Goodbye New Zealand
We have sadly reached the end of our time in New Zealand. I, in particular, had high expectations as my brother and many friends who have visited have New Zealand as one of their favourite destinations. I am happy to report that New Zealand delivered on all counts. We had a wonderful time exploring a country which has so much to offer tourists. As with most places we have visited a little bit of extra time would have been nice but I'm pleased with what we have managed to see and experience. From laid-back Waiheke Island to adrenalin overload in Queenstown, majestic Milford Sound to unique glaciers and as many adventure activities as possible.
Having a campervan was an expensive treat but well worth the indulgence. The journeys were longer than we had anticipated but they were never dull as around every corner is new vista that slackens the jaw. The locals are the friendliest we have met on our trip so far. For example, a lady we met in the immigration queue on arrival was forthcoming with tips and offered her phone number should we need any advice. I can't recommend New Zealand enough.
That being said I do have a few gripes with Kiwis…
- They can't overtake for shit! Give them clear visibility of at least a mile on a dead straight road and they still don't know what to do.
- Heinz are just as prolific in New Zealand as back home, but everything from ketchup to baked beans are far too sweet. They do offer British recipe but then charge twice as much.
- A pretty good selection of fresh bread but you will never find one with a crust that is remotely crunchy.
- Internet/wifi is ludicrously expensive.
As you can gather, the insignificance of these gripes shows how much is pleasurable in New Zealand.
Due to flight times we needed to spend our final night in Auckland so we treated ourselves to a posh dinner in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Sky Tower, Auckland's tallest building. We booked our table to coincide with sunset and as you can see from the pictures below the views across the city and harbour were terrific.
Thank you New Zealand for a wonderful 4 weeks.
