kick back)
Sunday... Leave Kaikoura for a two hour drive to Piction, get on 3 hour ferry ride to Wellington, and then to airport to wait for the hour flight back to Gisborne.  Arrive home at 8:30 p.m..   Terry and Bonnie to arrive from the states the next morning.  Not sure who is going to be more tired.

Um, yeah, not sure what I was thinking.  I thought it was crazy at the time, but again, that dang earthquake screwed up my plans.  As it turns out, it was a lot of fun.  And, the kids did not complain at all.  Many of times, after hours and hours in the car, Brett and I would just look at each other, dumbfounded.  And too afraid to ask why? why were they being so good?  Maybe it was because they were so tired from everything else.   The scenery was pretty amazing.  It is hard to drive when you just want to pull over and take pictures all the time.  That definitely added some time on too.

Highlights of the trip included:

Wellington -  riding up the cable car, and then walking through some amazing  botanical gardens back down into the city centre.  watching the kids do some of there own New Zealand Extreme activities (mini bungy on a trampoline).  The ocean walk. (and that was all the day we arrived)  The Te Papa Museum on the second day.

The Ferry Ride.... going from the North Island to the South Island thru the Cook Straight and into the Marlobrough sounds.  Spectacular.

the sounds

Our cottage in Mapua.  Complete with two llamas, highland cattle, and a yellow lab named Rocco.  And, the best, fresh pressed apple juice I have ever had.

view from the cottage

a dog name Rocco, perfect for the little one's missing our black lab Rico

Taking a water taxi out to Abel Tasman National Park.  Breathtaking beaches, wonderful hikes... a true treasure and one of favorite places so far.  Perfect day.

Aqua taxi ride 

Split Apple Rock

dropped off on this beach... paradise

pre hike swim

Phoebe decides she really does like the ocean (maybe because there are not such huge waves here)

Hiking to the next beach.  They did awesome on a one hour hike!

views on the hike

our destination.. Anchorage beach

chilling out and waiting for the aqua taxi to pick us up

Buller Gorge...  Walked over the largest swingbridge in New Zealand.... heart pounding.   Supa-manned back over the gorge (head first zip line, laying on belly... ran and dived out over it - very fun - but the swing bridge was more scary)

walking the swingbridge back over... a little more brave this time

Mom diving head first over the gorge

I'M FLYING

Driving down the West Coast... ONE OF THE BEST COSTAL DRIVES EVER!.. can't even describe!!  Stop at Pancake rocks.  Just plain cool.

The West coast

Pancake rocks

Hanmer Hot Springs.  Beautiful little tourist town. Warm fall day.  Reminded me of Colorado.  Fun, but busy water park and hot springs.    Photographed by Christchurch Press Newspaper with Phoebe in pools, they were doing an article on all the people from Christchurch escaping on holiday.  Thought we were from Chirstchurch, seemed disappointed when I said we were not.  Took our names just in case they used our photo.

Kaikoura -   Next day found photo on FRONT PAGE of newspaper... BIG PHOTO.  cute of Phoebe, not me.   BUT, had one of the best experiences ever when I got to go swimming with wild dolphins.   Went on a 5:30 dolphin encounter tour.  They take you out into open sea, looking for pods of dusky dolphins.  No sonars are used.  They do not entice the dolphins with food or anything.  They let you jump into water with dolphins and let them interact naturally with you.  AMAZING. Dolphins were swimming and jumping around me.  We found a pod of 50-100 dolphins before the sun even came up.  Watched them play with an incredible sunrise in background.  Will never forget it, ever.   Kaikoura is another beautiful city, situated with snow capped peaks, and tons of sea life... seals, whales, dolphins, birds.  Very cool.

Arrival in Kaikoura

seal

Liam and the seal

And, one more beautiful drive up the east coast of the South Island so we could get on the ferry, and then the plane.  Can't wait to go back and do the southern portion of the South Islands.... next time we are taking more time, and, a campervan.