Day 251 Relaxing day 13 October 2012

We spend the relaxing day at our holiday park with 3 thermal pools.

After dinner we made a true Kiwi specialty, Pavlova. This cake, mostly made of sugar (like a soft meringue)  is served with whipped cream and fruit. Martijn was able to whip the cream with a fork in about 20 minutes

Day 250 Tauranga 12 October 2012

This morning we moved more north passing Rotorua, famous for its geysers and bubbling mud pools.

 

 

In the afternoon we arrived at Tauranga where spring has sprung, and where we stay in a relaxing holiday park with three thermal pools!

Day 249 No Volcano, but Hot Springs 11 October 2012

We explored Napier a little more in the morning and then drove on to Tongariro National Park.

 

 

When we arrived we went to get some information about the Alpine Crossing Walk we wanted to do. Upon hearing that there was a volcanic eruption in August and some sections were closed, that there was snow on the ground, that we would need special equipment, that there was a risk of avalanche and that we would have to do a guided tour that started at 6am- we decided not to do it!

Instead we drove to Lake Taupo. Here we walked to a natural hot water spring and took a dip.

Day 248 Driving to Napier 10 Oct 2012

We saw Martijn’s university friend Veerle and her mom in Wellington. As you can see she is ready to have that baby so we kept our visit short!

On the way we stopped by their highly recommended cheese cake bakery (peach and passionfruit for Martijn, raspberries and white choclate for Ana) and continued on our long drive to Napier- the Art Deco Capital of the World in New Zealand.

 

At our lunch stop we had a very captive audience of cows!

 

Day 247 Ferry to the North Island 9 October 2012

Today we we took the ferry from Picton to Wellington on the North Island of New Zealand. The ferry took us and our home over in about 3 hours.

 

 

 

When we were getting ready to drive out of the ferry a guy knocked on our passenger side window- we opened it and a man claiming to be the woner of our campervan company gave us a 100NZ$.

We took time in the afternoon to visit the famous Te Papa museum, a true natural history (nature, history and culture) museum. We saw the world’s largest (enormous) squid, Maori cultural heritage displays and geography displays-volcanoes and earthquakes (we got to feel one in an earthquake simulator).

We also saw all our childhood toys on display for an exhibit entitled “So Last Century” and we felt really old!

Day 246 Swimming with the Dolphins 8 October 2012

The reason we are out here in Kaikoura was for Martijn’s birthday gift- a swim with the dolphins!

Here we are in full wetsuit gear- wetsuit socks, wetsuit body leotard, wetsuit jacket, wetsuit gloves and wetsuit hat.

Fins and snorkel gear added a very stylish touch!

We headed out and were lucky to have perfect weather- a storm rolled in when we were back on dry land!

We came upon a pod of about 6 dusky dolphins. Excited we went into the freezing cold water 11C/51F! We were glad to have all that wetsuit gear! We were told to make a lot of sound to attract the curious and playful dolphins the size of Ana. They came so close we could practically touch them!

 

We were called back to the boat and were taken to another pod of dolphins that was spotted. Here we were in for an incredible treat- it was a pod of 300 to 400 dusky dolphins!!

 

 

 

We also had an Albatross encounter! These birds have a wingspan of minimum one Martijn and maximum two Martijns (3.7meters/12feet). And they bring good luck to all who see them.

 

Day 245 Drive to Kaikoura 7 October 2012

We spent the day on the road to Kaikoura. Close to our destination we saw a colony of New Zealand fur seals.

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the snow covered mountains behind the black sand shore!

After we arrived at our most expensive holiday park so far (44 NZ dollar per night.) we checked out our home for the night and were very disappointed – they have timed showers! 6 minute with a blast of cold water! Yikes!

 

Ana made a delicious dinner while Martijn updated the blog- teamwork!