I attacked Wellington by foot, and won. Don’t ask other parties about my dominance, just trust me. 😉

After finishing being confused by rugby, I caught the cable car to the top of the ridge, where I immediately retreated to the toilets to escape the buffeting winds (my second toilet retreat of the day; a story for another time). I spent the next 2 hours of my allotted 1/2 meandering down the hillside through the botanical gardens and absorbing the colors and smells (everything from camphor to licorice to citrus and cinnamon) as I traipsed through signs of spring. I regretfully moved on into the city after poking through the begonia house, walking along streets until I found the sea. Then I enjoyed strolling along the waterfront and reveling I’m those sights and sounds, before heading into Te Papa museum to spend the rest of my afternoon learning about NZ history.

I left the museum a bit before 3pm in order to find the bus that Google promised would bring me to the airport for $5. I saw the no. 91 bus coming my way, so grabbed my $10 note and headed toward the driver. He looked at me and grumbled through his salt-and-pepper beard.

“Transfer to the airport, please,” I said.

The driver grumbled again. This time I realized it was supposed to be intelligible, but I couldn’t muster what he was after.

“ ‘WELVE,” he grunted again, as he pointed to the fare screen. My neatly folded $10 note was $2 short. A pocket scrounge found a $1 coin and $50 note, and Mr Grunty would not accept the large bill. I plead my Google info case as he glared at me, then had to go back to the street to find a shop to buy my way to smaller bills (sorry, shawarma shop girl), then wait 30 minutes for the next bus.

I reached the airport at 4:00, and my flight was scheduled for 4:30. Have no fear, you’re flying in New Zealand! Domestic flights involve no security checks, no ID verifications, no X-rays or scanners; I literally walked from the bus to my gate! I think I like New Zealand. 🙂

Our (I use this term liberally) flight boasted two pilots… and two passengers. We loaded up in an airport truck and rode on the tarmac to our 6-seater plane, then bounced and swung our way up into the clouds to jump the Cook Strait. Flight accommodations included very hot air blowing on the lower half, intermittent audio from the headset of pilot chatter, and lollies (candy! I’m sold).

I was picked up at the Takaka airport (a lounge with 8 easy chairs) by my next host, Amanda, then whisked off to tea and a bed and some very sound sleep. 🙂

Monday was forecasted to be rainy and dreary, so we stayed close to home base. Amanda drove me to Wharariki Beach for a view of the famed inspiration for a Microsoft screensaver, and we walked over the black and white sand watching waves roll, seals lounge, and jellyfish scoot about. We finished the morning with a gander about Farewell Cape, as the wind hit the cliffs and tried to sweep me away with it. After lunching on delicious vegetable soup and scones (biscuits), Monday afternoon was relaxed by the fire while rain outside lulled me to drowsiness, and Stella the lab-boxer mix kept reminding me that I need a dog. Not a bad day, all told, though I’m starting to feel the imminence of my departure from Kiwiland in just 6 days…better keep adventuring! 🙂