National Park to Wellington

We can feel our muscles...they're letting us know we weren't biking in Tongariro. On our way back north we might try to finish the circuit. Now it's time to think "city" again. Took one heck of a bus ride from National Park to Wellington. 6 hour ride of switch back moutains on a double decker bus. We were on the top layer...motion sickness at it's best.

Upon arrival in Wellington we found an inter-city backpacker that had camping. Cheapest place we've stayed at so far. The cool thing is we keep running into familiar faces. We met up with Nam from Israel whom we stayed with in the hut at Tongariro. We also saw the Swiss cycling couple we keep tailing on the road in and out of towns and campgrounds. It's always nice to see people you know and it's always great to meet more people as well.

We stayed in Wellington for 3 days - January 20th to January 23rd. Wellington is nestled on the southern most part of the North Island and opens up to the Cook Strait and South Pacific Ocean. We tried to get involved with the local scene as much as possible. They had a great Cuban band at the Botanic Gardens on Monday the 21st. We biked around the outskirts of the city to check out the neighborhoods...very hilly - viewed the Te Papa Museum -walked the city wharf - biked Mt. Victor to view all of Wellington - took the cable car to the Botanic Gardens. We both decided that Wellington might have some potential for possible residency. Lots to think about.

Time to catch the Interislander ferry to the South Island! Yippee for the South Island!