Wowee. After 26 hours of traveling from Christchurch NZ to
New York City, I am on a 7 and a half hour bus ride to Pittsburgh. Steeler
Country, here I come! And with all this traveling comes time to reflect on my
past few weekends and time to write about it. :D
City of Champions (and bridges)!
Tongariro
We’ll start two weekends ago – my third consecutive weekend
on the north island (can you tell I’m tired of flying already?)
Two weekends ago I did the Tongariro Crossing – or rather I
went to the Tongariro Crossing Great Walk. As seems to keep happening, the
weather was forecasted to be insanely bad for the day we planned to do the
walk. But with plane tickets booked on a regular (non-3-day) weekend, we didn’t
have any wiggle room. The track is 19k long in one direction and you need to
take a shuttle back to the beginning when you finish the track. About 6 hours
before our flight out of Christchurch, Jen got a call that our shuttle was
cancelled and was told that we would be crazy to do the walk. Great. At that
point the plan seemed pretty crazy, and I was exhausted after spending the last
two weekends on the North Island, but it was my last trip with Jen and Keith
(well adventure trip.. more on the real last trip later) so I had to go for it.
Thanks for all the adventures Jen and Keith! (Avalanche Peak)
We flew up to Wellington, drove five hours to National Park
(yes that is the name of a place) and stayed in the YHA there – we had a really
nice room for a hostel. It absolutely
POURED all night. As in I was woken up because it was raining so loudly
outside. But we woke up to clear skies, with blue sky peeking through in the
distance and a clear view of Mount Doom (apparently that’s not actually its
real name ;) thanks Cam).
View of Mt Doom for most of the hike (Should've taken a photo in the am)
We went to the visitor center feeling pretty
confident that we were going to do the walk, but the guide at the visitors center
seemed to think we were crazy and unprepared. The funniest part was that the
forecast predicted 19mm in an hour, twice in the course of the day—but it
couldn’t predict which hours or where on the entire north island it was going
to happen. We decided to do an abridged track (a 17k loop instead of 19k’s in
one direction – no shuttle involved). The only thing I really wanted to see
were the blue lakes on the Tongariro Crossing and we were told that the Tama
Lakes on the abridged track were the same blue geothermal style so we could do
the shortened walk and still get the same effect.
Abridged track even had great waterfalls!
Tama Lakes! Brilliantly Blue!
Loved this lake
My happy place - it was a little cold at the top
Mt Doom came out at the end!
We ended up finishing the 17k’s in 5 hours, saw the lakes,
and ate PB&J’s on the top of a mountain one last time. The lakes didn’t
disappoint and while we didn’t do what we set out to do we all felt satisfied
with the experience. AND finishing at 2 pm meant we had plenty of time to drive
back to Wellington in the daylight and get beers there with Jen’s grad school
friends.
Beautiful drive back to Wellington
And after our 9 am flight back to Christchurch on Sunday I
had plenty of time to sleep after such a crazy weekend. Phew.
#TTinQT2015
The following weekend (Weekend 4 in a row of
traveling) we went to Queenstown! My favorite!
I <3 you Queenstown
The “we” in this case is pretty
much everyone I know in New Zealand. It was Jen and Keith’s last weekend in the
country and we had a 3-day weekend for Anzac Day. For their last weekend, Keith
decided that he wanted to run the Routeburn (a 30-ish k Great Walk that
normally takes 2-3 days to walk and goes over the saddle of a mountain) I did
the walk with Jen and Keith and two other coworkers in November (see thispost), and now Keith was going to run it.
Just to give you a feel of the terrain on Keith's race
Jen and Keith last time we did the Routeburn
Jen had the idea to get a bach (kiwi
for holiday/beach/lake/vacation house) and invite all of our coworker-friends
for the three day weekend. Significant others were included so somehow I
convinced Cam that he really did want to drive 6 hours with me for a day and a
half in QT.
The weather on the way to Queenstown was gorgeous! I loved
the whole drive – and Cam drove so that helped.
Once we got there we hung out with everyone at the house
with an amazing view! The colors in Queenstown were amazing this weekend. I had
been twice before, in spring and summer, and I have to say that autumn was
hands down my favorite. Could not get
over those orange trees.
ORANGE
View from the bach!
Sunday was our main day in Queenstown and of course it was
pouring when we woke up. Cam and I took a gamble and decided to go up the
gondola anyway in hopes that some of the activities would open up if it ever
stopped raining. The gondola is one of the main tourist attractions in
Queenstown and takes you up to a hill
overlooking all of Queenstown, and somehow I had never done it before.
Queenstown from the top of the Gondola
It was rainy so we took some photos :)
Once
you’re at the top you can walk down, do a zip line course at the top, bungy
jump or do the luge. Cam and I really wanted to do the luge, but they close it
when it rains, so we were a bit disappointed. But once we were up there walking
around, it cleared up, and rainbows started appearing, and they opened the
luge!!
Ready to go!
Luge Course!!
We did a few rounds of real life Mario kart and then got a text that Jen
and friends were going to Arrowtown, wine tasting, and bungy jumping, so we got
in a gondola down the mountain to catch up with the fun.
Arrowtown, I love you too (p.s. ORANGE!)
The whole day I just could not get over the colors.
Arrowtown was stunning – I must say it looks a bit like western PA in the fall.
The bungy jump location was also beautiful!
So beautiful
The water wasn’t as nice a color as
when I did it in December, but the trees looked amazing. Two of Jen’s grad
school friends did the bungy (I think they loved it) and it was so fun to watch
.. and not be jumping. Then we went back the bach for a group barbeque.
Monday we got up did a little more wandering around Queenstown
and then drove six hours back to Christchurch in the ridiculous pouring rain.
Ugh.
Final morning - View from our room (!!) Nice house, Jen
And then two days later I left for NY! So excited for my two
weeks at home with all my friends and then back to NZ for a bit more time down
under.
And this is the new puppy I came home to. Sophie!!!
My last few weeks here have been insanely busy and so I haven't had time to blog, so here goes..
QUEENSTOWN
After getting home from Sydney, I had a couple not-so-quiet days of work before my mom came to New Zealand. She had a nice few days in Christchurch and then the two of us went on a vacation to Queenstown. I was told by everyone who had ever been to New Zealand, that Queenstown was a must, so I thought a trip that consisted of more than stopping by for a burger (as good as fergberger was) on the way back from the Routeburn Track was in order.
We landed Friday night to some sunshine and warm weather and enjoyed the feeling of being on vacation. Work at TTNZ is really busy and between adjusting to daily life in a new country and squeezing in trips every weekend, I was really ready to just relax.We had an amazing dinner on the water as the sun was setting behind the mountains, and just sat back to take it all in.
The view in the opposite direction of the setting sun
Did I mention dinner was awesome?
On Saturday we drove to Arrowtown, a small historic town about 20 minutes from Queenstown, and then on to Wanaka, a more quiet version of Queenstown, but equally as beautiful. It was a bit cloudy but the drive was nice to show my mom some of the classic view of New Zealand.
Mama loving the view on the way to Wanaka
Back in Queenstown after our day trip
Evening at the base of the Remarkables (covered in clouds), the mountain range in Queenstown
The real excitement came on Sunday, though. I convinced my mom (or maybe convinced her that she didn't have a choice) to climb Queenstown Hill. One of the main attractions in Queenstown is a gondola up to the top of a hill where you can then paraglide, zip line, bungee jump, or ride a luge to get down. My mom took the gondola on her last trip in 2009 so she knew how high it was. The hill we climbed was next to the one with the gondola, and the summit was much higher. Starting out, my mom had some doubts, but with a little coercing she made it to the top! We had so much fun - may have turned my mom in to a hiker!
The Gondola is at about the height of her hand (and we're not even at the top!)
Queenstown!
Love those colors!
Next up was the bungey jump. New Zealand is the home of the bungey and the bridge I jumped from was the location of the first commercial bungey! Before coming to New Zealand, one of my coworkers, who had studied abroad in NZ, told me I HAD to do it... But I wasn't convinced. My middle sister told me to do one thing out of my comfort zone while I was here... And I definitely didn't think this would be it. But when I went to Sydney and talked to Charlie, he said he would be disappointed if I didn't do it and if he came to NZ (which I'm still hoping you do!!) he would do it. So after all the encouraging words, I decided that I too would be disappointed in myself if I went home without doing it and had to tell everyone I wasn't brave enough. I put off signing up until the night before, but once I hit confirm, I knew there was no turning back... Until I was on the ledge.
Not. Letting. Go.
I went to the bridge, super confident that I could bungee jump and not freak out. I was all harnessed up and standing on the edge when I made the biggest mistake you could make, I looked straight down. Instantly I started shaking and rethinking my decision. The guy working told me to wave and smile for the camera... and to take my hand off the handle. I was so scared I would fall or that he would push me (which if course they won't do) that I couldn't let go.
I'll wave but I won't let go. #grassrootsgear #thetribebungeyjumps
A few deep breaths later, we had our final dialogue:
"See that bridge out there. Just look at that. Don't look down"
"I already looked down."
"Do whatever you need to do to get yourself off this platform. Scream. Jump. Anything."
"Oh my god I'm so scared"
"I'm going to count down from 3"
"Can you start at 5?"
"3"
"Oh my god oh my god"
"2.......1..BUNGEY"
"AHHHHHHHHHHH"
And without thinking, I did it.
Yep, that's me screaming.
And it was awesome.
There was a life boat at the bottom, so they came out and got me and I walked back up to find my mom who had watched the whole thing.
After the jump I had a celebratory drink and enjoyed a quiet evening before going back to Christchurch. The legendary Queenstown, also known as adventure town, definitely lived up to is reputation. I loved it so much and can't wait to go back.. But maybe not to bungee jump.
NELSON
The next week at work FLEW by and before I knew it I was on a plane up to Nelson to find my mom again.
Jen and I at our Christmas Party - Part of what made the week go by so fast
It was a funny to see my mom waiting for me at the airport and have a dinner place all picked out, as I had been the host the week before. We had a really nice dinner (again) on the water in Nelson. The water there is just the most gorgeous shade of blue. We spent all day Sunday traveling around the area which is known for both their craft beer and their wineries!
Neudorf Vineyard
We stopped by three wineries for a tasting, an A&P show (kind of like a state fair) to see what it was like, and finished with lunch and a glass of wine at a vineyard close to the airport, before flying back to Christchurch.
Waimea Vineyard
The following day my mom hopped on a plane to Sydney and began her trip back home. It was so nice to have her here! <3
2015
I was sad to lose my visitor and even more sad when I started to realize it was my last week in New Zealand. I have really gotten to enjoy my life in here, though it is a true 180 from my life in New York, which I also love and miss. But my time here just didn't feel complete. There's so much more I want to do and I wasn't ready to say goodbye to my friends. So Wednesday morning, when the head of my office said "Doesn't it just make sense for you to come back?" I had to agree. I did have my objections and reasons why I should stay home, but by the end of the conversation it was decided - I'm going to spend a week in Southern California with my manager and some of the team who have been helping us from the TT Irvine office, and then my manager and I will be flying back to NZ. I'll stay for three weeks until I have to go home to move apartments! Then, I promise, I'm home for good.
Why stop when you're having this much fun??
So the adventures in NZ continue. I will likely get one more trip in. I'm hoping to go to Milford Sound or Franz Joseph Glacier or Mount Cook on my last weekend here. I'll keep you posted :)
Thanks for reading and supporting me for my time abroad. I really needed it in the beginning and I still love it in the end. Now, let's all get home safely for the holidays!
