The distances between place are not great in New Zealand but it takes you a while to get there. The maximum speed is only 100km/h and it is often slower due to road works, agglomerations or alp-like roads.
The road I drove take the diagonal from Center-East to South-West of the North Island and crossed a mountain ridge in the process. This mountain ridge was a big challenge to the European settlers and the then governement even "imported" scandinavians to beat the dense New Zealand forest. Town names remind you of the Danish Swedish and Norwegian ancestry.
I was tired when I arrived in Wellington. Neither of the two popular backpackers hostels looked attractive. Giving in to my lack of energy, I turned to the local "I Site" (tourism information point) who relocated me on the West coast, some 20 kilometers away. I am spending 2 nights in Mana, at the Stillwater lodge. Very pleasant and very accessible!
I have booked a ship to the South island on Wednesday evening so I have today and tomorrow to find out more about this city of wind and rain (Wellington, they call it). I must say, I think I prefer its atmosphere to that of Auckland. This city is more lively, diverse, cultural than Auckland. Or at least, it seems to be.
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1 comment:
Re driving: watch out for police with speed cameras too - they hide with speed guns on lonely empty roads
Re Wellington: Windy wellington, they call it - not for nothing!
Steph
xx
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