Wellington
Day 171 – Wellington, New Zealand
So I may be a few days late in my accounts. The main reason is that my successive hostels have had difficult, out of order and limited Wi-Fi, and writing on one’s phone gets tiring fast.
My last complete post was about Haku Falls Tuesday.
Wednesday
I went to Wairakei Terraces. It is a spa which pumps hot, mineral-rich water on artificial terraces and pools. Depending on the pool, the water temperature vary from 41 to 35°C.
I spent a delightful day soaking in hot water; the only fly in my ointment was that the sun was shining very brightly and therr was very little shade to be had. Since I had gotten a few light sunburns the day before, I wasn’t keen on exposing same sunburns. And sunscreen tends to dissolve away in hot water.
The spa itself is outside Taupo, but again my favorite bus had a stop just 50m away. It is strange to book a bus ticket for a 5-min ride, but here it is.
Thursday
I left Taupo for Napier. The bus ride was relatively short, 2 hours. Napier is on the East coast with a nice ocean walk, and a reputation for art-deco architecture (having been levelled by an earthquake and rebuilt in the relevant decade).
I haven’t really found it all that nice, but I may be biased. I enjoyed walking by the ocean, and in particular the Sunken Gardens, a small public park with flowers, shaded benches, a water wheel, a few minutes’ walk from the hostel.
I only stopped there because I couldn’t go straight to Wellington.
Friday
This time the bus journey was longer, almost 6 hours. I have chosen an hostel that is both right by the bus terminal and right by the shuttle that will take me to the ferry Monday.
Today
I went to the Botanic Gardens today (I know, I always end up there!). They are on a nice, steep hill, so I did the tourist thing: take the cable car to the top of the hill and walk down the gardens. (See picture above.)
These gardens are beautiful, rich, extensive, and offer themed trails (the sculpture walk, the bush trail, etc). Ik addition to the usual themed gardens (rock garden, hydrangeas, fernery, rose garden, scented garden, herb garden…), there is a discovery garden for children. I also found a little nook with a painted piece of wood that looks like a gnome house.
Wellington Botanic Gardens – Gnome House
And I’m back at the hostel for a nice evening of rest!
