Off to Oz!

Month 11! It’s been awhile and the work aspect of my New Zealand working holiday is now over. For the next two months, I will be enjoying the holiday aspect. I left the beautiful and secluded Bay of Many Coves Resort yesterday. As excited as I was to reenter civilization, I was a bit sad to leave the friends I made and the sunrises and sunsets over the bays and mountains that never ceased to amaze me.

After selling the Blue Beast in early March, I spent a lot more time enjoying the great outdoors tramping in the area around the resort and along the Queen Charlotte Track.

(Pier at Ship's Cove, northern most end of Queen Charlotte Track)

On one morning, during my usual hike to work, I came across five (5!) feral pigs rummaging in the scrub. Of course, I didn’t have my camera, so I had to run back up the hill (yes, the butt firming one) to the bach, which is not an easy task. Turns out it was a mother and her four half grown piglets. I scared them into the bush running back down the hill, but three of them poked their heads out which allowed me to snap a quick picture. I never got to see any dolphins or stingrays unlike what seemed like the rest of the staff, but I’m sure I’ll see plenty of both in Australia. Speaking of which….

I say goodbye to the South Pacific of New Zealand to spend the next few weeks exploring the Tasman and Coral Seas of Oz. I fly to Melbourne tomorrow to hang out and drive the Great Ocean Road with a few Aussie mates before flying up to Cairns to travel down the east coast through Queensland and New South Wales. I end my trip in the harbor city of Sydney before flying back to Christchurch. As always, I will do my best to keep you updated with lots of pictures and stories, but it won’t be long before I’m home to show and tell firsthand.

The month since my last update has been full of highs and lows. I made it down to Christchurch once to see Ani DiFranco for the 9^th time (getting a bit embarrassing to admit now, but she’s always worth it). She jammed onto stage playing a classic as the opener, setting the mood for the rest of the concert. Despite being my first concert alone, it was brilliant! Just as everyone thought the chilling wind and rains of spring turned straight into autumn, the sunny and warm days of summer have appeared out of nowhere! For the first time since I’ve been in NZ, I was actually able to wear a shirt and skirt (not pants to be more general) and wasn’t cold! Of course, it will be freezing by the time I get back from Oz, just as I’ve broken in my summer clothes and sent home most of my winter ones. Oh well, I regret nothing since I’ve been here and even the weather can’t bring me down! Ten months down and two to go!

(Queen Charlotte Sound)