Stray to Wellington
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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.
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