Kia Ora from New Zealand
Feb 5, 2000

Hello Everyone, Greetings from Auckland, in New Zealand's North Island. Sorry it has been so long since our last note. We have really enjoyed being away from the computer, but miss interacting with everyone at home.

We have really enjoyed beautiful New Zealand and are sad to leave. Tomorrow we fly across the Tasman Sea to Melbourne, Australia.

It has been wonderful enjoying summer and the outdoors for the last 7 weeks. We did numerous multi-day tramps (hikes), our favorites being the Routeburn, the Kepler, the Inland Pack Track, the Matukituki Valley (Linda thought it was more beautiful than the Yosemite Valley) and a 4 day beach walk thru the Abel Tasman National Park.

The Department of Conservation (DOC), who manage the land and trails, is incredible. They have more than 900 back-country huts for public use. The trails are numerous, well marked and full of New Zealand (Kiwi) families. It has been great to experience the outdoors with the locals.

Which brings us to our favorite part about New Zealand, the people. So friendly, conscientious and fun to be around. They are not afraid to start a conversation or tell you about something they enjoyed or are thinking about. Very open and easy to be around. We hitchhiked our way around the South Island for the month of January and met some incredible Kiwis (and other foreign travelers). It was a great experience, and probably one of the last places on the planet, you can easily and safely hitch.

Kiwis love their sports. We have learned a lot about Cricket, but Rugby is king. We attended a Rugby, super 12 test match, the other night and learned a lot about the sport and those who attend. We have also been keenly following the America's Cup challenge, tomorrow is the 9th and final race and we are pulling for the Americans. Italy's Prada boat, however, is the Kiwi favorite to face the New Zealand champs beginning Feb 19. I think they are tired of the Americans. And of course there is surfing, which Mike and I tried on New Years Eve day in the surfing capital of Raglan.

We have enjoyed lots of bird watching, so many interesting species to view and learn about. Mike got me a bird book for Christmas and we have been quite the bird nerds. We even saw the national nocturnal. Kiwi bird (it was in a bird reserve, but still cool to watch).

The country is easy to get around, rental cars are plentiful and reasonable (we have enjoyed one for the last 4 days here on the north island) and the US dollar exchange rate extremely favorable to American tourists. I don't think we will be able to eat in an SF restaurant without remembering the quality of food at low NZ prices. Our favorites being the green lipped mussels.

Another great part about travel here is the Maori culture. The Maori arrived here from the Polynesian island area approximately 1000 years ago. Tomorrow is Waitangi day, celebrating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. A treaty which released sovereignty to the British Crown and granted the Maori people the same rights as English citizens. However, this was the beginning of land skirmishes between the Maori and the European settlers, and a series of violent conflicts. Financial reparations are being made to those whose land was unjustly taken. The Maori language is seen in most place, city, mountain, lake, river and area names. Makes things very interesting, but difficult to pronounce at first.

One thing which is popular with long-term travelers here, is WWOOFing (we aren't sure what it stands for, but work and organic are two of the letters), a way to work on organic farms, gardens, sheep stations, vineyards, etc, in exchange for food and board. We worked for 2 days in Motueka, near Nelson, in the North of the South Island. Great opportunity to live with a Kiwi family, and to learn more about life in New Zealand. We did some painting (it rained for one day) and garden work. Mike was quite a pro with the pitchfork pulling up the new potatoes. Lots of fun.

We spent my 28th birthday enjoying 2 nights at a beautiful, Victorian B&B in Wellingtion (thanks to a wedding gift from our friends Shannon Davies and Jason Wolfed). We enjoyed great food and wine, the theater and a jazz bar, almost like being back in the big city.

Tonight we rest and organize our packs, (I'm getting a little tired of seeing mine and the clothes inside it) before our flight tomorrow afternoon. Please keep the updates coming. We would love to hear more about everyone's New Years happenings.

We promise to send another note soon, Missing everyone, but enjoying traveling, Love,
Linda and Mike

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