Day 6: Avoiding Things on Wheels and Off to the South Island, Picton and the Home Stay

Turns out my daughter truly knows me. I got this first text from her yesterday at lunchtime my time. Congrats to all you parents who can do this middle-of-the-night phone calls. I got my first one last night and it kicked my butt!


Katie called around 1:10 via Viber (the iPhone app that will supposedly save us big bucks because it uses the Internet instead of telephony - we'll see - the call was clunky; like talking on those first Cisco IP phones!). We talked for about 10 minutes and then she sent some photos.

Here's what I learned:

1. Even though I am an extrovert, I am not the best conversationalist in the middle of the night, especially after already being asleep.
2. I've been worrying about the wrong things. With the plane crash at SFO, I've been all "flight safety conscious". Clearly that's not the issue because apparently Katie was nearly hit by a bus, a car, a bike and a skateboard. Yeah, time to readjust my focus.
3. There is something on earth that has bigger feet than Katie: goblins! (see photo below)
4. Speaking of feet, it appears Katie's souvenir from New Zealand will be socks. Apparently she paid an arm and a leg for a pair of "cute socks with Kiwi's on them!" and then found cheap ones like five for $8.
5. The Farmstay was a little awkward when the hosts learned the three kids they had staying with them really didn't know each other and therefore the whole darn crowd was a bunch of strangers! 
6. A hotel lobby full of People to People Ambassadors all calling home at the same time sounds like a telemarketing sweat shop!

They had to get up early this morning (5:30) to get moving and make their way via ferry to the South Island. They have their home stays tonight and tomorrow night. On they itinerary, they mention their location is Mount Hutt College, which looks fantastic on its website. I wonder if they will really get to see the campus? 

Here are a few of the photos Katie sent along. There are also a few shots from her leader. I think you can click on any of them to see them larger.

             

          On an alligator at Weta.                                     Gandalf the Grey romance.                            Her feet are small! First time! 

 

                                            From Shelia McKell:  the Maori Meeting House.                              A goblin garden.

From the People to People Itinerary:

• This morning, board the Inter-islander Ferry for your journey across Cook Strait and through the beautiful Queen Charlotte Sounds to Picton, located in the South Island.
• This afternoon meet with your home stay families and experience everyday life with a New Zealand family. 

This is the Interislander Ferry heading up the Strait.

Up by Ship Cove is where they come south from Wellington. 

The harbor at Picton. It looks stunning. 

Downtown Picton. How sweet! But they drive funny! 

Day 5: Meeting the Weta, Visiting Parliament and Enjoying Wellington, NZ

I think Peter Jackson is a national hero in New Zealand. He's certainly done a lot for the tourist industry!

Today the kids will visit the Weta Workshop Museum (which is kind of like Pixar or LucasFilms out here) and get to see behind the scenes visual treats about the Hobbit, Lord of the Rings and Narnia (UPDATE: a few pics here).

The Weta Cave

They are filming the second Hobbit movie now and if you really want to be on the cutting edge with inside information, you should "like" the Weta Facebook page for updates on how it's going.

And in case you are wondering, "Weta" is a large brown wingless insect related to the grasshoppers, with long spiny legs and wood-boring larvae, found only in New Zealand. 

There you have it. Oh and I found a little photo for you just in case you couldn't imagine how huge this thing actually is! 

Maybe the kids will bring one home for us! The weta bug.

After Weta, they head on to Parliament (which might mean they are dressed in P2P outfits today) to learn how government works in New Zealand. After that, it looks like they will tour some museums and learn about the local art scene.

UPDATE: got a very short note from Katie around midnight. All was well, they are having a blast and she'd say more when she had more wifi! Got another note from her this morning. She sent a few pics from yesterday and a little video (midway down for both)! So far so good!

From the People to People Itinerary:

While you continue your tour of Wellington:

• Visit Weta Workshop Museum, the multi Academy Award winning special effects company that helped create movies like the Lord of the Rings, King Kong, and Chronicles of Narnia.
• Learn about New Zealand’s system of government when you visit Parliament buildings and enjoy a guided tour of the facility.
• A center for the arts, Wellington has many museums and art galleries.
• Visit Te Papa National Museum, a fascinating museum devoted to Maori culture, natural history, modern art, science and technology. 

Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand

Te Papa National Museum 

Day 4: Down the Waikato River and on to Wellington

I have no idea if this is the boat...but wow!
That's Huka Falls in the background.

You have to love a town that calls itself the "Capital of Cool!"

Where is it? Why Wellington, New Zealand of course.

I did not realize Wellington is windy nearly every day of the year. That explains why I kept seeing little wind icons on my Apple weather app for every, stinking, day prior to Katie leaving. 

According to the Wiki, the entrance to the harbor can be dangerous, especially since Cook Strait to the south is notoriously rough. Close to the harbor entrance lies Barrett Reef, its rocks breaking the water's surface at low tide. It was here in 1968 that the Union Company car and passenger ferry TEV Wahine grounded during a storm, with the loss of 53 lives.

That's some wind!

Before they get to Wellington, they will be on a jet boat on the Waikato River which is the longest river in New Zealand. I don't know if I found the right company, but this is the one I could find that takes people up the river to Huka Falls. It looks pretty exciting! 

Then, in People to People code for long bus ride, they will "continue their coach journey" through Tongariro National Park (along side of it - not really sure how to read that. Probably not a bad thing; I bet they are all still sleep deprived!

Established in 1887, Tongariro was the first national park in New Zealand and the fourth in the world. It is also a dual World Heritage area, a status which recognizes the park's important Maori cultural and spiritual associations as well as its outstanding volcanic features. Make sure to look at the link to the park below for a stunning photograph.

BREAKING: We did get a cryptic note from the kids' leader, Sheila McKell early this morning. I have no idea how she had service!

UPDATE: Photos from yesterday.

Frodo Baggins' house, Katie on the bus, the guy who's filming them all the time.

  

From the People to People Itinerary:

New Zealand’s center of government and the world’s southernmost capital city, Wellington, is situated on the hillsides of Wellington Harbour and nicknamed “Windy Wellington” as the city is windy almost every day of the year.

• Take a thrilling jet boat ride as you skim along the mighty Waikato River to the magnificent Huka Falls.
• Continue your coach journey through the central plateau of the North Island and pass the rugged volcanic terrain of the Tongariro National Park to Wellington.

Wellington Harbor - I think if you click this it will expand.