Godzone

After a few too many beers last night I figured the best way to clear the hangover was to walk up Mount Victoria in the sunshine today.

The place is ridiculously beautiful.

I only really encountered one other person on the way to the lookout point and it was so peaceful, so beautiful and exactly the right temperature. The smell of the forest reminded me of Washington State, specifically the Cascades National Park, and it was similar to Canada and Scotland in a way too (although it was freezing or raining). I didn't come across any of the signs for LOTR filming locations but I did find what I suspect (or have decided) was the ledge where Pippin finds a shortcut to mushrooms before the dark rider finds them in the Fellowship of the Ring.

Made it to the top after some pretty steep inclines to find the place swarming with Germans. They really do like their holidays those Germans. I'm surprised there's ever anyone in Germany. Took this shot right next to a glass panelled house which must have a very similar view. As much as I'd love to live somewhere as beautiful as that, I don't think I'd ever get anything done if I had that to look at all day.

Headed back down the hill, giving my gluts a thorough workout, and then picked up some lunch from Fidels on Cuba, as was recommended to me. Pretty cool place but it heaving in lunch hour so I ate my sandwich on a bench nearby. After that I wandered to the cable car and took it up to the botanic gardens, another lovely place. Spent a couple hours walking around here and sat basking in the sun for a while and then headed to get the bus.

Last day in Wellington tomorrow before Abel Tasman National Park. I'm sure the rest of my adventure'll be awesome too but I'll be sad to see the back of this place. I could quite happily up and move here.