Aukland, New Zealand, to Sydney, Australia

Before we got on the road March 19, we found one last kiwi to photograph, outside of the Otorohanga / Waitomo library. 

This one was more realistic than others we saw.  But it was hard concrete.  Still cool ...

Then we headed to Raglan, an hour or better away from Waitomo, but about an hour out of Aukland, to make for an easy drive to the airport tomorrow. 

Once again, we found a place to walk.  This time it was a waterfall, with 261 steps, all downhill. 

Yep.  Steps.  But it was a beautiful walkway.

Bridal Veil Falls.  We’ve come clear across the world and yet, it seems that no matter where you are there’s a Bridal Veil Falls.  But, as always, it was worth the walk, even knowing I’d have to go back uphill those 261 steps. 

It truly does look like a veil.

We got checked in to the hotel for our last night in New Zealand, and headed out for a bite to eat and a walk.  This little town didn’t seem to have a place we wanted to eat.  We settled on a Texas barbecue place.  I don’t imagine this place has ever seen a Texan.  I make a better brisket.  Yep, lesson learned.

But we did find some great walking, along a waterfront walkway, across a bridge where there were a number of youngsters jumping into the water, and then along the beach, with warm sand that squished up between my toes.  I don’t like walking barefoot, but walking barefoot on a sandy beach is A-okay.

There were lots of kids jumping, and no signs saying not to.  They were having fun, and it was fun watching them.

Beautiful, warm sand and water.  Oooh, it felt so good.

All too soon, Monday, March 20, arrived.  This was our travel day to Aukland where we’d fly out to Sydney.  Another something I never do is pick up a hitchhiker.  We did.  A young lady named Jesi, and she’s an interior designer from Buenos Aires, Argentina.  We had a nice discussion about Argentina as we’d been there a couple years ago, although her English was a bit difficult to understand with her accent.  We dropped her off near the airport and returned our car.

It ended up being quite a day.  We were informed at the Virgin Australia Airlines desk that the tickets we’d purchased did not include luggage, and we were captive to paying $130 per bag.  I’d say that’s some kind of airway robbery.  Another lesson learned.  And not in a good way, except that for all of our flights to get here we didn’t pay any baggage fees.  They must have known and decided to make up for it.

Virgin Australia also put us next to screaming children for the 2-1/2-hour flight, the free shuttle to the hotel cost us $7 each and we couldn’t get the air conditioning to work.  Not the best of days.  Tomorrow we’d start over.