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New
Zealand October 2003
 This
New Zealand trip was out of the ordinary for
me. I usually travel with my husband, Michael,
to New Zealand. We’ve been coming here
since our honeymoon in 1991 (he had been here
several times previously but it was my first
trip in 1991). I had been to New Zealand once
on my own for a travel convention in 2002.
Otherwise, hubby was always the driver and
the driving force in our adventures in New
Zealand.
This trip.. Melissa was truly in the drivers
seat.. And scaring the “heck”
out of Susan on a regular basis!
Susan
and I travel for our birthdays every year.
This is usually in September, which is when
our birthdays are (Melissa’s: Sept 26
and Susan’s: Sept 20). But when Susan
told me she wanted to go to New Zealand for
our 2003 birthdays (she is a Virgo and likes
to tell me, her accommodating Libra best friend,
what to do-nicely) I told her September was
not acceptable since it would be just a bit
too chilly for our normal warm weather birthday
adventures. October became the month of choice..
And so it was. I had never been to New Zealand
this time of year so I expected things to
be a little different. I loved every minute
of October in New Zealand and.. Playing in
this fabulous country with my best friend
of 28 years.
Not
wishing to bore you, but it’s important
(to me) to note that I tried on numerous occasion,
to talk Susan into going somewhere else. “Sue..
Let’s go to Costa Rica and play in the
jungle with birds!” Nope! “Sue,
how about going back to Fiji to a remote jungle
island where they have only 12 bungalows?”
Nope! Finally, it sunk in that we were going
to New Zealand and when Huka Lodge came back
with the confirmation for 2 days.. Well........
I got excited and we were off and running
and I put on my vacation planner HAT and got
to work. All of a sudden, our 4th annual birthday
adventure starting taking on a new sparkle.
Upon
arrival I had hired a private car to take
us from Auckland to Taupo. The flights to
Taupo did not work for us so it was the 5
hour drive with a delightful older couple
that drove us to our luxurious first stop,
Huka Lodge. I must add, that one of the things
I LOVE about New Zealand is the friendliness
and innocence of the people. Here we have
Mom and Pop... Driving us. No matter how tired
we were and no matter how ordinary the scenery
( the drive from Auckland to Taupo is not
the most interesting).. I savored the experience
of enjoying these people.
We stopped at a candy factory somewhere in
the middle of no where.. We stopped in a “character”
town to take a walk around. It was New Zealand..
I can feel it on my skin... I can smell it...
My spirit senses it... I am stepping back
in time... Ahhhh... Susan was right.. New
Zealand was the best choice.
Huka
Lodge was everything we had heard and more.
The water rushing by our riverfront rooms
(not right in front but close enough) soothed
our souls... And created a peace and serenity
that settles your inner-workaholic. Or is
it the outer-workaholic? We acclimated ourselves
and walked around the grounds .. In the misty
chilly drizzly weather. It was enchanting
and mesmerizing. Our friend Do Cammick of
Taveuni Island Resort in Fiji (who lives in
Auckland) , met us and our first night at
Huka Lodge was the girls night out.. In style..
It was a night of meeting new people (and
the Lodge cat), enjoying each other’s
company and savoring the ambiance that IS
Huka Lodge. The Lodge weaves its magic. Each
moment convinces you that you have arrived
at Nirvana.
The
next day we walked to Huka falls and then
around the river
up to the township of Taupo. Along the way
we captured views of the  river
and walked by steaming streams that meandered
down the hillside into the Waikato river.
2 kayakers had jumped ship to bath themselves
in the warm sulfured waters while their kayaks
bobbed nearby in an eddy in the river. Back
in our rooms, we both took baths in the deep
tubs in the well appointed spacious bathrooms..
And then met, fireside, in my room... Popping
a bottle of champagne.. We invited the ducks
in to visit while we toasted to our birthdays...
And the first leg of our fabulous birthday
adventure.
At
dinner this night, Susan and I met Nick and
Marge from the UK and Shawn and ................
from Boston/San Francisco. We would run into
both later on.. At Blanket Bay and in TeAnau.
It turns out that you not only have a great
time with the Kiwis (the New Zealanders) but
the people you meet along the way! Just one
more reason to fall in love with the experience
called “New Zealand”
Our
car was delivered to Huka.. And we were ready
to head out to Napier. I had experienced more
than normal anxiety about driving in New Zealand.
It had always been my husband in the drivers
seat as we ventured on the “wrong”
side of the road. I had decided at the very
beginning of planning that Susan was not allowed
to drive. For crying out loud... She scares
me to death when she drives at home in Hawaii..
There was not a chance in heaven “that”
girl was going to drive in NZ. So off we went
on long stretches of road with no cars or
people in sight. I loved it. Hours of open
range. And then there was Napier....
Susan’s
eyes had never shown such panic as I saw at
the intersection I had just stopped in the
main part of Napier. I have since described
the driving experience in NZ as... The one
who is tortured the most is the person who
is in the passenger seat (Shhhhh don’t
tell your spouse) . We made it through unscathed.
Remember, Susan is a Virgo and a control freak.
And you have me.. The Libra “it will
be fine” personality.. Slithering my
way through the maze of cars to our next 2
night stay...
 The
Master’s Lodge at the top of Napier
Hill..
The
Master’s Lodge will not be on many of
the tourist lists. But.. The best kept secret
in Napier is this delicious luxury B&B,
offering unique experiences like the Vinter’s
dinner and the Art Deco Evening.
The
highlights of our time here were the 2 evening
experiences we had  arranged
prior to our arrival. The first night we had
Darrin from Moana Park Winery bring about
12 bottles of wine for our enjoyment and “tasting”
as our hosts, Larry and Joan and their talented
chef, prepared and presented course after
course of artistic gastromic (????) delights.
Susan and I giggled our way through this evenings
experience.. Pinching ourselves because  we
were having too much fun. Only to come face
to face with “Bertie” at the beginning
of our second evening’s arrangements.
We weren’t quite prepared for Bertie
and then there was Penelope...
Bertie
showed up at Master’s Lodge in his 1938
Plymouth.. 
Dressed in 1920’s attire.. Straw hat..
Representing the Art Deco Era of Napier..
And preparing to take us on our Art Deco Evening
experience. In the rose coloured room at Master’s
Lodge, 3 of us enjoyed introductory chit chat..
And then off we went to adorn ourselves in
1920’s clothing at Penelopes vintage
clothing shop. So, Susan and  I
became part of the historic scenery, dressed
in our old style clothes and being toured
around Napier in Bertie’s vintage car..
Only to be “walked” around town
on Bertie’s arms.. While passers bye
waved and honked at the town Mascott. My friend
Sue and I enjoyed each second of each minute
of each hour. If you can read inbetween the
lines... You know that our birthday celebration
was off to a successful start. The evening
progressed ... We went to Penelopes Art Deco
home for a tour and a glass of wine.. And
then the 4 of us were treated to another perfect
dining experience at Master’s Lodge.
Penelope has a stash of her best Art Deco
clothes... I told her I was her new best friend
from Hawaii as I wanted the most outrageous
outfit for February’s Art Deco Weekend..
Where the whole town gets decked out in historic
clothing, historic cars and the town morphs
into a blast from the past. Another New Zealand
delight. Put it on the list!
The
next day we flew to Queenstown... The south
island had been calling and we had arrived.
I bought a sweater that cost $$$$$!!!!! at
the airport. I was off to a fine start! True
to form (please, do NOT tell my husband that
it is the tan sweater with the lavender flowers
on it, okay?!).
Is
there any way to tell you the pure FUN OF
IT ALL? Susan and I loaded ourselves into
our SUV and off to the Fijordland Lodge in
Te Anau. In New Zealand, once again, you can
drive for a really long time and see no one.
Hours later... As the last hints of daylight
danced on the snow tipped mountains that surround
this SECRET part of the south island, we arrived
at our lodge. Tired, late and ready to sleep,
we enjoyed a nice simple delicious dinner
in log cabin Lodge. Sleep came easy and the
next morning we woke up.. To beauty. One Lodge,
many mountains and acres of nothing surrounding
you. I’m the early riser and the outdoors
calls me to action... Breathe fresh mountain
air, watch a world that has few humans...
Me and the world, at 6am in the Am in the
outback of New Zealand. Soon our bus would
arrive and take us to one of New Zealands
wonders...
On
the TO DO LIST was the overnight trip on the
Milford Mariner. October is crisp and clean
and Pure New Zealand. The bus and its huge
windows took us comfortably through some of
the most majestic scenery on earth. Snaking
our way through the mountains.. The hills
were alive with the SOUND OF MUSIC (not the
only time on this trip). I, personally, am
glad I was not driving. Highly liberated female
that I am (yes, it is true), forget the windy
roads. It was a pristine day (please don’t
expect this.. We were just lucky) and when
we took off on the boat for our overnight
journey, it WAS a postcard. With 28 years
of history, Susan and I just enjoy to do things
together, talk (very much like most girls)
and soak in the scenery. We did do a little
kayaking and spent quite a bit of time on
deck with my binoculars.. But it was about
being friends, and being together and just
enjoying this unique exquisite setting. As
darkness fell upon us the stars became enlarged
beyond life. Our “boat mates”
were people from all over the world. We had
fun. Now there IS key to more happiness. FUN!
In
the morning it was cold and miserable and
wet.. And we stayed outside the whole AM freezing
to death.. Just to be part of the outdoors.
We are NOT talking co-dependant. We are talking
mutually agreed upon discomfort. Soon to head
back to shore to disembark, we had come to
be in the great outdoors and we were going
to do it.
On
our way out of the Fjord, the sky cleared
and the perfect beauty returned as the blue
sky opened to rays of sun bouncing off brilliant
snow banks and glaciers. Once back to our
vehicle in Te Anau, we drove to our quaint
little place at Brown’ Boutique Hotel
in Queenstown.
Not minutes, but hours later, we were settled
in and ready to walk the town. Shop.. For
sweaters. And find out about the secret most
fun restaurant in all of Queenstown. The Bunker...
How
do you describe the Bunker? First let me describe
the Bath House. This Bath House was the second
“tasting” we had for the evening.
When you are a girl, you enjoy tastings. So
we visited an outdoor restaurant (Brrrrr)
on Lake Wakitipo in town then meandered over
to the cutest little restaurant you might
find in the world. The Bath House also serves
the cutest and SMALLEST appetizer in the history
of the world. I have proof. Hopefully I have
posted the picture here.. As you will NOT
believe how small it was. It was so small,
that I cannot even remember what it was. But
it was worth every penny.. Because not everyone
can have the smallest appetizer ever created.
And the view was stunning..
So
after we were NOT satiated at the Bath House
we went snooping around the back streets of
Queenstown looking the big black door with
no sign. “Excuse me sir, is this “it””?
Yes. Good. Thank you.
The
upstairs restaurant was sold out (please reserve
dinner prior to arrival). However, if you
MUST be stuck in a Bar, this is the right
one. All old wood, the bar is fun and where
Susan and I decided to sit to watch the rest
of the lounge.. Which was about 200 sq feet
total area.
There was a fire place with a real fire. There
were these fun people at the bar that we enjoyed
chatting with for hours. Food was great. The
wine selection was excellent (I chose a bold
red blend from Martinborough on the North
island). Life was good. And it got better
the next day when we made our way to Blanket
Bay to spend the night.
We
walked into Blanket Bay and there were our
new friends from Huka Lodge. We made plans
to have dinner together and then Susan and
I had to experience it all. Quickly we put
on our bathing suits and headed to the jacuzzi.
And then we quickly bathed and went for cocktails
on the verandah. And then we quickly met our
new friends for dinner. The BIG problem with
one night anywhere, is that you have so little
time to do so much. It’s the buzz word
now, Experiential. We are a “tasting”
society. We want the “smorgy”
and not immersion. I am so guilty of this
I can barely write about it. It is a dysfunction
that requires professional help. So, in the
meantime, we must embrace the moment and pack
it in. The 10 piped in music stations in our
room. The bottle of wine in front of our own
fireplace in our most fabulous corner suite
in the main lodge. It all HAD TO BE experienced.
Thank goodness that “my friend Sue”
will subject herself to such torture. You
see... If YOU are my client or a client of
our travel agency.. I can talk to you about
standing on the balcony overlooking the lake
in your corner suite with channel 6 playing.
I can also talk to you about sitting in front
of the fire after dinner... Enjoying old and
new friends. Pinching myself because life
is magic.. And it is just darn fun to vacation
in New Zealand. I can help you paint the picture
in your own mind.
More
to come... Just a wee bit more. I am talking
myself into going to New Zealand again SOON.
Melissa
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