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Tweets from 2013-12-21

  • Just arrived in Auckland & met up with Kirstine (from National Park) to kill time until we can check into our respective hostels at 2pm. 12:40:02, 2013-12-21
  • So I had the great idea to ship some summer stuff home – but on Saturdays even in big Auckland post offices are closed completely or early! 15:49:29, 2013-12-21
  • Hee – the hostel messed up my booking, so instead of sharing a 5-bed dorm I seem to have a 2-bed room for myself. Lovely! 18:40:50, 2013-12-21
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Tweets from 2013-12-20

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National Park

This morning I took a shuttle from the hostel to Whakapapa Village in the national park. From there one can take a chair lift up Mt. Ruhapehu, but I decided against that because there were thick clouds shrouding the mountain. Instead I opted to do 3 shorter hikes, always returning to the village, which had the advantage of giving me a proper lunch break. 🙂

Continue reading “National Park”

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Tweets from 2013-12-17

  • Not used to getting up with an alarm clock anymore – but now no one's around to check my room & take my key (did tell them yesterday)… 06:59:57, 2013-12-17
  • On the train now,nice 5hrs to National Park.Good bye Wellington, I'll definitely see you again! Btw,my NZ mob & internet prob won't work. 🙁 07:45:08, 2013-12-17
  • Arrived in National Park YHA after a beautiful & relaxing train trip. Only one walk from the village itself, will take a shuttle tomorrow. 14:30:30, 2013-12-17
  • Unbelievable – half an hour into a short hike my newly fixed hiking boots fell apart again! Good thing I brought my proper sneakers… Grr! 16:57:53, 2013-12-17
  • It really is beautiful here in National Park: http://t.co/xUBQ38rBNS 17:09:53, 2013-12-17
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Tweets from 2013-12-16

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Almost time to leave…

Tomorrow morning I’m catching the train up to National Park. I still have almost a whole week New Zealand left, but with leaving Wellington it feels as if I’ve already started my trip home… But don’t worry, I’ll still have loads of fun, tramping around the mountains (although not the Tongariro Crossing, good sense won out over stubborness) and visiting Hobbiton! 🙂

It’s just that for me, Wellington is my home here in NZ, even if I’m staying in student accommodation and didn’t get to see my friends nearly enough. It just felt so good to be here, walk these streets – and I did get to spend time with most of the wonderful people I’ve missed these past five years.

Seeing Rachel & Nathan again at and after church yesterday (they invited me to Nathan’s family home, how lovely way that!) was really great – when I saw them last, Rachel was pregnant with Fynn, and now that little lad is 5 years old and has TWO younger sisters! All three utterly adorable. Fynn and Phoebe, the two older ones, were in the cute and funny children’s Christmas presentation at church – can you spot the blond hair? 🙂
Wellington

Today I’m getting everything ready – another session with the chiropractor, picking up my hiking boots from the cobbler, doing one last load of laundry and of course packing ALL the things. But I’m also planning on going back to the waterfront this afternoon and maybe pop into Te Papa (seeing that it’s free), as so far the weather’s simply been too nice for a proper museum day.

Friday I got to hang out with Celia again and we went for a leisurely walk at Karori Sanctuary – a lot has happened there, so many more birds than five years ago, it was great!

Celia & me at the dam a Kaka feeding

Saturday I spent at Scorching Bay, walking along the seafront and just enjoying the scenery – so gorgeous:
Wellington

Can you blame me for already missing this beautiful place? Their slogan is “the coolest little capital in the world” – and ain’t that the truth! *g*

Note: All photos can be found in this set on Flickr.