We left Auckland for Waitomo and did a black water rafting adventure! It was so rad. We went through some sweet limestone caverns (up to 80m deep), and tubed through some parts on our inner tubes, got to jump off some waterfalls into the tubes, paddle around through the dark (I led the way! Follow the glow worms...) and we all got in an 'eel' (holding eachothers legs in a line) and got dragged in a row and look up at the beautiful glow worm spectacle on the ceiling above us. It was like being in the galaxy. So so so so many little 'stars' ! Glowworms are actually larvae's shiny shit....but it was still sweet as.
We headed southward to Tongariro National Park where we were met by cold winds and patches of snow on the ground. The NP is where the string of volcanoes Ruapehu, Ngaruhoe, and Tongariro are, part of the TVZ(ed) (Taupo Volcanic Zone). ('Z' is pronounced 'Zed'). We got to the Chateau Tongariro in Whakapapa Village (ski town) late, ate an exhausted dinner (driving & caving all day), and proceeded to wake up sick in the morning. Erika felt the worst and couldn't get up, so Mom, Dad and I went for a short tramp and met a strange fellow dressed in several striped patterns, flourescent clothing, a prevalent nose drip, and a funnily-situated little beanie on top of his mid-70 year old age. He was very friendly and helped guide us to a few places on our way out of the NP, and provided some interest to the otherwise cloudy, slow day. He is later known as 'Dr. Seuss,' but I still think he looks like an 'Arthur.' We went back to the hotel, woke Erika up, and drove to Mt. Ruapehu, where many people were out skiing and enjoying the blue-skies when the clouds finally cleared up in the afternoon. The snow-white mountains were a beautiful contrast to the bright blue sky and it definitely made us all feel a little better seeing the beautiful peaks peek through the clouds that seemed to have lingered for so long. There really wasn't much else for us to do unless we wanted to ski or take the chairlift up, but nobody was really in a state or prepared for that, so we just ate at the lodge and looked out over the vast valley below us where the clouds had settled temporarily.
We went back to the hotel after taking in the sights for a while, and enjoyed the lovely fireside of the lounge in the hotel and read up on where to head next while enjoying a cold NZ beer (Tui or Steinlager). We lurked around the pool/game area in the hotel, and although its old style was charming, the hot pool in the basement of the building in a very low ceiling was just creepy...'the dolphin tank.'
More pictures coming up!!
I went back down there this weekend (Sept 17-18) to go snowboarding for real this time! We drove slow down the 1 and stopped a few places I had already been (on the way back from TNP with my fam, more on that soon); Lake Taupo, Huka Falls, but it was still fun being with my friends Caroline and Ana, and seeing the lovely sights at a few different vantage points. We frolicked through a field in front of Lake Taupo, skipped and collected rocks and bones, ate a picnic lunch by the lake, and braved the rain in our tiny little car with one working windshield wiper. I also got to drive on the left side of the road! How fun, and easier than it looks! We made it to Whakapapa on Saturday late afternoon, and spent the night at the Skotel Alpine Hotel & Backpackers. They had a little lounge area so that was nice to relax, watch A League of their Own (circa 1992), play bananagrams, eat soup, then went to a pub to watch the Australia vs. Ireland RWC (Rugby World Cup) match. In order to determine which team we should root for, we watched the lineup and counted how many hot men were on each team. Ireland won 17-15....and won the game something like 15-6. (In hotness of course!!)
Twas a splendid evening with my girlfriends, then we went to Mt. Ruapehu in the early morning to do some shreddin'. I was afraid my two advanced skiing friends would ditch me the whole time, but turns out that didn't matter much. The snow was a bit hard packed and the visibility was horrible; you had to look at the ground ahead of you to tell how the snow looked, and constantly be aware of where the runs were because it was so foggy. On our second run, Caroline and I (at the same time) ate it so hard; me on my wrist, she on her knee. I sprained my wrist (typing with a makeshift cast right now), and she sprained her knee too. Needless to say, we took the chairlift down and spent the rest of the morning in the medical center nursing our wounds. Atleast Ana got to ski for another hour or two (just called it a half-day). Luckily, I got almost a full refund (2 runs for $10 aint bad) on all the gear I rented + the lift, but paid a bit for the medical bill as well...luckily I didn't break my wrist (9/10 times it's a break), but I'm glad I got the x-rays to prove its not broken. I've still never actually broken a bone....(knocking on wood). It was SUCH a bummer for us both though; Caroline was boasting about being such a gnarly skiier as an instructor, racer, skis every winter, etc., and I only get to go once per season if I'm lucky. But atleast I already went in January and snow season is coming up again in the US. We DID ski/board New Zealand though! Even if it was only for approximately 15 minutes. It happened. I'm sticking to my story! I didn't bring my camera this weekend, but I'm sure my friends will put up some pictures (of me sleeping in the car several times, good stuff) and I'll put 'em up here later!
To maximise the time we have with our car, we all (wall) + our friend Colleen went to an gelato shop in Mission Bay (10 min drive from city central) and walked along the beach! Such a cute little date with my best mates here :) They really are, and I'm so glad I found them. Too bad they are all from the east coast! bummerrrrrr. Oh well, I'll just have more of an excuse to go there now!
