Alex and Lovel's Grand Tour

The final report from the antipodes

Alex & Lovell's Grand Tour

We've spent nearly three months in NZ and we know it's time to move on

:: as we catch each other tightly sounding our vowels and feeling the

:: urge to walk the streets bare foot.

:: The brilliant thing about New Zealand is the overwhelming variety of

:: scenery and activities across the country. We have felt welcome

:: everywhere by the small population of 4 million who happily receive

:: the huge flocks of tourists, (mostly German) into their tiny

:: communities.

::

:: The list of things I will remember is therefore a long one...

::

:: Varied landscapes and geographical features:

:: Volcanoes

:: Tectonic plates meeting

:: Ocean ridges

:: Fiordland

:: Ice glaciers

:: Geysers

:: Thermal springs

:: Boiling mud pools

:: Glow worm caves

:: Sand dunes

::

::

:: Lord of the Rings Scenery and more...

:: So much water: sea, lakes, rivers

:: Snow-capped mountains

:: Canterbury Planes

:: Marlborough Sounds

:: Captain Cook

::

:: Intercity bus drivers:

:: frequent coffee breaks

:: stopping to allow you to go on 20 minute walks or boat trips

:: long socks pulled up

:: long comentaries informing of the things you could have done at the

:: area you are currently leaving!

::

::

:: Out door Lifestyle and activities:

:: canoeing

:: sea kayaking

:: tramping

:: surfing

:: swimming

:: snorkling

::

:: Maori Culture

:: Waka - war canoes

:: Whare - meeting houses

:: Haka

:: Hongi

::

:: Fantasic Fauna...

:: sheep

:: cows

:: bulls

:: deer

:: dolphins

:: whales

:: penguins

:: seals

:: kiwis

:: tuis

:: shags

:: bell birds

:: oyster catchers

:: weka

:: more porks

:: (pies and hokey pokey ice creams!)

::

:: ...and Flora

:: giant kauri trees

:: silver fern (ponga)

:: cabbage trees

:: manuka

:: non-native flowers/shrubs (fox gloves, lupins, broome and gorse)

::

:: My Highlights:

:: Swimming with dolphins

:: Total ability to escape from civilization e.g. Whanganui Journey

:: Tramping

:: Summer Christmas and New Year

:: IXCELLENT

::

:: Good food

:: Good wine

:: Good beer

:: Goodbye

Lovell Fuller