Matapouri Beach, Mermaid Pool, Russell, Paihia

Matapouri Beach, Northland

A secretive path from the beach going through a steep hill leads to this Mermaid Pool above =) Apparently many people knows about it.. LOL.. The guys are enjoying the pool jumping in this cliff side pool..

Making our way to Russell, we passed by this artistic little town, Kawakawa, which has the most beautiful toilet ever! It is even more artistic inside =) Surely have to utilize this loo a while!

 

Also another artistic wall for picture to stretch our legs and backs a little while continuing our drive to Russell..

At the Russell car ferry.. $11 for car + driver, extra passenger $1

Christ Church, NZ oldest church built in 1836

Russell was the first permanent European settlement, thus becoming the first capital city of NZ in 1840. It was really worth the drive to Russell, to feel the historical moments of NZ, with many old buildings still preserved. Look at the cushions below, I wonder how old are they? =) So vintage..

Pompallier House

Bishop Pompallier established this Roman Catholic Mission in 1839. This building was built in 1841 and is now restored to its original French Lyonnaise layout as a working printery again.

Duke of Marlborough Hotel 1827

Whoops, an overturned boat.. that would take a lot of work..

This is the passenger wharf, while the car jetty requires some driving before reaching this town. There are also many tours like dolphin tours departing from here. 

Old city, old tree?

Flagstaff Hill*****

Above the town on Maiki Hill stands the famous flagstaff, cut down 4 times between 1844 and 1845. The history of Flagstaff War, between Maori and British Crown. The views from the top are spectacular.

Back at Paihia town.

Rata trees, blooming so beautifully in Summer =)

Tasman Glacier, Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo

Mount Cook

Third day at Mount Cook, today we took the Tasman Glacier Lake***** short walk, 1 hr return.

This track allows us to look at the East face of Mount Cook

Beautiful day.. 

Lake Pukaki again... Means we are leaving Mount Cook already... =.=

Goodbye~~ Making our way to another highlights of Canterbury, Lake Tekapo...Many travelers say they are so captivated by Lake Tekapo and stayed at this town longer than planned.. we'll see why soon! 

Church of Good Shepherd @ Lake Tekapo

Probably appeared in most travelers' album of NZ if they have gone to south Island before =D

Colorful Lupin flowers decorating the Church & Lake Tekapo so perfectly..

We too, charmed by this opalescent blue coloured lake much, wants to cook and have dinner with Sunset here =) Thus, our cooking shelter above, very much effort put in securing our shelter from the strong wind!

Lupin dancing @ Lake Tekapo

Otago Peninsular & back to Dunedin

The next morning, we went to the Taiaroa Head, the end tip of the Otago peninsular. It was a nice drive and there are viewing platforms to see the birds. The Royal Albatross center is located here and it cost $45 to view the only mainland Albatross colony in NZ. We don't want to pay that money so we just spend some time watching other birds at the platform. Here's the closeup of the un-famed sea gull, finally a shot of glamour for it :p

Taiaroa Head*****

Shags

Seals..

We have arranged to meet up with Kara in the afternoon at the peninsular. So with plenty of time to spend, we went for cockles digging after Taiaroa Head. We were lucky cause its low tide, and here is our harvest! So good, the cockles are quite big. Yayay...

@ Sandymount recreation reserve.. OOh we also had some time to take stupid picture :D

We met Kara at the Sandymount recreation reserve, where we took the windiest walk EVER!

The wind is so strong that it actually pushes us forward/ backwards / sideways! But the short walk is rewarding, with a view of this Chasm and a natural arch.

After the scenic drive around the peninsular, we headed back to Dunedin. A walk around the Octagon and dinner at Saigon Van again. Well, its Kara's dinner basically. We still have salmon head soup waiting for us tonight :p

It was a nice meet up with Kara and she is so lovely. She gave each of us her hand made flower knitting :) looks nice on Angie's beanie.  Hope all goes well with her second year visa extension and we shall see her in Malaysia!!

Dunedin Cathedral

Baldwin St, the steepest road in the world! 

At its maximum, the slope of Baldwin Street is about 1:2.86 (19° or 35%)

Comforting salmon head soup cooked this morning at the caravan park.. Bliss...