NZ Trip Last Days - Active Earth hiking and Auckland

I love the state library coz of the free wireless~ ha

30 min left to the library close, gotta be quick.

The day before I left for the Active Earth trip, I met River and Wing in the YHA hostel, who are from HK as well. They are here for Working Holiday~ And after dinner we went to play firework. Coz it's the firework festival in Auckland~



The 5 days Active Earth Hiking trip was one of my best time in NZ. Guided by Pip and Ash, team with Carolino, Sue, Wells, Karen, Judith, Cyril and Sabrina finished an amazing trip. We are just like a family. I miss everyone....

As I said before the weather wasn't that good. But it's even worst than I could imagine.
Day One~ We started at Auckland and drive to Rotorua, we decided to go rafting but due to an accident happened on the river we changed our schedule to a 1 hour hike. After that we went to a Māori* concert, it's so interesting to understand another culture.


*Māori is the people of New Zealand, similar to the aboriginal in Australia.

Day Two~ Weather getting worst. We went to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and saw a lot of thermal activities. The smell of a many thermal activity is just like "Rotten Egg", it's actually a chemical called "Hydrogen Sulphide". After that we gear up and start our first day hike. Heavy rain and strong wind, rain cover is useless because the wind can blow it away... I've a so called water-proof hiking shoes but I still get really wet... and the feeling was just BAD....Luckily I bought a wool sock just before the hiking, or else I may lost a few toes. We stayed in a hut with gas supplied. So we got warm food and air. At around 8 pm, it start to snow! my god it's my first time to see real snow!! But it's really cold!! The heater cannot turned on overnight, so that night I couldn't sleep due to the freezing weather.

Day Three~ Weather getting much worst. We just simply hike to another hut for 3 hours. We don't have any outdoor activity because the wind was so strong and so cold. Luckily our professional guide brought us some game idea, and we spent the day pretty quick~

Day Four~ Weather turning good, but still bad. We started our Tongariro Crossing which is the main "Objective" of this trip. Snow fall down to 600m (Ash said 1200m is already abnormal). Some part of the path got half meter deep of snow. VERY COLD! And when we walk up to the mountain, the wind are just so strong that sometimes you can stand still. Luckily, we made it. Well... Just don't know how to express the experience via language. May be my English is not good enough... XD
After the hiking, we had a HOT Shower which we all wanted for 3 days. And the Wells and Karen made a very very delicious dinner for us~ Have some beer and games~ And time to sleep.

Day Five~ Weather was perfectly well... -.-" We have a short walk around the village we live in, then we drive to the national park train station. Sue and me were returning to Auckland, and it's the time we farewell each other... A great hug, and a good bye....
Then a 5 hours long drive back to Auckland.

That's all for the Active Earth trip, but it'll stay in my mind for ever.


Sunday, 1 day trip in Auckland, don't really like "city" now.... so just walk around, took a few photos, go up to the sky tower, then back to hostel prepare for the flight to Brisbane.


And that's the END of the NZ trip.

I really love New Zealand, especially the south island. The people are so nice, the scenery are so spectacular, the water tasted so good~ But still, I got to go.

I hope you enjoyed the trip with me, I hope you understand what I have written, I hope you can feel my happyness, I hope the information with a bit helpful, I hope.... you'll love New Zealnd too..... coz I love it :p



Well.... After flight NZ135, I'm now in Brisbane, had a walk here this afternoon, not much feeling. Waiting for the tour depart tomorrow to The Great Barrier Reef, Fraser Island and Sunshine Coast. Then will go to the Surfers Paradises..... c if there are any chance to update you all again.


16 days left in Australia, and I'll back to Hong Kong.
See you all there.



Sorry all, no time to post photos here, please check http://picasaweb.google.com.hk/mail.to.alm




oioi : I just addicted to aviation.

c : I don't wanna see you in "Green Hill" doh.... and the hiking experience was just so great...

mudfew : Work hard on your exam ba....XD c u very soon~

Raymond: Sure I will miss them.... I'll remind myself through photos.

perry: will be back at 26 Nov ~