Paparoa to Auckland

July 26, 2008
We drove to Abel Tasman, with golden beaches, not fake gold, real gold and blue seas. We wanted to go kayaking, but blame the 4 meter swells – I’m not writing about this on the 27th. Second of all on the 27th we had a boat to catch. I was in the car and nearly rotted to death from boredom. We drove on horrible roads and when we got close to the edge of the road I thought we were going to fall off the edge. Other than that, I didn’t pay 1/12th of attention to the road.

July 27, 2008
We took a ferry to the North Island, as in a week and a half our adventure to ‘wonderland” would be over. The sea was bumpy, and I like to look out of windows if not go out on deck, but seldom did I look out, because my parents told me I couldn’t do anything else until I was finished with my book. We had to take a nap because if you are rocking to and fro like a mad child stamping and moving wildly that is okay, but if you are rocking like a mother rocks her baby, only in a giant cradle, it seems to hypnotize you and make you sleepy.
When we got there we drove to a campground and saw sleeping ducks, sleeping in the rain.

July 28, 2008
This morning we were surrounded by ducks and my mom lent me a piece of bread so I could feed them. The noise was unbelievable. Ducks pecked, quacked and jumped and pecked, quacked and jumped. They flapped and fought for food. After the ducks saw I wasn’t feeding them anymore, they went to surround another camper.
We went to Te Papa and saw Bush City and saw a fish tank with healthy fish and healthy plants. Then we went to a cave (fake) with glow worms (fake) and then ate a snack, and got on the road. We also saw bags of pony poo, 1 dollar a bag. I am sorry, that is a bargain, even for pony poo.

July 29, 2008
If you’ve ever gone on roads with snow and ice and grit on them, tell me. We drove to Mt. Ruapehu so I could play in the snow. Me and my dad had a snowball fight where we mostly kicked hard snow out of the way. After playing in the snow, we went off to the Agrodome.
There we had the company of two sheep dogs, who didn’t like the fake sheep dog statue. We went to the room for the show and saw the sheep, some of which I petted. Then the show began. First, the sheep were put on stage. They grabbed others’ food on the way and had to pushed on. The people put a gate in front of one sheep, who easily jumped over it.
Then he brought out a sheep and dragged it to a platform and sheared it. Then he threw some wool and we got some. Then he brought out a sheep dog and 2 ducks, who outdid the sheep dog. Next, 4 people got to milk a cow. The cow just ate like a pig the whole time.
Next 4 people let lambs drink from baby bottles. Then the sheep dog ran over and on sheep. Then we pet lambs, sheep and sheep dogs. Then we watched a sheep dog chase 3 sheep into a small gateway. Next we saw a giant machine comb sheep’s wool, which was afterwards spun into yarn.

July 30, 2008
We drove to the Rotorua Museum and I saw a piece of basalt that was hollow and found out the Pink and White Terraces blew up with Lake Rotomahana when Mt. Tarawera exploded. 120 people were killed that night.
After going underground, looking at where people took their mud baths, and laughing at a movie of a grumpy nurse, we saw a movie where the chairs shook. It was about an evil spirit that made a volcano erupt shortly after a group of people canoeing saw a war canoe that suddenly disappeared.
After that, we went to the café, along the way seeing 4 pukekos. The café was filled with birds and bird manure. Then we went back to the camper soaking wet.

July 31, 2008
We went to Hahei Beach and I played with a stick. There was a stream, broken shells, and pine cones. We played for a while, then went to the camper and played Uno and Pass the Pigs and then went to bed.

August 1, 2008
First we went to Stingray Bay, which was just rocks. As the waves came, I threw rocks into the water. Then we went to Cathedral Cove. On the walk I found a stick and played with it on the beach. Have you ever seen “Prince Caspian”? Well, if yes, did you know, when Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan first went back into Narnia from out of the train station through the arch, that was Cathedral Cove? I scared sea gulls, noticed a waterfall with a rainbow in it, and got in a triangular hole/short cave.
The sand was a bright, rosy, pink color. Next we went to Gemstone Bay, which was also just rocks. We climbed over the rocks, then went to Hot Water Beach, where we cooked our feet and found shells that looked like a ram’s horn.
When we went back our feet were covered in sand. I did not want to get in the sea water when it came up because it was cold.
Then we went to Orewa and found a campground, went to the playground, which was too wet, then went to the beach, where we found a lot of whelks and clams. The clams, like all clams, were clammy. I picked up dead ones and opened and closed their mouths. I picked up a live one and threw it into the water quickly, because it hissed at me. Then we went back.

August 2, 2008
We went to the Kauri Museum. A Kauri is a giant tree, which I have not put on this blog entry. First we saw two rooms with Kauri desks, slabs and frames. Next we saw displays or life sizes dioramas of how Kauri trees were used by people back then.
Next we saw how gum diggers lived. It didn’t sound that pleasant. They were up to their armpits in swamps digging holes at daytime and at nighttime they slept on burlap sacks. Next we saw a room full of antiques from households, like a cash register from Ohio and a Primus stove.
Then we went to the gum room which had models of buildings made out of Kauri gum. When we were done with that I bought a “mere”, or a war club, but I got the liver remover kind of club.
Next we went to the Kauri forest. First we went to the “Four Sisters”, along the walk seeing a sort of fungus. The 4 Sisters were 4 Kauri trees, mind you, I did say that Kauri trees were huge, and so these were. Next we saw the “Father of the Forest”. It was a light gray and was very wide around. We had to break our backbones and spinal cords trying to see the top, which was impossible.
Then we went to see the tallest tree. Of course, we broke our backbones and spinal cords trying to see the top of it. We couldn’t, so we gave up trying to do it, and went back to the car.
We drove some more and stopped at a hotel in Paihia. We went to eat out at a pizzeria where the food was delicious. We went back to the hotel and watched a game of rugby where the players did the “Haka”, which is a war dance.

August 3, 2008
First we got on a boat for four hours, and saw a gannet, a seabird with a yellow head. The water was a light blue with dark blue spots. Islands were dotted with sheep and trees. Sometimes the water looked golden. We looked outside and saw the “Hole in the Rock”. We couldn’t go through the Hole in the Rock due to sea conditions.
We got on an island and were there for a while. Lots of sea urchins were on the beach. We also saw two whole starfish and one starfish arm. Then we went to the café and had some fries. The boat suddenly blowed or made some sort of noise and we got back onboard. We didn’t see any sea life. We sailed back and found a campground.

August 4, 2008
We drove to the Honey Centre and ate at the café. Then we watched the bees with pollen on the go in and out of the bee hive. Busy, busy bees. They didn’t even stop when it started to rain. Then we went to the gift shop and bought honey soap after I tried three kinds of honey. Then we went back to find a campground on the way seeing beautiful rainbows.

Te Anau to Paparoa National Park

July 22, 2008
We got into a moving gondola and were lifted off the ground and saw sheep and a luge ride tracks and trees and everything else you can imagine that would be on a mountain. When we got to the top I made a delicious mess of a popsicle/ice cream.
Then me and my dad got on a ski-lift, helmets on, one pair of eyes closed. You can guess who that was, right? Correct! Me! We (me and my dad) got our instructions and were off. Before the first bend, I ran into the gravel and the lady had to run over and help me out. After that, the rest went pretty smoothly.
After that, we went to Puzzling world. Am I holding up this building? We (again me and my dad) went into the maze and then into the illusion room with a golf ball that ran up, a room where I shrank, and staring dead people.
We took videos, pictures and other things and then took to our campground.

July 23, 2008
We drove to 4 waterfalls and found giant trouts and numerous pretty rocks. We went over a swing bridge to the “Blue Pools”, which if you ask me, are more green than blue. Then we went to another waterfall, which had cow footprints by it!
Then we spent a long time being attacked by birds called “fantails”, because their tails are shaped and look like fans. Then we drove to a café and our campground and watched the “alpenglow” and a pretty sunset.

July 24, 2008
We started by clambering over brooks and boulders. We could see the glacier and mountains and cliffs and the view was beautiful. When we got on the glacier I poked around with my stick as we went along, as it is very hard to stop poking things when you have something to poke with.
We went down some ice stairs into an ice cave. We got to walk a little bit into a crevasse, then went through an ice tunnel and were in yet another ice cave. We talked a bit about why the ice looks blue, and me and my dad poked our sticks in ice water. Then we walked back.
Glacier Fact: Glacier ice looks blue BECAUSE THE AIR BUBBLES WERE SQUEEZED OUT.
Glacier Fact: If you are near a glacier and the water in a stream or river looks milky, that’s from the sediments from the glacier.

July 25, 2008
This morning…you know how I told you we were savaged by ducks? This morning we were savaged by CHICKENS! My dad took me to the farm/zoo at our campground. We saw ducks, furry llamas, swans, pukekos (a type of colorful NZ bird), giant, giant, GIANT pigs, so big and fat the strongest person on Earth couldn’t pick them up. Then we saw 4 goats, a white one, a brown one and 2 black ones. After that we left, as the chicken pen was open and empty. The chickens, all 7 of them, ran as we came.
We spent some time looking at jewelry shops and buying things. We bought 3 jade blocks and my dad bought 2 necklaces.
After that, we went to the Pancake rocks. We parked and saw 2 freaky “parking lot chickens” (my mom called them), they are really called “wekas”. I saw them screeching and flapping and poking at eachother and I guessed they were fighting.
Then we saw the rocks. They certainly did look like pancakes, but I prefer butter on my pancakes. We also saw a couple of rocks I thought looked like a lion, a fish and 3 people. We waited for HOURS for a blowhole to spray.
After that we looked at smushed wine bottles and bought a 3 drawer container made of wood and a necklace and a fernwood box and a pink mussel shell.

Christchurch to Milford Sound

July 16, 2008
We went to Moeraki and collected a million shells and saw freaky, round boulders.
We went to the Cadbury chocolate tour. Have you ever seen a Cadbury Crème Egg? That’s from Cadbury World. We (I) tried raw chocolate. Results: sour face. My dad wouldn’t eat it, and my mom liked it. After THAT, our tour began. First we saw chocolate buttons and Cadbury Crème Eggs being made. We also saw crumb. I thought it looked like crusty outer layer of dirt and got 2 chocolate marshmallow fish to put in my chocolate bag. Next we went to a warm room with tanks full of hot, melted chocolate. Then we talked about different chocolate and got a Crunchie bar, Moro bar, a Perkynana bar, and a Dairy Milk. We saw chocolate being wrapped, boxed, and stored in a warehouse. Then our tour was over. I looked at many chocolates and finally settled on a bag of milk chocolate buttons and a block of white chocolate. I got in a Cadbury car. Later we spent the evening browsing the town. We saw a giant climbing Cadbury bar but I was wearing sandals.

July 17, 2008
We ditched my dad and went to the Otago Museum. On the first floor was the café and gift shop. On the second floor were things from the Pacific Islanders, like a necklace made of human teeth, a fish skin hat made from a puffer fish, and a sword covered with shark teeth. They also had my favorite Maori weapon, the liver remover. The third floor had a giant moa bird skeleton, a giant crocodile, and a giant dolphin skull. On the next floor we heard about a dig. It was to look for evidence of an early people. Then we saw many animal skulls. We also saw bugs, butterflies and snails. Then we met my dad at the railway station.
We went on the Taieri Gorge (that’s the train’s name) to Pukerangi. Then we went back to Dunedin and walked on a trail to see where the glow worms are.

July 18, 2008
Have you ever read the Guinness Book of World Records? Well, have you ever seen the “world’s steepest street”? I climbed it. It wasn’t that steep (for me). My mom thought it was the steepest. Then I went to the Chinese garden. I put my fingers in a lion’s mouth (it was stone) and took pictures. Then I climbed a Cadbury climbing wall. On the way down I slapped myself senseless and did some karate on the wall. Then we went to the Yellow Eyed Penguin Reserve. First we visited the penguin hospital. Three penguins were there. One was lying down and the other two were standing. Then we saw the penguins. Nine of them arrived. One, we found standing. We also saw a little blue penguin. Soon we had to run like we were being chased by cheetahs to see a penguin trotting on the path. When the tour was over we drove to the camp ground.

July 19, 2008
First, we went to try to see some seals. The road was a muddy, rocky, horrible deathtrap of a road made of gravel. Unfortunately, we saw nothing and it was so windy that 3 of our brochures flew away. Next, we drove to Cathedral Caves. On the way my Dad honked at some sheep and they ran away. Next some sheep ran towards us.
We discovered that the road to Cathedral Caves was closed. Next we saw a stunning forest, little, tiny adorable waterfalls, and a big, giant waterfall. Its name is Purakaunui Falls. I thought it was as big as an elephant.
We turned to go to Curio Bay and saw petrified logs and stumps and more. I collected 4 shells, 2 of which were still alive.
We watched and drove away a hawk eating a dead rabbit. We drove over the dead rabbit, torn to shreds and bloody and meaty. Then the same hawk came back and made off with the dead rabbit. Then we drove to Invercargill, where we found a campground to rest in.

July 20, 2008
This morning we drove from Invercargill to Te Anau. The drive was very long and tedious. There were snow capped mountains and they were so beautiful. We took a million pictures. Then there were the ostriches. They didn’t seem to mind us. The mountains were so gorgeous, so we were sad when we got to the lake, because the mountains and lake were buried in fog.
Next we went to lunch. I had 3 pancakes, heavenly hot chocolate, and a bowl of cream with Flake chocolate. But soon my cream turned sour. Then we (me & my dad) threw around the rugby ball with catches and throws, twists, turns, and misses.
We got onto the boat, a large/medium sized boat, and soon we saw greens, grays and whites. This ride wasn’t so long and so tedious. We went over safety things, yadda, yadda, yah. “Don’t touch the glow worms, blah, blah.” On the way in, we all ducked for a low rock. The cave was, of course, dark with rushing water and waterfalls. When we got in the little raft, the lights went out, but …little lights shone on the ceiling and walls, like tiny little stars at midnight. People pointed and stared, not breaking their necks, like me. They were tiny, beautiful lighted glow worms. At the end, we were warmly welcomed by a bright, loving sun. We got on the boat, greatly astonished and amazed. We looked back to see the brightening lake and our glow worm guide waving. I still want to see more glow worms and their spit trails. Did you know that glow worms are cannibals?
Next I went to “TIP TOP”, the ice cream place. Nurse Petner, sent me a comment and recommendation. I tried the Hokey Pokey flavor, which tasted like honey & butterscotch, meaning awesome! It tasted so good; I ate it, cone and all, something I usually don’t do because I don’t like cones.
Then we checked out our campground with warm bathrooms, a very nice kitchen, an outside grill, and very strange bright red berries that I don’t know the name of. I guess they’re okay to eat, because the birds eat them, not that I want any.

July 21, 2008
This morning we saw a flock of sheep a farmer was ordering around with his sheepdogs. We went up the street, only to be in the MIDDLE of the sheep stampede. Sheep flooded the street to new pens. Some sheep went to steal some grass and disappeared from view into the bushes. We had to stop because the rude sheep began to cross the road. One actually peed in front of us! Rude eating, eliminating sheep. When they were gone, the road had grass and branches and wool and sheep droppings strewn in every which way and place.
Next I went out to kick some snow and who should we come across, but a Kea? He flew down and hopped to the road, inspecting everything with a strange call of, “KKKEEAA!” with a screeching sound. Please do not tire out your throat and stomach trying to imitate this bird’s call.
Then we went to “The Chasm”, which was a rich green forest with crazy waterfalls so loud that it was like a very, very, very, very, very long table when you are trying to talk to someone and have to shout. It was crazy, with holes, bumps, swirls, long drops and pools of water which are truly amazing.
Then we took a boat cruise to the underwater observatory. We saw seals and went under a waterfall! Then we went to the Tasman Sea. It was very, very bumpy. We turned back and … DING, DING, DING! Third penguin of the trip, Fiordland yellow-crested penguins, the rarest penguins in the world! We watched them for a while, got in red suits, and were SOAKED. I mean really soaked by a giant waterfall. We were just dry and out of the red jackets when we got there.
We were bumped around because the building was floating. We went down the stairs and looked at the sea from behind glass. We saw fish, mussels, sea urchins, and sea stars. We were 8 meters below sea level, but did not see sharks or dolphins or whales or seals, just to tell you. There was also orange coral.
When our underwater experience was over, we went back to the boat and sailed to land.