Untold Travel

Up until this point in my trip, I had been able to hop off Stray to avoid long stretches sitting in a bus. Getting on the bus every day and going to a new location is not a relaxing holiday. However, after the Routeburn there was only one way for me to get back to Auckland to catch my flight home: a nonstop boogie north.

It was not too bad, actually. When we left Queenstown there were only 9 passengers on the bus. I’m used to full buses with 30-40 other passengers. Everybody could have their own space and it was easy to get to know each person. Also, Tim was our driver. He has his act together and is one of the best Stray drivers.

A Day with the Cook

On the fourteenth, the ten of us drove to New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mt. Cook. Amazing sunny weather followed us from Queenstown to the town of “Mt. Cook” and we had awesome views of the behemoth. I had originally planned on going horseback riding but those plans were scrapped because I wanted to get as close to the mountain as I could.

Alex from Sweden was up for a long hike as well, so we decided to head toward Hooker Lake. He had only been in New Zealand for a handful of days so he was constantly gushing about the scenery and taking photos. He was also one of the most complimentary people I’ve ever met, and it nearly got creepy.

We decided to “get off the beaten track” – Stray’s mostly-false motto – and trudged through bushes and rocky hills to the first swing bridge. It took us much longer than the path would’ve, but we at least got the consolation that we probably killed several plants along the way. From the bridge, we stayed on the path to the lake.

I don’t know what it is about mountains, but they just inspire awe. Nothing makes you feel smaller than standing at the base of a snow-capped mountain. I’d already seen Mt Cook from the other side in Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, but from the east it was even more commanding.

At the lake we snapped photos and Alex gabbed about how majestic the scenery was. I have to admit – he was right. It’s not every day someone from Missouri is surrounded by a towering mountain range. This was the exact type of scenery that inspired me to come to New Zealand in the first place, and I knew that I had to soak it in because in one week I’d be back in the States.

I took some really great photos, and I’m only days away from being home to upload them.

A Day in the Church

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I didn’t come to New Zealand to visit cities. Cathedral Square, the botanic gardens, and the remaining architecture were nice, but I’m glad I was only in Christchurch for one day.

Christchurch is still under heavy construction following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2010. They continue to receive aftershocks, and just a few weeks ago a strong aftershock ruined even more buildings. I didn’t feel any while I was there, but I didn’t feel any in Wellington either, and they have several small quakes a day.

A Day with Some Fish

The bus after Christchurch was an odd mix of Stray passengers just starting their trip or just wrapping it up. Some were wide-eyed and ready to see the country. Others, myself included, were sleepy-eyed and ready to conclude their journeys. I didn’t expect my final new stop to be that exciting, but I was delightfully surprised.

I’ve been to loads of beaches over the past three months. Beaches alongside the Pacific Ocean, the Tasman Sea, the Foveaux Strait, and loads of lakes. I figured Kaikoura would just be another beach for me to nap on.

I probably sound like a jerk, bragging about these beaches when everybody reading this is most likely under several inches of snow. I’ll be there soon, don’t worry.

Anyway, we got into Kaikoura and the weather was the bee’s knees. We drove up the Kaikoura Peninsula to spot some loose seals then checked into our Shining-esque hostel. Most people went on an overpriced whale watching trip, but I opted to explore the tiny tourist town and enjoy the beach. I baked in the sun for awhile but I didn’t burn. While checking for sunrise times later, I found out the UV rating was off the chart and sunbathing was highly discouraged.

But how was I supposed to stay indoors? The sun was shining and everything was crazily photogenic: the ocean, the beach, the mighty mountain range bordering the sea. It was a good day to be in Kaikoura.

After having tasty fish and chips for dinner (Kaikoura means “food crayfish” in Maori), I was upset that it was too cloudy to see a sunset. I went to bed and woke up to watch the sunrise, but the clouds were lingering so I went back to the hostel and back to sleep.

Reruns

After we left Kaikoura, we only went to places I’d already been. We drove straight to Picton where we only had a bit of time for lunch before boarding the ferry to Wellington. The South Island faded into the distance, and I know it will be a long time before I ever see it again. There are too many other places to see before I return here.

In Wellington I went out to dinner with friends I made on Stewart Island. The next day was a free day in Wellington, so Marieke and I went to the zoo. It was a quaint little zoo, but they are aggressively expanding. I went back and had a quiet final night of my Stray trip.

I woke up early the next morning – 5:45am – but the bus didn’t pick me up until a quarter after seven. There were only 12 people heading north, and we hit the road on our long direct path to Auckland. I’ve been on the bus for six hours and still have about four left. I guess it is fitting that my last day of the bus tour is spent entirely on the bus.

Tonight I’ll be back with the Heinrich’s, and tomorrow is my last full day in this beautiful country. I then fly to LA over the international date line which gives me two Fridays. I don’t know exactly how or when I’ll reach Kansas City, but I have some ideas. One thing is certain: I’ll keep you updated here and on Twitter!