New Zealand Travel Log

Before I get into my random thoughts, a note on the trip. We planned this entire trip with no travel agency, other then Orbits for domestic flight to LA. We chose only local services, including staying at a cottage on 450 acre farmland, renting a 10 year old car from "Hardy Cars", and booking with independent tour guides. This was one heck of a risk, but I'm happy to say...it paid off, and was well worth it..

~ Everything really is backward
Drive on the left; switches go up, to turn off; Entrees are appetizers.

~ After watching Rugby for awhile, I realize American football players are babies.

~ NZ is beautiful...as are the Female tourists that travel in packs.

~ Our activities included: lounging, boating, kayaking, caving, snorkeling with seals, lots of hiking (tramping), and scenic driving.

~ The tides are crazy...Simply Crazy...large rivers and small lakes completely disappear. See pics below, just 4-5 hours difference.


~ People are so laid back...its inconvenient.
What I mean by this, is that folks don't bother telling you about stuff until its too late...but its no bother. No one wanted money in advance. Course, they later told use they don't take Credit Cards, but if we didn't have enough cash, it wasn't a problem either.

~ Not many NZ'ers (or Kiwis) found.
Many people were from other countries, that simply never left.

~ The English language, is not the same.
Words are completely different, not just accents or -issums.

~ Words I confused due to accent:
At security: Remove your shirt" was really, "remove your shoe"
During massage: "how's the pleasure" was really "hows the pressure"

~ Assume fish in your eggs, beets on you burger.

~ Flying...
No security at airport.
Though they had a pilot stabbing/hijack attempt while we were out there, so things may change. Granted the "terrorist" wanted to go to Australia.
They use candy to keep people happy on the plane. After careful observation, the Aborigines needed more candy.

~ Pay for the extra room on a long distance flight. The NZ flight gave not only more room, but they toss you on the upper deck and pamper you too, including all you can drink alcohol.

~ Notes on Driving...on the left, with a stick shift, in a foreign land.

Turning signal on the other side, kept signaling with my windshield wipers.
No guardrails
The birds are dumb
Turning circles suck
Turning circles are awesome
Reverse is NOT 4th gear
Drive in the middle of the road...they'll move.
No GM cars spotted, except...2 different corvettes I saw.
Majority of cars are strait imports from Japan...complete with everything written in Japanese.

By the time we were done with the vehicle, the windshield was cracked, the hubcap indented, and headlight was popped out. No bother, no charge, mate!

~ Sting Rays like urine....(don't ask)

~ Lambs were so cute...I skipped the lamb chops.

~ Swimming in 60 F water is cold, even with a 3 layers of wet suit.

~ Caving Rocks!

~ International credit card fees suck.

~ US Airline security is a joke


...I'll keep updating as thoughts hit me.