We were over awed by New Zealand's spectacular differences. A land like no other you would ever find on earth I'm sure.

First: The lushness of New Zealand:

Everywhere you go, you see ferns in New Zealand. No wonder New Zealand’s emblem is the fern. 

On one of the first days in New Zealand, we drove up a mountain and parked the car in a clearing at the top. Then we climbed down through a forest to a small lake inlet below. You can see the log steps going down through the forest in one of the collage photos. 

It was so peaceful and private down there. Like a sanctuary with no one around, just surrounded by tall hills and forest trees. 

After that experience, we drove a short way to…

 

Lake Tarawera:

Looking out upon the lake it was so tranquil. You can see by the photos in the collage how calm the water was. 

It was lovely to be able to explore down the little narrow pathways. The underground was fascinating with the ferns sharing their habitat with cycads, moss and lichen. 

Peering through the trees and underground, we looked out over the serene lake and into the secluded inlets. And afterwards we had an ice-cream cone each at a small quaint little cabin kiosk snuggled up against the hill side, there on the shores of the lake. 

A peaceful private picnic spot:

Then moving on again, we came across another smallish lake and stopped to have lunch under a braai shelter. The word braai is a South African term for cooking meat over an open fire. But in this case were had cold meats and salad on buns, while it drizzled rain on and off. 

And in between the intermittent light rain showers, I went strolling along the water’s edge taking photos. What an adventure we were having with no one else around! See my oil painting of the picnic spot’s lake backdrop.

 

Then the vastness of a desert!

Then on again, until we came to a wide expansive desert. Can you believe it? A desert in the lush greenness of New Zealand! 

We were so surprised to see how a desert that looked so grey with volcanic ash-sand could look so beautiful. Cold wind was blowing so we had to put on warm coats. And out came our cameras. 

One of the photos in the collage shows the desert and the range of the Ruapehu mountains in the background. And also an oil painting I later did of the Ruapehu desert.

 

And that’s not all we experience out in the desert:

Our children also took us up the Ruapehu Alpine lift mountain. They told us that they had sometimes come here to ski in winter when the snow is deep and brilliantly white.  

But the place was now deserted, in more ways than one. Not a plant or blade of grass anywhere, just depressing grey-black volcanic gravel. Not a pretty site for me. But a most awesome place to be. 

Well, it was for me! Now this is where I had my own little ` heart attack’ of fear.  

The road most of the time was narrow going up and down the mountain, with the ground falling away on both sides, or at least on one side, some of the time.

I’m scared of heights at the best of times. But here was also loose gravel… and the car could have skittered off the road at any moment! I gripped my seat so tight…. I can tell you, I was so glad when we at last drove off the mountain side. Phew… such a relief to be going home to our children’s home in Taranaki! 

New Zealand is indeed a very fascinating place, and so diverse. One minute we found it’s so green, and in the next moment there is a vast  desert out there to surprise you! 

In my next travel post,

I’ll tell you about the Christmas festival we witnessed. And with each future blog, I’ll tell you more of our adventures in New Zealand.  Not only of the north Island… but also our travels down through of the south island and all its dramatic beauty.