Sydney! [April 3]

Did you know that when you click one of the pictures, they enlarge to their original size?And did you know that if you click the link [Older Posts], at the bottom of this page, it will show you my older blogs? :)

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This is my last post in this blog. I am back home again.

Aotearoa will always have a place in my heart, positively influenced my body and has brought richness to my soul...

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I had a stopover in Sydney on my way home to the Netherlands. Originally I would have had 6 hours to spend there, but due to delays and lousy custom information I only was left with 2 hours to see as much as I could. I took the train to Circular Quay and saw the Opera House and Harbour bridge there.


Opera House.


Opera House.


Opera House.


Opera House.


Opera House.


Opera House.

Then I started walking to Darling Harbour, which was further away then I thought.


Darling Harbour.

So I took a water taxi back to Circular Quay.


Harbour Bridge and Opera House.


Skyline Circular Quay.


Enjoying the sunshine!


Lovely boat ride.


The fort in the middle of the harbour. It used to be a prison...

After Sydney I flew to Bangkok, where we had a stop-over of 2 hours. Then it was onwards to London, where I had to wait for 3 hours for my connecting flight. I was thrilled to be almost home.


Me in the plane from London to Amsterdam.

Goodbye New Zealand! [Wellington] [March 28 - April 2]

The boat brought me to Wellington where I would stay my five final days in New Zealand. Though I was looking forward to go home, missing my fiancé massively, I was also regretting that my trip was almost over. I spend my last days at Paul and Wendy's house. They are the sweetest people in the world!


Wellington centre.


Abel Tasman National Park from the air.


Nelson Lakes Park from the air.

After a delay of 3 hours we finally left the airport. My first stop was Sydney and I planned to leave the airport for a quick city tour. More about that in the next blog!

Goodbye South Island! [Havelock & Picton][March 25 - 28]

After I had sold my car in Nelson I had to take the bus to Havelock, the mussel capital of New Zealand. Obviously I ate mussels there, really big ones. Like the ones on the roof, in the picture below. Kiddin'.



In the evening I went for a walk with a guy who worked in Havelock, to see the glowworms. Wow! Such amazing sight. Better than I had seen in New Zealand, till then.


This is in Picton. The sounds.


On my way to the 'snout'.


Mesmerising Sounds....


Yup, that is sweat. It was a bloody hot day. Honestly.


This is where I stayed. Crappy pic, but you gotta love the door. Wonderful hostel.


:)


Taken from the ferry through the sounds.


Last glimpse of the South Island. What a spellbinding experience I have had there...

More to come!

Motueka & Nelson [March 20 - 25]

After Takaka, I left for Motueka, to stay there for one night. After driving there, I spend the afternoon on the beach. The next day I sold my car in Nelson and went for a horse back ride the next day. That was fantastic!


Kaiteriteri Beach, near to Motueka.


Cathedral in Nelson.


Me at the centre of New Zealand!


View during the horseback ride in the surroundings of Nelson.


Me on Ace.

This is my last upload here in New Zealand. I am leaving tomorrow. First stop is Sydney where I have to spend the day. I'll arrive home on April 3rd 10.50 am local time (CET).

I will finish this blog when back home.

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Comments are love! ;-)

Abel Tasman, Farewell Spit, Te Waikoropupu Springs - Takaka [March 14 - 20]

After Nelson I left for Takaka, or at least somewhere in that surrounding, because I hadn't made a reservation in a hostel. I stayed at Annie's Nirvana Lodge for a total of six (!) nights. The longest I have stayed in any hostel. It was the weather, the atmosphere, the surrounding....

I went kayaking in Abel Tasman, went to the Farewell Spit, where I was a lonely soul, cleansed my spirit at Te Waikoropupu Springs and saw Furry Seals hunting in the calm seas of the Abel Tasman National Park.


Takaka Hill.


Tata Beach.


Farewell Spit.


Te Waikoropupu Spring. World's clearest springs.


Shags in Abel Tasman National Park.


Furry Seal.


Abel Tasman National Park.


Abel Tasman National Park.

Westport, Sint Arnaud, Nelson [March 9 - 14]

Arriving back from the Oparara Arches in Westport, Sarah and I quickly found a hostel to stay. Sarah was leaving the next morning with the bus to Christchurch to fly out to Fiji. I decided to stay two nights in Westport. I didn't take any pictures there, 'cause it's just another city.
On Teusday I left for Sint Arnaud, which lies next to the Nelson Lakes National Park. It was beautiful there.
After one night I left for Nelson, with the sole purposes to advertise my car, to sell it. I booked two night in the Green Monkey, a lovely Backpacker. :)


On my way from Westport to Sint Arnaud, a crossed the site with the longest swing bridge in New Zealand. Had to walk it of course. The picture above shows the gorge over which it was suspended.


Me on the swing bridge. I love walking on them!


Nelson Lakes National Park.


Next - Takaka, Farewell Spit, Pu Pu Springs, Abel Tasman, and more!

Cape Foulwind, The Old Slaughterhouse, Oparara Arch, Heapy Track [March 8 - 9]

We had two very busy days on Saturday and Sunday. We drove from Punakaiki to Westport to do grocery shopping and on our way there we visited Cape Foulwind. We had made a booking at a hostel called The Old Slaughter House. We did wonder if we would live to see the day...


A seal mother and young at Cape Foulwind.


A Weka.


Sunset at the Old Slaughter House.


View from the Old Slaugher House (the next morning... :).


Oparara Arch.


Me next to the river that runs through the Oparara Arch.


One of the stalactites in the Oparara Arch.


The color of the river was golden orange-brown. Now we know where beer comes from. Or Coca Cola. :)


The beach at the beginning of the Heapy Track.


The most Southern Palm Forrest in the world. Near the Heapy Track.


Next: Westport, Nelson Lakes National Park and Nelson.