Another weekend has passed and I am still amazed by every place I visit in New Zealand.
After a night out on the town on Friday to celebrate the end of the second week of classes, I got some much needed sleep before our 8 am boat to Waiheke Island. Waking up early wasn’t easy, as I haven’t had to be up at 7 in quite a while, but it was well worth it. A 30 minute ferry ride brought Shay and I to the beautiful island of Waiheke off the coast of Auckland.
When we stepped of the boat we were greeted by Bodee and the Beachbum Bus. After introductions we piled into the bus and were more than grateful when the first stop was a cafe. The quaint township of Waiheke consisted of nothing more than a few cafes and little shops but the island and the beaches more than made up for the size of the population. Looking out onto the water from the Lazy Lounge Cafe I knew that the day would be an adventure.
After fueling up on caffeine our first stop was a beach (go figure). We got off the bus at the top of a hill overlooking the white sands below and a few pictures later we set off down the trail for the beach. The water was warm, the sun was shining, and the beach was… topless. While collecting an abundance of sea shells and rocks I quickly passed the older, under dressed beach goers, in favor of my fully clothed companions from the Beachbum Bus. As it turns out we had already met a few of the girls on the tour during orientation week. Bodee, our tour guide, pulled out a cricket bat and tennis ball and taught a few of us a kiwi game, while the others went swimming.
Back on the bus, there was an air of excitement as everyone anxiously awaited our next stop. Shay and I contemplated whether or not it would be the relaxing day on the beach we expected, or if the Beachbum name was a bit misleading. The next stop of the day was an art gallery where local artists sold their work. The gallery was very unique and the artists were unbelievably friendly. Of course, while wandering the beautiful paintings, I came across a picture of dinosaurs. Although I have never held a special attachment to the extinct creatures, they pull at my heart every time as a reminder of my little brother back home.
A few stops later, we piled out of the bus in a mixture of enthusiasm and anxiety as we were about to attempt (dun dun dun) The Jungle Mission! Sneakers on our feet we were lead into the forest and within seconds the forest transformed into a jungle. I felt like I was in the Amazon. Crazy trees, exotic plants, and loud birds surrounded us as we hiked through the jungle. It was beautiful. Bodee told us interesting facts about the plants and wildlife that inhabit the national park and I tried my best to spot all of the things he told us about. I even saw the vines thatTarzan swings from and unsuccessfully attempted to do the same.
Just as I thought our adventure would continue forever, we abruptly exited the jungle and arrived at another beach. Unfortunately there was no time for sunbathing as we jumped back into the bus and headed for a wine tasting at a local vineyard (the first of two we would visit).
The Vineyard was gorgeous and unusual at the same time. When we pulled in we saw a stag party shooting disks in the front yard. Apparently this vineyard was popular for hosting events. Set back among the rows of trees was a beautiful little bar with a big patio. After having a few samples of the many dipping vinegars and spreads the vineyard offered, I went to the bar to choose the wines and beers I wanted to sample. I settled upon the pale ale, wheat beer, sauvignon blanc, and the rosette. All of which we home made on the vineyard. We had a great time pretending to be wine connoisseurs and chatting about our travels thus far in New Zealand.
We traveled to another winery and were relieved to see Dan (another Beachbum Bus employee) starting the barbecue out front. Not only did we have burgers and sausages with our wine during lunch, but Dan and Bodee entertained us with crazy stories and even some interesting tips on getting away with thing in New Zealand. Full from a delicious barbecue we were all ready for our last stop. The Beach.
Choosing to part from the crowd for a little, Shay and I walked a little further down the beach and decided to take a nap in the sun instead of joining in on the games. As we were walking we spotted a few of our friends from Whittaker sitting at a table at the bar on the beach. After saying hi and telling them about our day we found a spot to lay in the sand. Just moments after spreading out on the beach, the first rain shower of the trip surprised us and we ran for cover. Luckily the shower was short and only lasted for a couple of minutes. It was not the ideal ending to our trip but by that point we were all so beat from the day that we were happy to just sit on a hill overlooking the crystal clear water below and relax.
The trip home on the ferry quickly turned into a nap and I was exhausted during our walk home from the wharf. Yet again I had an amazing time exploring the lengths of New Zealand. I made new friends, new memories, and I even managed to secure a few souvenirs along the way.
After a night out on the town on Friday to celebrate the end of the second week of classes, I got some much needed sleep before our 8 am boat to Waiheke Island. Waking up early wasn’t easy, as I haven’t had to be up at 7 in quite a while, but it was well worth it. A 30 minute ferry ride brought Shay and I to the beautiful island of Waiheke off the coast of Auckland.
When we stepped of the boat we were greeted by Bodee and the Beachbum Bus. After introductions we piled into the bus and were more than grateful when the first stop was a cafe. The quaint township of Waiheke consisted of nothing more than a few cafes and little shops but the island and the beaches more than made up for the size of the population. Looking out onto the water from the Lazy Lounge Cafe I knew that the day would be an adventure.
After fueling up on caffeine our first stop was a beach (go figure). We got off the bus at the top of a hill overlooking the white sands below and a few pictures later we set off down the trail for the beach. The water was warm, the sun was shining, and the beach was… topless. While collecting an abundance of sea shells and rocks I quickly passed the older, under dressed beach goers, in favor of my fully clothed companions from the Beachbum Bus. As it turns out we had already met a few of the girls on the tour during orientation week. Bodee, our tour guide, pulled out a cricket bat and tennis ball and taught a few of us a kiwi game, while the others went swimming.
Back on the bus, there was an air of excitement as everyone anxiously awaited our next stop. Shay and I contemplated whether or not it would be the relaxing day on the beach we expected, or if the Beachbum name was a bit misleading. The next stop of the day was an art gallery where local artists sold their work. The gallery was very unique and the artists were unbelievably friendly. Of course, while wandering the beautiful paintings, I came across a picture of dinosaurs. Although I have never held a special attachment to the extinct creatures, they pull at my heart every time as a reminder of my little brother back home.
A few stops later, we piled out of the bus in a mixture of enthusiasm and anxiety as we were about to attempt (dun dun dun) The Jungle Mission! Sneakers on our feet we were lead into the forest and within seconds the forest transformed into a jungle. I felt like I was in the Amazon. Crazy trees, exotic plants, and loud birds surrounded us as we hiked through the jungle. It was beautiful. Bodee told us interesting facts about the plants and wildlife that inhabit the national park and I tried my best to spot all of the things he told us about. I even saw the vines that
Just as I thought our adventure would continue forever, we abruptly exited the jungle and arrived at another beach. Unfortunately there was no time for sunbathing as we jumped back into the bus and headed for a wine tasting at a local vineyard (the first of two we would visit).
The Vineyard was gorgeous and unusual at the same time. When we pulled in we saw a stag party shooting disks in the front yard. Apparently this vineyard was popular for hosting events. Set back among the rows of trees was a beautiful little bar with a big patio. After having a few samples of the many dipping vinegars and spreads the vineyard offered, I went to the bar to choose the wines and beers I wanted to sample. I settled upon the pale ale, wheat beer, sauvignon blanc, and the rosette. All of which we home made on the vineyard. We had a great time pretending to be wine connoisseurs and chatting about our travels thus far in New Zealand.
We traveled to another winery and were relieved to see Dan (another Beachbum Bus employee) starting the barbecue out front. Not only did we have burgers and sausages with our wine during lunch, but Dan and Bodee entertained us with crazy stories and even some interesting tips on getting away with thing in New Zealand. Full from a delicious barbecue we were all ready for our last stop. The Beach.
Choosing to part from the crowd for a little, Shay and I walked a little further down the beach and decided to take a nap in the sun instead of joining in on the games. As we were walking we spotted a few of our friends from Whittaker sitting at a table at the bar on the beach. After saying hi and telling them about our day we found a spot to lay in the sand. Just moments after spreading out on the beach, the first rain shower of the trip surprised us and we ran for cover. Luckily the shower was short and only lasted for a couple of minutes. It was not the ideal ending to our trip but by that point we were all so beat from the day that we were happy to just sit on a hill overlooking the crystal clear water below and relax.
The trip home on the ferry quickly turned into a nap and I was exhausted during our walk home from the wharf. Yet again I had an amazing time exploring the lengths of New Zealand. I made new friends, new memories, and I even managed to secure a few souvenirs along the way.
No comments:
Post a Comment