Day 160 & 161& 162

Day 160,

We slept in a little or a lot, then made some brunch before getting ready to head out and run some errands. First we went down to the bank to withdraw all our money and close our New Zealand bank account. Don't worry...we didn't spend it all in one place! We spent our $2.60 (~$1.50 US) on a couple of different things (a kiwi spoon/knife and a very small cup of coffee). Luckily we had some cash in our pockets to make it the last couple of days.

From the bank we headed down to the IEP (International Exchange Programs) office to use the free internet and sell our NZ cell phone (another $40 in our pockets). After spending a couple of hours online we headed out to get a cup of coffee and do some serious souvenir shopping. We spent hour after hour going to shop after shop looking at stuffed kiwi after stuffed kiwi and some lambs and rugby gear and honey and kiwi fruit flavored everything. It wiped me out. It felt like three straight days of shopping, but I know it was only a few hours. I hope we got something for everyone on our list. (He is so dramatic, I did most of it earlier :))

After our shopping excursion we headed back to the hostel to have some dinner (pasta the backpackers meal of choice). Then we went up to our room to pack and relax. Tonight will be our last night in New Zealand. We are sad that our incredible journey is almost over, but excited to get back to the US to start the next phase of our lives. The WORK phase (that's for my Dad). We finished off our night by playing a little pinball on the computer. It was nice for the two of us to just relax together on our last night in NZ.


Day 161,
Literally the longest day of my life (so far). If my calculation is right it was like 32 hours long. Anyway here's how it went. We woke up about 9am, took a shower, finished packing and had some brunch before checking out of our room and heading down to the IEP office. We stored our bags in the office while we worked on the internet and had some coffee and biscuits. After doing a bunch of computer stuff we headed up Queen St. to have a Burger Fuel burger for the last time (thanks to our friend Abby at the IEP office). The burger was awesome as always. Then we headed back down to the IEP office to do a couple of other quick things on the computer and pick up our bags. While in the office we ran into a friend we met like our 4th day in NZ and saw one other time, our 1st day in Kaikoura. It was great to see her and catch up.

We grabbed our bags then headed out to catch the shuttle bus outside the IEP office and head to the airport. It really sunk in that we were heading home. It was really bitter sweet. We made it to the airport with time to spare, so we grabbed a cup of coffee and relaxed a little before boarding our plane.

The plane took off at 6:40pm. We spent the next 12 hours watching movies, listening to music, reading, and sleeping a little bit (I think I might have slept for 45 minutes). Our plane arrived at LAX around 12 noon. We had a 12 hour layover, so we called our friend Matt, he was still at work so we decided to meet him and Madeline at the Santa Monica pier after he was done with work. We spent the next hour+ trying to get checked into our next flight. The Delta/NWA merger made it a little confusing (NWA had just closed their counters the day before and was sending everyone to Delta or so they said). After getting checked in we found the proper bus, hopped on, and headed up to Santa Monica.

We arrived well before Matt and Madeline, so we spent some time just relaxing on the beach













and walking around the pier.













When they arrived, we headed down to the end of the pier to get some food at the Mexican restaurant and catch up. We had a nice dinner and some great conversation, then headed out on the pier to check out the crowd.



















We played a few games in the arcade and took some pictures.



















It was great chatting with Matt and playing with Madeline, they are wonderful! Maddie is a lot of fun to hang out with, and she loved John! (I think the feeling was mutual)













Matt and Madeline dropped us back off at the airport for our flight back to MN. Thanks for the great evening! We were a little early, so we relaxed in the airport before boarding our 12:40am flight back to MSP.

Day 162,
The flight back to Minneapolis was uneventful. We slept a little, but still not too much. When we arrived back at MSP we took the train to the VA, then walked over to my sister's house to pick up a car. We hopped in the car and headed out for our 3.5 hour drive up to my parent's place for the Hay Family Reunion. We stopped for a cup of coffee and to stretch our legs then continued the journey. We finally arrived at our destination about 12 noon on Saturday the 1st of August.

Wow, what a journey. This was an incredible experience, truly a trip of a lifetime! Thank you all for your support and love.

Day 159

Day 159,

Woke up, showered, had a little breakfast and packed before heading over to the i-site to use their free internet. We checked our e-mails then headed across the street to get a caffeinated beverage. With beverages in hand we hopped in the car and headed Northeast toward Auckland. It was a wet and rainy day, so it was a good day to travel. Along the way we stopped at a small park to have some lunch then finished our drive to Auckland.

It is always fun driving in a large city, especially when you don't know the city at all, you are in an unfamiliar car, and you are driving on the wrong side of the road. Well, after a small circle around the University of Auckland we made it to our hostel and got checked into our room. Then we headed back out with the car to fill it up with petrol and return it to the rental office. We found a crazy little petrol station and returned the car in one piece. Yippie no more driving!

We walked back toward our hostel, but got side tracked by a pitcher of beer and a plate of nachos. It was yummy. Next we stopped by the CD shop across the street to pick up a cool New Zealand album, then we headed back to our hostel to do some laundry, make a little dinner and enjoy the view from the roof top balcony.



















The view of the Sky Tower (above) and Queen Street (below) was pretty awesome.



















After dinner we relaxed a little before heading to bed. Back in Auckland for our final few days in New Zealand.

Day 158

Day 158,

Another big day during our last week in New Zealand. We woke up early to have a little breakfast, pack up and get ready for our trip to White Island (Whakaari). White Island is a very active volcanic island located a few miles off the coast of Whakatane. After checking in for our trip we headed across the street to the dock to hop on our boat for the ride over to the island. It was a beautiful day for our 1.5 hour ride over to the island. Just before arriving to the island we got our safety equipment...



















I had to give it a try to make sure it fit properly. I didn't have my fit testing irritant smoke and wasn't sure if it was NIOSH approved, but I thought it would serve it's purpose.

We took an inflatable to a heavily deteriorated pier and cautiously made our way onto the island.
The landscape was unbelievable.













Andrea took millions (well not quite, but hundreds) of pictures while we toured the island.













While touring we learned about the chemical composition of the island,













the formations on the island (like the negative (extremely acidic) pH pools and the cones),













the steam vents and chimneys,













the mud pots,













and all the stuff...I can't remember all the other stuff. I think the acid mist spraying on my face/head burned a hole into my head and destroyed brain cells.



















I am still amazed they allow people to go walk around the island getting sprayed with acid, having a hard time breathing from all the hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. and possibly falling through the thin crust of solid ground at any minute.













There have been several sulfur mines on the island over the years and the last closed in 1933. The equipment and the miners didn't last very long due to the harsh conditions.













The picture above is pretty pure sulfur. It actually tastes pretty good, kinda like chicken...actually it doesn't have any flavor.













The landscape on the island was amazing.













We spent our time in the main crater, but there are two other craters on the island.













There were some ruins from the old mine buildings.













Even an old tractor...it didn't go very fast!













After the tour we headed back to the pier.













We got a couple of last minute photos on the island.













Then returned to the boat for a light lunch and a little boat tour around the island.













It was neat to see the island from the water.



















Andrea got some cool pictures.













The return to Whakatane was nice and uneventful.













Back in town we headed to the i-site to use the free wireless internet before heading to find a hostel. We found a nice empty hostel and then headed downtown to watch the new Harry Potter movie. It was a pretty good movie and it was nice to relax after our exciting morning, plus it was half price Tuesday! After the movie we headed back to our hostel to cook some dinner and watch a little television before heading to bed.

Another day and another New Zealand must-do completed!

Days 156 & 157

Day 156,

Woke up, took some showers and packed the car. We had a nice little breakfast then headed down to the National Aquarium.













It was a really cool building located right on the waterfront. The Aquarium had all kinds of nice exhibits about prehistoric fish...



















tropical fish...













upside down fish...













animated Andrea fish...













invasive fish...













and New Zealand fish...













Oh wait, that's not a fish, but the aquarium did have a lot of information about the fish and aquatic life of New Zealand. It also had a bunch of exhibits about other wildlife and the nature of New Zealand. We even got to see a real live Kiwi!!! The room was real dark, because they are nocturnal, so we didn't get any good photos, but it was awesome to see a live one. They are an incredible animal with their big bodies, short legs and super long beeks.

They had a cool walk/ride (moving walkway) through a very large tank.













They also had great lunch options...



















Well, they wouldn't let me eat the crayfish (rock lobster), but it was nice to be up close and personal with the lobster. Overall the National Aquarium was awesome, a very cool destination in Napier.

After our visit to the aquarium we headed to the Silky Oak Chocolate factory for a chocolate overload. We learned a little more about the history of chocolate (with a few free samples), then headed into the cafe for a chocolate snack and a coffee, then we headed into the gift shop for a few more free samples (I thought I was going to die of a chocolate overdose).

We had a little snack (not chocolate) then headed over to the Church Road Winery for a little tasting. The Chardonnay was awesome so we had to buy a bottle.



















From the Church Road Winery we headed up to the Mission Estate Winery.













We tasted a few wines there and checked out the cool old estate. Another New Zealand must-do completed (wine tasting in the Hawke's Bay region).

With the wine tasting complete we headed back into town to grab some late lunch and work our way Northwest toward Taupo. Along the way we saw a small sign for a waterfall, so we decided to stop.













WOW! We were so glad we stopped. The waterfall was amazing and no one else was at the viewpoint. What a cool find.

We arrived in Taupo as the sun was setting over the lake.













It was a beautiful sun set so we took a couple of pictures before heading to our hostel. Once we reached our hostel we made some dinner, did a little work on the computer and watched some TV before heading to bed.

Day 157

Woke up early for another big day in NZ. Fly fishing in the famous Taupo region! We packed up our stuff and started the car to warm it up (-5 C this morning).













On our way to meet our guide we stopped for a coffee. We meet our guide, put on some waders then loaded up and headed down to the river. Along the way we picked up a license.













We made it to the Waimarino river and started fishing. It didn't take too long before I had this baby...














It was a beautiful Steelhead (rainbow trout). Our guide Shane said they came from Canada. Andrea caught one at about the same time as I did.

We fished and caught more incredible Steelheads.



















This is Andrea pulling in her second fish.














The scenery was beautiful, but cold.














Shane said this is the coldest day he has had in 5+ years of guiding.














Andrea caught one more huge rainbow! The largest fish of the day. Look at that smile on her face.














After fishing up river for a few hours we headed back towards the car.














What a beautiful cool, crisp, clear day.














Andrea took some beautiful pictures along the way.





























We got back to the car then headed downstream to fish one last hole.














We had an awesome time fishing the Waimarino. Andrea won the fishing contest catching 3 steelheads to my 2 and catching the biggest one.

After an awesome morning fishing we headed back toward town stopping along the way to take a few pictures.













Back in town we stopped by the McDonald's to get a picture of their gimmick...













and grab a snack and some coffee. We had some lunch by the lake before heading Northeast toward Whakatane.

On our way we saw a small glass blowing shop and decided to stop. The glass work was amazing.













While at the shop we got to watch one of the artists do some work.













After our stop at the glass blowing shop we finished our journey to Whakatane. We checked in our hotel (not hostel!) and then headed out into town to look around a little. We (Andrea) took some beautiful pictures of the awesome sunset.













When we got back to our incredible room we made some dinner then sat in the jacuzzi tub for awhile. We watched a little TV before heading to sleep. Another day and another NZ must-do completed (fly fishing around Lake Taupo)!