N.Z. Post-biking: Queenstown, Christchurch, and Wellington

After our Backroads bike trip concluded in Queenstown, the "Adventure Capital of New Zealand" and where local A.J. Hackett brought bungy jumping to the world, we spent a couple days there, in Christchurch, and then Wellington before saying goodbye to N.Z. Although we were finished riding, our Backroads guide Michael didn't let us get away without a few more culinary experiences, including the Ferg Burger, and a great breakfast at Joe's Garage. On our first full day in Queenstown post-biking, we took a walk along its beautiful lakeshore, caught up on email, and had a nice dinner in and Scrabble game that evening. We also acquired a lovable stuffed kitty, who we named Queenie and who has been sleeping on our beds ever since. On the second day, Rachel and I did a great kayaking trip on the lake, with really choppy water. The scenery was still magnificent, and our kayaking guide was a real character who said he was a friend of A.J. Hackett (the bungy innovator). That afternoon, we visited the Kiwi Park, a piece of land that had been reclaimed by a family from a dumping ground and made into a bird sanctuary, where N.Z. birds including the elusive, nocturnal Kiwi were on display. We also watched (and participated in- see photos) a Maori cultural show there.

The next morning we set out on the long drive to Christchurch, the South Island's most populous city, and one of N.Z.'s most England-like places (sort of- a few pretty old buildings downtown and a beautiful botanical garden/park, but otherwise the same incredible N.Z. natural setting but marred by ugly sprawl). Allan and Sally drove the rental car, and, like us driving in Australia, could never quite get the hang of the turn signal/windshield wiper distinction on these cars. Apart from a break to watch people bungy jumping (they all made it look easy), we drove most of the day, enjoying some of our last glimspes of the amazing N.Z. landscape. The Seascape Escape Bed and Breakfast we stayed at in Christchurch was spectacularly located with a great view of the ocean, and we enjoyed their hospitality, as well as the hot tub we were wishing for after the days of biking! The next day we visited the Canterbury museum and a cool Arts Centre (the original university building, now made up mostly of working artist studios, a little like what used to be in the Colt building in Hartford). That afternoon we managed, despite technical difficulties, to talk to Rachel's sister Karen over Skype, did a little packing and enjoyed one last delicious dinner together.

Before going to the airport the next day, we visited the Antarctic Experience (70% of people going to Antarctica leave from Christchurch). In addition to live penguins and a "storm" room where we had to don boots and coats for a few minutes of cold temps, we also took a ride in a Haaglund tank-like vehicle over a land and water course behind the museum. At the airport we said goodbye to Allan and Sally, and they mentioned that at that point it was only 98 days until we come home! (Makes it sound like not very much time for all the countries we still plan to visit.) While they headed back to the U.S., we flew to Wellington, where we stayed with my friend Matt during our last days in N.Z.

I first met Matt at a hostel in London, when I stayed for a couple weeks after Rachel's and my Europe trip in the summer of '02, and then lived with him again in London while I was traveling in the spring of '03. Despite not having seen each other for 4 years, he was generous enough to host us, and it was great to catch up with him and his girlfriend Chrystyna. The afternoon we arrived, we took advantage of the fabulous sunny weather and Matt's friend's boat to do some wake boarding in the harbor: Chrystyna at an impressive level, Matt even more so, and myself, in my second time trying it, making a little progress so that i could actually stand up for a fraction of a second.

The next couple days, we slept in, caught up on email, picked up our Vietnamese visa and applied online for our Cambodian visa, and saw an exhibit which included photos of sheep wearing sweaters at the City Gallery. It was great both to see Matt and to regenerate before moving on to Bali!