Cruise Day 14 - Windy Wellington

Arrived in Wellington 0700 hrs. I believe that there is a pattern here. Typical Kiwi summer weather. Thick fog or thick low clouds. Rain threatening then happening!

Crude graphics of our position

More loggin - like I said, one of their major exports. BTW, apparently they are reducing their sheep numbers and switching over to cattle. More money. I am really surprised - I never thought they would abandon their girlfriends!

What a machine - lifting an entire container

These tugs were busy helping us dock.

Sky stadium - place of a fair amount of Aussie rugby blood

Look at the weather - getting used to this

We are docked right next to the Sky Stadium - another NZ sacred site of Wallaby pain. They need to pass a law that states that the All Blacks can only win 50% of the time! I'd vote for that. Anyway, we can always cane them in cricket.

Had a latish start. We were able to have a light breakfast and avoid the horde getting off the boat.

The Otari - Wilton Bush

Into a minbus which took us to the Otari - Wilton Bush park. Otari is obviously Maori and Wilton is the name of the man who had the vision of setting aside about 100 acres devoted to native Kiwi plants. The description of the excursion says moderate activity, walking shoes blah blah blah. Not true, it is actually a stroll through a garden. I could have done it in my thongs. One of the Americans kitted himself out as if he was going for a trek up the Himalayans. I was standing next to this kiwi and we looked at each other and burst out laughing!

The guide was also kitted out as if for a hike. He was carrying a backpack full of Medical supplies. I guess they have to cater for all eventualities. The whole stroll took about 1.5 hrs with very interesting commentary about the plants. Even though plants are not my thing, I found it interesting. NZ certainly have a lot of weird plants. I like taking pictures of them. They grow pines here and it is one of their major exports. Lots of Pongas - the Silver Fern - the hated symbol of fear for Aussies. I try to calm myself by thinking of the cricket instead!

NZ has many unique species

The park is very well run

Some of my plant photgraphy - Don't know much about these plants, missed some of the commentary taking the photos.

I know that the Kauri tree was hunted to near extinction because they had no natural predator until the white fellas came. Now they are protected! This tree is apparently 800 years old

Nearly stepped on this poor thing. Nature in action - harsh

Kevin the guide - he was very knowledgeable about the plants

Mrs Guide - pretty intense individual

Mrs Guide with the random tourist

That is Mr Chow from the Hangover

I like the black and white - arty

View at the lookout - Surprise! no view

This bench was donated by Lady Bledisoe - of the cup

That is a Tui on a branch

Tui sitting on nearby fence post - love his little white bowtie beneath his chin

Totem carvings by school kids under the direction of Maori carvers - good job

Erin the mushroom lady would have a field day here

Exploring Windy Rainy Wellington

Then the bus took us to the lookout. Surprise - no views. Had a smoke and then back on the bus. The Americans were complaining about not seeing a single kangaroo when they were in Australia. Go to a zoo! They thought that they would see roos on Kangaroo Island. We told them that the best place to see the roos is when they are trapped on your roo bar!

We were dropped off in the city right next to the Beehive - the NZ parliament house. All Parliament buildings should have a huge smoke stack to vent all the hot air inside and maybe a compost heap for all the bullshit too.

We wandered around Wellington. Naturally, lots more older buildings than Christchurch. It is a small city and easily explored on foot. We found the waterfront. The light mizzle did spoil it a bit. I reckon it would be really good with the sun out.

The Beehivve

Buildings of Wellington - some new, some old

Great church

Old Government building - biggest wooden building in the Southern Hemishpere - cleverly made to look like bricks

Very nice statues - they have great artists here

Model of NZ flax - very useful for fibre making fir the Maoris

Great name for a pub right next to the Supreme Court

don't believe in druids

Wellington Waterfront

Old warehouses on the wharf

Found a food court (underground on Willis Lane) and had char kuey teow - not the best I've had but a welcome difference from the fine dining on board

Happy camper with her noodles

giant models of sea urchins - fun fact, sea urchins are just one long gut with giant gonads. Tells you what is constantly on a sea urchins mind

Old warehouse repurposed to a barista school - definitely need more baristas, less uber drivers from Africa and the middle east

Hobbit toilets on the wharf

an Aussie's nightmare - look at all that devil's merch

Street sculpture - fallen columns, an ode to earthquakes

Great mural on a shed on the wharf

Nearly forgot Val's shoes

Weatherboard buildings on the wharf - reminds me of the fisherman's wharf in San Fransisco

the inter island ferry?

Looks like a convention centre

Sailing in the distance

Back on the boat by 1500 hrs. Afternoon tea and in bed for a snooze.

We casted off at 1800 hrs. The sun is out! Bugger. It will a day at sea before Tauranga.

Goodbye Wellington in the sun

Inter Island ferry preparing to leave

Little light house - the sun is trying to come out

I see a spot of sunshine

Leaving Wellington behind - we will be back

Sky Stadium in the distance

The show is dancing with audience participation. No thanks. I also don't want to be to help with the all the broken hips...