NZED part 1

Kia Ora. It has been just over two weeks since I have arrived in New Zealand. Time has seriously flown right by. Believe it or not, our program is completely done tomorrow and I will be saying farewell to everyone. For the past two weeks, the Union/HWS group has traveled all over this super green and mountainous country. We spent the first week traversing the North Island, stopping off at numerous geothermal spots and learning about the active volcanism. We completed the Tongariro Alipne Crossing, which was one of the most challenging yet amazing hikes I have ever done. The weather here is unpredictable and it rains so much! Luckily the clouds parted and the sun shone through for this phenomenal hike that we did.
The second week was spent touring the South Island. Starting in Christchurch, we made our way through Arthur's Pass through the Southern Alps and across the Alipne Fault zone. Here our main goal was to observe the metamorphic rocks, as opposed ot the igneous rocks in the north. After glacier walking in Franz Josef, we then continued south along the west coast to Wanaka. This was one of the most beautful drives I have ever experienced. The southern Alps are just out of this world. We are now spending our second night in Mount Cook Village. Mount Cook is the tallest mountain in all of NZED, standing at three thousand something meters. Quite spectacular.
Tomorrow, Jon and I are parting ways with our comrades to head even further south to Fiordland. While everyone ventures back to Christcurch to catch an airplane, we are traveling on. We are basically buying a tent, hitting the hiking trails, and going where ever the road takes us. Well, we do have somewhat of a schedule but we are trying to keep it open in case some opportunity presents itself. We will tramp around for 10 days in the south and then spend another week up on the North Island. No pictures still. Sent the camera cord home a few weeks ago.
It is also strange to think that we will not be spending any more time with the people we have lived with for the past 2 1/2 months. On the bright side, it will be nice not to have any work to do and to venture out on our own. Until next time, bon voyage!

Highlights:

Wai-o-tapu: geothermal activity in Rotorua

Mount Ngauruhoe, a.k.a. Mount Doom

Ruapehu

Ngauruhoe as seen along the Tongariro Crossing

Geo students and Holli! Representing Union College

Franz Josef Glacier

Kea, alpine parrot

Fiordland Crested Penguin

Lake Wanaka

Mount Cook, tallest in NZed

Hooker Glacier with Shabs!

My week off...Pops pays a visit

Just a quick update. For the past week my dad had been visiting. We spent our first three days up in Cairns, Australia in order to experience the real tropical north Queensland and to see the Great Barrier Reef (my second time). I was so nervous to go scuba diving the second day we were there but I finally did it! And I absolutely loved it! We went diving on Hastings Reef and we saw a ton of gorgeous coral but not too much wildlife other than fish. We did see a hawksbill turtle however. The next day we went up to the Daintree rainforest for a guided tour. We saw two saltwater crocodiles on the Daintree River and went on several rainforest walks. We also spent some time on the beaches but NO SWIMMING because the box jellyfish were beginning to occupy the warm coastal waters. They can easily kill you. After a day or two of travel and some time in Brisbane, I finally said farewell to Australia and made my way to New Zealand.

I am already in love with New Zealand. It is so much greener that Australia, with rolling hills and endless sheep and cattle grazing the fields. It is quite beautiful. My dad and I weren’t sure what to do over the two days we had here together so we just hit the road. We drove down to Waitomo, home to the infamous glowworm caves. We spent the night there and woke up the next morning very ambitious. We booked a three-hour tour of the caves with the Black Water Rafting Company. Basically, we went caving and tubing underground in complete darkness for a few hours. It was unbelievable! Although I had already seen glowworms before, I wanted my dad to see them because they are so spectacular. Sure enough, the caves were completely lit up by their bioluminescence. It was one of the coolest things I have done so far. I loved it.

Now I am sitting in the hotel and it is Thursday. This afternoon I am reuniting with the group to begin our kiwi adventures exploring all New Zealand has to offer for geology. I am not entirely sure where we are headed to begin with, but the trip as a whole will without a doubt be an amazing trip. I will not be updating the blog for quite some time and no pictures until I get home unfortunately. I am stoked for the road ahead and looking forward to living the kiwi lifestyle for the next month. Ciao!

Saddler Springs and the Outback....and I don't mean the restaurant

I am so sick of bus rides. The thing is, the only way to get to the most amazing places in Australia is to take a bus. Our last field trip of the program commenced with a 10+ hour bus ride that was brutally cramped and boring; however, after leaving at 7am on Monday from Brisbane, we arrived at Saddler Springs station in central Queensland by dusk. We spent 4 days in the rural outback living in bunk houses, hiking, and hanging around camp. And despite the isolation, we somehow still were fed the most amazing food.
Going into this trip, I thought that we would have to endure brutal heat and aridity that the outback is known for. To my surprise, it rained pretty consistently for two days. I enjoyed it for the most part because it felt like and smelled like fall. It even kind of looked like fall because the tree leaves were all dried up from a fire that swept through about one month ago.
Our first day was spent walking around in bush and looking at Aboriginal rock art. It is pretty cool to see these simple pictures covering massive rock faces because they have significant spiritual and religious implications in the Aboriginal community. The rock faces were used a community notice board for all of the different tribes occupying the region or tribes that were passing through. They often convey messages about the land, indicating how the land played an integral role in their culture. All in all, it was a unique experience being able to see such artifacts. The landscape was quite beautiful as well with giant sandstone formations towering over vast grasslands. Kangaroos were frequently seen hopping around with their joeys at foot.
It was pretty wet the second day, but we were all still determined to go on a hike. We walked out about 5-7km to a cliff face known as Battleship Spur. The view from atop the spur is quite spectacular because you look out over the entirety of the Carnarvon Gorge valley, with the Carnarvon Creek white sandstone cliffs sticking out like sore thumbs. On the way back, it down poured and I realized that my rain jacket no longer works. I was super wet by the time we returned to camp. I suppose it time for a new one! That night was fabulous a) because i was able to take a hot shower and b) we had the ULTIMATE feast for dinner. By that I mean, we had sausages, steaks, kangaroo, potatoes, and veggies. No one went hungry that night, except for the vegetarians maybe. Another great thing about the rain is that we were able to have campfires. For about 4-6 months up until now there had been an absolute fire ban in all of Australia because it has been so dry. We were lucky enough to bring rain with us, therefore we enjoyed to pleasure of a campfire.
The third day was pretty low key. We played a Hobart William Smith versus Union cricket game which was so fun! Obviously Union won because we are awesome and more athletic, haha. HWS took the loss pretty hard. You just can't beat talent. The rest of the day was spent going on mini nature walks and finishing up work in our field books. We had another feast of roast for dinner that night, and then learned some astronomy. Just about everyone slept out under the stars that night as well. I made Jon wake up with me at 3am to check out the Milky Way. Just gorgeous. Once we awoke at the crack of dawn to get ready to head back to Brisbane, we were already amdist out 10+ hour bus ride before I knew it. It just topped it all off to get back all of our papers from our teachers on the ride home. Thankfully I did pretty well or else it would have been a long, grueling sulk all the way back.
Last night was Halloween! The evening started off with a delicious Thanksgiving dinner prepared by Shabana's host mom. Pumpkin pie and all! Who would have thought, two holidays in one. Overall, it was probably the best night out that I have had since being in Australia. I somehow came across a $4 Santa Clause costume, so that was my disguise for the night. I thoroughly enjoyed creeping up on classmates that I met at the bars and teasing them, until the figured out it was me. I sure gave them quite the scare. Ha. Once we met up with everyone in the city, our whole group got our groove on. It was about time that I was able to bust out my dance moves. I was in dire need of a dance party and I was going through ozone withdrawal.
Now I am left to study. Study, study, STUDY. I hate studying! I have one day left until my last two finals...Australian Culture and Terrestrial Ecology. Then I am done! It is really weird to think that my term abroad is already coming to a close. It is one of those things that everyone tells you is a once in a lifetime, life changing experience...and its just about over for me. Ironically enough, I am ready to get out of here. I really want to get away from the craziness of the city, the buses, the uni, and everything else. Thankfully I will be in New Zealand in just over a week. Before that though, my dad is coming! Yay! I am so excited. We are leaving for Cairns to see tropical north Queensland and the reef. I will undoubtedly show him a fabulous time.
I need to stop writing. I need to go study.....


until next time!

Aboriginal rock art at the "Art Gallery". This is the only who body painting in the world.

Savannah

Marlong Arch

Sandstone

Blood...actually the sap the seeps out of the wounded tree is bright red just like blood

Wild roos

Hiking through the grassland

View from Battleship Spur, looking out over Carnarvon Creek

Prickly Pear cactus, was an invasive species but is now under control

Ancient cycad, older than the dinosaurs

Paul the station manager at Saddler Springs. He tried to teach us how to crack the whips

John Hall standing on a termite mound

Horses

Union v. Hobart William Smith Cricket Game. Brian up to batJon smacking one far out into left field

Katie Bus bowling with instruction from Bill Casey, our Australian Culture teacher

Hanging with Susie, Paul's dog. Brigg's temporary replacement

Sleeping out under the stars, silliness with Gill and Jake

Bundled up in sleeping bags with Jake and Shabana

Last morning at Saddler Springs, people still sleeping outside. That is the hut where we hung out and ate our meals.