New Zealand (South Island)

I feel that I updated the page quite recently and already I have lots to tell again... I am going to break down the things that I've done on a daily basis as one thing very special about NZ is that you do or see something extraordinary every day. The picture on the left is in Picton. Where everybody coming from Wellington starts travelling around the South Island.

Me siento que he actualizado la pagina hace nada y que tengo un monton que explicar de nuevo... Voy a internar explicar lo que he hecho cada dia ya que aqui en NZ se hace o se ve algo extraordinario cada dia. En la de arriba estoy en Picton y es donde todo el mundo que llega de Wellington empieza sus viajes alrededor de la Isla del Sur.

On the picture you see the group of people that we went kayaking on the Abel Tasman (a National Park in the North are of the South Island). The whole day kayaking was a bit hard but with beautiful suroundings seeing things like the Split Apple Rock (picture below). It was on that area as well when I experienced something completly new... I stayed with the people that I met next to an outdoor fireplace. It was the first time that I saw an outdoor fireplace but it created a very nice atmosphere.

En la foto podeis ver el grupo con el que fui en Kayak todo el dia por Abel Tasman (este es un parque nacional en el norte de la Isla del Sud). La experiencia fue un poco dura pero estuve encantada por los paisajes, pude ver cosas como 'Split Apple Rock' (foto). Algo tambien particular que experimente ese mismo dia fue estar delante de un fuego a tierra exterior. La atmosfera que se creo fue muy interesante ya que el fuego rompia el frescor de la noche.

From Abel Tasman I went to Kaikoura. House for whale watching and swiming with the dolphins. Unfortunately the day that we had in there it was raining but the next morning I went whale watching and it was amazing! When you see an 18metre whale you realise the grandeur of certain things. We also saw Dusky Dolphins in our way to the harbour which made the experience even better.

De Abel Tasman me fui a Kaikoura. Este lugar es conocido ya que se pueden ver ballenas y delfines. El dia que estuvimos alli estuvo lloviendo pero al dia siguiente de buena magnana me fui a ver ballenas y es impresionante poder ver un animal de 18metros. De camino al puerto vimos delfines e hizo la experiencia aun mas mejor.

After going whale watching I went on a car with Fee, Lauren and Mariia to Christchurch via Hanmer Springs. We went to the hot pools in Hanmer Springs and when we got to Christchurch we had a Mexican themed dinner together.

Despues de ir a ver las ballenas me fui en coche con Fee, Lauren y Mariia hasta Christchurch pero pasamos por Hanmer Springs y nos bagnamos en las piscinas de agua caliente. Al llegar a Christchurch cenamos juntas comida mexicana.

Christchurch is a small city. It is very nice and the arquitecture is quite British. The museum is also very interesting as you can see from the history of NZ to various natural and geological phenomenons. From here, Mariia and I went to Akaroa (the only village with French influence - see picture). Akaroa is located on the peninsula, it's quite turisty but very nice and quiet. I went swiming with the dolphins here. I swam with Hector Dolphins which are the smaller dolphins on earth.

Christchurch es una ciudad pequegna. Es muy bonita y la arquitectura es muy inglesa. El museo es tambien muy interesante ya que va desde la historia del pais hasta varios fenomenos naturales y geologicos. De aqui, Mariia y yo, nos fuimos a Akaroa (es el unico pueblo con influencia Francesa - ver foto). Akaroa esta en la peninsula. Es un lugar bastante turistico pero muy bonito y tranquilo. Alli fui a nadar con los delfines y nade con los Hector que son la especie mas pequegna del mundo.

The following days I went from Akaroa to Arthur's Pass, Greymouth and Punakaiki. In Arthur's Pass I went on a day trek called Avalanche Peak. This was very hard as the way was very steep but it was worth it because the view from was amazing. I also had the chance to see Keas there (the biggest NZ parrot). Then the downhill was terrible as it is more painfull on the knees than the uphill. In Greymouth I had a quiet afternoon and then in Punakaiki I went to see the Pancake Rocks. These are very strange and interesting to see. With such a rough sea you wonder how they are still there...
Later on I went horse riding around the area and had my first gallop on a beach in my life (the feeling was extraordinary!)



Los dias siguientes fui de Akaroa a Arthur's Pass, Greymouth y Punakaiki. En Arthur's Pass fui a hacer un trek de un dia a Avalanche Peak. Fue muy duro ya que el camino hacia mucha pendiente pero realmente valio la pena ya que las vistas eran fantasticas y ademas pude ver Keas (es el loro mas grande de NZ). El camino hacia abajo fue aun mas duro ya que las rodillas se resienten mas y es bastante doloroso. En Greymouth tuve una tarde bastante tranquila ya que estuvo lloviendo a intervalos y el pueblo es bastante pequegno. Y luego en Punakaiki fui a ver las 'Pancake Rocks' estas son unas estructuras de piedra que estan laminadas y te preguntas como pueden estar ahi con el mar tan furioso que las acecha...

In Punakaiki I met Raimon. The first catalan person at this end of the world! It is very dificult to see any Spanish around here...

En Punakaiki conoci a Raimon. El primer catalan en este rincon del mundo! Es muy dificil encontrarse con espagnoles por aqui...


The next morning of meeting Raimon I left to Franz Josef Glacier. I went with Inka and Tobias. They are a German couple and took me on their car. Franz Josef is a glacier are where you can do various activities . I stayed a total of 3 nights which seems an eternity when you are about one or two nights on every place. Here I met Blair. He is from New Zealand and showed me around the area a bit. Later on I met again with Mariia and Raimon. Constantly you meet with people that you know and realise how small is the world.
Anyway, in Franz Josef I enrolled for Ice Climbing. That was really exciting. It was a very good activity (highly recomended for everybody).



Al dia siguiente de conocer a Raimon me fui a Franz Josef Glacier. Hasta alli llegue con Inka y Tobias. Una pareja alemana que me llevaron en coche. Franz Josef es un area donde hay glaciares y se pueden hacer distintas actividades. Me quede 3 noches y parece una eternidad cuando normalmente estas 1 o 2 noches en cada sitio. Aqui conoci a Blair, un chico Neo Celandes que me ensegno la zona un poquito y me encontre de nuevo con Mariia y Raimon. Continuamente te encuentras con gente que conoces y te das cuenta de lo pequegno que es el mundo.
Bueno, pues ya en Franz Josef que anime a escalar sobre hielo y la verdad es que fue una experiencia muy buena (altamente recomendable).

After all that live has still been hectic. I've been in Wanaka, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Doubtfull Sound, Dunedin and Ivercargill.
-Wanaka is a lovely place where I had the chance to chill a bit and enjoy of a great scenery. This town has a lake and its surrounded of spectacular mountains. Here I met with Raimon again and have travelled with him all around these places.
-Te Anau is a magic place with access to the most amazing sceneries in the world: Milford and Doubtfull Sounds. The mountains are so big that you feel as tiny as an antz. However, sunflies drives you crazy. There are so many that you cannot stop in one place without getting eaten alive.
After that we rented a car in Queenstown and drove around. Going to Dunedin and Otago Peninsula (where we saw Albatros) and Invercargill. Again all the scenery around us was so amazing that we could stop oohh aahhiing...

Despues de todo esto la vida ha continuado siendo movida. He estado en Wanaka, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Doubtfull Sound, Dunedin y Invercargill.
-Wanaka es un lugar muy tranquilo donde tuve la oportunidad de relajarme durante mi estancia alli. Este pueblo tiene un lago y esta rodeado de montagnas espectaculares. Aqui me volvi a encontrar con Raimon y he seguido toda esta ruta con el.
-Te Anau es un lugar magico con acceso a unos de los lugares mas espectaculares del mundo: Milford y Doubtfull Sound. Las montagnas aqui son tan grandes que te hacen sentir tan pequegno como una hormiga. De todas formas hay una especie de mosquito que te vuelve loca. No te puedes quedar quieta ni un momento si no te comen viva...
Al irnos de Te Anau alquilamos un coche en Queenstown y fuimos a Dunedin y Otago Peninsula (aqui vimos Albatros) y Invercargill. De nuevo el paisaje era tan espectacular que no paramos de asombrarnos.

Today I'm back in Wanaka, alone again after almost a week which it makes it a bit strange now. But soon I'll be in Australia and will have new stories to tell you.

Hoy estoy de nuevo en Wanaka, sola de nuevo lo qual se me hace un poco estragno (Raimon ja t'anyoro...). Pero pronto estare en Australia y tendre nuevas historias que explicaros.

New Zealand

I am already at the South Island so I thought it would be better to tell you what I've done in the North Island...
The truth is that New Zealand is a beautiful country, people are very welcoming and nice. At the same time it offers lots to do and see....

Ya estoy en la isla del Sur del pais asi que he pensado que mejor os explico ahora que he hecho en el Norte...
La verdad es que Nueva Zelanda es un pais muy bonito y la gente muy agradable. Por otro lado aqui hay muchas cosas que ver y que hacer...

I've spent a total of 7 days in the North Island and I've gone from Pahia in the Bay of Island to Wellington in that time. It may sound that I've rushed this island but people kept telling me not to spend too much time there as the South Island is supposed to be better. Its been intense, specially at the beginning, because when I first got to NZ I rent a car and drove to Bay of Island. Got there late (9pm) and due to the bank holiday weekend it was a nightmare to find accomodation. Unfortunately, the next morning I had to leave because it was raining... It is a nice and lovely place but I had no time to lose. Anyway I made my way to Rotorua where I stayed for 2 nights and enjoyed the scenery on my way there.

He estado un total de 7 dias en la Isla del Norte y he ido de Pahia en Bay of Island a Wellington en tan poco tiempo. Debe parecer que l0 he hecho en muy poco tiempo pero todos los viajeros que conocia me recomendaban pasar poco tiempo aqui porque la isla del Sur es aun mejor. Ha sido intenso, especialmente cuando llegue, porque cuando aterrice alquile un coche e hice todo el camino hasta Pahia llegando a las 9pm. Una vez alli debido a que era puente fue bastante dificil encontrar alojamiento (pero no imposible!). Desafortunadamente, por la magnana tuve que irme de alli porque llovia y no tenia tiempo que perder. Pero si no era un lugar ideal para relajarse y disfrutar de actividades aquaticas. De todas formas me dirigi a Totorua donde estuve 2 noches y disfrute de las vistas mientras conducia.

Rotorua is a volcanic area where there's lots to see for volcanic fans. In the same town there is a boiling lake and you can even smell the sulfur. Close by there is Wai-o-tapu which is a volcanic reserve and has one of the unic natural Geisers in the world. It was a real good experience to go around the sulfur pools (where an Asian person lost the camara as we saw falling into de pool) and seeing the volcanic formations.
As it was a beautiful day I made my way down to Taupo where I stayed on a viewpoint just overseeing the town and then I made my way to Huka Falls. I found myself a place on the same river where I enjoyed a nice couple of hours. It was amazing the beauty of the place. The water was crystal clear and even the ducks where coming to me...

Rotorua es un area volcanica donde hay mucho que hacer para los aficionados a los volcanes. En el mismo pueblo habia un lago donde el agua hierve y se huele el sulfuro. Cerca de alli tambien esta Wai-o-tapu que es una reserva volcanica que tiene uno de los unicos Geisers naturales del mundo y donde hay piscinas de sulfuro (interesante cuando un asiatico perdio su camara dentro de ese agua) y distintas formaciones volcanicas.
Como hacia muy buen dia me fui para Taupo donde me quede en un area de descanso para ver la ciudad y de alli me dirigi a la cascada de Huka. Hacia alli encontre un espacio mas arriva del rio muy tranquilo e increible. El agua era totalmente cristalina e incluso los patos se me acercaban curiosos.



After that I made my way to Waitomo Caves. When I got there I enjoyed a trip for Black Water Rafting. It consists on going inside of a Cave and seeing the formations, glowworms and enjoy yourself on the water. Cool experience!
That same day I decided to go to National Park and the following morning I made the Tongariro Crossing. This is another volcanic area and it consists on a 7 hour trek. On the top you can see the Emerald Lakes (as you can see below these are spectacular). I was completly exhausted when I finished but defenitly worth it!

De Rotorua me fui a Waitomo Caves. Es un area con muchas cuevas y me apunte a Black Water Rafting. Esto consiste en ir por dentro de una cueva con un 'flotador' saltar cascadas. Asi no solo vi la cueva y los 'glowworms' sino que obtines una experiencia totalmente nueva.
Ese mismo dia me fui hacia National Park y al dia siguiente por la magnana cruce el parque de Tongariro. Es otro area volcanica que se tarda unas 7 horas en cruzar. Al llegar a la cima se pueden ver los Emerald Lakes (como podeis ver espectaculares). Estaba completamente agotada al dia siguiente pero merecio la pena.


After that I met Mariia. She is from Findland and we end up going to Taupo and jumping off an airplane. Yes! you've read it right - Sky Dive!!!! It is the most amazing experience I've ever had. You release such amount of adrenaline that your body doesn't react about what you are about to do and what you've done...

En National Park conoci a Mariia. Una chica de Findlandia. Con ella nos fuimos a Taupo y nos tiramos en paracaidas. Siiiii! Lo habeis leido bien - me tire de un avion! Fue una pasada. Tu cuerpo deja ir una cantidad de adrenalina que no llegas a asimilar lo que estas haciendo o lo que esta pasando...


Anyway after that Mariia and I went South to New Palmeston. She knew some people there who kindly also welcomed me to stay at their place. I was very impressed with the amount of hospitality they offered me at all times. A real unique experience as well... Thank you Jo and Thane and of course to the girls as well!
And from there to Wellington where I took a ferry the day after to Picton (South Island). That night I couldn't find accomodation due to the Rugby games and I stayed with Sophie and Igor. They are a couple that I met in Fiji and live in Wellington. They also hosted me in their house making me feel once again at home. Thanks guys!

Bueno y asi Mariia y yo nos fuimos hacia el Sud. Esa noche dormimos con unos conocidos de ella. Me impacto mucho la hospitalidad que me ofrecieron a mi tambien en todo momento.
Al dia siguiente estaba de nuevo en ruta hacia Wellington donde cogi el ferry al dia siguiente a Picton (Isla del Sud). De todas formas esa noche no pude encontrar alojamiento en Wellington debido a un campeonato de Rugby y estuve en casa de Sophie e Igor. Ellos son una pareja que conoci en Fiji y que viven precisamente en Wellington. De nuevo tuve una noche de reyes en su casa haciendome sentir en mi propio hogar.