Goodbye New Zealand

This is our last day with Wynston (will get another guide in Brisbane). He has spoiled us for the next guide.

We spent the day traveling to the airport and ultimately Australia.

For the Gordon boys, who are interested in WW2 history, l saved some of that history I learned along the way for today since I knew it would be a traveling day:

• NZ was the first to declare war on Germany (because of the 12 hour time difference to England).
• At any point in time, 100k soldiers out of a then population of 1.5M were fighting in the war.
• Because of the more rural, tougher upbringing of New Zealanders, they were considered excellent soldiers, which led to more difficult missions, and a higher death rate.
• NZ sent tons of produce to feed American and English soldiers fighting in the South Seas.

So here's my traditional last thoughts about NZ:

• Conservation is huge in NZ. 30% of the land in NZ is owned by the conservation department. This includes 14 national parks.
• I love all the hiking that is available. One of my favorite features about Arizona Has always been the roadside turnoffs to go hiking, and this has even more opportunities.
• The south island is very hilly (although there is a plain region). At any point you cam look up and see 6-7 layers of hills and mountains. Unfortunately that 3D perspective does not translate well to pictures.
• I love all the unique flora and fauna. I find it very cool that NZ wants to protect that.
• I have felt extremely safe here.
• NZ knows how to eat. I swear I've gained weight on this leg.

I fell again this morning on some wet steps. This gives me a new personal best at 5 times falling within another country (the steps were always surfaces wet or muddy). I have bruises everywhere. But this morning was the worst, as I hit my little toe hard. It's swollen, but I don't think it's anything major. In my head I could hear Tim asking if I could wiggle my toe (I can't wiggle my good toe) and Michele telling me to put as much ice as I could tolerate on it. The flight attendants were great - providing an empty row of seats, ice, pillows to prop my foot, etc. After 4 hours of that, it is still sore, but better. Given all of the hiking in front of me, it better get well soon.

So that's it for NZ. I will miss this country a lot - I wish it was closer.

Interesting fact day 12: NZ separated from the land mass Gondwana 40M years ago (this mass included all the southern hemisphere countries), and was able to grow untouched by humans until the Maori arrived ~ 1000 yrs ago. This means the indigenous flora and fauna is unique from what you would find anywhere else in the world.