Later today, we're off to Australia. We're sad to be leaving New Zealand. It's amazing how quickly the first leg flew by. We take some heart in knowing that this was one of our shortest visits.
We had a bit of an odyssey trying to find a copy of the Lonely Planet for Australia. Books here are ridiculously expensive - the Lonely Planet book that costs $30 in the US is NZ$60 here. We called every used bookshop in Auckland and managed to find one for $11, after turning in a few paperbacks we had already finished. That was pretty satisfying.
Anyway, we apologize for not blogging for a few days. We were up in Paihia, in the far north of NZ, just relaxing a bit. While there, we were able to stay at a really magnificent hostel called the Saltwater Lodge. The place was the best hostel we had stayed at so far. NZ is set up for travelers and there are hostels throughout the country, where the quality of type of accommodation varies widely. We've been getting double rooms, which sometimes feature their own bathrooms and sometimes don't. All hostels have a kitchen so you can make your own food.
I am sure some of you have been wondering about our accommodations, so here is a photo of our room at the Saltwater Lodge.
Why was this room the best one we had so far? A few reasons:
- It's spotlessly clean
- It has a king size bed (as opposed to a full or queen)
- It has a TV (not in the photo)
- It has heat - in NZ, heat is sometimes not included
- It has an ensuite bathroom
- They provide towels
- And - this one is really shocking - it has its own fridge!
Most hostels provide some of the above, but to find a place that had it all was truly wonderful.
The TV was key because it was Tuesday, and that's the night House is on here in NZ :) The hostel was doing some construction and we thought we could only stay one night, and when we found out that we could stay a second, Gina was literally jumping up and down.
Also, here's a photo from a town called Tirau, where there are several buildings built out of the wavy corrugated material that Kiwis are so fond of.
That is a corrugated Jesus, although Catherine's husband Greg, who is from Tirau, calls it the Corrugated Osama.Also, here's a photo that shows a very typical scene as we drive through NZ.
Finally, I thought I'd share some thoughts about New Zealand. It's a really fascinating country, with only four million people at the corner of the world. The locals here are fantastically friendly, welcoming and accommodating. I'm sure that has helped tourism take off here, as it's the industry that keeps the country afloat. Historically, sheep farming was the main industry here. But, I read that the number of sheep in NZ has gone down by 20% in the last 10 years, caused mainly by a steep decline in wool prices. (Wool that used to command $6 per kilogram now goes for $2.)
Kiwis know that opportunities are overseas. London is full of expatriates, who all moved there right after college. Lots don't come home, contributing to a major brain drain. The country is also very tight regarding immigration.
Those factors, plus the weight of the social democracy here and the fickle nature of tourism, makes me think that the coming decades will make it very tough for the country to continue to prosper. Count me amongst those who love this country and wish it all the best.
Anyway, onwards to Australia. We'll be in Tasmania for five days, then flying to Melbourne and driving to Sydney, where my friend Tom will be flying in for the drive up to Cairns in the far north. I am really excited!
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