High Cliff Walk

Hey Everybody!

We've just been working away, and by that I mean 30 hours a week in New Zealand.  Things have been pretty good, we've had an awakening these last couple of weeks that we actually have to work here and that the jobs are not very interesting.  I have been putting new label after new label on merchandise that had to be repriced, and Johnny has been dealing with grumpy co-workers.  He also has to turn down shifts because they don't have enough employees and I have to beg for shifts in order to get enough work.  But last week we had our days off together and we went for a beautiful hike.  The hike took us to the top of a very large cliff that overlooked the ocean and city.  It was a pretty steep climb up and so the way down was much more enjoyable!  The yellow flowers in the picture were all over the hills and they smelled awesome (sort of like vanilla).  We are now looking forward to our next days off together, and in a couple weeks, a trip to Doubtful Sound in Fiordland National Park.  

Kia Ora, Mae      

Recap

Here are a few things we've wanted to add for awhile, we just needed a chance to use Bobby and Natalie's newer, faster computer, thanks guys.

All of us at Cathedral Cove (Narnia)

Mae thrashing in Raglan

This is a video of us zorbing way back in Rotorua.

Queenstown 2

Unknown Range visible only from the Remarkables

After visiting Arrowtown, we drove up the Remarkables all the way to the resort, which closed about a week ago.  The views were breathtaking and the pictures really don't capture much of it.  It was a bit unnerving driving up as there are very few rails, big washboards, and steep drop-offs.  It was well worth the nervousness though as it allowed us to see an entire range that you can't see from the town.  We camped for the first time and our tent was great.  It rained the second night and we were warm and dry.  We can't wait to go back.

Two peaks over 6,ooo feet, rise above Lake Wakatipu

On our way back to Dunedin we stopped at Moeraki beach.  These boulders are huge and almost perfectly spherical.  It really looks man made but it's not.  It is so nice to have a home to come back to, and to not have pack and unpack everything we own for a weekend trip.  

Cheers,

Johnny  

Queenstown 1

The Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu, and Queenstown

Our trip to Queenstown was excellent.  It is a beautiful town on a large lake surrounded by incredible (some might even say remarkable) mountains.  The first thing we did was take the skyline Gondola above the town and did the luge.  The luge had awesome scenery as you can see, and was really easy to control, both speed and turns.  Unfortunately my head was far to large for the biggest helmet they had, which is why I look a little bit like the happy kid.

Johnny luging in front of the Remarkables

Sweet Helmets

The next morning we got up early to go paragliding.  Queenstown is the extreme sport capital of NZ and they literally have it all.  The paragliding was outside of Queenstown just in a valley.  There were small villages we could see, but it was basically just gorgeous mountains, emerald rivers, green grass and sheep.  A big wind came up just as we got up and they had to bring us down pretty quick which was disappointing, but we get to go again for free when we go back so it's not all that bad.

Mae flying with her Chilean guide

The small town of Arrowtown is about 15 km outside of Queenstown, visible from our flight actually, and was well worth the visit.  The river behind us in the picture was in Lord of the Rings when Arwen rescues Frodo and crosses the river into Rivendell, it actually looked just like the movie.  

 

Penguins!!

So last night we went out on Otago Peninsula (about 30 minutes from our house) and walked to boulder beach, were Bobby had heard that we would have a good chance of seeing penguins and sea lions.  It was a beautiful walk through the bush and a beautiful beach.  We did come across two sea lions catching the last of the sun.  As soon as it went behind the cliffs two penguins surfed up on the waves, stood up and waddled to their nests in the rocks.  It was one of the coolest things I've seen.  They looked pretty big so we thought they were probably yellow-eyed penguins, which my dad says are pretty rare.  We couldn't get very close (and Mae said one picture would be enough), but you can definitely tell what they are, it was so awesome.  Tomorrow Mae and I are going to Queenstown for a couple days (Natalie got sick so they are staying in Dunedin).  Maybe when we get back we'll have some bunjy pictures.  No matter what we do it will be nice to have a few days off together. 

Cheers, Johnny     

So guess what? We found JOBS! I know some of you doubted us (stef, marcy) but we have been working for two weeks.  Johnny is a waiter and I'm working at a cafe and a home decor shop.  We live in Dunedin and the four of us share an awesome house that has a view of the city and ocean(picture of Johnny and I is in our living room with the ocean behind us).  We are only a 15 minute walk from our jobs which are in the octagon(downtown).  It's the picture of the cathedral and clock tower.  Dunedin has several nice beaches but unfortunately the weather is still a bit chilly to be out on the beach in a swimsuit.  It is nice to be settled and we will be here for at least four months.  If anyone wants to visit we have a couple spare rooms!  

Kia Ora, 

Maegen