Pink Pork Chop: New Zealand- part1

Haven't been updating my blog since march. It's been so long that i've forgotten my login password. hehe.

2011 has been a great journey.

Four major holidays for the year: Hong Kong, Successfully climbed Mount Kinabalu, New Zealand (most recently) and soon Beijing.

In between, i've escaped to Singapore for weekends and local beaches like Port Dickson.

Other than traveling is of course work...occupying most my time. But i guess, it isnt too bad.

Anyway, i flew to Auckland on 29th Aug, good timing for a long holiday as it falls on Raya period, so that i dont have to apply too many days annual leave.

We spent a total of 10 days in New Zealand- since the land is so huge...10 days isn't a lot to cover the country but we still manage to cover the north island.

We rented a Sunny Nissan (aka Nissan Sentra in Malaysia) from GoRentals and drove around north island, from:
Auckland-Hamilton-Rotorua-Taupo-Mt Ruapehu-Wanganui-Wellington-Napier-Tauranga-Auckland.

Quite effective aye? but can be quite tiring. We rented the car for about NZ$ 30 per day, of course the more days you rent the cheaper the price will be and if you are wondering how much is the petrol prices, average is about NZ$ 2.04 for a litre. But i think its best way to move around if you are not traveling alone; if not the buses are not bad too.

We spent the first night at Rotorua, nearby there this nice lake

cold & misty

visited the Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park-where you get to see local birds; Kiwi, Kea, Tui and etc. But i think the park is quite small...only manage to see two Kiwi Birds... quite disappointing. Nearby there is also the Tamaki Village where you can get to experience the Maori Culture...but it is very pricey, so we decided not to go.

Day2, we moved quickly for some fun activity.
The New Zealand RiverJet

we went on a weekday, so there isn't anyone besides us.

Our personal tour-guide

its a high speed jet boat where we speed down the spectacular Waikato River.
It was freezing cold btw.

Stopped by Orakei Korako, the beautiful thermal reserve in New Zealand for a walk.
Here are some pictures from Orakei Korako

the elephant rock

the boiling mud pool

At last, we get to experience the world famous jet boating action including the 360-degree spins.

Then we went to checkout the huka falls, the largest waterfall on the Waikato River.

The hukajet might be a good option as it goes very near to the falls and you get the same 360' spin experience

the huka falls is really magnificent, i've never seen anything as blue before!

passby the Volcano Activity Centre

and the Lava Glass Studio

saw the making of Lava Glass

we end the day 2 with a beautiful sunset by @ Lake Taupo.

Day3: Waitomo Caves...famous for black water rafting

We went for Ruakuri Cave tour & Waitamo glowworm cave

Outside Ruakuri

Forgotten how many feet below...

the natural stalactite and stalagmite formation is beautiful.

its like chandelier

& these blue little dots are lights from the glowworms.
interesting little creature.

those fine lines/chains are glowworms' saliva...to trap food!

it was cold in the cave

Later of the day, we went for a Kiwi Culture Show @ Woodlyn Park

the seating is quite cool but very antic.

lots of sharp tools stuck on the wall for deco

what if any of it fall off the wall??? kinda scary..

The whole show was quite raw... its all done by one person only but I think its still pretty amazing for a one man show.

the show covers from the history of men using different techniques chopping off trees...to sheep shaving and many more animals...

Possum was one of the many cute animal we saw