On Wednesday morning we missed our early morning bus to Wanganui from Tauranga do to some misunderstandings...and we couldn't find any other alternate buses going down. Joel was feeling pretty sick and we eventually decided that Scott and would drive down in a rental car and Joel would stay with his cousins and sleep so that he would feel better for the South Island. It wasn't the ideal situation, and definitely the toughest decision making I have had to do thus far...but everything worked out and I believe that the Lord had a plan for that day.
So Scott and I took off driving south toward Wanganui by way of Rotorua, Taupo, and Tongariro National Park. It was an absolutely gorgeous drive. We were blessed with some pretty good weather throughout the drive. I was amazed at how the landscape was SO diverse, so quickly changing, so vastly beautiful...it was inexplainable. Lakes, big hills, rocky cliffs, dark green grassy fields...you name it. The highlight of the trip was definitely Tongariro National Park. When we got to Taupo we could see the glimpse of Mount Tongariro (Scott's first snow capped peak) which topped in snow. As we drove we saw Mount Ngauruhoe which was the perfect peak. An amazing view to say the least. It looked like an upside down funnel covered in powdered sugar with a beautiful blue backdrop and several shades of green and brown in the foreground. Certainly one of the highlights of the trip.
Just beyond that was Mount Ruapehu or also known as Mount Doom and the land of Mordor from the Lord of the Rings. It was pretty spectacular being there. I felt like Frodo running through the fields of Mordor trying to get rid of the ring. Haha...not really. More like Gollum actually.Mt. Ruapehu is the largest of the three mountains and also one of the ski resprt capitals of New Zealand. It was crazy to see a volcanic mountain covered in snow and filled with skiers, surrounded by a completely desolate area. All three of these mountains are all in close range to each other so that from the side we were able to see them all in the perfect landscape panorama view. Absolutely stunning.
MORDOR! (video)
South of the mountains was some equally incredible views that just would make me stop and stare in disbelief. It is amazing how many times I have done that on this trip. Not that I don't believe it is this beautiful just that all of NZ is this beautiful. Everywhere we go there is vast beauty...and it seems that NZ has the best of what every country has to offer.
Yesterday we spent the day with the Gillepspie family showing us around the area of Wanganui. The Gillespies are a wonderful family. They have three kids, 13, 8 and 3 years of age. It was really a blessing to get to spend time with them. They took us to the Rangitikei River which was another LOTR site (where the Fellowship took canoes down the river in the first movie). We did a little hiking there and saw a waterfall. Then we drove to Gravity Canyon which is the site of a lot of extreme opportunities and Scott went bungee jumping there from a bridge 80 meters above the river. It was pretty sweet. We also went up to a tower overlooking the city, saw downtown Wanganui, and then ate some take out fish and chips with the family. It was really a great time.
It is pretty obvious that we have learned a lot more abou the culture of NZ just in this short time by staying with families. We have learned about the Kiwi culture, lingo, geography, history, characteristics, and even the spiritual state of the country. I love how we have picked up the unique characteristics of the accent as well, compared to Aussies...especially in how they say "O's" in words like "go" and "E's" is words like "mess". There is so much more that I do not have the time to go into or to explain. There has been so much I have been learning and thinking through about so many different things. God is always so good.
Now...on to bed. Tomorrow...on to the South Island.
-b garrison
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