NZ: cruising along

The road through New Zealand continues. The NZ we are experiencing is all about its amazing landscape. And it IS amazing. We grow a habit of acting like American tourists and scream ‘Oh my god’ and ‘Wow’, on various occasions when the car passes through various examples of NZ natural wonders.

Lunch spot by the road

In Wellington Ward and I take a day holiday of each other’s company. I enjoy the peace of my own thoughts in an I-pod walk ‘n climb along one of the bays.

Ocean bay in Wellington

‘Last Christmas, I gave you my heart’ lalala. It’s X-mas time and honestly I don’t really care. X-mas in summer is a bit surreal, and we spend it on a boat from the North island to the South island to enter Chapter 2 of our NZ trip.
On the boat we pick up hitchhiker what-was-her-name who texts to her father she met ‘nice folks’ referring to us. There I am: independent, original, standing out, world traveler, on top of the lot…. in a sudden moment simply demoted to ‘Nice folk’… well I have never….

What-was-her-name and Ward on the ferry

In Nelson we visit the Abel Tasman National park by sea canoe. Again Mother Nature has been kind to the area.
Discovering deserted islands along Abel Tasman’s coast

We are told there are male seals around the islands, and if we come across one on land we should stay a few meters clear as they might get aggressive. I explore the island's coastline and nearly trip over a sleeping bull. Good for the blog, bad for my heart. Luckily the stinking monster (my god they smell!) is not interested in a fight and turns over annoyed to continue his sleep *just like Ward anywhere before 10am :-)*

Sleeping seal: ‘Wha-evah’

Continuing the tour in a crystal clear sea.

X-mas is over and we hit the road on our way to Christchurch. I’m not sure if these scenery pictures are boring you, but to us it feels like driving on a different planet, a wild rough planet of natural ecstacy.
Road to Christchurch

In Christchurch we are back to City life again, so that means social expert Ward arranges new drinking company in no time for evening entertainment.

Us and two Ozzie girls half way through the evening

Time to move on with a slight hangover I might add. We drive towards Banks Peninsula, a beautiful area created long long time ago by the lava of a local volcano (hmmm perhaps you figured already the lava came from a local volcano, but still... just making sure).
A near crash at a perfect picture spot. But driver Ward assures it’s all under control, good for the blog bad for my heart again :-)

Viewing over Banks Peninsula

A quiet river walk follows from the beach, AND I’M HAPPY TO BE ALIVE, as demonstrated on this picture.
*it only took 351 tries on my camera's self-timer*

When we continue away from the coast within a few hours time the landscape changes from garden green and sunny beaches to high rising mountains, glaciers and snow. The ‘Oh my Gods’ and ‘Wows’ are being heard miles away.
Peaceful sunset along the way

This is the last of flatness we will see, as from now on mountains will be in our sight wherever we look. In the coming few days I will learn that it is possible to land by helicopter on a mountain top glacier and that if you jump from a 50m high bridge you don’t necessarily get hurt... Next post I’ll tell you all about it.