Traveled the South Island

March 31, 2006
Kia Ora from New Zealand,
We are finally back on the boat after our visits with family and road trips around the South Island and back. It was amazing fun to see our families and share a bit of the country with them. There were so many things to see and do, here are just a few of the highlights.
Rotorua - The largest tourist draw for the north island, famous for their mud pools and hot water springs, along with which comes the constant odoriferous sulfur smell. We had the great joy of staying on the Lakes Ranch Christian Camp facilities where our family friends the Clifford family reside. The boys had trampolines, swimming pools, swings, horses, goats, kayaks, and abseiling at their finger tips to share with our hosts children Caleb, Owen and Terah. I am surprised we got them back on the boat.
Auckland - the Auckland Museum has to be one if not the best museum we have seen. Three floors take you through New Zealand's land, cultural and war histories like none other. We even went twice and I wouldn't hesitate to go again.
Sheep World and the Agrodome - of course no trip to NZ is complete without one of these shows and yes we saw both. We now know how to tell the difference between 19 different sheep, feed, sheer, separate and hunt them up. One facility is larger with much more to see and the smaller is much more personal, take your pick.
The Bay of Islands themselves - a special treat to be able to take both sets of parents out for a few days and enjoy the blue sky to sail under, green islands to hike over and clear water to snorkle in.
The South Island - As we arrived they were having their first big cold snap of the year so there was no camping for us this time around. You could spend months and a whole lot of money traveling here. We spent nearly 3 weeks and as little money as we could possibly do and still they find a way to part you from it. Our favorite parts were:
Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers - where you can nearly walk right up and touch them.
Wanaka - this cute little town boasts it all. Every sport, hobby and adventure at their fingertips. Our boys were thrilled to spend the day at Base Camp Indoor Rock climbing gym where they could clip and climb all by themselves. We also put ourselves through Puzzle Worlds outdoor maze in just over a half hour.
Queenstown - chilly, we saw snow down on the foothills. We toured the Kiwi bird reserve and got our first peek at the cute little creatures.
Milford Sound - We met up with the curious Kea birds. Large looking parrots that love to pick rubber pieces off of cars.
Invercargill - we could safely say we were the closest to Antarctica that we had ever been.
Dunedin - we celebrated church in the first church of New Zealand and then we indulged ourselves, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate - we visited the Cadbury Factory!!!
Christchurch - Bruce got a bit of kite boarding done.
Waipara Valley - We had the great chance to help out on a farm in the absolutely picturesque valley with our friend Su Kay. The boys and I had our first taste of tending to the vineyards, herding the lambs, feeding the deer and mending the fences. We slept really well after all that work.
One more ride on the Bluebridge Ferry across Cook straight and we high tailed it back to the boat. Usually excited to a stay in the hotel we were more than excited to be back on our home with our own beds to curl up in.
Since our return to the boat, the northland is feeling the effects of some tail ends of cyclones stretching down here and have experienced 3 months worth of rain in 36 hours. Our little town of Opua was temporarily cut off from civilization as the roads have eroded away, rivers flooded and homes and gardens potentially sliding away. Good thing we are on a boat. Temporarily without power and water, this is still the best place to be. Hope all is well with you as your spring approaches and we enjoy autumn in NZ.
the crew of Ohana Kai