Post by postscript on Feb 22, 2007 19:07:21 GMT
Hi everyone!
This is from my friend who is currently touring NZ and in whose house in England I am currently sitting. She didn't want to go--its for a family wedding on her husband's side--she could think of many other places in the world she would rather spend time travelling too and being in.
Here is her first communication from NZ
Hello
Well New Zealand is amazing –
If someone had introduced me to it when I was 20 I doubt if I would have come home. It is lush and green, the natural environment is to die for and the built environment in the rural areas and on the hill and mountainsides seems to be extremely well controlled. I don’t have the same warm things to say about the urban environment and planning controls.
[She was on town planning with me when we were on our town council together]
When we arrived NZ/TV was interviewing some travellers about their reactions to the new travel security precautions – it was live and I managed to get in a really good plug for waterways holidays which was a real stroke of luck. I wait to hear from the holiday program here as they would like to do a UK canal feature, so fingers crossed!!!! Never one to waste an opportunity as you know! [She is a great promoter of the inland waterways and former member (as an expert witness) on Joint Parliamentary Waterways Committees].
Our first port of call was Aukland where we stayed 20 mins outside the town in a place called The Fringe of Heaver. We really landed on our feet - the home stay we chose was a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired building (falling water) built into the side of the hills round the bay.
[Frank Lloyd Wright was a major architect affecting Chicago who not only designed many of its buildings but also designed the furniture in them and the clothes people working in them should wear!]
Our room totally glass jutted out way above the blue sea of the bay, birds calling, seagulls swooping, lush greenery surrounding us. Our hosts Bev and Julian were so welcoming – and made us feel part of the family – a great two days. We did go into central Aukland and went up the tower to see the area from above, and did a two hour boat trip round the bay.
On day three we drove to the Coramandle Peninsular – this should have been a marvellous drive – it was for Bryan but sadly my old problems reared their ugly head and I could not take the car travel, which left me very poorly. We arrived at our B and B quite late – the situation was magic – high on a hill overlooking the sea. The place was run by a Kiwi and a Swiss husband who ran it as a small self sufficient organic small holding. We took a boat trip from Whitianga and saw the most amazing volcanic coastline with a highly knowledgeable captain as our guide, and only five people on the trip so it was great.
I went to the doc and got some pills to help with the travel – then off to the beach and the ultramarine sea. From there we drove to Lake Rotoiti where we stayed for three days in a delightful home stay. On Sunday morning they took us in their boat for a trip round the lake followed by a soak in the hot Sulphur baths where you went from one to another getting hotter and hotter and then plunged into the cold lake – it was great. We then went to see the hot mud pools in Rotorua.
After three days exploring the Rotorua area we flew to Wellington where we stayed in the most amazing folly – a lighthouse built by a delightful New Zealander called Bruce – of course!!!!!!! But would you believe he lived in Tring [4 miles down the road here in England!] for seven years and worked as a planner for Bedforshire [adjoining county to Hertfordshire where she and I live].
We took the ferry from Wellington to Picton – which is in the Marlborough Sound – the journey was mind blowingly beautiful – once there we were picked up by our bed and breakfast host from the terminal and after settling in went on an explore.
This really is one of the most beautiful countries I have seen, and everyone is not only so friendly but completely happy with their lot. We haven’t heard one grumble which is really lovely.
A post from Lindy Foster Weinreb which I am sure she won't mind me sharing with you.
Peter S.
This is from my friend who is currently touring NZ and in whose house in England I am currently sitting. She didn't want to go--its for a family wedding on her husband's side--she could think of many other places in the world she would rather spend time travelling too and being in.
Here is her first communication from NZ
Hello
Well New Zealand is amazing –
If someone had introduced me to it when I was 20 I doubt if I would have come home. It is lush and green, the natural environment is to die for and the built environment in the rural areas and on the hill and mountainsides seems to be extremely well controlled. I don’t have the same warm things to say about the urban environment and planning controls.
[She was on town planning with me when we were on our town council together]
When we arrived NZ/TV was interviewing some travellers about their reactions to the new travel security precautions – it was live and I managed to get in a really good plug for waterways holidays which was a real stroke of luck. I wait to hear from the holiday program here as they would like to do a UK canal feature, so fingers crossed!!!! Never one to waste an opportunity as you know! [She is a great promoter of the inland waterways and former member (as an expert witness) on Joint Parliamentary Waterways Committees].
Our first port of call was Aukland where we stayed 20 mins outside the town in a place called The Fringe of Heaver. We really landed on our feet - the home stay we chose was a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired building (falling water) built into the side of the hills round the bay.
[Frank Lloyd Wright was a major architect affecting Chicago who not only designed many of its buildings but also designed the furniture in them and the clothes people working in them should wear!]
Our room totally glass jutted out way above the blue sea of the bay, birds calling, seagulls swooping, lush greenery surrounding us. Our hosts Bev and Julian were so welcoming – and made us feel part of the family – a great two days. We did go into central Aukland and went up the tower to see the area from above, and did a two hour boat trip round the bay.
On day three we drove to the Coramandle Peninsular – this should have been a marvellous drive – it was for Bryan but sadly my old problems reared their ugly head and I could not take the car travel, which left me very poorly. We arrived at our B and B quite late – the situation was magic – high on a hill overlooking the sea. The place was run by a Kiwi and a Swiss husband who ran it as a small self sufficient organic small holding. We took a boat trip from Whitianga and saw the most amazing volcanic coastline with a highly knowledgeable captain as our guide, and only five people on the trip so it was great.
I went to the doc and got some pills to help with the travel – then off to the beach and the ultramarine sea. From there we drove to Lake Rotoiti where we stayed for three days in a delightful home stay. On Sunday morning they took us in their boat for a trip round the lake followed by a soak in the hot Sulphur baths where you went from one to another getting hotter and hotter and then plunged into the cold lake – it was great. We then went to see the hot mud pools in Rotorua.
After three days exploring the Rotorua area we flew to Wellington where we stayed in the most amazing folly – a lighthouse built by a delightful New Zealander called Bruce – of course!!!!!!! But would you believe he lived in Tring [4 miles down the road here in England!] for seven years and worked as a planner for Bedforshire [adjoining county to Hertfordshire where she and I live].
We took the ferry from Wellington to Picton – which is in the Marlborough Sound – the journey was mind blowingly beautiful – once there we were picked up by our bed and breakfast host from the terminal and after settling in went on an explore.
This really is one of the most beautiful countries I have seen, and everyone is not only so friendly but completely happy with their lot. We haven’t heard one grumble which is really lovely.
A post from Lindy Foster Weinreb which I am sure she won't mind me sharing with you.
Peter S.
Frankfurt welcomed us with a lousy cold 5°C. That's not really cold for a winter but when coming from Sydney the difference is quite shocking.
HELP!!!
But, Marianne, be sure that we will return. 
