WildyWeb: two Scousers in India

I can't remember where this is

I'm sure I recognise it from somewhere

Waitomo backpackers' hostel

Rotorua thermal park

Napier beach

Not another shadow picture

Approaching South Island

Lake Tekapo

Just another stunning morning scene

Deer Park Heights, above Queenstown

Dunedin

Dunedin

Dunedin

The wedding

View from John and Winsome's house

Auckland again - from the Sky Tower

And so we bid farewell..

Holiday report

We went to Australia and New Zealand. Only read on if you don't easily get envious.

Flight to Australia

Now, it's not that we are obsessed with air miles (although we now have more or less enough for a free flight to Cairo, Damascus, Teheran, Sri Lanka or the Maldives); it's just that Emirates really did involve the best deal, given that we were flying to New Zealand with a stopover in Australia. The fact that we flew from Delhi to Dubai, then back across India to Bangkok, collecting points on the way, was pure coincidence. Anyway, no holiday would be complete without wandering round the Dubai Airport Duty Free shops.

The flight from Dubai to Sydney was on a big 777 which was barely one third full, so we had the unexpected luxury of being able to lie down over three or four seats while watching our selection from over 100 films (the new in-flight entertainment system is brilliant - 500 channels on demand). Managed to watch about three films and an episode of Kath and Kim (to get ready for Melbourne) before crashing out somewhere after Bangkok. That's the only episode I've seen; I hope one of the Indian stations buys it or one of the website readers in Australia takes pity on me and sends me a DVD. If you haven't come across it yet (and I hadn't until I saw the show on the flight) read about it here.

Melbourne and Sydney

Arrived at Sydney in the morning of some day or other and caught a flight more or less straight away to Melbourne where we were met by John Lewis, former Carey staff member, and whizzed off to Carey Baptist Grammar School. Carey have a staff and student exchange with Woodstock, so we wanted to visit and talk to a few of the people involved - a bit of PR, you know. We were staying with two former Woodstock staff, Howard and Gill WIlkins and their family (Howard is High School Chaplain at Carey) and they gave us a brilliant time. In between visiting the school we fitted in a trip to Healesville Sanctuary to gawp at native Australian wildlife and their strange habits and to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for an Aussie Rules Football match where we were able to, er, gawp at native Australian wildlife and their strange habits. Actually, the games was great, and I could be a convert, particularly since staff at Woodstock now have a Dish TV subscription which includes ABC (Australian TV), where AFL is featured every Friday evening. I still think it's basically an energetic form of netball with kicking, but none the worse for that. We also had a nice gathering of Woodstock alumni at John Lewis' restaurant, Barclayscafe, which was a good evening.

So a packed four or five days then off to Sydney for two nights, staying with a friend of a friend (Woodstock is good for that! Imagine having a four-week holiday where you only pay for three or four nights' accommodation!). We basically had one day to "do" Sydney, and we had a great time - Aquarium, water taxi under the harbour bridge to the Opera House, walk through the town, shopping for essentials (read, underwear) at a nice discount outfitters, a huge mixed grill and a glass of wine. Not a bad day. And next morning, off to Auckland.

North Island

Arrived at Auckland and collected by the Auty's parents for the drive up to Whangaparaoa (pronounced Phangaparaoa if that helps) via Mount Eden, a small volcanic crater, for an aerial view of the city. Spectacular. A nice few days being shown around the area - lovely coves and beaches, sea views all around with volcanic islands dotted everywhere. And a few good home-cooked meals - always welcome. We had another Woodstock Old Students reunion, and were able to go to the leaving service for the Coopers, a family who were coming to Woodstock, which was a real bonus.

Right after the service, or rather after a roast beef lunch, we were taken to the airport to collect a hire car and pick up Louise, who had travelled with us to Melbourne but stayed a few extra days visiting friends and family. The holiday begins! (again).

First a drive down to Waitamo to a nice modern backpackers hostel - a pine lodge, log-burning fire, local pub grub and clean sheets. What more could one want? Next morning, we awoke to frost on the ground - we really were in the southern hemisphere winter! Then a visit to the Waitomo caves. These are famous for being full of glow-worms: you float down the underground river under a constellation of stars. From there, we drove right across the country, west coast to east, to Rotorua, a volcanic area full of hot mud pools, geysers, hot pools in every motel. Even the backpackers hostel we stayed in had its own tub, but we went instead to the Polynesian Spa and lay in the pools as the night sky filled with stars. The southern stars, of course - we finally spotted the Southern Cross. Earlier we visited Te Puia - thermals, Maori culture. Well worth a visit.

Next morning, Rotorua to Taupo to meet up with our hosts for the rest of the trip, Beryl Anderson, the groom's mum. This was another great drive which included a detour into real Hobbit country - rolling, verdant countryside, dotted with lakes, lying within a circle of old volcanic hills. Totally idyllic. After meeting Beryl, we ditched the car and piled into her station wagon (oops, I mean estate car - sorry, hanging around with too many Americans) and took off for Napier on the coast. Another of the many fabulous cross-country drives we were to enjoy for the rest of the trip. We stayed at Napier - another backpackers hostel. Napier was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931, just at the right time to be rebuilt entirely in Art Deco style. We walked along a black, volcanic beach and stared at the Pacific as the sun set.

Day 3 of the road trip. Napier to Wellington. We called at Mount Bruce rare bird breeding centre. The birds were not so much rare as non-existent, but the forest walks were nice. If you want to know about New Zealand's native birds, here is a good site. Then the Paua shell factory, and finally into Lower Hutt, near Wellington, our home stay with the Anderson family for a couple of nights. Day 4 - a day out in Wellington, including the stunning Te Papa museum - the best I've ever seen.

South Island

Day 5, the morning ferry to South Island. Coming in to Picton is a beautiful cruise through fjord-like inlets. Then a drive along the north coast punctuated by green shell mussels and fries at Havelock.

Day 6: after a night in Nelson ( a nice motel room - New Zealand is so well set up for travelling) we drove through more breathtaking scenery to Christchurch. It just kept getting better and better. I've got to be honest - it's starting to become just a blur of beauty, so experts in New Zealand forgive me if I get my chronology and geography wrong. Two nights in Christchurch, including a visit to Papanui Baptist church - another link in the chain of good churches where we felt spoken to by God. Thanks to the Kong family for more great hospitality!

The eighth day's trip included Lake Tekapo - wow! An amazing aquamarine lake surrounded by snow-capped hills. I took photo after photo including panaoramas to reconstruct at home.

After Tekapo we drove up to the base of Mount Cook, New Zealand's higfhest peak, but for once our luck ran out - low cloud completely covered it. We did see a few glaciers, though, and had one of the innumerable coffee stops (flat white, cappuccino, mochaccino, short black, long black..) Then we arrived at another of our hosts, Pam and Alan, Beryl's brother and sister-in-law, at their farm in the middle of wine country near Bannockburn (I thought that was in Scotland?). Its a dry, clay area that was in the past a centre of gold mining, and we walked around the old workings. And ate more wonderful home-cooked food. New Zealand lamb.. mmm. We also met up there with Stephen and Christine the two friends who were getting married, so the next day was spent in.. visiting more amazing tourist places.

And so to Dunedin for the wedding (I'm sure I've skipped a day or two and a place or three - Wanaka Lake, Queenstown - but, hey, it was just a succession of beautiful experiences.

Nearly there.. A day in Dunedin, a couple of very pleasant nights staying with John and Winsome, the wedding, a flight back to Auckland, an afternoon looking round the city, a wonderful; Michael W. Smith concert on the Sunday evening, and back to India. Not much to it, really, but it filled in a few weeks.

And if you really can't get enough of the sights of New Zealand, there's more pictures on Flickr.