This trip we decided to go “down under” and visit New Zealand, Sydney, and Tahiti. There were so many things we had to program our minds for. Summer temperatures in January and driving on the “other” side of the road. We decided on farm stays in New Zealand to experience authentic kiwi farm life - two on the North Island and one on the South Island. Although they were all different, one thing remained in common…SHEEP! Our first farm stay was Mountview in Hamilton, just south of Auckland. We figured it was a good place to stay to minimize our crazy driving after flying for what seemed like ages to get here (ATL->LAX->PPT->AKL). The drive took us past the Waikato River, a pretty area. Our farm host lived on a hill overlooking the beautiful countryside. She did most of the farm work as her husband recently had a heart attack.
Leaving there we headed to Rotorua, known for the Polynesian Spa and the therapeutic benefits of its water. Not sure we reaped any of those benefits but it sure felt good soaking in the pools. Before we left Rotorua we made sure to visit the mud pools in Kuirau Park.
Next on to our second farm stay on the very south end of the North Island, near Wellington. We really enjoyed the hosting couple, they were a lot of fun and, on the positive side had a beautiful place. What could be the downside then? Well, we drove up the mountain, and up the mountain, and up the mountain to get there. Our drive was delayed more when we encountered a sheep herding operation going on right in the middle of the road. The hosts went out of their way to show us a good time and helped us understand their farming life. Fog was setting in the night before we were to fly out from Wellington, to Christchurch, on the South Island. Knowing what our drive was like on the way up the mountain, we NO WAY wanted to attempt it down the mountain early the next morning through fog on the way to the airport. We decided to leave early and get a hotel in Wellington, right outside the airport.
Well best laid plans, you know how the saying goes. Even though we made it to our flight, it was cancelled because of all the fog. There were no other flights to get us to Christchurch in time for the TranzAlpine train ride we already had booked. It only runs once a day through the mountain scenery of the “Southern Alps” along the South Islands coast. So disappointing.
