Jack and Niamh's Sabbatical Adventures

Category: Uncategorized

  • Rotorua

    We moved on to Rotorua, a volcanic area which produces 20% of New Zealand’s energy in its geothermal power plants. This also means lots of Roman style hot bath houses that’ll hard boil you like an egg.

    Our second campsite was right by the lake which was the perfect temperature for an evening swim and was full of ducks that let you know they’re there all through the night.
    Rent-a-tent NZ gave us a hand-pumped espresso machine for morning coffee
    Massive bubbling mud pool (Niamh for scale). Like large parts of Rotorua it smelt like rotten eggs, there was a large group of dead birds nearby who probably got caught in a bubble of hydrogen sulfide.
    We visited the craters of the moon which had loads of fumaroles (steam vents) so it looks like the ground is smoking
    We’re staying in Taupo, tomorrow (with Kelly) we’re hiking the Tongariro crossing, a 12 mile hike which takes about 6 to 8 hours and goes between Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe who played Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings.

  • On The Road

    Picked up our car and camping gear from Auckland airport and headed to the first campsite
    Stopped at Pirongia for a butter chicken and a bushman’s pie and a trip to the local museum/village council meeting room and got to eavesdrop on a village council meeting
    Got a great spot by the lake to pump up our tent
    Ate our tea under the night sky with our friends Jupiter and Mars
    Everything packed away and off to Makana blueberry experience for the world’s best blueberry muffin

  • Jack Singapore Pics

    Tall toast for breakfast with two half boiled eggs (Niamh watched a guy crack one open and drink it like a shot)
    Mandai Nature Park has 4 zoos in it, it’s a lot of walking but great to watch a cat fishing
    Snitched on a crab that was trying to escape at the hawker market, feel bad, possibly ate its cousin
    All time greatest vending machines

  • Alexis

    Alexis is staying safely in his own home, Bernadette (from trustedhousesitters.com) has appeared to take care of him for the whole time we’re away