#26: Day one in NEW ZEALAND!
8.13.2018
One year ago, I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to say I would go to Australia. One year ago, I especially didn’t think I would ever get to say I’m in New Zealand!! Ahh!! I am so overjoyed at the opportunity that I can’t wait to see what the next few days will hold!!
Earlier today, my friend, Annie, and I landed in Auckland at 5:30 AM, of course without sleeping a wink on the plane. Without wasting any time, we headed to our hostel to check in and get the day started. Even though check in was normally not for another 6 hours, the staff at the Haka Lodge let us check in early because our room had been vacant the night before. We were a little worried about the condition of our room, considering the two of us have a room to ourselves and it came out to only $36 USD a night per person. But, our room is beautiful!! It’s roomy with two comfortable beds and squeaky clean bathrooms and showers just 15-20 steps down the hall. It has a huge kitchen to store food with free tea, coffee, and whatever food others have left behind, plus a comfy lounge and TV room. The staff are so welcoming and it feels nothing like the stereotypical hostel. I still can’t believe what a great deal it was!
With zero hours of sleep and 40 degree temperatures, we hurried out to explore. Our first stop was the Sky Tower, hundreds of meters tall in the heart of the City Centre with 360 views of not only Auckland but tens of miles in the distance from all sides. We also ran into another group from Deakin there!! One of the girls was doing the sky jump for her birthday- jumping off the 50th-something floor with only a few cables attached...it was fun to watch, but I’ll pass...
After this, we got on to Auckland’s hop-on hop-off bus (yes I know, way to look like a tourist) and ride it to Bastion Point for a beautiful view of the coast and a memorial garden. We hopped back on the bus and got off on the main hub of Queen Street, full of shops and cafes. We did a little shopping for gifts, souvenirs, and groceries, and then headed back to the hostel to pass out. After 24 hours of no sleep and miles of walking, we passed out at about 4pm, if we even made that late. We woke up again around 8pm, were too tired for dinner, and went back to sleep.
I'd definitely say it was a successful first day in Auckland! See you tomorrow!
Earlier today, my friend, Annie, and I landed in Auckland at 5:30 AM, of course without sleeping a wink on the plane. Without wasting any time, we headed to our hostel to check in and get the day started. Even though check in was normally not for another 6 hours, the staff at the Haka Lodge let us check in early because our room had been vacant the night before. We were a little worried about the condition of our room, considering the two of us have a room to ourselves and it came out to only $36 USD a night per person. But, our room is beautiful!! It’s roomy with two comfortable beds and squeaky clean bathrooms and showers just 15-20 steps down the hall. It has a huge kitchen to store food with free tea, coffee, and whatever food others have left behind, plus a comfy lounge and TV room. The staff are so welcoming and it feels nothing like the stereotypical hostel. I still can’t believe what a great deal it was!
With zero hours of sleep and 40 degree temperatures, we hurried out to explore. Our first stop was the Sky Tower, hundreds of meters tall in the heart of the City Centre with 360 views of not only Auckland but tens of miles in the distance from all sides. We also ran into another group from Deakin there!! One of the girls was doing the sky jump for her birthday- jumping off the 50th-something floor with only a few cables attached...it was fun to watch, but I’ll pass...
After this, we got on to Auckland’s hop-on hop-off bus (yes I know, way to look like a tourist) and ride it to Bastion Point for a beautiful view of the coast and a memorial garden. We hopped back on the bus and got off on the main hub of Queen Street, full of shops and cafes. We did a little shopping for gifts, souvenirs, and groceries, and then headed back to the hostel to pass out. After 24 hours of no sleep and miles of walking, we passed out at about 4pm, if we even made that late. We woke up again around 8pm, were too tired for dinner, and went back to sleep.
I'd definitely say it was a successful first day in Auckland! See you tomorrow!
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Memorial for Michael Joseph Savage at Bastion Point Lookout |
#27: Tuesday - Day 2
8.14.2018
Day 2! First on our list was a ferry ride to Devonport, a quaint historic town just across the water. Arriving at the port, we indulged in a new treat that the locals call “ugly bagels”- basically regular bagels with a bunch of stuff on them! Mine had almond butter, chia seeds, and raspberry jam! After the short ferry ride, we walked through the remnants of an old volcano and explored the underground tunnels below North Head, the main military base for the area used in the 19th and 20th centuries as the area was just beginning to be colonized by Europeans and eventually New Zealanders. The timing worked out great because we were able to hide in the tunnels from a quick downpour just outside! Once the sun came back out, we walked along the water with beautiful historic homes on the right and picturesque views of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf on the left. We stopped in town for a delicious lunch and headed back to Auckland.
Once back in the city, we hopped back on the hop-on hop-off bus to see the rest of what the city had to offer. We drove by the beautiful Auckland War Memorial Museum and saw the huge Eden Park stadium where the city holds their rugby matches, the country’s national sport.
Our last stop for the day was the summit of Mt. Eden, the highest natural point in the area. We trekked up the slope and were rewarded with breathtaking 360 views of the city and surrounding islands. Definitely worth the climb!! Afterwards, we stopped at the grocery store to pick up some snacks and headed back to the hostel for the night to get ready for an early start to Day 3!
Once back in the city, we hopped back on the hop-on hop-off bus to see the rest of what the city had to offer. We drove by the beautiful Auckland War Memorial Museum and saw the huge Eden Park stadium where the city holds their rugby matches, the country’s national sport.
Our last stop for the day was the summit of Mt. Eden, the highest natural point in the area. We trekked up the slope and were rewarded with breathtaking 360 views of the city and surrounding islands. Definitely worth the climb!! Afterwards, we stopped at the grocery store to pick up some snacks and headed back to the hostel for the night to get ready for an early start to Day 3!
View of Cheltenham Beach from North Head
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Summit of Mt. Eden
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#28: Last minute change in plans
8.15.2018
Well, today did not go as we had expected! Several days before leaving Melbourne, we booked tickets for a tour to Piha, a nearby coastal town. We woke up (very) early to meet our tour guide and get the day started. However, half an hour had gone by past the time we were supposed to be picked up with no sign of him...we called, no answer. Then another half hour went by....we called, no answer. Then it had been an hour and half and we were sick of waiting. After 3 missed calls and an email to the guide with no reply, we gave up. We walked down to the nearest tour booking shop to find an alternative plan for the day. The really sweet lady we talked to couldn't get ahold of him either so she helped up set something else up. We ended up heading to the nearby island of Waiheke for a tour around the island!
Once the ferry arrived on the island, we waited to catch the hop-on hop-off bus. After about 15 minutes of waiting, we see it zoom by us...turns out we were told the long location to wait...great start! Instead of waiting an hour for the next one, we just decided to walk. It was about a 20 minute walk to the main street of town of Oneroa. We wandered down to the BEAUTIFUL Oneroa Bay and spent a few minutes just taking in the views. I forgot how much I had missed just sitting on a beach and listening to the waves! A man nearby accidentally threw his dog's ball right near us and when the little pup came to retrieve it, he insisted on Annie and I taking turns throwing it back- too cute! Realizing we only had a few minutes to get the bus and not wanting to wait another hour, we took off up a terribly steep hill just to watch the bus drive away from the stop as we were probably less than 20 feet away! Ugh! We browsed through little cafes and shops while we waited and made sure to be early for the next bus!
With over 30 vineyards and wineries to choose from on the island, we managed to pick the one with the best views- Batch Winery. This was also my first time going to a winery and being able to drink something other than grape juice! I did a tasting of Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir. I can confidently say I am not a fan of Pinot Noir. I took one sip and one sip only! Had to try it, though!
p.s. the next day, we found out a family emergency had come up with our tour guide, causing him to fly home at the last minute. It ended up working out better for us because we had such a great time on the island!
Once the ferry arrived on the island, we waited to catch the hop-on hop-off bus. After about 15 minutes of waiting, we see it zoom by us...turns out we were told the long location to wait...great start! Instead of waiting an hour for the next one, we just decided to walk. It was about a 20 minute walk to the main street of town of Oneroa. We wandered down to the BEAUTIFUL Oneroa Bay and spent a few minutes just taking in the views. I forgot how much I had missed just sitting on a beach and listening to the waves! A man nearby accidentally threw his dog's ball right near us and when the little pup came to retrieve it, he insisted on Annie and I taking turns throwing it back- too cute! Realizing we only had a few minutes to get the bus and not wanting to wait another hour, we took off up a terribly steep hill just to watch the bus drive away from the stop as we were probably less than 20 feet away! Ugh! We browsed through little cafes and shops while we waited and made sure to be early for the next bus!
With over 30 vineyards and wineries to choose from on the island, we managed to pick the one with the best views- Batch Winery. This was also my first time going to a winery and being able to drink something other than grape juice! I did a tasting of Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir. I can confidently say I am not a fan of Pinot Noir. I took one sip and one sip only! Had to try it, though!
p.s. the next day, we found out a family emergency had come up with our tour guide, causing him to fly home at the last minute. It ended up working out better for us because we had such a great time on the island!
Visible at low tide only!
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#29: An adrenaline rush and a new addiction!
8.16.2018
Our last day here and it was the best one yet!! I've done a few scary things over the years, like Daytona Beach's slingshot, Fun Spot's 300ft swing, and scuba diving in pitch black, but for some reason I have never gone zip lining- until today!
We went back to Waiheke Island to spend the afternoon zip lining through the forest and wineries! As we assembled our gear, our guides made us feel very safe and emphasised all of the safety measures in our gear and the back-ups in place. When we got to the top of the first line, Vineyard Cruise, no one was brave enough to go first. But once we finally went down, it was incredible! I felt way more secure than I expected to feel and felt disappointed when I began breaking and it was already over! After this, everyone was excited and eager to go first! The next line, City View, was not only longer, faster, and higher, but it gave the most incredible views of the island and the surrounding water. While I was taking a video, I managed to turn myself backwards and ended up stuck like that (see Facebook video, ha)! After everyone had come down and we made a short trek up to the final line, it was time for "Kurinui", which is Māori for "big dog"- over 200m long, over 30m above then, with top speeds of over 50 km/h. I decided not to film this one just to take it all in and man was it amazing!! It's hard to explain how I didn't feel scared at all- I was just full of adrenaline at this point, eager to go down. It definitely lived up to the hype and I wish I could do it over and over again. I think it's safe to say I have found a new obsession!!
To get back up to the HQ, we hiked up about 1400m through the forest. One of the things we learned from our guide was that about 200 years ago when the area was just beginning to be settled by Europeans, the settlers reported that the forest was so full of birds and other wildlife that they had to yell to each other just to hear and would have to go miles offshore for silence. Now, because of deforestation and introduced predators/diseases, our whole walk was almost silent. It was heartbreaking. They also told us that the majority of the profits the company receives (EcoZip) goes to preservation of the forest. It was a great way to end our amazing trip! :)
We went back to Waiheke Island to spend the afternoon zip lining through the forest and wineries! As we assembled our gear, our guides made us feel very safe and emphasised all of the safety measures in our gear and the back-ups in place. When we got to the top of the first line, Vineyard Cruise, no one was brave enough to go first. But once we finally went down, it was incredible! I felt way more secure than I expected to feel and felt disappointed when I began breaking and it was already over! After this, everyone was excited and eager to go first! The next line, City View, was not only longer, faster, and higher, but it gave the most incredible views of the island and the surrounding water. While I was taking a video, I managed to turn myself backwards and ended up stuck like that (see Facebook video, ha)! After everyone had come down and we made a short trek up to the final line, it was time for "Kurinui", which is Māori for "big dog"- over 200m long, over 30m above then, with top speeds of over 50 km/h. I decided not to film this one just to take it all in and man was it amazing!! It's hard to explain how I didn't feel scared at all- I was just full of adrenaline at this point, eager to go down. It definitely lived up to the hype and I wish I could do it over and over again. I think it's safe to say I have found a new obsession!!
To get back up to the HQ, we hiked up about 1400m through the forest. One of the things we learned from our guide was that about 200 years ago when the area was just beginning to be settled by Europeans, the settlers reported that the forest was so full of birds and other wildlife that they had to yell to each other just to hear and would have to go miles offshore for silence. Now, because of deforestation and introduced predators/diseases, our whole walk was almost silent. It was heartbreaking. They also told us that the majority of the profits the company receives (EcoZip) goes to preservation of the forest. It was a great way to end our amazing trip! :)
The beautiful view from the top of line 3- the "Big Dog"
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Me stuck going backwards down line 2! (sorry for the
bad quality, it came from a video and we were going very fast!!) |
#30: Another "first"
8.17.2018
Now this one isn't about New Zealand, but it happened during the same week so it was just fitting that I included it here.
Many of you have you heard me mention sometime in the last 2 years about the tattoo I've wanted. It has a lot of meaning to me for several reasons. I don't mean to be sappy but I believe that everyone has a purpose and something to offer to make the world a better place. And if you know the first thing about me, it's my love for the ocean. So, I believe that my purpose is to "make waves" towards a better future for our ocean and all of the incredible life in it. Trust me, I know that I am ridiculously lucky to have the experiences and opportunities I've been able to have, including the privilege of an education. I am DETERMINED to never take them for granted and to use them to better our world in some way. I hope this will be a constant reminder to me that I have the ability to do something good towards changing the world and that I can never give up on that.
Though I have been considering it for awhile, I told myself I had to want it for a long time before I would actually get it to ensure I wouldn't regret it. Since I arrived here, I have been contemplating getting it over here so I really started to research local artists, for two reasons. 1) to always keep this experience and the memories with me and 2) to remember how this experience has taught me to go out of my comfort zone and how amazing it really can be when you do. I mean, 2 months ago I moved away from, Florida, the only home I've ever known, to the COMPLETE other side of the world and just 24 hours before I was zip lining through New Zealand! You'd be surprised how much more pleasure you can find in life when you push yourself to do things you thought you were too scared to do. I won't go as far as saying I'm "a changed person" after only two months here, but I can definitely say that I am happier with who I am now.
Many of you have you heard me mention sometime in the last 2 years about the tattoo I've wanted. It has a lot of meaning to me for several reasons. I don't mean to be sappy but I believe that everyone has a purpose and something to offer to make the world a better place. And if you know the first thing about me, it's my love for the ocean. So, I believe that my purpose is to "make waves" towards a better future for our ocean and all of the incredible life in it. Trust me, I know that I am ridiculously lucky to have the experiences and opportunities I've been able to have, including the privilege of an education. I am DETERMINED to never take them for granted and to use them to better our world in some way. I hope this will be a constant reminder to me that I have the ability to do something good towards changing the world and that I can never give up on that.
Though I have been considering it for awhile, I told myself I had to want it for a long time before I would actually get it to ensure I wouldn't regret it. Since I arrived here, I have been contemplating getting it over here so I really started to research local artists, for two reasons. 1) to always keep this experience and the memories with me and 2) to remember how this experience has taught me to go out of my comfort zone and how amazing it really can be when you do. I mean, 2 months ago I moved away from, Florida, the only home I've ever known, to the COMPLETE other side of the world and just 24 hours before I was zip lining through New Zealand! You'd be surprised how much more pleasure you can find in life when you push yourself to do things you thought you were too scared to do. I won't go as far as saying I'm "a changed person" after only two months here, but I can definitely say that I am happier with who I am now.
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Freshly inked by Leigh at Soul Inn House. Couldn't have asked for a better artist!!! |
