Hanker♡天使般の生活☆♡

 

Finally, I can get one week rest of not going to any far away places but I became the host this time. On 11th April 2008, Michelle and her friends visit New Plymouth and stayed over my house for 2 nights. On Saturday morning, 4 of us drove to Mount Taranaki - which is the most famous Mountain at Taranaki Region as it was taken scene by Tom Cruise at "The Last Samurai" few years back. We chose the Dawson Fall entrance to the Mount Taranaki, it was 50 minutes drive from my house. Firstly, we reached at Dawson's Fall visitor center and took the loop walk to the bottom of Dawson's Fall. The view of Dawson Fall is huge and long but it cannot compare with Marokopa waterfall, Waitomo which I visited last time. Anyhow, it has the different view as well.

 

1.) From left Michelle, myself and Lydia; In front : Sam - took photo in front of Dawson Fall's visitor Center.

2.) Michelle, Lydia and I hand-in-hand in front of Dawson's Fall

3.) Beautiful Dawson Fall

4.) Rainforest towards the Mount Taranaki

5.) The loop walk - stoney road again :(

 

   

 

   

 

After saw the Dawson Fall, we carried on our loop walk. Along the way, there were rainforest, stoney road and a lot of stream. Extremely fresh air that we can inhale. At the end of the walk, we saw a very nice spring water area, its clear-crystal water is fresh and cool. It is the Mother Nature, unpolluted side of the world. The 2 hour walk is worth to see all these. 4 of us were being tired and took out our snack and rest a while. Before heading back to New Plymouth, we went to Lake Mangamahoe to see the clear Mount Taranki view with the lake. Breathetaking landscape!

 

1.) Natural Spring water

2.) Lake Magamahoe - the combination of Lake and Mount Taranaki, can you see that?

 

   

 

After several weeks of heavy travelling, this was the weekend that we were going to Wellington again to visit Michelle. Again, we drove on Friday evening (29th March 2008) but this time there were only Fern Fern, Jade and myself. Our plan for this weekend was going to Martinborough which is nearby Wellington. The first stop was Martinborough's i-site. Basically, we were lucky that there was a Hot Air Balloon Fiesta which will held around Masterton (45 minutes drive from Martinborough). That means we needed to drive another 1 and half hour back to Wellington at night time. This tour was really valuable as it fulfilled my 2 wish list before I leave NZ. 1st was manage to see the red grapes and 2nd one is to see the Hot Air Balloon but unexpectedly the hot air balloon was Glowworm at night one. So exciting.

 

1.) Martinborough's vineyard

2.) Closer looked of the red grapes

3.) Wine tasting - cheers ! ( Lydia, myself and Fern Fern)

4.) Wineyard

 

   

 

   

 

After delicious lunch at this vineyard, we were heading to Hau Nui wind farm which is situated about 20 kilometres from the Martinborough township. Before we arrived at wind farm, the scenery along the road was just breathetaking. This is another extreme scenery that NZ normally has. We took some of the crazy photo in the middle of road - 1, 2, 3 & 4 jump!!! Such a memorable of experience! In the photo below, from left Fern Fern, Michelle, myself and Lydia, Jade was taking photo for us!

 

   

 

Back to this wind farm, it was built in 1996, it is New Zealand's first commercial wind farm and generates enough electricity to power 1500 homes but it is smaller than the wind farm at Palmerston North that I saw last time. There are seven turbines only. Hau Nui (meaning 'strong wind' in Maori) wind farm has a well designed viewing area with seating from which to marvel at the impressive machines. There are comprehensive information panels making a visit informative and interesting. It was extremely windy up there but we managed to take in the stunning views of the surrounding countryside. This is definitely a worthwhile excursion.

 

1.) Juicy-looked real grapes at vineyard

2.) Dessert-looked landscape

3.) How come there were 3 sheeps in the middle of the road? 

 

   

 

The last destination of our Martinborough day trip was going to Masterton to watch this Glowworm Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. The entrance fees was NZD7 per person. This was my 1st time in my life to see hot air balloon close up, how the hot air balloon has been blowed up, and saw how are they going to raise it up. I was wondering that what is glowworm hot air balloon? After this, I only realiazed that it includes the combination of music, hot air balloon, manpower and night time. The light of the hot air balloon is controlled by people, it lit based on the music at night. Amazing experience! The hot air balloon show last for around 2 hours, then followed by 10 minutes magnificient fireworks above all hte hot air balloon. What a wonderful day!!!

 

1.) Hau Nui Wind Farm

2.) Hot Air Balloon Fiesta at Masterton (from left - Jade, myself, Fern Fern and Lydia)

3.) Glowworm Hot Air Balloon at night

4.) Fireworks after this Fiesta

 

   

 

   

 

24-03-2008 was our BOI trip's last day. We travelled back to Auckland early as we worried that it will have the heavy traffic jam as last time. Hence, we passed by Kerikeri's city center, coincidently there was an Farmer's Market in conjunction of Easter Day. After walked through the Art Market, we headed towards Auckland city. As usual, girls always like to do shopping. Around 5pm, we went to Auckland airport and catched our New Plymouth flight.

 

1.) Farmer's Market

2.) Beautiful landscape of Auckland city from Auckland Habour Bridge

 

   

 

Day 3 of BOI trip was sailing. We have booked the half day sailing which was included swimming with dolphin. Unfortunately, there was a baby dolphin, and all the people are not allowed to swim, worry people will harm the baby dolphin. Hence, we only can see from our sail. Our sail is purpose built for cruising amongst dolphins and other marine life. The jet-propelled vessel has no propeller, meaning dolphins or birds (or, indeed, people) coming close to the boat aren't in danger of being harmed. A small sailing boat comes into view and as we get nearer I see the smiling skipper. He looks at us and points to the glassy green water.

"There! Dolphins!" cries someone from our boat. We stampede to the bow. A pod of sleek bottlenose dolphins are playfully following the smaller ship, diving and frolicking just below the ocean's clear surface. They zoom through the water, playing a teasing game of hide and seek with us. Even over our racket we can hear them squeaking and clicking in their strangely familiar dolphin language. We were so busy to take photo and video. The dolphins revel in the attention, giving somersaults and splashes to the noisiest spectators. Standing the boat's front railings and hang over the water, calling and whistling to the dolphins below. Suddenly, one appears directly below me. He swims along on his side, keeping pace with the boat and peering up at me intently with his dark, round eye. We stare at each other, both whistling and clicking in an attempt to communicate. I scream and he spins around and rises up out of the water. Extremely cute!!! Besides, I also saw the baby dolpin...

 

   

 

On board the cold wind rushes through our ocean-soaked hair and wetsuits but nobody notices. The excitement is palpable as we saw the dolphin. The captain stopped the sail. A stop on Urupukapuka Island - the largest island in the area - provides warm showers, a hot drink and a seat in the sun before we zoom back to Paihia, warm and happy. Nicole, Michelle, Fern Fern and I decided to do snorkelling in the sea. What a wonderful experience even though Im not really expert in swimming.

   

 

We had our hot dog lunch on the sail. We were heading back to Paihia. On the way back to our backpacker to take shower, we dropped by a famous chocolate factory around kerikeri. I bought the liquor chocolate for my family. Our last stop was taking the ferry to Russell - a small and lovely island. We had our wonderful dinner - Thai food over there. Our Bay of Island trip - the END-

 

   

 

Day 2 for our Bay of Island trip. In the early morning, we drove toward the northest tip of North Island - Cape Reigna. We rose early and took off for the cape. Picture perfect blue skies promised for great views. At the beginning of the gravel road, we stopped to took photo. We weren't disappointed with the effect of the photo.

 

1.) Along the way towards Cape Reigna

2.) Can you see the small light house behind me?

3.) Where shall I go?

 

   

 

The road towards the cape was quite stunning with beautiful views of the ocean beyond rolling green pastures of cows and sheep. Finally, at the end, every bit of the gravel road and the extra two hours of driving were paid back. What a view! Cape Reinga is the northernmost point of New Zealand on the western peninsula of the north island. At its point sits a small lighthouse. Yes! We were shocked at the beauty of the surrounding bays and beaches from the parking lot situated high up on the hills. We walked down to the lighthouse and were mesmerized. It was cool to see the two oceans coming together to form a thin frothy line. Someone Understood that two bodies of water never really mix. Looking we could see how the currents pushed the water around the two sides of the point forming a V shape where the swells and waves from the two bodies of water.

 

 

   

 

On the way back, we passed by a gigantic sand dune. We had to drive on a dirt track to get there, but it was worth it. The northen most end of nintey mile beach has huge sand dunes, and we slid down them on the bodyboards. It may not sound that exciting, but considering the dunes were 100 meters or so high, and nearly vertical, we were moving at aproximatley 25miles per hour. You wont believe it until you see the photo.

 

1.) Te Paki Sand Dune

2.) Such a dramatic photo - my idea... haha so funny

3, 4 & 5) Sand boarding....Extremely fun

 

   

 

   

 

Cape Reinga was indeed beautiful, you can actually see where the two oceans meet, there are huge waves crashing into eachother. The views were wonderful, and worth the drive. Then all we had to do was drive all the way back, hundreds of kms along really wyndy roads.