The Ring Goes Southier

Matt, Master of Middle-Earth

We're wrapping up our time here in Hawke's Bay. Today we climbed up another big hill, this one much larger than the first. This picture is from the top of Te Mata Peak, just outside of Havelock North (a few minutes drive from Napier). It was AWESOME. We wandered pretty quickly up to the top and then dawdled our way down past the sheep and the bush. It was really good to get out of the hostel after a couple days of cabin fever coldness and back into the scenery.  We drove the car today for the first time since we bought her. Steph had her first shot at driving in reverse-land and performed admirably.

On Thursday we head south once again. First to Wellington, then across the Cook Strait to the South Island, then the drive down to Christchurch, and finally from Christchurch to Alexandra, near Queenstown. The plan is to get in on cherry pickin' season a way down south for at least a month and make back some of our money. Tomorrow we venture out to Cape Kidnappers for some cliffs of insanity and rare bird watching! :)

-James