North Island on my own

While bussing around and staying at backpacker places is ok, I still miss Inga and our van a little bit. After one more day of climbing in Takaka, I went to Nelson. Met some fun guys there and tried motor biking and then took the ferry over to Wellington. Since I like cities so much, I spent three whole hours there, at the Te Papa museum, and then went up to Turangi to do the Tongariro crossing the next day. And what a beautiful day! Blue sky and beautiful mountains. The crossing is very nice, but it sure smells on the way down.

After Tongariri, I went to Rotoroa and rented a mountain bike. The forest there was amazing and huge. I also went to the annual "Beer fest" (aka oktoberfest) but that was a dissapointment. Basically no people. Waitimo caves are famous for is glow worms and stalagtites, so I hade to try that of course. Before going up to Aukland and finishing my trip in NZ.

After a 12h flight to Los Angeles, I went right away to do some shopping. More specifically: find cheap climbing equipment and new running shoes. I sure spent a lot of money there; but luckily on sorely needed stuff. Tomorrow Aruba awaits me =)

Beautiful Flock Hill

Me at the summit of Mt. Tongariro with Mt. Ngauruhoe (aka. Mt. Doom) in the background.

Motorbiking in Nelson


Proof that Takaka/Nelson is the biggest hippie towns on earth (or at least in NZ)

Nelson "the Stilt capital"

South Rock Climbing

Paynes Ford is a really cool limestone crag; once you get used to slopers and run outs that is. We spent 5 days there, 4 of them climbing, and tried everything from slab to overhanging. On the rest day we rentet mountain bikes, and biked the "Kill Devil Track". It was great to back on a bike again, after just climbing for 6 weeks.

When Inga left for Aukland last wednesday, I tramped the whole Abel-Tasman track, a 52km long track along the beaches in Golden Bay. Back in Takaka after the tramping, I met some people that were going to Castle Hill, so I joined them. We have had 4 amazing days bouldering in the most beautiful surroundings. The arms hurt a bit, but the climbing is soo worth it. Tomorrow I'll go back north to Takaka, and then the North Island is next.

What do you do when Castle Hill looks like this? You go bouldering of course!

One of the thousands of fun problems at Flock Hill.

Another fun problem, just too hard for me.

Low tide in Abel Tasman

Seals and penguins in Abel Tasman national parc

Climbing at Paynes Ford

Driving around South Island, NZ.

Because of a lot of rain in Castle Hill, we headed first for Queenstown, the extreem sport capital of the world. We camped by the original bungy bridge, but in day light it looked too small, so of course we went for the big one. Nevis bungy jump is 134 m tall, with app. 40m free fall. It was an amazing feeling when falling.

We also climbed a couple of places around Queenstown. The rock i schist, which is really flaky, and not one of my favorites. But we did find a really cool roof to climb.

Driving north, we stopped a day in Castle Hill. The sun was shining and the place really showed itself from its best side, with green hills and snowy mountains in the background. The bouldering in Castle Hill is special and a little strange at first. And the friction is not the best, as it is polished limestone. But what an awesome place nevertheless.

We are now in Paynes Ford, close to Nelson. The climbing seems good, but its a lot of slopers, which is not really my style. And the weather here is not as stable as in Australia, so we might get more rest days than we want.Me on "Dream Thing" (21)

Me and Inga ready for NZ highest bungy. Inga is a little skeptical."I believe I can fly"Afterwards Inga was really happy.

Castle Hill