Day 5 - 2nd Feb - Auckland
There are some things I like about working on cruise ships and some that I don't. This should really come as no surprise since the same thing can be said about almost everything that has ever existed. I suppose a couple of exceptions are Michael Bay movies (nothing good at all whatsoever) and Bora Bora (perfection on earth).
To get back on track, one of the aspects of cruise ship life I really enjoy would be the people I meet and work with. Today the Sun Princess, the ship I left not just two months ago, sailed into Auckland, bringing along many of my ex-fellow crewmembers not so long ago. Although many had left the ship since my departure there were still some friendly faces I was pleased to see, not least of all my good friend Carl.After a couple of pints and a good chinwag we ascended Auckland's Skytower to take part in an activity that seems to have almost become a regular pilgrimage for myself, the Skyjump. Basically it involves plummeting off the southern hemisphere's tallest building from almost 700 feet, tied to a device which is designed to, hopefully, slow you down before you become smeared across the concrete below and have to have your remains scraped off with a spatula.
We later enjoyed lunch before Carl had to return to the confines of Princess Cruises (though not for much longer), our fleeting encounter over far too quickly.Actually I just thought of something good about Michael Bay movies: they make absolutely everything else (including having a stroke) seem more entertaining in comparison. Unfortunately as this epiphany strikes me I realise that the reverse of this also applies to Bora Bora, I mean how on earth are you supposed to follow that?! Christ I really drift off topic sometimes don't I?
Where was I?...Oh yes, I'm done for today.
Day 6 - 3rd Feb - Auckland
Took some time today to research & plan out much of the rest of my trip. I figured that the main focus is going to be hiking since it's free and I'm trying to save money. I'll allow myself the occasional treat though!
Day 7 - 4th Feb - Auckland to Thames
Today I treated myself to another activity to strike off my list of things to do before I die. Canyoning was my gravity defying act of choice and it basically involves abseiling/rappelling, climbing, jumping and using a flying fox/zipline to reach the bottom of a series of large waterfalls that flow down the side of a mountain.
This would take part near Thames which is a small town about 60 or so miles south of Auckland. I was picked up outside the location of my last attempt to cheat gravity (the Skytower) and before too long we were parked near the base of the 'Sleeping god Canyon' where it was
to all take place. We started at the bottom of the river and walked with out equipment to about 1000 feet higher than the base. This may not seem like a great height but I assure you it's a hell of a long way to descend whilst hanging from a rope. Although we didn't cover this distance in one fall, due to the waterfalls descending in steps, the highest vertical descent was still almost 300 feet.
I have to admit that I found abseiling down huge ravines much more unsettling than bungy jumping or skydiving. I suppose it must be the idea of having my life essentially in my own hands and also because I'd never done anything that extreme before. Of course we still had safety lines and equipment so it's not as if a miscalculation on my part would have guaranteed a bone crunching death but there was still an element of danger involved and I it was essentially up to me, a complete beginner, to stay out of it.
In addition to several jumps, slides & abseils we were treated to a couple of rapid descents on a zipline/flying fox, the second one ending with a 'surprise'. The surprise involved being released from the line in midair halfway through the ride and being dumped in the cool water below. Exhausted but elated we returned to the van to drop off our equipment.
I chose to hop off the van not back in Auckland up north but in Thames, after all I was heading south. The hostel was a lovely place which was essentially a large spacious country house that was done up to accommodate backpackers. It had some nice outdoor areas and even a communal balcony. What a pity then that the town of Thames wouldn't even qualify as 'backwater' in my book. It seemed as if everyone skipped town because of an impending nuclear strike and forgot to tell me. An upside of this was that the hostel was delightfully quiet. Needless to say I chose not to head out for a drink that night.
long way down!
getting ready to descend
Today I treated myself to another activity to strike off my list of things to do before I die. Canyoning was my gravity defying act of choice and it basically involves abseiling/rappelling, climbing, jumping and using a flying fox/zipline to reach the bottom of a series of large waterfalls that flow down the side of a mountain.This would take part near Thames which is a small town about 60 or so miles south of Auckland. I was picked up outside the location of my last attempt to cheat gravity (the Skytower) and before too long we were parked near the base of the 'Sleeping god Canyon' where it was
to all take place. We started at the bottom of the river and walked with out equipment to about 1000 feet higher than the base. This may not seem like a great height but I assure you it's a hell of a long way to descend whilst hanging from a rope. Although we didn't cover this distance in one fall, due to the waterfalls descending in steps, the highest vertical descent was still almost 300 feet.
I have to admit that I found abseiling down huge ravines much more unsettling than bungy jumping or skydiving. I suppose it must be the idea of having my life essentially in my own hands and also because I'd never done anything that extreme before. Of course we still had safety lines and equipment so it's not as if a miscalculation on my part would have guaranteed a bone crunching death but there was still an element of danger involved and I it was essentially up to me, a complete beginner, to stay out of it.In addition to several jumps, slides & abseils we were treated to a couple of rapid descents on a zipline/flying fox, the second one ending with a 'surprise'. The surprise involved being released from the line in midair halfway through the ride and being dumped in the cool water below. Exhausted but elated we returned to the van to drop off our equipment.
I chose to hop off the van not back in Auckland up north but in Thames, after all I was heading south. The hostel was a lovely place which was essentially a large spacious country house that was done up to accommodate backpackers. It had some nice outdoor areas and even a communal balcony. What a pity then that the town of Thames wouldn't even qualify as 'backwater' in my book. It seemed as if everyone skipped town because of an impending nuclear strike and forgot to tell me. An upside of this was that the hostel was delightfully quiet. Needless to say I chose not to head out for a drink that night.
long way down!
getting ready to descendDay 8 - 5th Feb - Thames to Mercury Bay
I was picked up around midday by the Kiwi Experience bus heading towards Whitianga next to Mercury Bay. By now the scenery was starting to change. Before you might recall, that is if you even pay attention to my incessant ramblings, that I was remarking how much the scenery of the north island reminded me of Britain. This was no longer the case as the surrounding terrain was starting to look more tropical in nature. In some places in reminded me of Fiji or the Caribbean or some other lush paradise island archipelago.
We shortly arrived near a place called Cathedral Cove and I decided take part in the sea kayaking tour that was getting ready to depart from the rather picturesque beach nearby. Although I have been kayaking many times (someone please tell be the difference between a kayak and a canoe) I had never been on a sea kayak before. In addition, although the weather was delightful as ever, there were still some pretty rough swells which helped to add to the thrill.Cathedral cove and it's surrounding beaches proved to be very scenic and getting to grips with the kayak in the rough weather was certainly entertaining. One added novelty of this particular type of vessel was that the back seat (it was a two seater) had a foot-pedal controlled rudder which made it a joy to control as it sliced effortlessly through ocean water.
Before long we returned to dry land and headed off to our hostel which I have to say was even more lovely than the last. Though not quite as spacious and well equipped, the highlight was the welcoming nature of the people who ran the establishment, they seemed to welcome us like family. Their delightfully friendly and warm demeanour made it seem like our arrival was the most wonderful occasion of their lives. It almost seemed a shame we were only staying one night but then I've got an entire country to explore!Regardless of the scant time spent there I still found the staff of the Turtle Cove hostel unutterably lovely. That said, I'm having a hard time finding New Zealanders who don't possess a similarly outgoing and friendly nature.
God dammit I want to live here!
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