Wow! Has it really been almost 6 months since we arrived in New Zealand and hung up our sailing and blogging shoes?
The Delos crew has had some incredible experiences here. We’ve bungy jumped, hiked, explored glaciers, camped, and partied until the sun rose again. We even drove there after having our car thoroughly inspected at a repair facility (similar to HP Panel and Paint) to ensure that the breaks and engine would hold up during the journey. However, there is always one thing that stands out in your mind when you travel, just like anywhere else. You respond immediately when someone asks what your favorite thing is. And that would be the people around us.
We didn’t have a guidebook here, nor did we need one. We visited some friends who live in the West Auckland suburbs and they were more than happy to suggest a few fun activities we could do on our trip and then we met people at concerts, gas stations, parties, bars, and government offices. Who would have thought that we might love New Zealand for its nightlife? Casinos, clubs, and late-night walks at the beach could be some of the things that we might miss forever. One thing that we might take with us along with those memories would be our liking of online casinos (you might find some Trustworthy Kiwi $10 Paysafe casinos online) of New Zealand. Kiwis are eager to share the local treasures and must see’s of their childhood. Eager to make sure you see New Zealand that they know and love. “How do you find New Zealand?” was a guaranteed question upon hearing our accents. Each and everyone beamed with our answer.
Kiwi’s are generally concerned with how you perceive their little slice of paradise and want you to enjoy it as much as they do. One night a good Kiwi friend asked me “Do you know why Kiwi’s are always smiling? It’s because they know they always have this to come back to.”
So cheers to everyone that made our stay in N Zed so special. We will love and miss every one of you!
Yesterday we left Auckland and sailed north to Opua, Bay of Islands. It was a great overnight sail with a constant 15-20 knots of breeze. We arrived this afternoon to find Opua under a low hanging blanket of clouds. It’s raining buckets and gusting to 35 knots but our hook is set good and we’re comfortable. There is a deepening low headed our way so we’ll probably be here for another few days until we can find a weather window to Fiji. We did look into chartering a plane and researched deadhead flight pricing as this was the most affordable option. Annoyingly, none were available so will have to wait out the weather. Hopefully the conditions will improve!
Pictures really are worth a thousand words so here’s just a few of our Kiwi Experience.
Delos arriving October 29th into Auckland.
Our road trip machine- a 1996 Subaru Legacy!
Begin Rhythm and Vines madness in Gisborne for New Years.
Catching Tahuna Breaks at a random beach concert.
My new friends Emma and Garrett from Napier.
Paul, Amy, Russell, and the Pommy.
Kellie and Kylie from the Hamilton crew.
Bus ride to the show. One of many!
Sunrise at Rhythm and Vines on New Years Day.
Anna our sober driver with Kelly and Dave from Hamilton crew.
The Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk!
Chillin for lunch on day 2 of the tramp with the whole crew.
Day 3 and a swimming break at the waterfall.
Day 4 and almost done!
Yea finished! We met Dave and Chloe from Auckland on the trail.
Relaxing for a post hike beer!
Celebratory dinner at the Big Bush Lodge.
Bungy jump at Taupo.
Close your eyes next time dude!
Brady’s birthday celebration!
Random Kava ceremony with Todd, Kammi, and ze German Girls.
Day at Piha Beach with the Auckland Crew.
Brady working hard at Mexicali Fresh!
Greenman and Paul at St. Patty’s Day.
Spoils from a days work at the vineyards in Waiheke.
Taupo thermal pools on the North Island.
South Island West Coast beach camping!
Poor ranger Rick!
Crossing the barricade at Franz Josef glacier.
A little closer to the ice flow.
Franz Josef glacier.
Where did that rock come from?
Are we really going to do this? 8.5 seconds of free fall?!?!?!
134M = 442ft free fall!
Our our way to the Routeburn Great Walk.
Eric and me on the Routeburn Track.
Lunch break nearing the top of Routeburn.
Brotherly love in Queenstown, South Island.
Party with crazy backpackers in Queenstown.
My friend John the Queenstown bum.
Tangariro Crossing is serious business.
Well prepared with dirty socks for gloves.
Top of the Tangariro crossing. Near Mt. Doom from Lord of the Rings!
Erin in the Viaduct with the hat from Cowboys!
Erin at the Auckland Airport.
V8 Supercars in Hamilton! Corporate seats thanks to Rob!
Nothing says Hamilton like a RTD Jim Beam!
The boys at Zed Zed Top after the race.
Zed Zed Top! 42 years and still rocking!
Round 1- Pull out all old provisions and try to organize.
Round 2- Buy heaps of food!
Round 3- Try to fit everything in the trusty Subaru.
Going away party on Delos in the Viaduct.
Going away party on Delos in the Viaduct.
Setting sail for Opua. Goodbye Auckland!