Horse Heaven to the Land of Oz

So after projecting rather emotionally, “Bye, Wild Side Farm…I love you!” I hit the road once more: this time for a short 3-day spurt northwest to Auckland, where I was due to catch a plane to Oz (Aussie nickname for their homeland).

I thought I’d check out the North Island’s wine country, as a potential stopover for the future guided tour itinerary.  The “capital” of this wine country, Napier (pop. 55,000), was a ghost town, even on a Friday night.  Locals’ reasoning: rugby game on the tele. Nuff said. But, that didn’t stop me from mingling with the few existing socialites and making instant friends!  One little off-the-beaten-track place was featuring a Maori reggae band’s first gig.  (Apparently, this was a gang event and outsiders were not typically welcomed, as Kiwi Kerry explained to me as we entered; but not being “in-the-know” about their social norms and emanating happiness while dancing seemed to do the trick to be welcomed into their party!) The night included lots of reggae groovin’ and a really soulful conversation with one of the Maori (gang member?). 

Napier itself was not very attractive to me. From what I saw, it seemed quite touristy, filled with expensive shops. So, Millie and I quickly moved on, bound for Waitomo Caves (black water rafting and abseiling!).  Stopped in Taupo to break up the drive (also quite touristy – man, I’m so spoiled now by the less blemished areas I’ve discovered!).  Went for a short hike to Huka Falls, recommended by Max from Wild Side.  Then continued on to yet another touristy town, Waitomo.  Wow, it was like an American reunion!  It seems we all condense here to do cave-exploring adventure tours… we crazy, adrenaline-loving Americans, I tell ya.

Abseiling (i.e. rappelling) and cave tubing was so much fun!  Hanging over a 105-foot-deep tomo (Maori for “cave”) was right up there with sky diving in scariness – and this time, I was in control of my decent!  The 5-hour underground tour in caves filled with beautiful, star-like “glow worms” (actually fly larvae), included jumping with a tube from a cliff into the water (hoping to land bum-first so the tube doesn’t flip), whizzing down a flying fox, oozing through a small hole in the cave wall (dubbed the “Rebirthing Canal”), zipping down a “flying fox” line, clambering up underground waterfalls, and floating down-current while gazing up at the glow-worm constellations.  Now, that is my idea of FUN FUN FUN! 

I got the heck out of mini-America lickety-split, as I had only one night more in NZ before heading to another land Down Under, AUSTRALIA.  In a tiny Maori fishing village called Kawhia, picknicked on a remote beach while watching a beautiful sunset over the Tasman Sea.  Sigh.

So, I am now in Brisbane, Oz ~ hanging and playing and eating well with my dear friend Sunny (who is a chef) and her family, whom I met in South Korea 4 years ago.  Where the ever-winding road goes to next…nobody knows…well, actually, I’m 99.9% positive it will go straight to the Great Barrier Reef (SCUBA!) and the Outback (kangas and Crocodile Dundees!).  Oh yeah, and tonight is Salsa dancing and tomorrow is crab potting.  Whoo hoo!

Photos for this week - click here!