The Blue Mountains

We took a small group tour to the Blue Mountains about 70K west of Sydney. The are quite beautiful - the blue is partly because they are mostly Eucalyptus and release the oils. Some of the oldest rock on the planet is exposed there and the views are amazing. We rode the world's steepest train straight up the side of the mountain and a cable car over the canyon. We were looking down 1000ft. through a glass floor. I wasn't scared on any of this stuff including the bridge. I'm getting awfully brave in my old age. And Kookaburra really does sit in the old gum tree.

Wed. 4/8

We did it! We did the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb - up and over the top of the arches. It was 1500 steps and I'm pretty sure at least 3/4 of them were up. The views were beyond spectacular. We walked all afternoon and were nearly incapable of getting back to the hotel. I am not at all sure I will be able to get out of bed in the morning.

Sydney

Tues. 4/7


We took a walking tour through the Rocks, the historical art of Sydney where the convicts landed. In the afternoon we went to the zoo across Sydney harbor. It has to be the best zoo location in the world. As a matter of fact if there is a more magnificent city in the world than Sydney I am incapable of imagining it. Here's what I know about bushwalking in the southern hemisphere. New Zealand - no bears, no snakes, no worries. Australia - the ten most poisonous snakes on the planet and salt water crocodiles that grow to 30 feet and eat people. Do you actually think I will be doing any hiking in Australia?

Sydney

We arrived in Sydney today and are experiencing some culture shock. The city has more people than the entire country of New Zealand. So far the Aussies are brusque, impatient and not inclined to be helpful. The city center where we are staying is crazy busy and a bit overwhelming. You can't walk a block without hearing twenty different languages and seeing an amazing array of characters. Everyone smokes here so half the people on the street are drinking coffee and smoking. The other half are walking at warp speed because they are so wired on coffee and cigarettes. This has to be one of the all time great people watching places.

Akaroa

We had the best day ever. It was completely unplanned and spur of the moment based on a picture we saw in a coffee table book in our fancy hotel room. Akaroa is a small town at the bottom of the crater of an extinct volcano. At some point the Pacific breeched the wall of the crater, came roaring in and formed a spectacular bay. We choose to take the scenic route around the top of the crater. It was one of the most terrifying rides of my life - winding, steep, narrow, 1000 ft. dropoffs with nothing between us and thin air but one of the best experiences ever. We were on the top of a ridge looking down into this beautiful bay on one side and out at the Pacific on the other. We took a boat trip out to the Pacific and saw two endangered species, the Hector's Dolphin (world's smallest dophin) and the Blue Penguin (also the world's smallest) as well as NZ fur seals and lots of birds. As the Kiwis say, "It was brilliant!"

The Great Alpine Highway

We left Franz Josef in the rain and fog. This place gets the most rain in NZ and apparently has big floods - sometimes 4 meters in 3 days. Fortunately it's just a shower today. We drove over the Alps again and the scenery was very different. It wasn't as dramatic as the Haast Hwy. partly because the high snow-covered peaks were in the clouds but very beautiful anyway. We arrived in Christchurch late in the day and to our great surprise we were given a suite in a 5 star hotel. That's pretty cool for us since we tend to think high living is a Hampton Inn.