So Long New Zealand...HELLO FIJI!!!

TODAY WE ARE LEAVING FOR FIJI!!! We will be arriving in Nadi around 6 p.m. Unfortunately, the last sea plane for Turtle Island is 4 p.m. So, we will be staying in Nadi for the night at the Novotel Hotel and waking up very bright and early for Turtle Island tomorrow (which is Christmas Day for us and Christmas Eve for everyone at home).

Helicopter Tour

Yesterday, Wesley and I did the most amazing thing ever! We took a helicopter ride over some of the most beautiful places on the South Island.  We flew over mountain tops, flew over the Tasmin Sea, landed on the cove of seals, we saw the Franz Joseph Glacier, we landed on a different (safer) glacier, and flew over Mt. Cook (New Zealand's highest peak). 

 

Our guide was Pete, he has been flying helicopters for over 30 years.  This was very comforting to know, since this was our first helicopter ride, and I hate flying.  Wesley made sure I was well medicated before we even left the hotel!  To my suprise, I really enjoyed the trip, and was only terrified 4 times! Pete always reassured me  it was just the wind!

Pete even made sure Wesley got to see a Red Stag on our trip (we saw a Mama and a baby, but they still made Wesley happy)!

 

 Wesley and I voted, and it was unanimous.  We like the Queenstown and the South Island of New Zealand much better the North.

 

Queenstown Countryside

Today was supposed to be horrible with a 70% chance of clouds and rain. When we looked out the balcony this morning we couldn't even see the water, then an hour later it was sunny and clear. We decided to make some day trips. First was going to be a winery and second would have been a jet boat ride. The winery worked out but the boat rides for the day were canceled due to river flooding caused by the northern rain. We'll try tomorrow though.

The winery was beautiful and extremely informative. We both didn't realize the effort and knowledge required to produce world renowned wines. Gibbston Valley Wines top product is Pinot Noir, and as most people know thats Maggies favorite. We started out in the grape fields learning about the growth cycle.

Then we went to the tanks and distillers. After the tanks we went to see the wine barrels. The barrels are stored inside a cave. This particular vineyard is the only one to use caves in the fermenting process. They took us in and let us sample the wines. Maggie had an awesome time because she drank for two. Then we headed back to the town and did some shopping because the rain started to come back. Hopefully looking for sunny weather tomorrow so we can finish up the adventures except for the helicopter ride which should take place on thursday. Also I believe I have been flirted with more than maggie, bad part it was by all dudes. Maggie says the concierge wants me bad, and once again he's a dude.

 

Lastly, this is the view from our room at 10:00 P.M.  still almost light.

Queenstown

Today, Wesley and I flew to the southern island.  We are staying in Queenstown for the next four nights.  It is absolutely AMAZING!! The view from anywhere in the city is just wonderful, and it is crazy to think that when you look out at the mountains, you are looking at the Alps.

When we arrived, we had another scare...my bag didn't arrive...AGAIN! Luckily, it came at late this afternoon.

It is supposed to rain again tomorrow, so Wesley insisted we take another gondala ride.  So, I courageously rode to death defying heights to see the view at the top of the mountain.  It was beautiful, after I had a cocktail!! We both took a poll, and decided we like the south island much better than the north.

With weather permitting, we are hoping to kayak, ride four wheelers, jet boat, and take our helicopter tour.  I really want to hang glide, but Wesley said that if I can't ride a gondala, there is no way I'll jump off a mountain, but we'll see!

Rotorua & Waitomo & Waiheke

For the last couple of days we have been sporadically touring because of the weather. So this blog was delayed due to the lack of adventures. However, there is enough info now to continue.

Taxi rules and pricing

Friday we hired a cab to drive us to Waitomo and Rotorua. The cab driver brought his 14 year old daughter along for the ride because she was out of school. It reminded us of the younger days jammin out to Nelly, Silk, Mafia, Ying Yang (rap/hip-hop). The Pakistani's love the booty music. The first stop was the Waitomo caves. The caves go deep underground and glow worms grow undisturbed. Maggie was slightly petrified.

Following the caves we ventured to Rotorua which had geothermal activity. There were several smoking holes in the city. It smelled like Grady girl fish butt. This was a mountainous area and Maggie and I rode another awesome gondola.......the view was awesome.....not as much as her face........priceless.

Ahhhhh!



Oohhhh!





Stinky hole


Saturday we slept in while it rained. Then we hopped on a ferry to the neighboring island of Waiheke. There known for wine and olive production. We had lunch on a bluff overlooking the bay at one of the vineyards. Also our cab driver on the island drove on goat paths while talking to us in the mirror going 50 mph. Needless to say Maggie and I needed a change of underwear after the crazy cabby rollercoaster. The island was beautiful.

Winery on left, vineyard below

View of Auckland from Island

Saturday night we had dinner on the rotating restaurant which is atop the space needle downtown. Maggie rode the elevator up facing the back wall and hiding behind my shoulder. Once again priceless....

Kelly Tarton's Antartic Encounter & Sky City Grand Hotel

Today Wesley insisted that we visit Kelly Tarlton's Antartic Encounter and Underwater World.  We will say that it would be like having an aquarium in Echols County.  The "coolest" thing we did was ride the Artic Cat in the penguin section, where we observed penguins "upclose."

After our amazing trip through the Arctic, we needed to get back to the hotel.  It was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day in Auckland, so instead of waiting on the bus or taxi, I suggested we stroll around the Harbour.  Unfortunately, the beautiful stroll lead to a 15 mile hike around the city, I am blaming it on Wesley's map reading skills, but he says it's my fault for wanting to stroll.  Six hours and a museum tour later, we made it successfully back to the hotel.

For the next few nights we are staying at the Sky City Grand Hotel.  It is very swanky.  The view from our room is amazing and it makes the last hotel we were in look like a Motel 6 (not that there is anything wrong with the Motel 6).  There is a casino and 16 restaurants & bars.  We ate at DINE tonight, it was very good, so good that Wesley is unable to move an inch without moaning and groaning in pain.

Auckland Zoo

It's raining today in Auckland, so me not having a bag, and Wesley not packing one, had to purchase a rain coat.  I suggest that if you visit New Zealand, you need to pack a rain coat, because they are VERY VERY expensive! On the bright side, Wesley and I will have the only rain coats like these in the U.S.A.

For lunch, we ate at Elliiot's Stables.  It is an entire alley way full of tables and restaurants.  You sit at the table and order from any of the restaurants and bars they have.  We ate DeNiro's (I'm assuming it's Robert DeNiro's b/c his face was on the sign) and it was FABULOUS.

 

Today Wesley and I went to the Auckland Zoo!  For some odd reason, we were the only people there (except for an Asian couple), which means we got to get up close and see all the animals!  We (mainly Maggie) were very excited to see the Kiwi and the Kangroos.