WELLINGTON
We got to Wellington train station around 7pm. Our hostel was literally just over the road from the station so it wasn't far to walk which was handy after our tiring 12hr journey.
The hostel was the biggest we had stayed in - it had a huge sitting/eating area, a big TV room, a really big kitchen for guests to cook in, a little restaurant for you to order food and a bar which had free pool and darts.
We had a few games of pool and then headed just over the road to a little supermarket to get our dinner.....a box of cornflakes! We were so tired and not overly hungry we just wanted something quick and very easy.
DAY 1:
We headed out into the city centre and instantly liked Wellington alot more than Auckland. It was more like a typical busy city working day with alot more interesting shops to window shop and browse and alot more of a choice where to eat.
We went to see Wellington Cathedral, walking past The Beehive which is part of the parliament buildings.
Downtown Backpackers Hostel....
Mr F watching England vs France in the TV room.....
The boys had the top bunk and Mr&Mrs F had the bottom....
Wellington Cathedral.....
We got a couple of the best homemade sandwiches for lunch from a little bakery and sat and eat them in a little park area where we were surrounded by scrounging pigeons and seagulls.
Couldn't figure out if this was a statue or one of those spray painted street performer???
After some intense reading and research into what Wellington had to offer in The Lonely Planet, by Mr F, we decided to got the cable car to the botanical gardens. At the top, we visited the worlds smallest cable car museum and then walked around the gardens, which were lovely. There are a few routes you can follow around the gardens and we chose to follow the bush walk through the forest areas. Just as we set off on our route it started to rain! :-(
The rain wasn't easing off, so we headed back to the hostel for the rest of the day, had a few gmaes of pool and darts and just chilled out.
The view of Wellington city at the top of the cable car and botanical gardens
The cable car museum....
Old sun dial.....
The rose garden...
Can you spot Mr F???....
DAY 2 -
NEW ZEALAND TO AUSTRALIA:
Mr F hunted online and found and awesome flight from Wellington to Perth via Sydney for just 270 pounds each!! We didn't have to leave the hostel until 12pm to get the bus to the airport as our flight was at 3:45pm.
So we had breakfast (cornflakes again) and chilled out in the TV room before heading off to the airport and eventually, Australia. We took some pics enroute of the waves hitting the rocks just by the airport
VERDICT OF NEW ZEALAND -
NORTH ISLAND:
Mr F: Pretty but not amazing. Possibly partly due to where we had been earlier in our travels. Loved the area around Taupo and the drive to Cape Regina is definitely worth it if you have the time. Definitely preferred Wellington. Unfortunately for us, south island was hit by its worst weather in years, which would have made travelling difficult if not dangerous, so decided not to go which is a shame, as it was one of the things in our travelling itinerary I was looking forward to most.
Mrs F: Although the north island wasn't everything we had hoped and expected, we had to remind ourselves that we have seen the best mountains in the world, the Himalayas, and therefore nothing will ever top what we have already seen. I really didn't like Auckland but much preferred Wellington. The best part for me was our road trip around the top part of the north island and did see some really good views (once the weather permitted us) It was a shame that we arrived in New Zealand at a time when the weather didn't even allow us to make it over to see the south island , which is where the best places are, but it was good to see everything that we did in the car and on the train. Maybe we'll go back when the weather is better and we can actually see the mountains and fully appreciate it at its best.
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