Queenstown!!

Today was always expected to be a long day. 8 hours roughly over 350 New Zealand kilometres, from Franz Josef to Queenstown, and that would be as long as the quickest route was open and not shut due snow.
We left at 8 ready to roll, with rain falling all around and the valley filled with clouds. We stopped at several locations on the way, including Thunder Creek Falls, Blue Pools and Ship Creek. All gorgeous locations but the weather was a bit of a shame. They provided nice short bursts to escape the van and its confines. A quick pie for lunch, and we got to the Crown Mountain Range. Ringing to check it was open we were ready to go and it would then only be an hour until Queenstown. We got to the top of the peaks, and slight wet snow began to fall. A slow journey over the top and we could see Queenstown in the distance. We arrived and unpacked before dolling up and heading into town for Sachins 21st Birthday celebrations - dinner and drinks!! We had a table booked for Winnies - a gourmet pizza restaurant in the heart of the town. Queenstown is a bustling and busy tourist city centred around alpine and other extreme sports. The atmosphere was fantastic, and we generally shared large pizzas with various toppings! Desert was a pavlova organised by Rachel which was delicious. We then went on to the base backpackers bar and got in a few rounds of drinks and had a great dance. One bar later and 1am we decided to head home ready for the next day. It was a fantastic night out though. :)

Okarito Lagoon

Today we woke up early to get to Okarito and kayak on the lagoon. We arrived and were given spray skirts, a paddle, and lifejacket - it was time to go!
We walked to the wharf and paired up, ready to hit the water. Kaely and I were together, and I was at the back and in charge of steering and the rudder. We got going and it took a while to get used to the pedals and adjust them for my short legs but then we were sorted! Across the lagoon and we turned off to follow a river inland for a kilometre. We weaved in and out of fallen trees, reeds, and debris. We saw various birdlife including a juvenile black swan. Once we got to the point we couldnt go any further inland we turned and followed the way we came. It was great and roughly 2 and a half hours round trip. With the tide going out on our return we flew back and it was brilliant!
We then went to the beach browsing for pebbles and stones taking in the gorgeous scenery of the west coast. The afternoon was a lazy one and well deserved and necessary - time to catch up on everyday tasks we have currently had little time for. We had a quick trip to the terminus of the Franz Josef glacier and to the viewing platform up the hill. It was a great view although slightly shaded by clouds. We came back for showers, laundry, souvenirs and postcards! A stir fry, crumble and hokey pokey ice cream and time to chill. Tomorrow we take the 8 hour drive to Queenstown for the final few days!

Another first!!

Today was movement from Punakaiki to Franz Josef, to spend time as true tourists near the glacier!
I woke up super early to have a chat with the family and was nice to do so! Rachel our team leader then worked out what would happen for the day. We had to distinguish between lagoon kayaking or glacier activities. It was all highly dependent on weather with expectations of an incoming storm. The company in Franz notified us they wont be running tomorrow because of the weather, so we had to bomb it down. We packed up super quick and hit he road. A quick stop off to have a look at the pancake rocks and blowholes in Punakaiki, and they were truly fantastic formations, but not fully understood how they formed. We then zoomed down to Franz Josef hoping to make the 12:30 trips. Still 30 minutes away, and it was the time of departure for our trips - we had missed it :(. Rachel rang the company to notify then we wouldn't get there on time, but they said to keep coming and they would hold out as long as possible. We got to the company area, parked on the road and dashed in grabbing thermals, water bottles, cameras and food!! We were there! 5 of the group were IceExploring with a short transfer and then 3 hour hike. 3 decided not too do anything due to costs, disinterested and capability on the ice. Chrisi and I however signed up for the Heli-hike experience!! It was fantastic. I had never been on a helicopter before and was petrified but it was so fun! It is such a surreal experience and as we flew up the valley the pilot flew up to formations - waterfalls, dove down towards the ice falls, sweeper down through the valley walls. It was such an experience! Soon it was time to land on the ice! I had done this before, at Fox Glacier so knew what to expect. We wore full foot crampons in the cold weather and explored the caves and crevasses in the ice. It was great fun, but very tiring. We finished up meeting other members of the group, looking like Cheshire cats! We were both so happy to have had the chance to participate - although expensive, a great time!
We got back to the hostel and had a quick rest and dinner. Soon after, we drove a few minutes up the road to a new commercially formed Hot Pools for relaxation. They were set to 36, 38, and 40 degrees centigrade and It was the perfect wind down for the evening.
Coming back to the hostel, there was time for a quick Skype to LAH and the nephew. Gorgeous - both of them. Although missed greatly, I am having a fantastic time. Tomorrow we will be kayaking! Can't wait!!

The first frost...

It is fair to say, the early start this morning was a killer. It was pitch black when we woke up, and absolutely freezing.
Everyone struggled to get out of their sleeping bags, and began dreary eyed and not in the mood. We had a 10 minute walk on the flat, and then a small creek crossing. Then the strenuous uphill climb began. Having felt a bit poorly yesterday with a headache and sicky stomach (as though hungover) I was already worried about the walk. The first 5-10 minutes was horrific. I felt sick and tired and hot, but was determined to not let it get the better of me. I really wanted to do this. I kept going, counting out 75 steps and then if struggling took a 10 second stop. I was slow, steady, and definitely not first, but I was also not last. I have never been prouder of myself than when I rounded the corner, and saw some of the rest of the group only 100m away. I made it, to a perfect clearing for the sunrise and it was fantastic. This wasn't good enough however, I had to carry on to the sign to prove I reached the top, and battle off the track to do so with a couple of people. It was brilliant, and such an accomplishment. Yay!
We flew back down the track, and were back at the house by 9:30am. A quick pack, clean up, and reflection on the week, and we're soon in the van and on the road. Rachel met us in Motueka, after a quick snack stop, and said a sad goodbye to mark, who has been fantastic this week.
Again, we started off and headed towards Punakaiki. Another quick coffee stop in Merschen, and then a quick tramp up to look around Lyell (a gold rush town on the west coast, abandoned after exhaustion). We finally arrived at 6:30pm. A long days travelling! A nice easy dinner just heating fresh soup, with homemade bread provided by the hostel. A nice chat, an amazing shower, and now time for bed.

Volunteering at its end...

Our final day of volunteering for the entire 4 week trip.
Today was set to be a short days work, primarily finishing setting and rebaiting the traps left over. To start we headed on up one of the higher tracks to help clear up some material washed around in December by some huge floods that hit the area. It took us an hour to travel no where near as far as expected, because some of the group - not me for once - were truffling with the terrain, slipping and sliding on the ground off the tracks. Instead of carrying on, a few of us headed back early, the two fittest boys walking with Mike up and over the hill saddle and back to camp. We got back and has a lovely lunch on the front lawn of the homestead. After this was time to walk the trap line on the remaining flat ground in the camp, and then final job, to quickly strip out the dead grass in e mesh and chicken wire cut down from yesterday. Job done. Such A great feeling to have finished so much volunteer work that is beneficial for everyone. It really helps to know that as a group we managed to work to help finish jobs that either would not have happened otherwise, or would have taken a long time, and a lot of individual work.
It has been a rewarding week, but incredibly tiring, and much more mentally/physically challenging than Mimiwhangata.
We also heard news today that due to his issues at home, Tom will not be able to rejoin us tomorrow as originally planned. Mark will also be leaving us due to his other responsibilities. We will therefore be meeting Rachel tomorrow, our trip organiser, and travelling on with her - we will know more tomorrow I presume. It is sad, as we did not get to say goodbye to Tom, presuming we would see him again, and we will also miss Mark as he has been fantastic, teaching us so many things about the outdoors we might not have had chance to try/learn otherwise. We have made driftwood boats, bows and arrows, panflutes, and learnt to start a fire - even in the rain. It is however fantastic news that we will get to see Rachel again, she is so lovely and I think she will enjoy being out in the field again as she did when she first started up the company.
Anyway. It is half past 9 and we are hoping to get up at 5:30 tomorrow to hike up Gibbs hill and watch the sunrise. Over and out.

A worthwhile project...

Today we were handed over by the manager to a guy named Mike who wore VERY short shorts. He is in charge of pest control and the introduction of the Weka to the area. Weka are a flightless native bird to New Zealand that faced close extinction and reintroduction has been taking place over the past six years to provide a safe environment to grow within. Part of this was building 4 aviaries in a small area near to the workshop. They have since fallen into disrepair and need to be taken down. It was also great to hear this as it meant that the reintroduction programme has been beneficial and worked, and that the Weka have done well enough to live on in the native bush and surrounding are of the camp.
Tough work pulling down the aviaries took a lot of time and picky work. We had to dissemble the netting, chicken wires, take down the doors, pull out the support pegs and metal supports. It was difficult as we had to work to keep as much of the materials as possible reuseable. The chicken wire in particular was difficult as it was dug deeply into the ground, and the netting to cover the top of the pens had been grown through by trees, plants, shrubs, grass and weeds, and for one pen in particular, was near impossible to tear away from the ground. After toiling with the work, we had again completed a task. After this we were set out to walk some of the trap lines around the camp, checking for kills and rebating. The DOC150 traps have been designed to capture rodents - rats, stoats, ferrets. It's a part of the Weka protection, but also helps keep the area - used as a vast campground in summer, free from these animals which destroy and tear into rubbish, and food.
We set off around the southern part of the camp in the afternoon, completing several traps. I couldn't get too near as the smell emitted from some was gag-inducing, but enjoyed the afternoon walk greatly.
Back to the lodge, a shower, and homemade tortilla pizzas. After this we headed out on a tramp to a firepit near the beach. Mark taught us from scratch how to build a fire using his steel firestarters and petroleum cotton. It took a few attempts but we got it going - time to toast marshmallows!! Yummy!!
Even with the fire we were all a bit cold, and Mark introduced a new game! We are such kids and thrive at the opportunity for competitive fun! It was called creep up jack. It worked using a torch, with the main person stood away for the group. As it was dark, the group had to work to creep up on the torch bearer until they turn the light on, and BAM you have to stand still as stone. If you are seen, you are sent back to the starting point. It was great fun, incredibly difficult, and passes the time. I enjoyed the evening greatly and rashes into my sleeping bag, falling fast asleep as soon as my head hit the mouldy mattress.

A change to planting?

Another 9am and we were at the workshop expecting to be sent off to another paddock or creek to plant up!
But we got there and we're excited to hear we had a different job awaiting us today!! The morning began with park worker Gary demonstrating a possum plucking - not so nice in broad daylight. We then went on as a group, around the corner, and spotted a vast heap of wood. Our job for the morning would be to separate the wood that could be used for fires, from the mud, dirt, bark, chips and scraps. Looking like a simple task, we set out in groups, challenging speed and skill to move as many pieces as possible in a given time frame. Soon however the aching arms kicked in and everyone was lagging. The assembly lines fell apart leading to individual work and a wheelbarrow, heaving stuck stumps out of the mud. It took a couple of hours and we shifted the pile. It felt like we had physically moved Everest by hand, until we looked to our right, and saw a pile 5X the size, making us feel like weaklings.
Lunch was a nice break at the beach, and a few team games to wake everyone up and raise spirits, and warm up running around.
Afternoon however - yet again, planting, need I saw more.
Macaroni cheese for dinner, and a jam in music terms using panflutes created by Mark using Himalayan Honeysuckle, a nice yak (chat, not the animal!) bed!

First day volunteering in Totaranui

Today we began our work towards this second week of our volunteering section of the trip.
Up ready for 9, we headed down to the workshop prepared to hear what exciting work we would be doing this week. We drove down and then followed the manager down to our new site. We got there and stepped out the van, greeted by.... Planting. Again. The shovels, gloves, secatares, and new Zealand flax were greeted with a groan. Althought new leader Mark was brilliant, I think that some people were a bit knocked out of sorts by Tom leaving, and everyone was a little down in the dumps. The three week point in our trip also saw some characteristics showing that caused friction between some group members at certain times, and being thrust into such close living quarters again, they flared up even more so. Not everyone was on the job as much as hoped, and it was as though the grey clouds could at any point cause a downpour!! We were planting in an attempt to section of a paddock from illegal spotlighters and poachers after the Red Deer that graze the area. Instead of little sproutlings, we were planting Flax, whiteywood, kanukas, and punga amongst other plants that had been taken up from elsewhere on the site.
The day seemed to last forever, only split by a small break for lunch on the beach.
Finished much later than the half days in Mimiwhangata, we rolled in to the lodge at 4:30pm. After showers, warming up, drying out, and scraping the mud out from under the fingernails, everyone appeared to be in a much better mood. A fantastic curry we a HEAP of rice later, we were playing catchphrase as a group, poisonous frog, and pass the sign and after this a card game called Mafia - introduced by sachin. It was a long days work - bed please!

Another ridiculously steep hill...

Today we were preparing to move on to our new volunteer project In the Abel Tasman national park, ready for out next week working hard to help out the Department of Conservation.
Our leader Tom has had personal concerns (of other family members) and has had to take a week off so we are spending the week with Mark. Another kiwi and outdoorsy type, who is incredibly athletic an in to climbing, walking, cycling and mountain biking.
So we were introduced, and then had time to head into town while they handed over, so we grabbed a quick coffee and looked at the local Sunday morning car boot sale type market.
Soon we were In the van and heading off to pick up Russell, Diane, tommy and sachin who had left earlier to go skydiving! They had just landed when we arrived (except Russell who petrified his mum and decided not to) and were all so ecstatic, and thrilled they had done it. We watched sachins video and were impressed with the whole jump.
I am rather jealous they did it, but do not believe I would have been able to participate, as my main fear is falling out of a plane, and thinking about it my heart races and coach churns!!

We then headed on towards the Abel Tasman national park to prepare for volunteer week in tataranui. Stopping for lunch at the wholemeal cafe in Takaka and getting a worthy meal for the day.
We soon set off again and stopped at the Rawhiti Cave, with an hour long hike up hill to reach it. I don't think I have ever sweat so much on one walk. It was such a winding track, but we stopped every so often, finally making it to the top, and boy was it worth it!!
It was the most fantastic calcium deposit formed cave, full of stalactites, stalacmites and flowstones. The formations were fantastic, and it was a vast cave. Chrisi believed it looked like the bat cave from The Dark Knight Rises, and hoped Joseph Gordon Lovett (featuring in the new film) would show up!
Walking back down was not a quick as expected, with a few slips and muddy bottoms with most of us unprepared and in travelling clothes such as jeans, and myself in Nike hi-tops not hiking boots as I packed these at the back of the trailer.
We walked it though, and it was worth it -a fantastic trip. Another short drive and we arrived at our new accomodation, and headquarters for the week!
We are now settled in, by the fire in a 40man house! (although the ten of us have squeezed into the same room for heat and company). Home made Tomato soup is on the hob and I think it will be an early night for me!

Blood, sweat and tears!!

So do was a leisurely awakening before chance to explore the Saturday morning market of Nelson. We headed in around 9am for a wander and some breakfast. The area was bustling with activity and many stalls! There was vast amounts of jewellery; silver, bone, jade, clothes, honey, soaps etc. and food stalls. After a waffle for breakfast we browsed, picking up a few items each.
We were soon back at the hostel, ready for a 10:30 start to a mountain bike ride planned for the morning. We collected our bikes and set off. (image below / we followed green from the city centre along the river and golf course, then up yellow to the Tantagree saddle androgen back down. Our trip didn't start too well with a couple of people falling over and cutting themselves - and this was on the flat roads! We began along the river and soon found the group had various paces. I kept up well here, enjoying some of the riding and struggling up steeper sections. We got to the end of the track directly next to the river and split up. 2 of our riders headed leisurely back to the town and the rest of us headed up towards the saddle. As the most overweight and unfit in the group I was worried but our leader assured me I would be fine.. But I wasn't, I was a nightmare. I was sweating buckets and struggling to breathe - my asthma making things worse, and could barely move uphill. I felt more like I was rolling backwards and useless. I got off and walked a bit feeling guilty for holding the group up. They said they were glad for the rest. We carried on and didn't have too far to go. I went at a pace I could, often walking stretches to catch a breathe - and the last section a large proportion of the group walked. Finally we got to the top!! And it was all downhill from here - I have never been so happy to hear that phrase in all my life!! It w as fantastic and such a rush! Primarily worded tracks softened with fallen pine needles it was brilliant zipping in and out of the rocks and roots beneath. Although it took so much longer to get to the top than the 15 mintutes it took to get back to base, it was so worth it and I am so proud of myself. For carrying on - which I would not have done without Rachel encouraging me and wiping away my tears!!
The afternoon was therefore all about resting. I planned some of the work for my secret kiwi and we had a noodle takeaway for dinner!! Packed up. Ow and shattered. SO ready for an early night.
P.S - sorry the photos at the top are rubbish - I was too tired to focus, and didn't have much of a chance as the group wanted to crack on after I arrived!!
Night all!

On to South Island

An early start today for the first ferry was shattering after a late night. With a 3 hour trip across the cook strait there would be time to sleep though - welcoming news.
The first hour I spent sleeping in a reclining seat, spent some time sorting through photos. I also took the time to visit the "Sun Deck" though, where the winds were blowing strong and fast. It was lovely views though and my timing was great to see the South Island in the distance as we began our approach though the various islands and peninsulas.
Much of the rest of the day was pretty uneventful. We drove down to Nelson, stopping for a pie, and I spent the afternoon wandering around on my own for the first time in a town. I just got to grips with the area and had some nice solo time.
The evening was great fun. We were introduced to the company leader Rachel and her family, and had a fish and chips dinner, and went to watch some fireworks at the harbour as a pre-celebration of the blessing of the fleet in Nelson that will occur tomorrow.
It was cold out, but a nice evening and great to see some fireworks with the group. :)
We came back to our hostel, had a few games of pingpong pool and air hockey and it was time for bed!!

Utterly exhausted...

So today is out first and last full day in the countries capital city! (Wellington).
And finally a lie in!!
A later start meant a casual wake up which was greeted with enthusiasm from everyone!
First off today we would be "Te Papa", New Zealands national museum. With a booked tour, we headed on over to the museum expected to take 2 and a half days to explore and understand fully!!
Our tour guide was fantastic, teaching us about the native "Bush" in new Zealand and its uses - primarily for the Maori people - shelter, food, medicine etc. we went on to view the only colossal squid on display in the world, a Pygmy blue whale skeleton, Maori carvings, and a Maori meeting house. It was a fantastic tour and ended with mall lunch providing traditional Maori foods - mussels, kumara (sweet potato) manuka honey - amongst many other things. Some members of the group seems uncertain, but I thought it was delicious!
After this we had our first free afternoon. A couple of us decided to head out to Wellington Zoo - primarily to see the Kiwis!! (As they are nocturnal and VERY rare to spot in the wild). And then back to the museum if we had time to see some of the things we had missed.
It was an interesting zoo in terms of animal variation, and the arrival of baby spider monkeys and pygmy marmosets in the past 2 weeks was a great surprise! Going to a tour, we got to see and pet, a Tuatara (closest living relative to the dinosaurs) and a kiwi!! We were also lucky to see the sun bears being fed - with sticks coated in honey and jam. Amongst this I also saw lions, various birds, spider monkeys, baboons, cheetahs, giraffes, apes, meerkats, as I wondered around by myself for the first time in two weeks. Although a little run down, with some enclosures a little crowded I thought, they are working hard to expand and do up the zoo and I would like to come back in the future to see the improvements.
We caught the bus back to town and had just over an hour to see the rest of the museum - that we could in SUCH a short time!! I spent this looking at past Maori culture and tribe information, and also looking at the tectonic activity of New Zealand - including a hit built to show the experience of a Richter 5 earthquake. It was great to get a look.
We all then met back up at the hostel, going to a "Thai Express" the food for the price was absolutely fantastic!! Providing a main meal including rice/noodles for around $11NZ. About £7. It was incredibly good value and tasty - although I chose an option that was rather hot and suffered a runny nose and fired mouth the rest of the evening!
After this our last event of the day, booked spontaneously as an optional extra - seeing "Batman - The Dark Knight Rises" at the Reading theatre, viewing at 9:15pm. The film was rather good, although with some unexplained substories, and a great twist!! But after it had finished I was absolutely shattered! Worth it to watch it before a large portion of the world though, and my first cinema experience out of The UK.
I must sleep now as we have to catch the ferry bright and early tomorrow morning, to get to South Island and Nelson in preparation for our next volunteer week commencing Monday. Night all.

The windy city...

Today we were travelling on from Taupo to Wellington in preperation for our journey to south island in a couple of days.
A normal wake-up, quick call home and we were on the road. Lots of iPod music to avoid Toms taste in music and after six hours crossing the "Desert Road" among other towns, villages and the Gum Boot capital of the world we were in Wellington.
A quick breather and at 3pm we were booked into the New Zealand Parliament for a quick lesson on Kiwi politics, and to view the parliament in session. We saw the general debate. It was quite interesting, and followed the same general form and pattern as UK parliament (inherited through the commonwealth.)
Back to the hostel to unpack and it was time for dinner. Missing out on lunch today we were starving and headed to an Indian restaturant. It was lovely and a nice change to home-cooked food!!
A quick visit to the "Kiwi Pub" a couple of glasses of wine, and the last place in a quiz and we headed back to the hostel. A rest and now time to sort out bags, money, photos, blogs etc.
Very much a travelling day today, but I hope to have a more interesting day tomorrow!!
:)

Smelly towns...

Today began further movement south away from Auckland and toward Wellington, where we will then head on to Nelson and South Island. Heading to Rotorua and Taupo meant the smell of sulphur as we entered areas of springs, steaming land, boiling muds, and geysers.
An early start, pancakes and a quick pack up and we were on our way. First stop - zorbing. I did not participate, as motion sickness often gets the better of me, but thoroughly enjoyed watching others roll down the hill, and turn green! No time for lunch and we were off to white water rafting! As a grade 5, we participated in rafting on the Kaituna (eel food in Maori) and rafting down the highest commercially rated waterfall in the world at 7m. It was absolutely freezing getting into the wetsuits and nerves kicked in as we practiced on dry land for what to do in the event of flipping over, or what to do if we fell out. We got to the water and began and it was fantastic fun. It took a while to get to grips with the gear but then we were going down rapids, and tackled the first 1m and then 3m waterfalls.
Then it was time for the big one. The first group of six went over and surfaced well. Then it was our turn. We paddled towards it then ducked down on "Get down" command, holding on to the surrounding ropes with the tightest grips possible. We crested the top of the falls, turned down horizontally, and this is the last thing I remember. The boat flipped and next thing I knew I dropped my paddle and held on for dear life to the boat (as told to do so). The water was pulling and tugging in all directions trying to drag me under and I was panicked trying to find the air pocket in the raft. I finally found it pulling myself into it and took a deep breathe, shaker from the cold water , the adrenaline and the fear of being under water for what felt like hours but what was probably only 5-10seconds. The instructor found us, 3 still holding onto the boat, 3 scattered around and we were doomed flipped over and back in. After a quick breather the funny side of the situation was found and we were soon pushing each other out of the boat again. More rapids followed, including head first plunges where we rotated who was sat at the front of the boat. It was a fantastic hour and we were soon home and dry, with a pie, and on the road again!!
Taupo is our stop for tonight at the Tiki backpackers hostel.
The plan for the night was pizza takeaway (well-needed). Then we went on a little adventure to find hot springs. We went to the park where we were told to find them, descended the large slope and stairs, only to find a locked gate surrounded by barbed wires and steel poles that would I impale you with one wrong move. We came out the same entrance, cursing our guide, and looking for another entrance. We walked about 2km down the road, followed the path then decided to take a shortcut across a paddock. The mist and fog descended however and members of the group were soon in fear and concern over getting lost' for milling around and wandering in the most we found the path and headed towards the water. We got there and found a Luke warm pool. After walking upstream however, clambering over rocks In the pitch black we got to a gorgeous warm pool and settled for a while looking at the stars and enjoying the sound and warmth of the water.
We were soon ready to go and had a cold, but less fearful and disorientated journey back to the van! Back at the hostel and time for a warm shower and good sleep before the morning!!


The photos of today are of the lodge we had for the last couple of days.
And finally an image of a view from a point above Taupo of Mt Ruapehu, Ngahuhoe and Mt Tongariro.

Another rainy day...

I feel like I haven't even left home, with the torrential rain we have been having over here, it is just like north west England . Conditions have worsened over night and the rain has really been coming down today.
The morning was spent at maungatautari sanctuary. This is a specially segregated area that has been separated with a tight mesh gate in order to remove mammals and therefor keep it an insect and avian area only. The weather was horrific and therefore we were not expecting to see much at all. We arrived at the southern entrance to the area at the southern enclosure. We chose to follow a 1 1/2 - 2hour trial that was called the "Rata Track." It lead to a 16m viewing platform, An aviary, and a brown teal pond winding around native trees in the forest. Although incredibly wet it was interesting and we saw a couple of birds. The most interesting was the Takahe. It looked like a prehistoric bird that belonged in Jurassic park. Although bred, tagged and brought up in the park, it was still interesting to see, and our kiwi team leader told us he had never seen one in the wild, so we revelled in the fact that only the 6 of us who braved the storm got to see it!!
After a little walking, many silver firs and few birds we jumped in the van and headed back to Castle Rock Lodge for lunch. A quick lunch and we headed to Hobbiton!! So exciting as a large amount of us are fans/followers of either The Hobbit and LOTR books, or at least films.
It was fantastic to walk around the set for the shire, and observe the area. Although a little steeply priced, it was an interesting afternoon out and enjoyable as the rain slowed a lot to provide clearer photos than expected, and we saw a fantastic sunset on the way home!!
The evening was filled with time in the spa, nachos for dinner, had mulled wine, and prepared for packing to leave the lodge. It has been a lovely first few days off volunteering!!