Leaving Nelson... Murchison Lunch Stop- Greymouth- Hokitika- Franz Josef- Fox Glacier!! * The Wild West Coast *

The wild and beautiful west coast....other than Nelson, my first taste of the undoubtedly beautiful South Island of New Zealand...

On Friday 14th March 08...
I was actually early for my bus (Atomic Shuttles) outside the i-SITE centre in Nelson, so grabbed a coffee and cake slice! (you know me!). It actually put me out to think I was organised and early for a change.... (excited, I think!). Arrived there at 8.40am, and the bus didn't leave til 9.20. As with a few helpful bus drivers I've already encountered (one 'saved' me coming down from Paihia when I'd just been through hell... the Abel Tasman Bus driver who brought me back from Totaranui and also Takaka the next day, and who also found me the free room at the hostel for the night was called John, and so was this one today.... He would turn out to help me out later also.) They all amusingly seem to have white hair and glasses also. Is this just another version of the English 'Bum'...you know, THE Bum, who seems to be the same bloke in each and every town in England? Anyway.... They also wear boots and high socks here.... hehehe!! I'm so immature... it's the little things that get you through each day.....!!!!!!!!
I got chatting to woman called Amy, who lives just outside Greymouth, and was up in Nelson visiting her friend. We had lunch together at the stop in Murchison along the bus journey- she seemed cool, and it's always handy and interesting to talk to a local born and bred!

What can I say about the scenery...??? Wow wow WOW! Amazing!!! Lots of hills (akin to North Island, however a lot higher than the ones up there!!!)... luscious rolling hills were coming right at me as I was listening to my metal/rock/emo/rap music loudly on my mp3 player.... the perfect combination for me :) Also some Bob Marley and Salmonella Dub (a good kiwi band!..chillout I guess??!) were played to keep things balanced. There was a gleaming sparkling lake everywhere you turned and faced. A mix of rough rushing rivers underneath the bridges you pass over....and also perfectly calm ones too. It's so easy to take all of this for granted when your dozing off into your own little world on a bus.... looking around aimlessly, half tired, half awake with excitement, feeling travel sick with all the many windy roads- then feeling fine, listening to the lyrics of the songs.... on what was to be a 9 hour bus ride...... Yikes!!!! However, some of the scenery really grabbed my attention in a BIG way....! As soon as the glaciers started to appear high up amongst all the other hills, and I saw the glaciers and the mountains start to rise way above the clouds, I got my act together and took plenty of photos and video footage to share. Please refer to the ones I post up here soon... Amazing! Just imagine what it was like in my shoes! The view of the glaciers was my favourite....my heart skipped a beat!

We went through Franz Josef, which is bigger than Fox Village (I guess you can say they are rival villages....they both have their glaciers as their focus and main tourist attraction.) Difference is, Franz seems more well equipped for tourists. Fox however, strikes me as a lot more genuine, prettier, and I've also heard the Glacier is better too..... Although, a very small village!!!! The Medway Towns divided by a thousand.... maybe more....
A very good experience for me I think :) More of the 'Real New Zealand...'

When I arrived here, I had a housekeeping job all set up at 'Sunset Motel' and would be staying in my own caravan for 35 bucks a week. However, the driver (John) took me there and asked if I was replacing the other girl who was here for ages. He said she just got on with it, however had trouble with a few things there like the owners, and found it to be really isolated.... (not what I wanted at all!)
He then suggested a hotel up the road called 'Fox Glacier Hotel' (original name I know...) where he stays, and thinks its a really good crowd of people who work there. He said accomodation and everything is part of the deal, you live with other people, and they should be looking for staff. What a lovely driver...he took me up there, went inside and asked them to give me a job (winking and nudging to them)- I said I'd do anything, and there you have it! I have a housekeeping position, with some waitressing at the restaurant. I was provided with my own hotel room for the night, and a nice dinner which I had outside the hotel's cafe, whilst staring at the impressive mountains and clouds in front of me....things seem to be falling into place!! :)

I was moved to staff quarters on Sunday, which is less 'flash' however its okay by me.... (being a backpacker it's a luxury to have your own room, a normal sized bed -not a short bunk bed!- and a decent sized room at that...a lot of floor space, with a wardrobe, and chest of drawers. Also I get all my meals included. They take 85 bucks week out of your wages but hey thats pretty good (roughly 30 pounds!). Usually a hostel is between 120 and 180 bucks weekly just for your bed. So, all is good!

I also bumped into Ash- a canadian girl I had met at the 'Pipi Patch' hostel in Paihia back in Oct/Nov 07-she was next to me at the computer in the little internet shop they have here.... (a little hut with no staff or reception...just basically a room with computers unlocked at 8am and locked up at 10.30 pm in the middle of the village!) and I hadn't realised she was there until I logged off and went to leave lol! We had a good catch up-she works here too, but at the Scenic hotel across the road. It was great to know someone in this village.

Wil update soon when what I do is more than just clean, make beds and waitress!
Enjoy the photos of Fox and the journey- Ta ta! xx

P.s- some interesting things to know....

The nearest ATM is infact a 20 minute drive away in Franz Josef!
The nearest supermarket is a tiny 'co-op' sized one in Franz Josef....other than that the nearest proper supermarket is 2 hours away in Hokitika!!!

Mount- Auckland- Henderson..and.. Next Stop; South Island!!

Hey Guys

Well, I'm on the move again..... this time to Nelson!!! I decided to not follow the route of my kiwiexperience bus, because it's a set journey starting from North, heading south, and coming back up the East coast and south island. Due to the fact I am planning to do the Abel Tasman Walk and/or Kayaking before the summer is over (which is around March time!) and see Nelson too- which I've heard is absolutely beautiful- I decided to skip the rest of my north island route on the bus, as you can pretty much see Taupo, Rotorua, Waitomo and Wellington at any time of year; the activities there aren't just limited to summer. Also if I had to sit through these stops, stopping for atleast 1 night per stop, and doing the activities I want to do, I would surely run out of money and have to stop to work before reaching Nelson in time! I left Mount Maunganui on Thursday (28th Feb 08), on the intercity bus, after being in a rush to pack up all my stuff...falling asleep early the night before!! Terrible....trust me lol. I saw some pretty and cool places during the drive...the route included 'Papakura' and 'Manukau City'. Anyways, so I arrived at Auckland Sky City (as many of you know, I have a bitter sweet relationship with this place...my heart lifted and felt happy to be here, in the familiar place with so many memories, however I also felt nostalgic and felt my heart sink and panic all in a messy bundle!!) late too, due to the bus being 20 minutes late to start off with, and hitting major traffic, and arrived at 6.45 pm. Claire arrived there with two friends of hers from Bible college, and helped me out with my abundant amount of luggage...which I desperately need to sort through before I move on next!! Then we drove onwards to Henderson (a suburb of Auckland), where Claire studies and lives at Bible College. (If I haven't already mentioned, Claire and I waitressed together at the Sandrock Cafe/Restaurant, in Mount Maunganui). I was provided with my own very nice well equiped room, and breakfast, some lunches and dinner were provided for me with the rest of the students, which was a very nice treat from Claire for the few days I would stay!!! Thank you so much hun, it's very much appreciated..

I met many people here around the campus, all of whom were very friendly and accepting to me. I felt so comfortable and have been chatting to a few people. It feels like I've been here longer than 2 days!! On the first day, I was shown around, we had some dinner, and sat in the TV lounge. Claire and I were thinking frantically about what my next travel moves would be... as I had no clue!! Hehe, trust me eh guys.... the best organised person in the world!!! Claire tends to talk people through things very well I have noticed, and she certainly helped me sort a few things out in my head which I was worrying about....so thank you agan- it's a tough job as many people know!!

On Friday we went to the Warehouse here, looking to buy me a new journal (as I've completed my original, after 6 months of being here now!) and, yet again, Claire helped me through this decision too, and I was very happy with my choice! :)



We had lunch, dinner, went to her friend Ian's 21st, which had the theme 'Villains and Heroes', - Claire's plan was to go as Cat Woman, but when she realised what Cat Woman actually wears in the movies and cartoons, she had a more 'tame' outfit! hehe- complete with some cute ears and a tail! Miaowwee!!

It was a very lovely experience, and the speeches made about Ian were very open, and obviously his friends thought the world of him, and I thought it was so great for everyone to be so open, because I haven't experience this much with people at such young ages. Claire suprised me and had actually booked a cheap flight for me to Nelson without me knowing!!!!!!! :D WOW! It's sinking in....soon I'll be on a plane, heading to the south island of New Zealand for the very first time!!! I can't wait, but at the same time I'm nervous!

We awoke today for breakfast...which was 'yum!!' (as I've heard a lot of Kiwis say! I'm starting to sound like one hehe....) and then whilst Claire went to her cleaning job, I called my lovely baby who I left at home.... teehee, you know who you are :P. The plan was originally to go for a short hike to Arataki in the Waitakere Ranges nearby...however it poured down with rain for quite a lot of the day!!! So, we went for a wander to 'Pak 'n' Save' supermarket across the road with Debbie, and then I went to 'The Warehouse' with Janai to buy me a new umbrella for my up and coming hikes! At the same time, helped Janai to choose a new top!

We got back, chatted and had dinner (again,...yum!) and then I need to start sorting out my stuff for my flight tomorrow!!! Can't believe I'm going guys! Thank you everyone for all you support.... Lucy I spoke to you on the phone for the first time for 2 hours today!! And I loved every minute of it, miss you so much!

Overall Claire has been such a supportive friend to me through some tough times and feelings that I've had recently about all that's happened on my trip. The past few days would have been far from good without her help and company, and without being here. Although we haven't known eachother long I feel as though I know her character really well....every in the college loves her so much and if you were to meet her you'd see why! I hope we keep in touch :)

I have felt so accepted and comfortable here at the college, I couldn't have asked for a better few days to be able to chill and sort my head out, and to just relax, and feel as though people who meet me really seem to like me too! :D It's always good to meet such a bunch of genuinely lovely people.

So ... wish me luck everyone...keep me in your thoughts as I fly, tomorrow (Sunday 2nd March 08, at 4.20 pm)...woohoo!! (If you know me well, you'll know I love flying. However this is probably the smallest plane I would have ever flown in no doubt, so will update you on how that goes!!)

Please feel free to comment to this post on my blog site :D Will be nice to hear from you!

Here are some sites to show you where I've been, and where I am heading on my journey; as it's turned out, of both myself, and of New Zealand.





Pictures in this blog entry are a map of Auckland and Henderson in relation to it..a map of New Zealand, with Nelson marked on it with a red box, Auckland International Airport (where I will be going on Sunday!), an example of a New Zealand Intercity Bus, and Nelson National Park Lake, and Te Pukatea bay, Nelson.... Excited!!!!!





Current Location:

Henderson, Auckland:



Info-





Regional Map-


Next Destination:

Nelson, and the Abel Tasman:



Info-










Lots of love and hugs....Stay in touch!!!



Lorna xXx