kez & hay travels 06

So it's been a while since my last update, I know but I've been having a well deserved rest from lugging Meshell (backpack) around chez Patricia in Sydney. You'll be glad to hear that the back and shoulders are well and truely rested and ready to hit the road again but as for my liver.... well, you can imagine! We had alot of catching up to do!

 My first two weeks here were spent with all the other tourists - strolling across the Harbour Bridge, taking a tour of the Opera House, relaxing in the Botanic Gardens, hangin' out on the beach in Manly and partying hard in Kings Cross, no sorry that was for my whole duration in Sydney. Then I got a job as a receptionist..... mmmm fortunately that didn't last for too long, I got some extra dollars for it and the Aussie's got some free lessons in Derby slang though!  

With a bank holiday weekend ahead of us at the end of my fourth week, we headed for the Blue Mountains - Bushwalker's mecca. With Patricia at the wheel and me as co-pilot it took us a little longer than expected but we made it eventually and were met with spectacular scenery of rugged cliffs and a never ending valley touched by a eucalyptus haze - yes, the Blue Mountains do have a slight blue tinge to them. The most photographed spot is of the spectacular views of the Three Sister rock formations. According to Aboriginal legends the three sisters were turned into stone by a witch doctor because they had fallen in love with brothers from another tribe causing a tribal battle. We gave bushwalking a try but kept jumping into each others arms at the slightest rustle so headed for the nearest bar.

 Next destination was to see if I could spot Alf Stewart down the surf club at Summer Bay. No luck but plenty of lifeguards to check out and I could see why after being overhauled by a huge wave and nearly losing half of my bikini!

Then it was au revoir to Syndey after five weeks and onto Canberra, capital city of OZ. Canberra meaning "meeting place" in Aboriginal terms has only been around since 1913 and is full of diplomats, civil servantsand best of all ex-colleagues. So supprisingly I skanked accomodation and beers out of one - yes our chuck Michael and a meal out of another - Stuart and Ann-Christine. All of who were fortunate enough (ha ha) to be based in Canberra when a skin flint backpacker came to town and so it was great meeting up with them again.

Being in the political capital I had to take a trip to the Parliment House both new and old - yes they call it old!! and was able to actually sit in on question time, which the Prime Minister attended.  A huge artificial lake is the centrepiece of the city and everything is well spread out around it, so there was plenty of opportunity to see wild Kangaroos and exotic birds in the parks "No Hayley, that's not someone's escaped parrot".

Next stop Melbourne and to see if neighbours do really become good friends.......

Well after a very emotional and difficult farewell to my great travelling buddy, I headed north from Windy Wellington alone. Yes, that's right Kerry is back in blighty now, I know the write ups will not be the same without her talent and nor will the travelling but please keep blogging on with me! Oh and it was planned like that we didn't have any big bust up or anything.

My first stop from Wellington was to a small town called Tarangi. With the Tongariro National Park not far away I booked to do a walk, yes that's what it said but after 8 hours of climbing vertical mountains and hiking through knee deep snow I thought otherwise! The Tongariro crossing as it's known is regarded as the finest one day walk in NZ and the hardest if I had my say. It is home to three active volcanoes and played the role of Mordor (Lord of Rings). The last eruption was from Mt Ruapehu back in 1996. We tramped (kiwi lingo) on the oldest of the three through it's red crater which last erupted in 1926 but there was definitely some activity still going on. Ummm Do mountains usually smoke?...We were the first trampers of the day so it was like stepping on the moon with no footprints to follow. I realised just how hard it was going to be within the first hour when we started asending a side dubbed "The devil's staircase". In true Kerry and Hayley style I was at the back of the group puffing and panting but this time complaining and cursing to myself. It was all worth it at the top though as the views were stunning.Back at the hostel we celebrated our sucess with a bottle of wine and I worried about how I would walk the next day!

Next stop was Lake Taupo and with a beautiful day ahead of me I hired a bike from the hostel. I fancied a nice bike ride to the Huka waterfalls, little did I know that the bike ride would turn into a professional mountain bike track! Why do we never learn? Anyway after pushing the bike for most of the way I arrived at a great torrent of turquoise water that was plunging through the rocks. I had a well earned icecream and walk through a nearby forest that held some beautiful trees and plants, very relaxing until the 2 hour journey back.

Rotorua nicknamed "Sulphur city" or as I prefer stinkyville. It has the most energetic thermal activity in the country, with bubbling mud pools, gurgling hot springs and evil eggy smells hovering around. I visited a Maori village and saw traditional dances, including the famous "war dance" that the All Blacks perform. Enough of culture for day 2 though and it was off to do some "Zorbing". What??? Well it involves throwing yourself into a plastic ball that has a bucket of warm water in and then rolling yourself down a hill at 20mph. Kiwi invented and great fun but not to be done after a large fry up!

With the adrenaline still pumping I headed to the coastal town of Tauranga. This is the main town of the Bay of Plenty and is NZ's principal kiwi-fruit region so I was staying with quite a few pickers in the hostel which meant free kiwis! Here I caught the bus to Mt Maunganui for the day and climbed the 232m-high hill passing cute lambs with not so impressed mums on the way.

With time runing out I made my way to Auckland. Blessed with yet another gorgeous day I set out to explore the busy city. Stoping by at the Auckland museum and relaxing in the Eden garden with it's great views of the city from Mt Eden. To celebrate my last night in this wonderful country, I went up the skytower to see the sunset with a glass of vino from the sky high bar. See you in OZ. 

Check out our underwater photos in Malaysia/Singapore Album and our skydiving ones in New Zealand Album.