It’s all about South Island (5): Riding the Luge all day long (I wish)
new zealand December 03, 2016
10th July 2015
Today plans were playing Luge in the Skyline Queenstown and head to Milford Sound.
9th July 2015
It was the second day in Queenstown. The plan for that day was to explore Queenstown, visit Arrowtown, trying out the famous burger in the town and enjoying the view of Lake Wakatipu.
8th July 2015
It’s unfortunate that one of our friends had to return earlier. We couldn’t wander around and wasting time anymore. We had to drive directly to Queenstown airport and catch the international flight to Australia.
It was an unfortunate condition. It ruined the plan for the whole day. No one wanted this happen. Bad things happen all the time; we just have to be ready. It takes 2 hours and 40 mins from Lake Pukaki to Queenstown. Then, since we were catching an international flight, we had to be there at least 2 hours before the flight.
We packed our things and drove as fast as we can to reach the airport before the time.
Queenstown, we’re coming!
7th July 2015
Rise and shine, good morning Lake Tekapo!
So ready to continue the trip.
On the second day, we planned to explore two places: Lake Pukaki and Mt. Cook. The distance between one place and to another is not that far, but we have to spare more times for picture time. A picture is the most important thing while travelling. It is the return ticket to the memory in the past.
A throwback to June, it was fasting month (Ramadhan), and winter season. I am not really a fan of travelling during winter nor Ramadhan. But I was daring enough to have it try travelling during those times. I thought, “why not?”
One month later, I packed my bags and ready to enjoy my winter wonderland trip. I planned to explore South Island for a week, from Christchurch to Dunedin. It’s going to be a long trip and I can’t wait to share the beauty of the island.
After drove around one hour and a half, we reached the lodge. We stayed in Travers-Sabine Lodge for one night. It is really close to the lake, only around 5-10 minutes walks. We were really tired when we got there, we missed the lodge and keep driving. It was so dark and we tired, we didn't catch the lodge sign on the left, and suddenly we found a sign "Nelson Lakes National Park". We panicked for a while. We thought we're stray. We checked the map again and we're in the right place. Then we turned around and drive slowly. Finally, we found the lodge! It's time to have a good sleep.
A misty morning views in Lake Rotoiti.
This is still the same road trip as the previous post. Actually, I was thinking to put the title as "Road Trip to the South of the North feat. the North of the South". Then, I realized, it is too long. So, I make it short into the current title.
We arrived in South Island in the super early morning. The car that we rent was already in the parking lot, we're just picking up the key from the receptionist in the port. It was so convenience for us. We already booked a package for paddle boarding in the Abel Tasman National Park at 10 AM, so we had to reach there before the time. It needs around 3 hours to reach there by driving from the ferry port in Picton. Thanks to the driver, Mr. B, we got there just almost the time.
It was my first time doing paddle board. A paddle board is different from a kayak. The correct way doing paddle board is to stand in the board and paddle. And if the wave is coming, just wait until it passes our paddle. Don't fight the wave, because it will make you suffer and the paddle is going backward. We have to wait and if we let the wave pass our paddle, we will move forward. It also needs to keep it mind that we have to do paddling in the opposite of the wind direction. If we go in the same direction as the wind, it will push as to keep forward. It is dangerous because it can lead us to go too further from the shore.
On the third day, we drove to the capital city of New Zealand, Wellington. We were going to return the car to the rental, meet another friend (which later became my boyfriend), and take the earliest ferry to South Island.
Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand, but I feel it less crowded than Auckland. Indeed, there are a lot of shops, big buildings, and the transportation is more friendly than Auckland. But still, I prefer Auckland. The wind in Wellington is super duper not friendly. When I was there, I couldn't stand the wind, so freaking strong!
The highlight of this road trip was to visit Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Tongariro National Park. It is the oldest national park in New Zealand. It was my first time ever climbing up the real mountain in New Zealand. The plan is to go up to Emerald Lakes from Mangatepopo Hut. According to the website, it takes around 6 hours from Mangatepopo Hut to Emerald Lakes and return. It was my first time ever climbing up the real mountain in New Zealand. We were going to meet with another team in the lodge and going together in the early morning.
In the beginning of the month April 2015:
- Got pointed as the International Student Ambassador for Auckland (the story about it can be found here)
- Lost in direction for my research, didn't know what to do and how to do it
- Super duper tired struggling between research and part time job
- Need a vacation but don't have that much money
In the middle of the month, my friend asked me to join her and her fiance to their road trip in the end of the month. I wanted to go, but I didn't have that much money. My friend kept persuade me to join them. She mentioned the itinerary, including the budget that I have to prepare. I read over and over until finally I said yes. It was a great opportunity and it came in the right time when I was really tired of everything and I need some break.
In the end of the month, I joined the road trip to the south part of the north island with my friends. In total, there were five of us. and I was the only one who had an experience driving in this country. I had to teach the guys from Auckland to our first destination, Te Puia. Thankfully, they are a fast learner.
Te Puia
New Zealand is pretty much well known with their geothermal resource. And Te Puia is one of the best destination to getting more knowledge about the geothermal. It is a geothermal valley with their geyser. It is located in Rotorua, around 3 hours drive from Auckland. They offer different kinds of tours: guided and non-guided. It is including the Maori culture performance.
We planned to join the guided tour with enjoying Maori culture performance. But, it was unfortunate when we reached there, the tour already began and we didn't have time to wait for the next performance. We decided to wander by our self. The good side, two of us are studying geothermal. We have our own tour guide!
Pohutu Geyser on the left and Blue Lake on the right
Historically speaking, according to Maori culture, Pohutu are viewed as gifts from the gods. It is said that the Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, which is located of Pohutu geyser, was formed when tow sisters Te Pupu and Te Hoata (the Goddesses of Fire), traveled below the earth while looking for their brother. As they got closer to the brother, the sisters would lift their heads above the surface, which creates the geysers and other geothermal hotspots along their way (source: tepuia.com).
Scientifically speaking, it is a complex plumbing system. The process begins when rainwater starts to boil and create steam. Why is it boiling? It happens because of the heat from molten rock underground. The pressure from underground forces its way upward through the geyser vent and the eruption happens. It can be erupting to 30 m (100 feet) up to 20 times a day. Such an active geyser.
Okay, I think I should stop explaining the geyser. I am not the expert about it, so I better to stop.
Our next destination for the first day was Lake Taupo.
Not my first time went to Lake Taupo, but it was my first-time cruising the lake.
Lake Taupo is one of the biggest lakes in New Zealand. It is same big as Singapore. So, if I said that I cruised the lake for two hours, it can be said that I explored Singapore for two hours. We joined the 2-hours cruise by Ernest Kemp Replica Steamboat. The main point joins the cruise was so we can see the Maori rock carvings. Super duper grateful that the weather was really cooperative on that day. It was a bit cloudy, but as long as it was not raining, we're happy.
This is the famous of Maori Rock carvings, the icon of Lake Taupo. It was made by carver Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell and Jonathan Randell in the late 1970s. They were on a boat trip around the Western Bays when they saw the cliff. They decided to use it as a canvas for their Taupo artwork, and viollaa!
There are some others of their artworks around the cliff, but unfortunately, I couldn't get the good picture. This was my best shot.
Before heading to our next stop, we ate our late lunch. Tempe kering, rendang, and rice for our meal. We cooked it in Auckland. It was really simple, but we loved it because it was delicious and we shared it with friends.
That's all our journey for the first day. I will continue writing up the road trip.
Stay tuned peeps!
Hello! It has been couple months since the last time I posted in this blog. I am really sorry that I couldn't be able to post it for such a long time. I have been busy with my research (wish me lot of luck to finish it on time), and I have a big announcement to make!! So recently I have been pointed as an ambassador for international student in Auckland.
With the Mayor of Auckland during the ceremony.
Then, the next question is what I am supposed to do?? Basically it's pretty simple, I have to enjoy Auckland and write a blog about it. But, the truth is never that easy. It's quite hard for me, jumping from dealing with my research, my part-time job, and the ambassador activities. However, I love this opportunity and I want to make it to be wonderful memory in my life time.
You can read more about me and other ambassador in here, and about my self in this page. This is the story when I watched the Blues rugby match: my first ever watch the rugby game.
I will try to update more in the future.
Cheers!
