Tuesday 26th February

Well, here we are – our last full day in New Zealand. It’s bright but not as sunny as yesterday, so I think we chose the right day to go up the SkyTower.

Today we’re off to the Zoo. It’ll be two bus rides there as it’s way across the city and all for $7.50 each. It’d be more expensive to pay for 2 return trips to Bedford from Shortstown!

There was a “bit of a do” outside our motel room this morning between the owner and a guest. We don’t know what it was about, but it got very nasty and we stayed well away. When it had all cooled down and the guest had finally gone, we ventured out and caught the first of our buses from just across the road. We got to the Zoo just before 12noon and had a coffee before we started. It’s a huge zoo and the first port of call was to the Kiwi House. It’s much bigger than Te Puia but they are running a breeding programme and have a pair of birds. We saw them both and Tom got some good footage using the infrared facility on the video. We also saw a very quick glimpse of a Ruru, a small owl but he was very shy and kept out of the way. Just outside the Kiwi House was the Tuatara compound, and there was a pair of them too, so that was a really good start.

Don’t worry – I’m not going to take you on an animal by animal tour of the zoo – just mention a few of the best ones!

We caught a glimpse of a tiger lying in the shade but it disappeared inside before we got many photos, so we thought we’d go back later. We saw 3 Serval cats, 2 cheetah, a pride of lions, lots of hippos, a giraffe, zebras, emu, ostrich, lots of lovely birds, and a pair of orang-utan. (I had walked on from the cheetah enclosure as they were both lying down, but Tom stayed and got a lovely shot of them both). We watched the sea lions and penguins being fed; a whole host of different monkeys from a Siamang, the largest of the gibbon family – who was sulking and kept its back turned all the time, to an extended family of Bonnet Macaques, lovely small golden haired creatures, and a Golden Lion Tamarin, a really cute tiny long haired monkey. There were meercats and a shy porcupine; gentle, dainty springbok and 2 elephants, but they were in their hut and we could only see them through the bars. Then we went back to see if the tiger was around, and the shutters were down on their compound. We thought they might be shut away for the night, but one of the keepers told us there was another enclosure just a little further on, but there was still no sign – then, just as Tom had walked away, this magnificent Sumatran tiger strolled out from his doorway, posed for about 30 seconds and disappeared back inside – just for us!! He was beautiful and quite added the finishing touch to our visit. Altogether, we were there for over 5 hours – we’ve definitely walked more than our 10,000 steps today.

As we were waiting for the bus back to town, we had a seat in the bus shelter – well, I had a seat. Tom missed the seat and sat on the ground!!!!! (The seat only went halfway along the shelter and he sat on the half that wasn’t. He says it’s a stupid design for a seat). It was hysterical, or at least it was, once I made sure he was OK. Before I helped him up, I just had to take a photo – well, you do, don’t you? I couldn’t speak for laughing and even now, while I’m writing this, I’m chuckling at the memory. Tom says I’m not chuckling, more chortling – and occasionally, snorting with laughter – the memory is so vivid and so funny! Another high spot of the holiday.

Then it was back to town for a Valentino’s ice cream – the best around – and a walk around the marinas enjoying the late afternoon sunshine. There are some fantastic yachts in their berths – power driven and sailing – and the Spirit of New Zealand, the sail training ship for youngsters, which was obviously getting ready to set off on a trip as crew were embarking, but not quite ready to leave.

So it was then back on the bus to the motel where we had our last dinner, using up all the bits we had left. I’ve packed everything and it’s all gone into the 2 original suitcases and carry on bags, so our suitcases live to travel another day!!

While we were at the zoo, Tom was bitten by a little fly. He put on some Anthisan cream straightaway, but by the time we got back to the motel, the whole of the back of his hand had swollen up and was very hot and red. He’s taken some more antihistamine tablets and put on more cream, but if it hasn’t improved by the morning he’ll have to go and see a pharmacist.

We’ll post the last blogs tomorrow and catch up on the e-mails from an Internet café we’ve found in town before we have to go to the airport, so you’ll have lots to read and lots of photos to drool over. Our next blogs will be from Sydney and we’ll let you know our Australian phone number too. Keep sending the e-mails. Love to you all and Night, Night for now.