Rotorua Part 2: Kiwis and Tuataras and the experience of lugeing!

iHOLA!

So, continuing about Friday. Rainbow Springs.

Rainbow Springs is “based around NZ's largest and most successful Kiwi Conservation Centre” and have released over 1,000 kiwis into the wild. (http://www.rainbowsprings.co.nz/250/about-us/about-us). In addition to kiwis, it has loads of endemic NZ trees and birds and fish and lots of information on them.

Firstly I just have to point out that the kiwis were not with all the other birds, since they are nocturnal. That also makes night time the most ideal time to see kiwis. We couldn't, but luckily Rainbow Springs have their own kiwi-house and they've reversed the kiwis', ummmm, time zone awareness. :P (I know there is a word but really can't think of it.) So it's dark inside, so the kiwis think it is night-time. Basically they're on European time.

A 'koru'

A tui

Also a few extinct ones... poor moas

A morepork (or lessbeef)

So, first we went round the rest. Parrots saying “hello” to us, massive rainbow trouts, loads of swans, and many cool NZ birds and lizards. One special bird was a kea called Jenny, who apparently considers herself a human being, therefore cannot be put in with the other keas. Also, the tuataras were an exciting experience - "living fossiles", meaning they existed, as they exist now, during the time of the dinosaurs. They specialise in pretending to be rocks (so they can then surprise their prey), so were being very photogenic. 

Jenny the hand-raised kea

The tuatara

Then off to the special kiwi area! Unfortunately I have no amazing photos of them, since it was dark and my camera isn't the most skilled. The experience, however, was amazing. I think one of the things I realised most seeing them live is their beaks, SO thin and long, really weird! They were quite shy but ADORABLEEEEEE.

Yay excited about kiwis

A lot of info on how you can help endangered kiwis

WHY HELLO LOVIE

Beak-wiggling time!

The gift shop was obviously packed with all the possible cuddly toy kiwis possible, any size, colour, cuteness, coolness and fuzziness you could ever want. (Real kiwis however are not too keen to be cuddled and apparently don't like humans.) The most... IMPOSING kiwi-selection was a huge amount of cuddly kiwis, not too expensive and advertising in big letters the fact that all the money from those kiwis go to kiwi conservation. Each kiwi had a label around their necks saying “I helped save a kiwi today”. Obviously you know what followed.........

Many kiwi friends!

Oh! We also went on the “Big Splash” theme park ride. This leisurely boat ride around stuff like dinosaurs and ancient Maori tents, ending with a Log ride-type BIG SPLASH. So cool.

After Rainbow Springs, it was Skyline-time.

Skyline is a cable car thingy that takes you up a hill. Reminded me lots of Switzerland. Nice views, very cool.

At the top

 The best thing was however what you could do at the top. LUGEING. I really don't know if that's even a word but to clarify, it's basically 'driving a luge' and to clarify 'a luge', ummmm, this little car sledge thingy which you drive down a hill.

Luges

SO MUCH FUN :D Our ticket included three luge rides. You had a choice of three routes: Scenic, Intermediate and Advanced. Scenic was closed for the day due to a wedding. (The guests had to luge down to the wedding, such a cool idea!! But also very amusing/challenging/awkward for many of the women in short dresses and MASSIVE heels.)

On the chairlift to go back up

Again, this is adventure tourism. Maybe it's the Finn in me but I always amaze at how much you are trusted not to drive off the track and fall a long way down a steep hill or something. I think I screamed once on each ride and once my luge half-lost balance and for one heart-stopping moment was tilted onto one side, wheels in the air. 

Had a quick scrumptious dinner at Wendy's (a hamburger restaurant comparable to McDonalds and Burger King, but new and cool in my eyes) and then drove home. I literally could not stay awake in the car.

CC and his car with the skyline in the sky

One of the best days so far. :)

Introducing Bailey, the newest addition to my kiwi collection (to be given as a gift if I can bear to be parted with him...) enjoying some AMAZING Bailey's fudge

Lots of love to all my lovelies,

Emmmzzzzzyyyyyy

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Whangarei, Matamata (Hobbiton) & Rotorua Part 1

Coucou mes chéris!

7am view from the house

The 19^th was the day of Whangarei (pronounced “Fangarei” in a Finnishy accent) (it rhymes!) and Hayzybobzykins. Whangarei is the northernmost city in New Zealand, sort of half-way between Auckland and Russell, so it seemed like a nice half-way point to meet. CC and his housies said it's not the best town and told me to be warned of rapists.

On the way to Whangarei

Forget the sheep, NZ is the land of cows

But no, it was gorgeous! Got the 7.45am bus (courtesy of nakedbuses.com, still not quite sure where they got their name from) out and got into Whangarei at 10am, and spent a very quick one-and-a-half-hours browsing the gorgeous souvenir shops at the 'Town Basin' – the harboury bit in town with loads of boats, a few quaint cafés and many souvenir and art shops. And many pretty flowers and benches. You get the picture.

Baileys Fudge. Why didn't I make use of this offer.

Be a real Kiwi: see in the dark! SUDDENLY I REALLY WANT A TORCH

The amazingest souvenir shop ever. I mean, how can you choose between and Kiwi Sticker Book and a Pukeko Sticker Book, and how much must your heart have disappeared if you are forced to leave THESE GUYS in the shop???

<3_______<3

Lol

Met up with Hayzybobzykins, and spent a very lovely afternoon having lunch (veggie quiche and a milkshake), another attempt at coffee and cake (a raspberry and cream cheese muffin, interestingly served with butter), a shop (Hayzybobzykins did very well, the only thing I bought was fudge) and a look-around.

Veggie quiche

Hayzybobzykins and plant hair

On the way back to Auckland

The next day, the 20^th, was PACKED and therefore I will split it into two posts probably. Anyways, it was one of CC's days off, and so we headed off to Rotorua, 2½h drive south from Auckland. On the way we stopped off at Matamata, famous for Hobbiton!

Matamata

I am sorry to disappoint you by saying we didn't actually go and see the actual Hobbiton – that would've been a full day's excursion – but we did have a look about. Matamata is definitely making sure people know it is the town of Hobbiton, with signs and Hobbity houses and Hobbity restaurant names (like 'Hobbit Sushi'). Very cool!

The Information Site (tourist info)

Hobbit

If anyone rich and nice is reading this.... I WANT A CAR THIS COLOUR

Then continued to Rotorua.

On the way to Rotorua

Possum Christmas decoration!

Had a nice lunch near Lake Rotorua and spotted some funky birds. What is it??

Lake Rotorua

Funky bird

Then sightseeing the 'most photographed building in NZ', the Rotorua museum. Very pretty and very un-Kiwi-ish if you get what I mean, I was slightly reminded of like Versailles in Paris, or pretty old European towns. Pretty gardens and neat lawns. But also, a few hot pools – one was even boiling!! Quite exciting.

Rotorua museum

Hotpool in the shape of Australia

Flowers to go with the car

Then, off to the amazing RAINBOW SPRINGS and awesome SKYLINE, where I will leave you now, and continue tomorrow. :)

All the best,

Emmmmzzzzzyyyy

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DEVONPORT I love you

Good day fellow human beings,

'Today' (the 18th) was a very good day, the day we went to Devonport. Devonport would be a 1½h walk away, or two buses. I decided to walk the way of the first bus (38mins, according to googlemaps), and take the second one. Buses are a hassle and I decided I prefer only one deducting-which-bus-is-correct -hassle.

Took bus 813. To the South of the map is central Auckland, accessible by ferry

So, I walked to Takapuna. Went past Barry's Point Road which I was very happy about since it reminded me of a beloved hamster. Also decided, in my quest for getting as many sugars as possible (I collect sugar sachets), to go to a little café at a petrol station on the way to sample the famous NZ 'flat white'. Basically, I guess, a milkier version of a latte. Very nice. And the people at the petrol station were so lovely. I should visit little not so attractive cafés more often, they always have the nicest people.

Wit me flat white

Otherwise, Barry's Point Road was not my favouritest ever, since it sold exciting stuff like fishing baits, motorbikes, computer bits and scaffolding.

Barry's Point Road - NZ is not all rolling green hills

But getting into Takapuna, everything became pretty again. I really like Takapuna as a town. Had a taster of frozen yoghurt and, finally did find my bus stop.

My bus came, I got in. I had no idea how much it'd cost so gave the driver a 20 dollar note. He looked at me expectantly and then went: “Adult or child?” I was a bit taken aback. “Adult. I think! I'm 22.” “Oh!” the driver was very surprised, and went on muttering about how 'lucky' I was. (Later, yes, I did realise it was stupid of me to say my age and thus admit the possibility in my mind that a 22-year-old would be classified as a child in some country.) (But, on the other hand, hobbits come of age only at 33... And NZ is basically Middle Earth!?) (I sound so knowledgeable on Lord of the Rings don't I. I really am not. Though have started reading the first one while here. I feel like a bit of a let-down as someone going to NZ since I am not a Lord of the Rings fanatic, not even a supporter. The first film was boring and I stopped at that. I liked the Hobbit though.) (Bracket rambling ends here don't worry.)

Seabreeze Rd has entered my list of "street names I wanna live on" (along with Rahkakatu)

Last day of Christmas tree sales!

Devonport was GORGEOOOOOUSSS. Got off at the ferry terminal. Realised the reality of Devonport being a 10 minute ferry ride away from central Auckland. The skyline was SO CLOSE, the Sky Tower SO AWESOME, I wished I was with someone so I could skip and jump and be ridiculously happy.

In a few days time we will be on that ferry :)

Devonport boasts two magnificent view points: Mount Victoria, an old volcano rising from the middle of town, and North Head, a little walk away on the coast. I decided to do North Head first. Cool beach, lovely views, funky trees.

AMAZING chicken and avocado salad for lunch (tho both are hidden :P)

Funky tree

Funky horizon

Also popped in the cool Navy Museum

What is North Head? Not sure. An old military something or other with canons and tunnels. In some way a smaller version of Suomenlinna. I walked up to the first infoboard, where it showed walking route options for a Coastal Walk, a Summit Walk and a Tunnel Walk. Well, I wanted to do all of them, so I decided to just explore.

I LOVED IT. The varying views from the eternal sand of Cheltenham Beach to the Sky Tower and other skyscrapers, to just green countryside. The climbs, the tunnels.

Cheltenham Bay

After North Head met up with CC, who came over after work. The plan, which I was very excited about, was to have cake. 

Awesome NZ chocs!

I approve of cake

I'd give my white chocolate and macadamia slice four stars. It was very nice, but perhaps a bit disappointing as cakes go.

CC's hot choc

Om nom!

CC was under the weather and my legs realised how much walking I'd done already... So we skipped Mount Victoria, bought amazing chewy raspberry Vitamin C-tablets for CC, and went home.

Jahkdjawfheubfkjkjvbjf

coz I can't think of any suitable last words.

Forever yours,

Emmmmmzzzzzyyyyy

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