Guest Post: "Adventure of a Lifetime" — HaffsWay Around The World

Editor's Note: Very busy parents don't meet deadlines given by their editor (me) very well :). In all seriousness, it is crazy that between full-time jobs, building a house, and all their other projects, they managed to put together this post! But the following take on their vacation Haffsway Around The World is well worth the wait we think! Stay tuned for an account from Terry Haffield next week! Also, remember to send those questions in for a future blog post in which Will and I answer your burning questions (send to hughes.lauramarie@gmail.com)!

But for today: mama and papa Hughes. We were so lucky to be able to host many visitors over the last couple of months, and my lovely, adventurous, open-hearted parents were our first visitors we got to welcome to our home in Cardrona. It was my mom's first time overseas, and we had a great time with them hanging out, hiking, kayaking, and eating good food. It felt like it went by all too quickly, and as they drove away to head to the airport, a few tears were definitely shed. Here is an account of their time in New Zealand in their own words! Many thanks from us to them for both making the trip, and contributing this thoughtful post.

Adventure of a Lifetime

at a Glaciers Pace

Kia Ora!

Our adventure to visit Laura and Will began in this wonderful land of the Kiwi with much anticipation. After landing on the North Island, we explored Aukland, while testing our driving skills on the opposite (wrong) side of the road. While Haff of our group made some objection to driving techniques, we made our way safely southward to visit Huka Falls, Craters of the Moon geothermal area, and Lake Taupo (NZ’s largest lake). Our first night brought us to National Park Village (pop 200) which we were told is the community at the highest elevation in New Zealand (825 m above sea level).

Tongariro National Park was enveloped in a major storm our first night in NZ. Day two, the rain had lessened but the volcanos of this national park were shrouded from view. Sue and I learned how to navigate the proper pronunciation of New Zealand place names by a wonderful Maori park ranger at the visitor center. We hiked to Taranaki Falls within the park in the rain and wind, which was a magical experience. Will and Laura hiked this same trail some months ago, which made it even more special for us. Even in the rain New Zealand is so beautiful.

The last volcanic eruption of Mt Tongariro was just a few years ago in 2012. Our park ranger told us that the Maori are not fearful of the earthquakes or eruptions. These events are part of the natural ebb and flow of life.

Pointing at Mt Tongariro, shrouded in clouds.

The next two days took us to the west coast of the North Island, and then down to Wellington to catch the ferry. We encountered numerous, “slips” (we know as rock slides) from earlier rain and storms along the route from Tongariro to Whanganui. There is a sense the whole island is constantly moving just a little bit, but the people here just go with the flow (literally). Whanganui on the coast of the Tasman Sea, is not as touristy as some areas. We found ourselves alone, except for a solo surfer on the beautiful black sand beach, at Kai Iwi Beach. Traveling by car helped us find these less traveled places.

The black sand beach at Kai Iwi. Editor's Note: Cutest parents ever. — The black sand beach at Kai Iwi.
Editor's Note: Cutest parents ever.

Comforting- the sign explains the way to escape a Tsunami!

A quick stop in Wellington to catch the ferry ride to the South Island gave us a chance to just watch the scenery flow by. During our four hour ride, we met some very interesting people from Germany and Austria. They wanted to know what we thought of our new political climate in the USA. Shortly after we arrived in NZ our new president famously “hung up” while on the phone with the Australian Prime Minister. Needless to say this was not received well in this part of the world.

Required to leave our first car on the North Island, we picked up our next ride, a small Corolla (little red) in the port city of Picton. We found the driving conditions on the South Island pretty thrilling……narrow country roads, constant hair-pin turns with virtually no shoulder (Laura warned us)….. Then realize that around any corner you may meet bicyclists, log trucks, one way bridges, slips, sheep, or tourists like us learning to drive on the left side. What was weird, Sue never felt the need to nap while we traveled.

On the Ferry through Cook Straight to the South Island.

A view from the ferry of Queen Chartlotte Sound

Yikes... Did we get the extra insurance?? This photo is also titled, "The reason Sue didn't nap in the car..."

Interesting freight trucks on the roads.

One-lane bridges are commonplace throughout New Zealand. A lesson in taking turns! We are yielding so the other car can cross.

Bikers on a long journey, seems very dangerous at times!

The Southern Alps and Western Coastline were some of our favorite sections to travel through. Overnight stop in Nelson, with stops in Westport, Pancake Rocks (Punakaiki) in the pouring rain again, and then Franz Josef. We hiked up to Franz Josef Glacier in the evening after a full day of rain. As we approached the glacier, the clouds began to part up in the mountains for the first time, revealing the blue glow of Franz Josef. A real goose bumps moment.

Leftovers of our lunch in Westport.... Enough food for four!

A chunk of glacier ice as big as a house!

Perfect conditions at Lake Matheson. Mt Tasman, and Mt. Cook on the right.

We then headed to Wanaka and on to the town of Cardrona to see Laura and Will. They look great. So fit and strong. The Cardrona Hotel is charming and they obviously have fit right in with their multi-national work mates.

"Do you have a reservation?" Editor's Note: Taking a photo of your daughter working is peak embarrassing parent. — "Do you have a reservation?"
Editor's Note: Taking a photo of your daughter working is peak embarrassing parent.

All of us in front of their first home in Cardrona.

While in Wanaka there was plenty to do. We Kayaked in Lake Wanaka with Laura and Will, Hiked up Iron Mountai and zip-lined in Queenstown.

Wahoooo Quenstown! Ready for the ZipLine.

Waiting for a famous fergburger in Queenstown.

We really enjoyed our time with Will and Laura, and even had a chance to help them move into a new little bungalow next to the Cardrona Hotel. But our last day in New Zealand was our favorite day of all. We took a bumpy ride through 10 fords (small streams) to get to the Rob Roy Glacier Track. The weather was perfect and the hike amazing. The uphill climb was at times difficult…. but we watched as Laura and Will would literally “run ahead." These glacial valleys are lush and green with waterfalls everywhere, and ferns as tall as a person. Then around the next corner… you see the snowfields and glaciers. The contrast is amazing.

The glaciers keep the air flowing down the valley cool and fresh (appreciated when you are huffing and puffing up the trail). The glacier melt flowing down the valley is so pure you can drink it. “Ancient water”…… water trapped in the glaciers from ages ago.

This hike was a real treat. New Zealand is a truly awesome place, we loved watching Laura and Will being in their element….. our hearts are warmed seeing their love for adventure and each other, and their appreciation of these wild places. It was hard to leave, and we look forward to the next chapter of Laura and Will’s travels.