Birgit im Abenteuerland ...: January 2007

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Tasmania III - Scottsdale & Launceston

Scottsdale Eco Forest Center

Next day (25 Jan) I had my first stop in Scottsdale where I visited the very impressing “Eco Forest Center”. It is build to use as low energy as possible (just about 20% of a usual office building) … it’s more or less a house within another house with a computer controlled ventilation system. Next stop was Launceston, the second largest city in Tassie … and then, to do a bit more walking, the Tasman Island Wetland Reserve. There you can see all different kinds of birds, including pelicans!

On my way back to Bridport I stopped to at a PYO (pick your own) blueberry farm … I was told the minimum is 1kg and I have 40 mins to go … ok, even though I just wanted a handful of blueberries for my breakfast next day, I picked a little bit more than a kilo in 20 mins … they were really yummy but I had to eat (or give away) them within the next 2 days because I’m not allowed to bring any fresh fruits or veggies over to mainland Australia.

Was not a problem to eat’em all :)

Ok, ok, just gave some away as well ;)

Tasmania II - Freycinet NP to Bridport

Ok, I said I shouldn’t overdo it the next day … I was recommended to the off-shore walk in Bicheno (which I partly did but wasn’t as good to walk at all – a bit rocky most of the time) … then I went to the Bicheno Aquarium which is tiny (just about 3 tanks a 2 small aquariums) but has a lot to see (little sharks, seahorses, …) … and finally on a glass-bottom boat (I saw mainly kelp …) … at around 4.30pm I decided I had enough rest and my ankle felt good as well so I went on the Bluestone Bay walk. And it was really good – as it could be also driven by a 4WD (most of it even with a standard 2WD) it was a pretty easy walk of 60 mins return. Glad I did it!

The next day (24 Jan) I made my way up north. First stop was the Douglas-Ashley NP. I turned into the small road towards the NP and guess what crossed my way: an ECHIDNA (looks a bit like a hedgehog)!!! I visited the Ashley River Waterholes which are well known for their blue water.

Echidna

Next stop was the Bay of Fires just north of St. Helens. Then I turned west and visited St. Columba Falls, the highest falls in Tasmania … went on a dirt road for the next 20km and on to the next falls … Ralph Falls and made my way walking back via a gorge and another 20km on another dirt road …

I reached Bridport late afternoon and stayed there for 2 nights in a backpackers (Bridport Seaside Lodge) with the most comfortable beds ever!

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Tasmania I - up to Freycinet NP

Upon landing in Hobart I got my car (finally the small car as booked :) and made my way north towards Tasmania's east coast. Made a stop in Richmond, the village with the historical bridge and went further up to Triabunna where I stayed for the night. Then drove further up to Bicheno and the Freycinet National Park. I had a lovely hike first to the Wineglass Bay Lookout and then down to the beach at Wineglass Bay. Spend some time down there building a sand sculpture ;) and saw apotteroo (this is like a mixture of a cangoroo and a rat, say a very small cangoroo ). Then went to see a light house ... the views, scenery, landscapes are excellent here - will have a couple of new good pictures :)

Wineglass Bay

In the evening (after 9.30pm) I went just down the road to the coast to see the penguins ... I was told you might see 1 or 10 or maybe nothing ... was hoping to see something ... and I did ... upon arrival on the blow hole I turned left and walked over the stones a bit further (not much) and sat down and waited ... and then they came ... 4 passed me pretty close and once I laid down (to see all the stars and some kind of comet!) I came really close, just about 2 arm lengths away. When the shine of a torch of someone out there hit him he turned and ran away ... then I made my way back but - I couldn't find the entrance anymore ... everything looks the same ... first trial, I've seen some more penguins, obviously a small colony, I didn't want to walk through there and thought the entrance/exit must be anyway a bit further ... next possibility jumped up on a rock just to find myself in front of a wall of very closely grown trees - no exit here ... when I turned to go further, I tripped in the dark and twisted my ankle - Oh no, not on my second day! ... at least I was still able to walk, so made my way back to the colony and took that path there ... suddenly, there came three penguin chicks towards me, looked at me ... they are so cute! ... made my way past them. And my orientation was right, the exit would have been further down, just a bit more ...

At least hurting myself was worth it! :)

So, my plans for today are somehow cancelled. Wanted to walk to Blue Stones which is a 4WD-road which I would wanted to walk as well as towards Hazard Beach ... should not overdo it today otherwise I won't be able to walk for the rest of my holiday. However, it is really difficult to find something to do in Tasmania that doesn't involve walking ... Tasmania is not made for sitting still!

Short Break in Melb

Dear all,

spend just 3 days in Melbourne. Arrived back from New Zealand on Thursday morning, thanks to a 6.30am flight, really early.

Met our new January intake for a party on Melbourne Business School's Mount Eliza campus (that's the management education campus where only short programs for executives are held) ... really nice. Our new mates had a sand castle competition (sand castle that has "something to do with Australia") on the beach while my intake just relaxed. The competition turned out to be really tough as several good ideas were around. Finally, a huge crocodile won against the Sydney Opera House, several Australian maps, and cangoroos. It was a good day, good to catch up with my friends as well as meet the new people ...

On Saturday I did absolutely nothing as it rained the whole day. Actually, that was really good as it was way to hot on Thursday and Friday anyway (I'm happy I missed the 40 degree Celsius on Tuesday!)

On Sunday noon I had my flight to Tasmania and landed there around 2pm ... let the adventure begin ...

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Wellington - The Windy City

Hey *,

3.5 weeks gone in no time ... for this trip it's my last day in New Zealand, I'll fly back to Melbourne tomorrow early morning.

I stayed here in Wellington once more in a really nice backpacker (World Wide Backpackers) - very amazing how good it was, especially as those backpackers in bigger cities are more often not as good as those around the countryside. Also here, nice rooms, good beds, free internet, free local calls, ...

Did a lot of walking

through the city
along the harbor side
through the botanical gardens (although I took the cable car up and down again)
through Te Papa (Maori for "My Place"), the National Museum of New Zealand (free entry!)
through the Beehive (the NZ parliament where I did a guided tour (also for free))

As you can imagine I loved my stay in New Zealand - the perfect holiday! Looking forward to coming back soon again (hope this time it won't take nearly 5 years to return ;) I definitely feel re-vitalized and come back with a lot of energy for term 2 starting in 2 weeks, beginning of February ... but before I"ll have another week of vacation in Tasmania ... :))

Keep you updated.
B.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Napier

12-15 January 2007

Napier is a beautiful art deco town. It got rebuilt within just 2 years after it got destroyed in the big Hawke's Bay earthquake in 1931. I did the "art deco walk" as well as a visit to the NANZ (National Aquarium of New Zealand). I drove to Hastings and Havelock North (this tiny little village has the highest number of millionaires per capita but was otherwise a bit disappointing).

Hawke's Bay is New Zealand's second largest wine region (after Marlborough on the northern end of the south island). It has some of the oldest vineyards ... I discovered this vine region with a twilight wine tour. We started in a brewery to taste beer and then had our first dish, a gourmet platter with different wines to match the food at one of the well-known vineyards in the region. Then we went up on the peak of Te Mata which is according Maori legends a rock-eating giant which died on kind of contest and is since lying there. Even tough the weather was not that good (slight rain) we've seen a lovely sunset ... Next we had our main dish in the vineyard with the oldest vineyard-restaurant and ended the tour at New Zealand's oldest winery Mission Estate with the most beautiful desert! :)
All together, interesting and excellent tour!!! :))

I stayed in Napier right downtown at Wally's Backpackers, the Mercedes under the backpackers ;) Very comfy beds, big rooms with few people, excellent kitchen, free internet, ...

This morning I drove all the way down to Wellington (ca. 320km and 4.5 hours - very winding roads, lots of villages & awesome scenery) ... will stay here the last 3 days of this trip! Looking forward to explore the "windy city"...

Ciao
B.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Lake Taupo

10-12 January 2007

Changed my travel route on very short notice once I heard that it will be about 7 hours driving time from Whakatane to Napier via Gisborne. Went through Rotorua to Lake Taupo instead. Taupo is considered to be the action capital of New Zealand's North Island.

Originally, while in Taupo wanted to do the Tongarino Crossing (7-8 hours hike in the Mount Tongarino National Park is said to be the best 1-day hike in NZ). When I arrived in my hostel (Sunset Lodge about 3km outside the city center, lovely small, friendly house) I was told that the next day would be the only day that week to do it due to weather conditions ... but I was not ready to do it the next day ... will have to come back to do it ;)

Nevertheless, I took it easy, went on some awesome thermal walks, to the "Hidden Valley" and the Hukka Falls. When the "big" rain started I went a bit downtown Taupo and then I hit the road to make my way to Napier...

BTW: some really excellent, adventurous hiking with awesome, breath-taking views and scenery here on the North Island - and the South Island is supposed to be even better ... want to do that next year same time. :)

Next year, South Island, 3-4 weeks, who wants to join in?!?
I'm sure you'll love New Zealand, too!!! :))

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Bay of Plenty II

8-10 January

Arrived Whakatane (say "Fo-ka-ta-nee") yesterday and checked into a brand new backpackers (not even open for a week - Merritt Whakatane Backpackers). Went scuba diving today to the White Island which is New Zealand's only active marine volcano. It was excellent, absolutely awesome, brilliant! Seen Murray eals, scorpion fish & nudi branch. :) To get up sooo early (especially in my break) was definitely worthwhile! :) Had a great time and just made it in time ... this was the last trip before the bad weather (which actually finally arrived - it's pooring down). Tomorrow will be a driving day again ... will make my way via a gorge towards Gisborne and then to Napier where I want to stay for a night before moving on to Lake Taupo (kind of a action sport capital of the north island)

Did I tell you that I almost did a very spontainious sky dive? But only almost ... and that's another story ...

Talk to you soon again.
B.

Rotorua

5-8 January

Checked in Rotorua into the Spa Lodge - a tiny, but really nice backpackers directly in the town center. Rotorua is well known for the sulfur thermal hot springs which creates the typical "evil eggy smell" ...

Went to Waimangu, a volcanic valley, had a good 2 hour walk/hike alongside all of those bubbling and sizzeling hot water (mud) pools and geysers. Done the 45 mins boat tour and then didn't take the shuttle bus back but walked the whole track back ... that was really good :)

Met Dawn & Daniel from Toronto and spent the whole evening playing poker and the next day with them. We had a really "hell" day :) First we went to Hell's Gate, which is a geothermal park and a mud spa. Had a walk first and then some fun in the mud pools - a extremly cold shower afterwards to wash off all the mud and then we were allowed in the thermal pools :) On our way back to town we did pick up a pizza at Hell's pizza - yummy! The evening was rounded by a great kayaking trip to (again) hot water pools which can be reached only via boat. That was a lot of "spa-ing" for one day ... felt asleep in front of the TV at "Ocean's Eleven" ;)

Do you know what a ZORB is?!? No? It's best described as a human washing machine ... and I DID IT! :) - even though I said just 5 days ago "No way I'm doing a Zorb ..." - and it was hilarious or as my new Canadian friends say AWESOME! So much fun! :)) Check it out at www.zorb.com (I did twice the hydra zig-zag zorb)

And as the Polynesian Spa was unfortunately fully booked on Monday I made my way to Whakatane ...

Bay of Plenty I

4-5 January

Found an excellent walking track right outside Tairua - again a pretty adventurous one (had to jump over several small streams and it was a pretty small track) ... walked it in slightly over an hour whereas it's supposed to take about 1.5 hours. :)

Stayed in Mount Maunganui at the most modern backpackers (Pacific Coast Lodge) I've seen so far. Climbed Mount Maunganui the next day for perfect vistas over the surrounding areas including several vulcanos. Then I made my way down to Rotorua ...

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Coromandel Peninsula

December 28, 2006 - January 4, 2007

Arrived in Coromandel Town (west coast) late afternoon and found myself a bed in a dorm in a small backpacker right in "town" (that's just a few houses, shops, and restaurants ;) Was in a room with Claudi & Markus (from Germany) and Astrid (from Graz!) ... we had a couple of excellent hiking together and it felt like a summer camp ;) We had a great time, also thanks to Markus stand-up comedian of Bully Herbig and "Der Schuh des Manitu". Great!!!

Finally, also spend New Years with them and after another great adventure walk at the Stoney Bay I made my way towards the west coast of Coromandel Peninsula on January 2. Checked with the tourist information center in Whitianga to find a backpackers (originally wanted to stay directly in Whitianga) and was booked into a backpackers about 40 mins drive from there (but it was on my way to Cathedral Cove for diving :) Checking into the "Seabreeze" backpackers which was converted from a milk shed - Guess, whom I met here (and even was staying in the same room with)?!? Markus and Claudi.

New Zealand is a small country!

Went for a dive at Cathedral Cove this morning and to Hotwater Beach in the afternoon. Within a 2-hour window arround low tide it's possible do dig your own pool at the beach and thanks to a hot water spring underneath it's really hot-water (sometimes even boiling) that comes out in these self-made pools :) Went along the beach for a good walk and will check out for a bush walk now ...

Talk to you later again ...

Dear all, I traveled already a lot the last couple of years though I never left Austria for such a long time. At my farewell party I promised my friends to open a (b)log to keep them updated what's happening while being away ...

: Name: Birgit im Abenteuerland; Location: Zürich, Switzerland

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