Lake Taupo

We stopped off in Lake Taupo for a night as we make our way to Tongariro National Park for our next stopover. These are really hop and skip as we make our way to Wellington. We visited the Huka Falls whic run exceedingly fast, and are so blue. Wonderful. In Taupo I visited the little museum; had my hair cut; and went out for a lovely mealto an Italian restaurant and had the best carbonarra I have ever had. Early start next morning. Stopped in Waitomo and I went for a trip into a cave where we saw stalagtites/mites and lots of glow worms. Next up I went to see the angora rabbit shearing! I even procured some unspun wool to send home to Stella who has a spinning wheel. In amongst fabulous scenery. The land here is farm land, but because of the limestone there are many sinkholes, and it is not unusual for a cow or sheep to fall through a hole. At our Nat Park stop, the driver cooks us a bbq meal, for which we have bought the provisions together as a sort of bonding exercise. A very good night had by all! Kind of a Glendoll type hostel! Early start again and on to Wellington.

Rotorua

Have now travelled on the magic bus for the first time. We stopped at a couple of places of interest on the way and had a tour of the town before being dropped off at our various places of accommodation. Of course, the first thing that you are aware of is the smell in Rotorua, the sulphur smell from the many hot pools. Also, beautiful flower gardens throughout the town. Rather overcast on arrival, so went to the cinema and saw a New Zealand film, set in the suburb of Ponsonby outside Auckland. The Insatiable Moon. Ex film. Very modern hostel, situated across from the park with many of the pools. Made friends with couple of people - one from Wales, one from USA. We got together in the evenings to exchange stories from our outings and share wine and nibbles. Fabulous museum set in lovely gardens; lovely lakeside walk to St Faith's church;managed to get to church again as organised by Jane. Picked up at hostel by pastor's wife, and invited back to their house for lunch. Met others there too. Lovely afternoon. Took a flight in a seaplane over the Crater Lakes, and viewed many pools from above- a variety of colours depending on what minerals in them. Superb. Then we landed on Lake Orakei, took a ferry over to a geothermal area where we walked for an hour round a boardwalk viewing a variety of features - mud pools, hot pools, geysers. Back to Rotorua on the plane. Ex way to sightsee, as we flew for 1 hour before landing on Lake Orakei, and flew directly back in about 20mins. Missed viewing of film Skin as last showed on day I arrived. Mentioned my disappointment at the cinema and was given a private showing at no extra expense! Great film about SandraLaing in S.A. born coloured to a white family. Worth seeing. Off to Lake Taupo.

Hello, New Zealand

First thing I noticed as we made the descent towards Auckland was the GREEN grass! I had forgotten how green grass can look. met at the airport by Jane, wearing as promised a hat with flowers in it for easy recognition! Jane is the cousin of a friend from church. Again, a very warm welcome. Jane is a stoma nurse (as is Jan in Brisbane), and she had organised most of the week off to show me around. The 2 afternoons when she was required to take her clinics, her friends took on the role! Jane and I got on like a house on fire, and shared lots of laughs. We visited the Gannet Colony, and spring was definitely in the air; One Tree Hill, which has no tree now as a Maori activist chopped it down- made me think of our own Law Hill, only this one has lots of sheep on it. We visited black sand beaches; walked through Duder National Park with fantastic views from the top of the hill (although Jane dive-bombed by a magpie here); saw at least 3 kingfisher while we ate our picnic lunch; visited couple of waterfalls, one of which required a hike of 2 hours all told; drove to lovely villages; took a ferry to Devenport, a very nice suburb, and went up Mt. Victoria, again a bit like the Law(volcanic area as you will have gathered); Kelly Tarlton's Underground Adventure, where we saw penguins and a variety of underwater creatures, including stingrays being fed by one of the keepers. Too many things seen and done to tell you, though I went up the Sky Tower and before I left Auckland, I was taken to a Samoan couple's engagement party; Jane's friend's birthday party; visited two kindergartens gleaning some ideas; managed to get to church twice and attended a women's study evening.

Sydney

Staying in Sydney with the sister of my great pal Maureen. Sandra has arranged for me to be picked up at the airport. Will be someone with my name on a card. Wow. I am to be transported in a limosine - shining black, sleek, leather seats, water bottle to hand, video of David Attenborough's Planet Earth playing. What a start. Warm welcome from Sandra and George. First couple of days Sandra and I went into Sydney to walkabout Darling Harbour; take the ferry over to Circular Quay and visit the Opera House. We booked a guided tour round the Opera House. Very interesting. Whilst on the ferry we saw a plane skywriting a marriage proposal. Wonder what the reply was? Sandra back to work on the Wed; so I went a tour up to the Blue Mountains - and they are. On way up stopped at a village called Leura. Beautiful with spring flowers in full bloom. Later we stopped at lookouts which gave us fabulous views of the peaks called the Three Sisters and the Jamieson Valley. We took a trip on the scenic railway, the steepest in the southern hemisphere, which was originally one of the rail lines to carry coal down from the mine; and the return trip was by gondola. The rail ride was like an amusement part ride - fast and furious, but short I''m glad to say! We visited an animal sanctuary on the way back to town and then giventhe option to complete the trip back by the City Cat down the Paramatta River. A full and exciting day. Thurs saw me complete the Bridge Climb. Although you have to allow 3 hours for the climb, the first hour is taken up with briefing; getting on all the gear; practising climbing ladders and using the harness before you even set foot outside. And oh yes, breath test again! (my first being on the Great Ocean Road). The climb is a great adventure, and of coure, brilliant views as you climb. Fri I went to the State Library to see the exhib Mari Nawi (Big Canoe) which I had seen advertised. As I approached the building I noticed that some statues had been covered in outfits. It was to do with a project by textile/design students which was to make people more aware of the various statues in the town. It certainly drew attention. Before I knew it, back to the airport via the limo again, and departing Australia, sadly.

More of Brisbane

What a wondeful fortnight I spent in Brisbane. Jan and Ken were my hosts and made me most welcome and comfortable. At weekends we met up with other family members; visited Steve Irwin's Zoo and went up Q1 where we stood at a height of 690ft above sea level. From the Q Deck we had a 360 degree view of the ocean, beaches and the residential areas built on reclaimed land- a series of mini canals, with boats parked alongside. The lift in Q1 rises 78 floors in 46 seconds. Jan, and Rhonda in Perth, are members of Jack's family on his mother's side. It was good to be introduced to so many of the family members, and made so welcome by all.
My days in Brisbane were busy and full. I set out each day with Jan at 7.15 as she went to work. I completed the self-guided city walk over a period of days, as I kept being sidetracked in the parks especially. The Botanic Gardens also were splendid. I went on a couple of tours - Byron Bay with it's spectacular views over the ocean and sightings of whales; and Mt Tamborine, where we went on a rainforest skywalk, viewed a superb waterfall, visited beautiful gallery shops and a winery. I enjoyed a trip up and down the River Brisbane, which is busy all day with river craft; went on the Brisbane "Eye"; enjoyed the museum and art gallery in Brisbane. I had many and varied experiences. Having difficulty in getting photos to download, but will try again.

Brisbane Week 1

bottle tree

Roma Parklands in the "Spectacular Garden" as it is called. Plants are changed every 6-10 weeks to ensure perpetual display of colour.

Wow. Was this exhibition worth going to! 100 dresses on display. Fab

K'GARI - aka "Paradise"

I had the privilege to stay with Judi for 3 nights on this island which is a paradise, which incidentally is the interpretation of the aboriginal name for Fraser Island. Judi lives at Eurong Beach, and she met me off the ferry at Wangoolba Creek. Enjoy the few photos I have posted. I still have not got the hang of this blogging, so none of this is in the right order! The inland roads- named M3, M4, M5! Yes, still made of sand. What a wonderful trip we had to go into the rainforest, and to a perched lake. Well done Judi for her "rally" driving. No mean task to negotiate the humpy bumpy roads, with tree roots to go over as well. Oncoming traffic poses its own problems. Not many passing places!

A satinay tree. These were logged and transported to e.g. London Docks and Suez Canal, as wood resistant to marine bore. This is not the biggest example of this tree, but the easiest to access and photograph.

Roll the trousers up and get into Lake Birrabeen. It is a perch lake. Look at the crystal-clear water I am standing in. A perch lake is formed over hundreds of years as layers of organic matter such as leaves, bark and plant life settle and harden to form an impervious lake-bed. The collected rain water stays pure and clear.

Looking up through the rainforest. Luckily, no rain for us that day.

These attachments are known as stags, for obvious reasons. Their spores attach themselves to trees and are nourished by the falling leaves from the tree.