Rangitoto and Meat Pie

On Saturday Laura and I caught the 7:30am ferry out of the Auckland Harbor and hiked up and around Rangitoto, New Zealand’s largest and youngest volcano.  Here is a map of the island and the trails.  We walked every trail except the one to bolder bay and we never crossed onto Montutapu!  It was a lot of walking and I am now very sore but it was worth it! 

Rangitoto erupted as recently at 600 years ago and was probably active for several years before settling down.  Maori people lived on Motutapu (Rangitoto is attached to Motutapu) at the time of the eruptions and probably witnessed it.  

When we got to Rangitoto we started walking around the trails at the base because it was very cloudy, or dusty as lots of people here say, and we knew there wouldn’t be much of a view at the top.  There were tons of cool looking trees and a lot of great views of Auckland.  We walked along the costal road with two girls we met on the ferry.  They were both from Germany and were in New Zealand for 6 and 9 months as nannies.

 Then as it started to clear up we headed towards the summit.  The walk was through the forest and stopped at some great lookout points.  When we got to the top we spent some time looking at the almost perfect crater.  We went several more lookouts and then we headed to the highest point.  Here are some of the pictures that we took.  There were amazing views in all directions and by the time we got up there it was pretty clear.  We could see to Motutapu, which surprisingly at least to me (considering Rangitoto is all trees) looked as if it was almost all grass.   

 

On the very top of Rangitoto there was an old lookout station from WWII, Rangitoto was used as a lookout because since it is so tall it is possible to look in all directions for invaders.  There were several old buildings and remnants from WWII allover the island. 

After that we walked to the Lava Caves.  Lava caves are formed when the lava that is flowing on top cools and hardens while the lava below is still moving.  This process forms something like a tube, in my travel book it told me that if you want to see the caves you need to bring a torch to the island.  Well I didn’t understand what a torch was and couldn’t imagine bringing a stick with fire (that was all I could think of).  So we didn’t have a flashlight, which is what torch meant, but fortunately a nice man who was eating lunch with his son let us barrow theirs. 

We did some more walking after the Lave Caves, went to the Controlled Mine Base and then walked back to the wharf on the costal trail.  We made it back in plenty of time for the last ferry at 5pm so we were not stranded on the island, the captain says that he leaves people all the time. 

On the boat we happened to be sitting behind a man who was wearing a Super Bowl Ring.  He saw Laura’s shirt (it said Wisconsin on it) and asked if we were Packer fans.  Laura said yes and he told us that was too bad.  Anyway long story short he played for the 49ers from 1991-1995 and was on the team when they won.  I tried to catch his name when he introduced himself to the group of people from New Zealand, but missed it. 

We talked to him and his son for quite a while and they asked us if we had eaten meat pie since we had been in New Zealand.  Neither of us had and he was so disappointed that he told us that it is what we needed to have for dinner.  He said that it was one of his favorite foods and had been eating it at multiple places since his family arrived, he said most of them had been average but one shop was wonderful.  He tried to give us directions but couldn’t remember what the shop was by or what street it was on, so once we reached to harbor he walked us to it.  We had lamb curry meat pie for dinner at a little shop in an ally and it was excellent.   

Rugby World Cup and Mt. Eden

Sunday was the Rugby World Cup Final so it was a HUGE DAY in Auckland.  Laura and I decided that we would go into down town to experience the World Cup since we were here.  We caught the bus from Storm’s House at 9am and arrived down town at about 10am.  We decided that we would go to the Warf first before it got too packed.  We walked around the Fan Zone and took in everything that we could, I learned a bit about rugby, and already by 10:30am the area was packed and kickoff wasn’t until 9pm.   

Once we experienced the Fan Zone we thought we would walk the Fan Walk.  It took us from the Fan Zone to Eden Park where the Rugby Match was being held later that evening.  Along the way we stopped in shops and met quite a few friendly people.  We ate dinner at about 4pm along the way at a Sausage Stand.  When we got to Eden Park we walked around but couldn’t see much so we looked at the map and noticed how close we were to Mt. Eden (you would think we wouldn’t have needed a map to tell us but we really couldn’t see it from where we were standing).  Mt. Eden is Auckland’s highest cone (196m). 

Mt. Eden has a symmetrical crater, 50m deep.  It is known as Te Ipu Kai a Mataaho or the food bowl of Mataaho, the god of all things hidden in the ground.  This is a highly sacred area and there were signs everywhere telling you not to go into the crater, however some people were down in it until Security came.  We hiked up Mt. Eden and took lots of pictures.  There were great views of the Harbor Bridge, the Sky Tower, and you could see the stadium!

We hiked back down and were wandering our way back to town when we heard lots of yelling.  Not that this was unusual for the day, most of Auckland was cheering all day, but when we looked up we saw several squad cars and two coach busses and realized that the All Blacks (the New Zealand Rugby Team) were on there way to the game.  Laura and I couldn’t believe how lucky we were to have seen them.  

When we got back down town it was even crazier as I am sure you can imagine.  People were everywhere, the streets were so packed you couldn’t move, everyone was yelling, dressed up, many people had their faces and bodies painted.  The Fan Zone on the Warf was so packed that no one else was permitted on and they were worried it would sink from the weight.  There were 5 or more huge cruse ships in the harbor that were full of people screaming and shouting as well. 

We decided if we were going to see any of the game at all we should go home.  We caught the bus and went back to Storm’s house, made it just in time for kick off and watched the game.  I am happy to report that the All Blacks beat France 8 to 7 to win the Rugby World Cup!

Piha Beach and Karekare Falls

On Saturday Hayley and Kyle took Laura and I to Piha Beach on the other side of Auckland.  It took a bit longer than an hour to get there through the Waitakere Ranges but there were some great views and cool looking plants.  I tried to take pictures but we were going too fast so they didn’t turn out.  The road through the forest was crazy.  It was so curvy and hilly that I was happy when we finally reached the beach!  

Piha Beach is an iron sand beach so the sand is black.  It is a very dangerous beach because of the large surf, undertows, and currents.  In New Zealand they have a T.V. show called Piha Rescue because of all of the people who get into sticky situations here.  There were lots of lifeguards on duty as well as rescue boats patrolling the water.  They had two flags and we were told that if you swam between those flags the lifeguards could help us.  The ironic part was the flags were only about 25 yards apart.  Needless to say we didn’t go into the water beyond out knees. 

  

At Piha there are several very large rock structures that we were able to climb on.  When we first saw the beach we were looking down on it from a cliff.  In the first picture you can see Lion Rock.  Once on the beach we could climb halfway up Lion Rock on a small footpath!  

 This is a picture that I took when I was climbing on Lion Rock in the distance you can see the other large rock formation and that is Camel Rock.  We also did some climbing around Camel Rock but not on it because we were told that is where most of the rescues on the show are.  We got to see lots of starfish and muscles in the tide pools and shallow areas on the rocks.  We also saw this boy and his grandfather fishing for crabs with a line and a small bit of fish. 

When we were done walking and exploring Piah Beach we went to Karekare Falls and walked through the forest to the falls.  It was a cool hilk and I was able to take photos of the streams and plants.  When we got to the falls we took some pictures and were about to go when I found a small footpath that lead us even closer and we got to stand in the pool at the bottom of the falls! 

Day One/ Musick Point

When I arrived in Auckland Hayley and Karl (the couple I am living with) picked me up from the airport and we drive to their home, and I had a bit of time to unpack.  Then Kyle and I drove around  to see the area.  He took me to Musick Point and we got to climb on the rocks and down by the water.  The views were beautiful!   

Under these rocks you can find crabs if you lift them up!  Kyle even taught me how to pick them up without getting pinched!

In the distance of these pictures you can see a mountain.  That is Rangitoto, it is New Zealand's largest and youngest volcano.  I am hoping to get to hike up and around the rim next weekend!

For lunch we ate Subway at Cockle Bay Beach.  When ordering at Subway I learned that their bread and meat are different than in the United Stated and they call green peppers capsicum, the lady looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for green pepper, so I pointed.  The water at the beach was so clear and again the views were wonderful.  The sand was all small broken shells, so I kept my sandals on.  

The people I am staying with think I am crazy for wading in the water, as I am wearing shorts and a t-shirt they are wearing long pants and winter coats!  

After lunch we went drove around some more, for dinner we picked up Pizza Hut and went to Storm's house (she will be my cooperating teacher while I am here).  Laura (the other girl from River Falls) and I along with Hayley and Storm planned out what weekend trips we wanted to do while we are here.  I am excited, we are going to be very busy!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I left Wausau on Wednesday October 19th at 9am and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand on Friday October 21st at 9:30am.  Four airports, three airplanes, and one new country later here is what I have learned so far...





Everything truly is bigger in Texas, I could sit in this chair with my backpack on one side and my purse on the other!  There was also a sky train that went around to the separate terminals.

Window seats are definitely worth the extra $20.  It was so nice to be able to look out and see what we were flying over as well as being able to lean against it to sleep.  

 Clouds are cool to not only look at but take pictures of, plus it helps pass the time no matter what they guy sitting next to you says!











Lastly for today here are some of the first glimpses that I saw of New Zealand as I flew in this morning!










I made it, I am in New Zealand, I met the people who I am staying with, they are very nice!  We drove around a bit and I got all of my things settled.                            

My Bags are Packed!

Well my bags are packed as I am sure that you gathered from the title.  Kayla came to Wausau this weekend and helped me and my family out since I am not great at packing, I would also like to report that the only things I have added since Kayla left are two activity books and a comb (I know some people out there were worried about me adding more).  Everything that I am taking with for the next eight weeks fits into one big luggage, a backpack, and an awesome purse that Mom made.  We spent some quality time making sure that all of the clothing I am taking, would not only be school and weather appropriate, but would also be multi-functional.  Meaning that everything coordinates so it can be mixed and matched together.        

I am getting nervous to go, I fly out of Minneapolis around 4pm tomorrow.  I am also super excited to see what is in store for me over the next two months!  I will do my best to keep my blog updated about my experiences while traveling.