Kia Ora

Kia Ora

Interesting facts.

NZ. or Aotearoa In Maori, means 'The Land of the long white cloud'. It is quite a young country, geologically active, with tectonic faults and volcanoes, glaciers and rivers constantly building and eroding land. It consists of many islands, the main ones being the North and South island. It used to be part of one land mass, Gondwana, and split off 80 million years ago, taking with it its unique plants and bird life. The first Eastern Polynesian settlers arrived 750 years ago, and the first Europeans to settle arrived in 1769 after discovery by James Cook.

As it is a long thin country, there are several climates and micro climates within, from sub tropical in the North and temperate (similar to UK) in the South. The total population is around 4.2 million ( UK has nearly 63 million) of which 1 million are based in Auckland. Auckalnd also known as the 'The city of sails' (due to a high proportion of boat ownership) is the biggest city, though not the capital, which is Wellinton. Auckland’s weather is warm/hot long summers with mild and wet winters. (average annual sunshine hours= 2050. Manchester=1200 hrs) and (annual average rain=1240mm. Manchester=810mm!) most rain falling as heavy tropical showers in the winter months of June-July

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

north western coast

we hot footed it up to the Farewell spit. an amazing natural penomena
the spit
and stayed in a very eco friendly lodge (the day time loo was a 'compost toilet' ...you can use your imagination as to what this entails!) the friendly owners gave us some pointers as to what to do and see in out limited time here. high on the list was the baby seals in a rockpool at low tide on the beach. we went to the beautiful and vast Wharaniki beach and found the little darlings. so cute. 3 of them playing in a large rockpool, chasing trapped fish and each other. The parents were basking in the cliffs behind, keeping a watchful eye on them..and us.. that we didnt get too close to their babies!
matty on Wharaniki beach
seals pups @ Wharaniki
practicing being grown up
aw!! cute az
next day was Jax's birthday, and Matt had been noticably evasive as to where and what we were doing the next day. I was told to pack a rucksack and we'd be setting off early next day....
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