Let's Boogy!

Boxing Day was Julie Anne & Erin's first boogy boarding experience!

Since we had spent Christmas Day playing around at Muriwai Beach, we thought we would try the next beach down- Maori Beach. Things looked good:

But after a local surfer informed us of the dangerous rips and advised us to avoid the water, we decided to settle for Muriwai (which is a pretty good "settle" if you ask me).

The surfer told us that we could get to Muriwai through the tunnel, so I ran up to move the car while Lowell, Julie Anne, and Erin walked through to the beach.

Problem was, they soon discovered that the tide was too high for them to walk all the way through. Sooo, they had to trek back to Maori beach, up to the road, then around to Muriwai.

Meanwhile, I had no clue that they didn't get through, so I was combing up and down Muriwai looking for them. Our meeting place was between the flags, but they were NOT to be found. After several minutes, I convinced myself that they had all died in the tunnel and I resigned myself to the fact that I would be flying home to Canada alone (I can be a little dramatic like that). Thank heavens they eventually showed up, apologies and explanations were thrown around, then we ripped out the BOOGY BOARDS!

Thank you to Julie Anne's waterproof camera for these next shots...

We eventually had to force ourselves home so Erin could finish packing up before the stupid airplane whisked her away from us.

Before heading for the airport, however, we had to complete her kiwi experience with 'Hokey Pokey ice cream'.

There was no denying it anymore. It was time for our lovely, entertaining cousin Erin to leave *sniff sniff*...

(There's a lookout area past security so we could communicate with gestures through the glass. I think she's communicating that she's sad. I'm a communication expert. I know these things. )

Turns out that Erin should have just stayed in NZ with us because she was stuck at the Vancouver airport for longer than she was on a plane from the other side of the world (thank you ridiculous cold and snow).

We mourned the loss of a great travel companion, but we quickly pulled out our happy attitudes because we still only had one short week left with Julie Anne.

On the morning of the 27th, we took our campervan for its first trip!

Oh I'm sorry. Have I not mentioned that we purchased a campervan? Lowell and I are 1/3 owners. The other 2/3 are Mom & Dad G and Marc & Kylie. Since they're each coming for an extended time (while I'm still working), we felt as though it was a very worthwhile little investment.

Allow me to introduce you to Gus (short for 'Gutless'. He's a dear, he really is, but I'm not going to lie. He doesn't really have much power going up hills). :

Anyhoo, here we are ready to take Gus on his first road trip as part of our family.

Julie Anne and I took shifts sleeping and driving:

This was the cue when we were done sleeping and ready to drive (only my hair didn't look nearly as awesome) :

Our first destination was 90 mile beach.

People drive down this beach all the time, and apparently the speed limit is 100 km/h... it's a registered HIGHWAY for goodness sake.

We were slightly shocked...

But sure enough, there were cars rippin up and down the beach!

We didn't quite feel brave enough to do that with Gus... but maybe next time.

We did WALK it, however. We weren't up to walking 180 miles (well, actually 110 miles....I'm not sure why they call it 90 mile beach when it's apparently only 55 miles long- I guess '90 mile beach' sounds cooler than '55 mile beach'), so we made a random tire track our finish line (which you can't even see, but you can kind of see the word 'finish' that miraculously appeared in the sand!)...

Then we turned and made our way back to our campgroud.

Oh but wait. Must stop for Lowell to be a boy:

And look at the pretty view...

We made ourselves a delightful little dinner of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches then hit the hay so we were rested for another day of FUN!

(The white boxy thing on the wall above my right shoulder is constantly filled with boiling water. In my experience, every work place AND campground here has these...BRILLIANT!)

Next up: Kiwi version of tobagganing...

Our Friend Milford

December 23, 2008...

So, back to Milford Sound... the most beautiful place on earth, and the name of Erin's future child.

This is what Wikipedia has to say about it:

It has been judged the world's top travel destination in an international survey, and is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. Rudyard Kipling had previously called it the eighth Wonder of the World.

(This panoramic shot is thanks to Lowell's photography skills & technical expertise! (click on it to see larger view))

Sheer rock faces that rise up to 1700 metres surround the waters that dolphins, seals, and penguins inhabit. These fiords were carved out by glaciers as they made their way into the Tasman Sea.

We experienced a clear, sunny day which was lucky as this rainforest area usually gets at least 200 days of rain per year. The blue skies and sunshine made the much-anticipated boat cruise through the Sounds all the more worthwhile. I didn't actually join the crew on this particular little tour as I feared motion sickness which pills don't even touch. No need to pity me though- everything was also beautiful from land, and I'm planning on doing a kayak trip through the Sounds at some point (Marc & Kylie?!) which is bound to be just as delightful.

*disclaimer: pictures do NOT do this place justice*

Dolphins are only sighted on 5% of trips, but lo and behold... the kids got lucky!

A little seal colony was also spotted...

As well as a Kiwi Santa (which, by definition, is a regular Santa with sunglasses on)...

After the marvelous little cruisey, we decided to hike a few random trails in the area. As we were driving on the narrow, windy, gravelly roads, Lowell warned me to be cautious. He had just finished his little fatherly lecture when, I kid you not, we rounded a corner and came upon this:

Apparently the roads ARE a little dodgey! Good thing I'm in the general pracise of listening to and obeying my husband:)

The Chasm was the first trail on the list. Erin, not surprisingly, spontaneously struck out in acrobatic poses (on several occasions). She plays University basketball... no wonder she pulls off such athletic positions!

View from the trail...

Siblings/cousin standing on the bridge above the chasm (we have no identifiable pictures of the actual chasm because the lighting was HORRIFIC) :

Erin showing of her athletic prowess at the end of the trail...

On the way to the next little trail, we went through a 1.5km long tunnel called "The Homer Tunnel". Apparently it "represents a major feat of engineering achieved under difficult and dangerous conditions." The construction of this tunnel was prompted by, surprise surprise, TOURISM. It was a long, dark tunnel.

Directly outside the tunnel was Homer Tunnel Nature Walk.

Across the road from the trail, we spotted attainable snow!

As we were blazing to our snowy destination, we spotted a Kea bird trying to eat it's way through the window of a car that was waiting to drive through the tunnel.

And now let's move right along to the other side of the road...

I longed to make a snowman, but the snow was not snowman material. Ah well, I'll have plenty of opportunities to make snowmen NEXT Christmas!

From the lovely Sounds, we headed back to Queenstown via Arrowtown. Arrowtown is a highly raved-about town, but unfortunately we arrived when everything but a dingey bar was closed. Too bad. So sad. Maybe next time...

We spent the night at the Flaming Kiwi hostel...

Then headed to Glenorchy (where part of Lord of the Rings was filmed!). We ate at a cafe with a magnificent view...

Then hiked to Lake Sylvan.

Oh, let me explain the t-shirts for a moment. These are the $2 tops included with the bungy. We pulled them over our little tank tops to provide some much needed reprieve from the intense UV. We've made fun of the cheapo shirts mercilessly, but secretly I kinda like them (don't tell anyone).

Cousins skipping through the forest:

And here we are at (or rather IN) Lake Sylvan:

Our trip to Glenorchy was short and sweet as we had a 5pm flight to catch back to Auckland. Driving through the South Island we noticed many many sheep (more so than on the North Island)...

And many many MANY wild flowers...

We caught our flight in the nick of time, then fell asleep in our Auckland beds dreaming of Christmas Day on the beach.

Next up: Boxing Day on the beach...