Catlins - Dunedin - Manapouri - Queenstown - Alexandra
my last few weeks:
Since my last post I traveled through the Catlins with another German. We stayed in an awesome place: Curio Bay Backpackers. And while it is a bit more expensive than the average backpackers, it is absolutely worth it! Max 6 people staying there, cozy little house next to the beach with two sweet cats. Seeing hector dolphins from the living room!
Also there's the yellow eyed penguins to see, of course.
We stayed 2 days, then traveled on to Dunedin, where we stayed at Hogwartz, a hostel that is in the former archbishop's house. Dunedin looks like an interesting town to me, though I've only seen it two mornings. In the afternoon we took the Elms Wildlife Tour to see more penguins, seals, sea lions and go to the Albatross Centre.
The Albatross Centre totally rocked! It was a stormy day and some of the "juveniles" (one year old) where enjoying themselves in the wind. Also you can look right into the nests from the observation tower and see this years chicks that cant fly yet.
then I went back to Manapouri, worked another weekend and then found a ride to Queenstown. It was a heels over head departure and I'm really sorry about that. I would have liked to say goodbye to the cats, to the lake and to some people. But I also had the feeling I had to leave else I get really stuck there.
Queenstown is busy and vibrant, but also a town where you can easily spend money. The mountains surrounding it actually looked a bit drab to me, except in the morning and evening light. somehow I'm not so enthusiastic about mountains. At least not up close. I really wish I could get into that braided river plain where they filmed Edoras, but it is in the middle of nowhere!
At least in Queenstown I sent about 6kg of stuff to Germany and it was OUTCH expensive. But less expensive than buying the stuff new and now my luggage is reduced to the two backpacks and the food bag.
In the evening I met some friends from about 8 months ago and we went into the Patagonia Cafe which has the best chocolate ever. And a t-shirt with the text "chocolate saves your soul". YUMMM!
The next day I had an early start to Alexandra with the bus. The low clouds and morning light were fantastic and I wished that I had my own car and stop to take photos.
Alexandra is bigger than I thought. The area is really dry, a bit dessert like, but with mountains and somehow I like it. I actually would like to go hiking up to the Obelisk, but the hut doesnt have heating and it is getting pretty cold.
There are plenty of shops, I think even more than in Te Anau and it isnt as touristy. The only drawback is that there is no cheap internet! Really annoying, not even the library has wifi. I cant upload pictures here... at least not wihtout getting organized and putting them on a usb stick and then do a quick upload from an internet cafe.
I came here to work in the grape harvest, but it seems to be almost finished. The job agency was really pessimistic, especially since I dont have a car. But then I found an offer on the backpackerboard and called. I arranged with some others from the hostel that we could drive together since they needed 3 people. They guy on the phone was first a bit unconvinced, because it is hard work. I told him I'm 1.80 told, not really petite! He called back in the late afternoon when I already thought he found someone else instead and I had both my hands in cake dough! He still needed 1 person. But I dont have a car, so I offered to pass him on to the guys. No, he wants me, because I took the initiative and he will even pick me up! Wow! So now on Saturday and Sunday I will help taking down nets on the vineyard. I hope my muscle pain is gone by then, I feel crap today XD
There is lots and lots more to tell... but this is the short version of the last few weeks :)
Since my last post I traveled through the Catlins with another German. We stayed in an awesome place: Curio Bay Backpackers. And while it is a bit more expensive than the average backpackers, it is absolutely worth it! Max 6 people staying there, cozy little house next to the beach with two sweet cats. Seeing hector dolphins from the living room!
Also there's the yellow eyed penguins to see, of course.
We stayed 2 days, then traveled on to Dunedin, where we stayed at Hogwartz, a hostel that is in the former archbishop's house. Dunedin looks like an interesting town to me, though I've only seen it two mornings. In the afternoon we took the Elms Wildlife Tour to see more penguins, seals, sea lions and go to the Albatross Centre.
The Albatross Centre totally rocked! It was a stormy day and some of the "juveniles" (one year old) where enjoying themselves in the wind. Also you can look right into the nests from the observation tower and see this years chicks that cant fly yet.
then I went back to Manapouri, worked another weekend and then found a ride to Queenstown. It was a heels over head departure and I'm really sorry about that. I would have liked to say goodbye to the cats, to the lake and to some people. But I also had the feeling I had to leave else I get really stuck there.
Queenstown is busy and vibrant, but also a town where you can easily spend money. The mountains surrounding it actually looked a bit drab to me, except in the morning and evening light. somehow I'm not so enthusiastic about mountains. At least not up close. I really wish I could get into that braided river plain where they filmed Edoras, but it is in the middle of nowhere!
At least in Queenstown I sent about 6kg of stuff to Germany and it was OUTCH expensive. But less expensive than buying the stuff new and now my luggage is reduced to the two backpacks and the food bag.
In the evening I met some friends from about 8 months ago and we went into the Patagonia Cafe which has the best chocolate ever. And a t-shirt with the text "chocolate saves your soul". YUMMM!
The next day I had an early start to Alexandra with the bus. The low clouds and morning light were fantastic and I wished that I had my own car and stop to take photos.
Alexandra is bigger than I thought. The area is really dry, a bit dessert like, but with mountains and somehow I like it. I actually would like to go hiking up to the Obelisk, but the hut doesnt have heating and it is getting pretty cold.
There are plenty of shops, I think even more than in Te Anau and it isnt as touristy. The only drawback is that there is no cheap internet! Really annoying, not even the library has wifi. I cant upload pictures here... at least not wihtout getting organized and putting them on a usb stick and then do a quick upload from an internet cafe.
I came here to work in the grape harvest, but it seems to be almost finished. The job agency was really pessimistic, especially since I dont have a car. But then I found an offer on the backpackerboard and called. I arranged with some others from the hostel that we could drive together since they needed 3 people. They guy on the phone was first a bit unconvinced, because it is hard work. I told him I'm 1.80 told, not really petite! He called back in the late afternoon when I already thought he found someone else instead and I had both my hands in cake dough! He still needed 1 person. But I dont have a car, so I offered to pass him on to the guys. No, he wants me, because I took the initiative and he will even pick me up! Wow! So now on Saturday and Sunday I will help taking down nets on the vineyard. I hope my muscle pain is gone by then, I feel crap today XD
There is lots and lots more to tell... but this is the short version of the last few weeks :)