Today I went to Founder’s Park, a historic village with old style shops which you can visit. As New Zealand will be celebrating ANZAC day this week (when they remember those who died during the wars) the entry fee was cheaper than usual, and the streets overrun with costumed actors and WW1 themeing. The highlight had to be the trench experience, where you get lead through some trenches complete with actors, the sounds of shells and a sprinkling of dried mud falling on your head everytime a shell hits. I also bought some ration coupons and spent them on some war time food tasters – carrot fudge, anzac biscuits and a creamy pudding of some kind which was labelled Raspberry Snow (without the Raspberries). The fudge was pretty tasteless goo, but the other items were OK.

Back on the streets I find myself jumping as a gun fight breaks out, and an officer looking at me suspiciously as he checks my papers.
There are also several mini museums displaying everything from old dental tools, to model ships in bottles, to cobblers tools.

The final approach into Picton, through the Queen Charlotte Sound is spectacular, with the sea perfectly flat and the mountains rising up sharply. Once in Picton I take the Stray bus to Nelson, where I will be picked up and taken to a job kiwifruit picking – that is as soon as the fruit is ripe which could be any time in the next week. I book myself into the Tramper’s Rest, a very small homestay backpackers complete with tuned piano and free internet access. The perfect antidote to the very cheap but badly equiped hostel I stayed at in Wellington.

Arriving at Adrenaline Forest, I get some brief initial training before being let loose on the course. There are 7 course in total, each increasing in level of difficulty. You start at level 1, which goes to a maximum of 3m high, and gradually progress through until you reach your limit. Having done something similar in the UK (Go Ape), I was fairly familiar with the set-up, but was surprised to find it got a lot physically harder, but lacked in some of the adrenaline rushes that the UK ones have. The flying foxes are generally less steep and lack speed, and there was only one Tarzan Swing on the last course. On the other hand, the long distances between trees combined with being 30m up, high winds and an uphill slant made some of the crossings extremely difficult. Good job I’m not afraid of heights! Ironically the hardest part of the course is actually clipping yourself into the Tarzan Swing, which doesn’t come nearly close enough, meaning a reach over the edge of the narrow tree-top platform you are on. Once clipped on, there is no way you can get the guts to clip back onto the tree, making the jump the easier option!

In the evening I went to Carter Observatory, which is a fantastic place and open late on Tuesdays. They have an excellent planetarium show, along with fascinating displays on the universe, with a uniquely Kiwi take on it. You can watch films about the Maori creation legends, feel the rumble of a rocket blasting off and pilot your own shuttle into outer space. New Zealand has some of the clearest skies in the world, partly due to a hole in the ozone layer, and partly due to the lack of light pollution in the Southern Hemisphere.

Exhausted I catch a late cable car back to the city.

In the afternoon I met up with an old acquantance who I haven’t seen in about 16 years! She drove me to the top of Mount Victoria for some breathtaking views over the city, and was able to point out the different areas of Wellington. She then drove me round the spectacular coast road of the Miramar peninsula, and we stopped for afternoon tea at one of the cafes. We had a takeaway curry for dinner, before she kindly drove me back to the hostel, with an offer of a bed if I should pass through again.

The exhibition was small, but very interesting. It told the story of what New Zealand was like before man came to its shores, and how it changed with the introduction of man, and the many animals and plants which he brought over. There’s lots of heart-warming displays on conservation efforts in New Zeland, like the story of the Robin which was down to its last breeding pair, but has been brought from the brink back to a stable population. Despite all this, there are still a huge number of birds that have become extinct, and a long list of birds which are endangered.

The Sanctuary Valley is a valley which has been made predator free, and will hopefully continue to be so through the use of predator proof fencing. You can walk the many paths of this area and see lots of wildlife - many endangered species, and others which used to be very uncommon in the area. The project has brought many native birds back into the Wellington area, as the birds are not confined to the sanctuary (except of course the flightless ones).

I walked down the hill through the Botanic gardens, and feeling the chill, stopped at the cafe by the Rose Garden for an amazing hot chocolate. I also opted for a wonder round the sculpture trail before heading back to the city.

In town, I saw the famous Beehive Building which is the head of parliment, the government buildings which are unusually made of wood, and the high court.

I took in the City Art Gallery with interesting contempory art before heading back to Te Papa for a wonder round some of the huge number of exhibit I’d missed yesterday. Meeting up with a friend we stopped for a pint in the Mac’s Brewery Bar, with its stunning waterfront setting, before heading out for dinner at one of the many cheap eating options.

World championship gumboot throwing lane.

On the Stray bus again today, this time travelling right to the bottom of North Island to the capital city of Wellington. This is a long day of driving, but the driver makes it interesting, telling us about the small towns we pass on route and pointing out interesting features.

Ohakune is famous for its large carrots, which grow well in the volcanic ash-rich soils. To celebrate this fact they now have a giant plastic carrot by the roadside!

Waiouru is the place where the army train, and is also home to the national army museum, complete with large tank out front.

Taihape is most famous for being the place where the world gumboot (wellyboot) throwing championships are held. The town also celebrates this, this time with a giant plastic gumboot. We stopped for a quick break by the gumboot throwing alley.

Signpost in Bulls.

Hunterville is much more classy. Being the place famous for breeding the first Hunterville dogs (New Zealand’s sheep dog) it celebrates this with a statue of a dog (but not a big plastic one).

Bulls has got to be the most rediculous town of the lot, originally famous in the world war when ‘Milk from Bulls’ got people wondering. It now has every building named with Bulls in the title. The bins are called Response-a-Bull, the police station is the Consta-Bull and the toilets are the Relieve-a-Bull!

Finally making it to Wellington at 3pm, I spend the afternoon in Te Papa museum, one of the best museums I’ve ever been in. I sat through an earthquake, watched a 3D movie about a collosal squid (and saw the only preserved specimen on display), went on a simulated ride under the ocean to an active volcano and another simulator allowed me to experience all things kiwi from jumping off the sky tower to playing rugby.

First views of Wellington from the bus.

Leaving the museum at dusk, I found myself overwhelmed by how happening Wellington is. Despite being through many city’s in New Zealand, none other than Auckland and Wellington have the busy crowds, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs and takeaways you would usually associate with the city.