I’ve mentioned once or twice how bad my sense of direction is, but in Taupo it’s completely nonexistent. I got lost so many times before finally finding my hostel, the Rainbow Lodge Backpackers Retreat. Yes, it’s really called that. There’s not a whole lot to do in Taupo except see the lake. I saw the […]
Albert Park Backpackers, Auckland, NZ Read More »
The excitement in Napier is that back in the 1930’s it crumbled to the ground thanks to a giant earthquake. A bunch of money later the town (city?) was rebuilt in major art deco fashion. The problem is that since most of the pertinent buildings are in the center of the business district, and most
Mousetrap Backpackers, Paihia, NZ Read More »
The Laughing Kiwi, for the record, is pretty nice. I met an excellent Polish chap — M — who, over two hours or so, borrowed much of my music for his mp3 player and subsequently, accidentally, erased it all two days later. His traveling makes mine look amateurish. He, M, doesn’t much like traveling in
Loft 109 Backpackers, Tauranga, NZ Read More »
One long bus ride later I was in Nelson. Since funds have been, um, waning, I didn’t have anything major planned – just a night’s stopover before heading out to do Abel Tasman Park in some manner, though I hadn’t yet figured out how or where that was going to happen. See, all the information
Rainbow Lodge Backpackers Retreat, Napier, NZ Read More »
There’s not much on the (one) main street in Punakaiki, Two cafés, one of which has a gift shop, and one of which has “groceries,” which means white bread, milk, eggs, some canned food, and lots of candy bars. Speaking of eggs, they don’t refrigerate theirs here. It’s weird. In the supermarket they’re just on
The Villa Backpackers, Picton, NZ Read More »
The other trip I took while in Queenstown was a day trip to Milford Sound. Turns out that Milford Sound isn’t a sound at all, but a fjord. The difference being that a sound is created by… um. What was it? I think glacier wearing a u-shaped path into the ground, whereas a fjord involves
Greymouth Public Library, Greymouth, NZ Read More »
A lazy, quiet evening in Fox Glacier village, then off the next day to Hokitika. The main tourist-style reason to go there is to buy pounamu (greenstone/jade). They also have a nice beach and really excellent sunsets. Greenstone is a major part of Maori culture and you see it everywhere in New Zealand. If you’re
Greymouth Public Library, Greymouth Read More »
I don’t have much to say about Dunedin itself. It was a city. Had a museum. You know. My hostel, Chalet Lodge or house or what have you, was quite nice. No bunks, only five beds in the room (and it was quiet, so I only had one roommate per night), AND they did my
Ivory Towers Lodge, Fox Glacier Village, NZ Read More »
I’m at a loss of things to do until my 3pm bus to Oamaru (oma-ROO), so onward and upward. This is actually my third stop in Christchurch. The first I didn’t think I’d stick around, but at 6:20pm I was browsing the internet for local swing dances and found a big workshop happening that night,
Fraureisehaus, Christchurch, NZ Read More »
In lieu of my usual thrilling stories here are some things I’ve noticed about New Zealand. 1. If you’re just wandering around a shop you’re not browsing, you’re “having a browse.” 2. Apparently I am very obviously a tourist, though twice I’ve been mistaken for being British. 3. Construction workers often wear shorts. Sometimes rather
Fraureisehaus, Christchurch, NZ Read More »