NZ/AUS EPIC HOLIDAY - Days 13-17

Day 13 - 10th Feb - Taupo to River Valley

It was to the delight of farmers everywhere that much of the entire country started to pour down with almost torrential rain. For many weeks New Zealand had been subjected to one of the hottest, driest summers in many decades and although the tourists were quite elated by the constant sunshine, many owners of agricultural lands were worried that the country was on the verge of drought and that the crops were in trouble. So I suppose it would be selfish to complain about the weather today! Besides, I feel I have been spoiled rotten over the last near fortnight by the near tropical heatwave.

In any case it really didn't matter all too much that it was raining, I had another bus to catch. We departed Taupo quite early and ventured south once again. Had the weather been better we would have stopped for a quick walk at the edge of Tongariro national park but since visibility was non-existent and the rain quite excessive, we carried on to our destination: River Valley Lodge.

The lodge turned out to be an exceptionally beautiful place, a secluded wooden building deep in the wild countryside and positioned next to a scenic...well river and valley would you believe? It was an ideal retreat from civilisation and I immediately put in my request to stay an extra day as soon as we arrived.

Outside the lodge and on the river was a perfect place to swim and cool off. Luck was on our side and the sun started to emerge again so it wasn't long before most people dropped off their bags and jumped into the water for a refreshing dip. The greatest feature of the River Valley Lodge, however, was a kind of makeshift rope bridge/pulley contraption that provided a fun way to cross the river, or simply to leap into the water from. Provided you got enough momentum on release it was actually possible to get up quite a speed, providing a fast moving platform to almost catapult yourself into the water from.

By the time I retired to the lodge itself I was covered in rope-burns, insect bites and scratches but satisfied nonetheless. I took advantage of happy hour and took some time to play some card games, socialise and basically drink and be merry with my fellow backpackers.

the rope/pulley bridge

Day 14 - 11th Feb - whitewater kayaking

I just couldn't resist signing up for this one. Due to the recent dry weather the river next to the lodge was too low to accommodate a full sized raft so today instead of whitewater rafting we used small one or two person inflatable kayaks that allowed us to squeeze through the narrower gaps and shallower waters. Although not as wildly intense as my rafting experience in Queenstown it still proved to be a fun day. Being in my own kayak allowed more control over direction and speed and added a greater sense of accomplishment that being on a guide driven raft. It also got me into some hilariously awkward situations as I misjudged a couple of descents through the frothing white rapids. I had a brief stint on a two person kayak but lack of coordination caused an entertaining capsize which threw me and my fellow rafter off down the river for quite an entertaining ride.

By midday we were done with rafting and while I bid farewell to most of the other backpackers as they left on the bus, I still had to decide what to do with my extra day here. I took a few short walks along the river and up to the top of valley ridges. I returned in time to greet the next wave of backpackers and enjoy another evening of drinking, games and merriment.


Day 15 - 12th Feb - River Valley to Wellington

After a lazy morning I boarded the bus and we were off towards Wellington, the capital. Despite the prediction for torrential rain all around the country, the weather around the River Valley lodge had been wonderful and it only started to pour down again as the bus started it's long drive to Wellington. It almost seemed as if the rain was courteously relenting when I was outdoors and waiting until I was on the road before letting itself go. Regardless of it's reasoning, the rain was absolutely drenching the landscape up to and including Wellington, which we arrived at in the evening. I had a brief look around town under cover of my rain-gear and decided that, even gray and rain-sodden, Wellington was a cool place. After a couple of pints in the hostel bar I one again retired to my dorm before I ended up spending too much money on booze.


Day 16 - 13th Feb - Wellington

Once again the rain, though expected, was thoughtful enough to abate during my time outdoors. It was gray all day and minor showers occasionally fell after making sure to check that I was inside at the time. I spent many hours at the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum admiring a wide range of exhibits, including Maori art and history, New Zealand natural history and some informative exhibits about natural disasters. I had no idea that earthquakes were so frequent in New Zealand and even Mount Ruapehu, the mighty volcano that I saw from a distance during the Tongariro crossing, erupted several times in 1995, spewing forth vast clouds of sulphurous, toxic vapour and debris that blocked out the sun and devastated the local landscape.

I walked around town some more before ducking inside my hostel so as to allow the rain to start again. It was getting late so I opted for another quiet night, determined to save money once again.


Day 17 - 14th Feb - Wellington

The weather obligingly reverted to the state of being idyllic again so I decided to explore the outdoor element of Wellington. I went on a few walks around town and it's parks, very nice. I was shocked though to notice that almost nobody else was walking on this fine weekend day. Still it meant that less people were cluttering up the place and getting in my way so it wasn't all bad.

nice day

nice view