Three weeks after leaving home I have finally made it to New Zealand. I am now 13 hours ahead of UK time so communication with family will be by emails mainly I think, although I have been told about a mobile phone package which has reasonable international call rates so may go that route yet.
I was up very early this morning (4:30) for my flight to Wellington so once again I am absolutely shattered - should have recovered by the time we start the induction on Wednesday though. The flight was truly uneventful although being greeted at the departure gate by the news channel showing the plane crash in the states was a bit unnerving. The plane approaches Wellington from the top of the South Island and I think I can safely say I have never seen anything like it before. Looked like loads of forested mountains (although probably not mountain height) surrounded by the sea. Probably a bit like the Norweigian fjords but as I haven't seen them I can't be sure! I am really looking forward to getting out and seeing some of the island now. When I arrived at the hotel it was already mid afternoon - lost another couple of hours - so I haven't had time to do anything yet. I did find out that it is bank holiday on Monday though so everything will be shut! Wellington Day apparently. Typical bad timing!
After I got back to my room last night I realised that although I said I had walked my legs off in Sydney I hadn't actually said what I'd done so:
Day 1 - Walked to the harbour (about 30 minutes), located the steps up onto the bridge and walked across - on the footpath not the bridge spans like Kerry! Although there were loads of people doing that. Then I walked back again, round Circular Quay and up to the Opera House. By then I was very hot and thirsty so stopped for a drink looking over the harbour before taking a walk round the Botanical Gardens and Domain then into Hyde Park and down to the Anzac Memorial before going back to my room for a rest. I returned to the harbour in the evening for my meal and watched Rhapsody of the Seas leave port - she had been moored in the harbour all day.
Day 2 - Walked across to the Chinatown part of the city - not so far from my hotel, intending to visit the Chinese Gardens but they weren't open so went on to Paddy's Market. Hundreds of stalls there so could have spent all day but I was very good and only stayed a short time before going back down to the harbour to get a harbour cruise. This gets you round an awful lot more of the bay. I took an Explorer ticket so was able to get off and board a later one wherever I chose. I got off at Watsons Bay and had a lovely walk up the cliffs and then down into the bay where I dipped my toes in the sea (South Pacific) before going back to the harbour to catch the next boat and on round the rest of the tour. Once more loads of photos and video but unfortunately I can't get them off the camera until I get a laptop from Audit New Zealand - so about another week yet.
Well I think that brings us all up to date now - until I have had time to explore Wellington
I was up very early this morning (4:30) for my flight to Wellington so once again I am absolutely shattered - should have recovered by the time we start the induction on Wednesday though. The flight was truly uneventful although being greeted at the departure gate by the news channel showing the plane crash in the states was a bit unnerving. The plane approaches Wellington from the top of the South Island and I think I can safely say I have never seen anything like it before. Looked like loads of forested mountains (although probably not mountain height) surrounded by the sea. Probably a bit like the Norweigian fjords but as I haven't seen them I can't be sure! I am really looking forward to getting out and seeing some of the island now. When I arrived at the hotel it was already mid afternoon - lost another couple of hours - so I haven't had time to do anything yet. I did find out that it is bank holiday on Monday though so everything will be shut! Wellington Day apparently. Typical bad timing!
After I got back to my room last night I realised that although I said I had walked my legs off in Sydney I hadn't actually said what I'd done so:
Day 1 - Walked to the harbour (about 30 minutes), located the steps up onto the bridge and walked across - on the footpath not the bridge spans like Kerry! Although there were loads of people doing that. Then I walked back again, round Circular Quay and up to the Opera House. By then I was very hot and thirsty so stopped for a drink looking over the harbour before taking a walk round the Botanical Gardens and Domain then into Hyde Park and down to the Anzac Memorial before going back to my room for a rest. I returned to the harbour in the evening for my meal and watched Rhapsody of the Seas leave port - she had been moored in the harbour all day.
Day 2 - Walked across to the Chinatown part of the city - not so far from my hotel, intending to visit the Chinese Gardens but they weren't open so went on to Paddy's Market. Hundreds of stalls there so could have spent all day but I was very good and only stayed a short time before going back down to the harbour to get a harbour cruise. This gets you round an awful lot more of the bay. I took an Explorer ticket so was able to get off and board a later one wherever I chose. I got off at Watsons Bay and had a lovely walk up the cliffs and then down into the bay where I dipped my toes in the sea (South Pacific) before going back to the harbour to catch the next boat and on round the rest of the tour. Once more loads of photos and video but unfortunately I can't get them off the camera until I get a laptop from Audit New Zealand - so about another week yet.
Well I think that brings us all up to date now - until I have had time to explore Wellington
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