We have come to the end of student directed travel as well as our time in New Zealand. After a long process I’m pleased to say that student directed travel was a success. We started with a bang by going to Tongariro National Park Mt. Ngauruhoe or Mt. Doom. It was a legendary pilgrimage for some and a beautiful hike for others. Personally, as a Lord of the Rings fan, it was extremely validating. From the volcanic landscapes of Tongariro we traveled to Wellington, where we explored the beautiful Te Papa museum and the surrounding city. The next morning we said goodbye to the North Island and took a ferry to the South. Our rental car was smaller then some, but we made it work with our impressive Tetris capabilities. Olivia had picked out an awesome hostel in Able Tasman. It was a great place to come back to after our exciting day of sea kayaking. The day started with everyone being confident in their kayaking abilities but by lunch most of us were feeling some arm pain. The water was beautiful and we saw lots of baby seals. Our fearless leaders Conor, Annie, Cameron and Hannah led us back to shore safely.The next day our muscles looked incredible. We took a leisurely drive taking in the New Zealand scenery to Arthur’s Pass. Arthur’s Pass is a hikers destination. There are valleys filled with prairie grass and stunning harsh mountains. We spent spent our first day there hiking to various lookouts and waterfalls. Liz and I reenacted a sword fight from Lord of the Rings on top of a bowlder while Matty-Rex filmed us along with the German tourists that had no relation to our group. I guess this means that our sword fighting was epic enough to be on some random person’s camera. Our next adventures were by far the most marvelous hikes we’ve been on. Some of us climbed to the summit of Avalanche Peak while others hiked along the dramatic ridges of Arthur’s Pass. That night we decided to treat ourselves at the local cafe that closed at 8:00 pm. Arthur’s Pass is a very small town but we had a delicious meal none the less. Now that were in Christchurch the reality of leaving New Zealand is
dawning on us. This month has been a spectacular one. We have grown closer as a group and as individuals. I cant wait to see what adventures Australia holds! Until the next internet cafe!
-Rage (Page)
