This past weekend (I know it has taken me a while to get this post up...), Hira and I finally took our first weekend trip out of Dunedin. We found this Facebook group for carpooling around New Zealand, which is just genius by the way. Someone had posted that they were driving to Invercargill on Friday afternoon and were returning Sunday night. Invercargill is two and a half hours from Dunedin and is New Zealand's southernmost city. While our kiwi host Kim warned us that there was nothing to do there (she was right by the way), we were more interested in the island south of Invercargill: Stewart Island. It is a one city island with almost 400 people.The majority of the island is a national park, full of luscious trees and thousands of birds. It even plays a huge role in Māori mythology. The original Māori name is Te Punga o Te Waka a Maui which can be translated as The Anchor Stone of Maui’s Canoe. This refers to the part played by the island in the legend of Maui and his crew. If you picture New Zealand on the map, their waka (meaning canoe in Māori) is the South Island. From their waka, they caught and raised the great fish which is the North Island. Maui didn't want his waka to float away, so he placed an anchor in the sea, which is Stewart Island. The Māori culture is full of myths like this! Pretty cool.
So anyways, Hira and I scheduled a day trip of the island for Saturday morning. This required us waking up before the sun, packing all of our stuff into our backpacks (yes, I traveled the whole weekend with ONLY my backpack), eating leftover, cold pizza for breakfast (NOT a breakfast of champs), and catching a cab to the tiny Invercargill Airport (NZD$13.20 for a seven minute trip). We boarded a plane that seated...couldn't have been more than ten people...and began our twenty minute flight to Stewart Island. We figured a twenty minute flight totally beats a three hour ferry ride on rough waters. And for the record, it definitely does. I had never been in such a small plane before. No, I was not scared at all. I was probably even more excited it was a small plane. I could see more of how it worked. I could actually see the person flying it. The question in my mind was could my dad ever fly a plane this size? He's talked before about renewing his pilot's license. I might have to push that one a little more on ya, Dad. So we flew over the most beautiful blue water and luscious vegetation. We also flew into a misty cloud that created the coolest rainbow effect around our plane. I'm sure we looked like complete tourists snapping all kinds of photos on a plane full of people traveling to Stewart Island for business. But oh well, definitely worth it! But flying into this little storm made us fear the weather would not be good for hiking, or tramping as they call it here. But the sun was up and shining through the clouds when we landed. On the runway, we were met by a bus that would take us into the "city". From there, we would catch a water taxi that would take us across the bay to explore Ulva Island, which is basically 100% nature. It is full of so many types of birds, and apparently home to kiwis, too. Well, just as the clouds were rolling in, we headed towards the wharf the man who checked us into our flight at the airport told us to walk to by 9:50am. Seems pretty easy.
Well 9:50am rolls around and the doors of the building we were supposed to check into were locked. Confused as ever, we walked over to the visitor center and told the people behind the counter our situation. Apparently, the guy at the airport directed us to the wrong wharf. He circled the wrong one on the map we were given. So we had to hike up this very steep road to the other wharf through the blowing rain and the steam coming out of my ears (because I absolutely hate being late). Luckily, we were the only people scheduled for the water taxi, so we didn't have a boat full of people angry with the Americans who couldn't figure out where to go. So we hoped in and headed to Ulva Island.
Well 9:50am rolls around and the doors of the building we were supposed to check into were locked. Confused as ever, we walked over to the visitor center and told the people behind the counter our situation. Apparently, the guy at the airport directed us to the wrong wharf. He circled the wrong one on the map we were given. So we had to hike up this very steep road to the other wharf through the blowing rain and the steam coming out of my ears (because I absolutely hate being late). Luckily, we were the only people scheduled for the water taxi, so we didn't have a boat full of people angry with the Americans who couldn't figure out where to go. So we hoped in and headed to Ulva Island.
The water taxi driver dropped us off and told us he would be back in about two hours. So with our tramping legs and cameras ready, we explored the island. There were numerous paths that we took, leading us to different lookouts and beaches. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. The vegetation was different, the bird sounds were different, and the beaches were as beautiful as ever. Even though it was not ideal temperature for walking on the beach, it still turned into a decent and sunny day. We definitely lucked out there. We also made a few bird friends on Ulva Island. We were almost to the end of a path that lead to a beach when we turned around surprised to see a kiwi-looking bird (which we later found out is called a weka) literally running towards us. We continued on and it followed us onto and around the beach. We ran into a few more wekas at some of the other beaches we hiked to, also. I guess they are not scared of people, which is a strange concept.
Two hours quickly passed and we were back on the water taxi to Stewart Island. We grabbed a bite to eat at the hotel that overlooked Halfmoon bay while we waited for our bus tour time to arrive. We also passed the time by swinging on the playground just before the beach that hugs Halfmoon Bay. Oh, the nostalgia.
Turns out, just like we were the only ones on the water taxi, we were the only ones signed up for the bus tour of Stewart Island. Totally fine with us! The bus driver drove us around the parts of the island that was not part of the National Park. He was very nice and very knowledgeable about the island. And actually, he was the one who told me about the story of Maui's waka that I mentioned earlier! Apparently a lot of the homes on the island are vacation homes. No wonder the island seemed so deserted! He also mentioned how there is generally only one nurse on duty on the island. That was kind of strange to think about, but in a town as small as Oban, it makes sense. Just hearing that after growing up in a city like Denver is a hard thing to comprehend.
The end of the tour allowed us for another hour of time spent on the swingset before we had to jump back on the bus to be taken back for our 4:30pm flight. As the day neared its end, we wished we would have spent the night on the Island. There was so much more to discover! Unfortunately we had to make our way back to Invercargill and end our wonderful day trip on Stewart Island.
On our flight back, we boarded a different plane. The pilot mentioned he needed the taller people (like Hira) to sit towards the back of the plane. I guess there is more leg room back there. That left me, the shortest one on the plane, to sit in the copilot's seat! It was so cool seeing all the gadgets, pedals, and such! He made flying a plane look really easy, which after all, it is his job. So I guess that was a good thing. But once I sat down I was so excited for the view I was hoping to get sitting at the front of the plane. Well, I was disappointed. I couldn't see over the dash...so I was left starting out the window. Talk about short people problems...humph. But it was still a cool experience!
Two hours quickly passed and we were back on the water taxi to Stewart Island. We grabbed a bite to eat at the hotel that overlooked Halfmoon bay while we waited for our bus tour time to arrive. We also passed the time by swinging on the playground just before the beach that hugs Halfmoon Bay. Oh, the nostalgia.
Turns out, just like we were the only ones on the water taxi, we were the only ones signed up for the bus tour of Stewart Island. Totally fine with us! The bus driver drove us around the parts of the island that was not part of the National Park. He was very nice and very knowledgeable about the island. And actually, he was the one who told me about the story of Maui's waka that I mentioned earlier! Apparently a lot of the homes on the island are vacation homes. No wonder the island seemed so deserted! He also mentioned how there is generally only one nurse on duty on the island. That was kind of strange to think about, but in a town as small as Oban, it makes sense. Just hearing that after growing up in a city like Denver is a hard thing to comprehend.
The end of the tour allowed us for another hour of time spent on the swingset before we had to jump back on the bus to be taken back for our 4:30pm flight. As the day neared its end, we wished we would have spent the night on the Island. There was so much more to discover! Unfortunately we had to make our way back to Invercargill and end our wonderful day trip on Stewart Island.
On our flight back, we boarded a different plane. The pilot mentioned he needed the taller people (like Hira) to sit towards the back of the plane. I guess there is more leg room back there. That left me, the shortest one on the plane, to sit in the copilot's seat! It was so cool seeing all the gadgets, pedals, and such! He made flying a plane look really easy, which after all, it is his job. So I guess that was a good thing. But once I sat down I was so excited for the view I was hoping to get sitting at the front of the plane. Well, I was disappointed. I couldn't see over the dash...so I was left starting out the window. Talk about short people problems...humph. But it was still a cool experience!
Sunday came and we decided to explore what little there is in Invercargill. We walked through the free museum and then through a giant park that had a free animal sanctuary inside of it. The park was probably three or four times the size of Wash Park! And for those of you in Denver, you understand just how big that is! Too bad it was winter though. I couldn't imagine how stunning that park would be in the spring! The animal sanctuary had rabbits, chickens, red deer, a turkey, a couple wallaby, and even a peacock! The wallabies were absolutely adorable. At first glance, we thought they were kangaroos. But wallabies are just as exciting! It's not like I come across those very often!
The rest of the day was spent eating lunch that was too expensive, browsing around fantastic clothing stores when we had no money to buy (or space to pack) more clothes, and watching terrible movies at the hostel full of fantastic one-liners until our carpool was ready to head back to Dunedin. But just for future reference, the movie Intern is pretty awful. But it was a funny awful that made the time pass.
Our drive back to Dunedin brought about some great star gazing once we finally got out of the terrible fog. I forgot just how gorgeous the stars can be outside a big city. I just wanted to grab a blanket and lay out in a field all night! But then I remembered it's winter and I'd freeze. Bummer. But it was so pretty. I know I have said that too many times in this post but this weekend was just outstanding. Hira mentioned that you don't really remember you are in New Zealand being back at the flat and going to class. And then you travel and it hits you: I'm in New Zealand. I am living in New Zealand right now. Such a weirdly wonderful feeling that I hope never goes away.
Thanks for bearing with me through this post. I have another day trip planned for this weekend so get ready for another post hopefully soon! I also changed up the gallery tab. There is a little more organization to it now (shocking, I know).
Anyways, I will write soon! Enjoy what is left of July. I love and miss you all!
The rest of the day was spent eating lunch that was too expensive, browsing around fantastic clothing stores when we had no money to buy (or space to pack) more clothes, and watching terrible movies at the hostel full of fantastic one-liners until our carpool was ready to head back to Dunedin. But just for future reference, the movie Intern is pretty awful. But it was a funny awful that made the time pass.
Our drive back to Dunedin brought about some great star gazing once we finally got out of the terrible fog. I forgot just how gorgeous the stars can be outside a big city. I just wanted to grab a blanket and lay out in a field all night! But then I remembered it's winter and I'd freeze. Bummer. But it was so pretty. I know I have said that too many times in this post but this weekend was just outstanding. Hira mentioned that you don't really remember you are in New Zealand being back at the flat and going to class. And then you travel and it hits you: I'm in New Zealand. I am living in New Zealand right now. Such a weirdly wonderful feeling that I hope never goes away.
Thanks for bearing with me through this post. I have another day trip planned for this weekend so get ready for another post hopefully soon! I also changed up the gallery tab. There is a little more organization to it now (shocking, I know).
Anyways, I will write soon! Enjoy what is left of July. I love and miss you all!