Destination: New Zealand

Gallery: nakuru national park

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 | By hope_brian | Photo Gallery

Gallery: softpower school

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 | By hope_brian | Photo Gallery

Gallery: african life

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 | By hope_brian | Photo Gallery

Life about Wanaka

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 | By whiteelephant | Views [666]

Well we are quite well settled in now. We have moved up to the lodge in Wanaka and pretty much gotten ourselves set up. The first few days here were a bit of a shock with the hardest frosts I have ever seen. The ice was about 1/2 an inch thick and ... Read more >

Tags: Snow

The world's adrenaline capital

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 | By jonnygo | Views [2068] | Comments [2]

The most lethal sport in New Zealand is skydiving. Its SO dangerous (and I quote the promotional leaflet,) that there's a, " departure" every hour. No chance I'll be going on that one then. A death every hour seems like very bad odds indeed.... Read more >

Tags: Adrenaline

Rotorua

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [734] | Comments [3]

We added some pictures from Rotorua, but no stories yet. First ting you notice is the icredible smell! Sulphur.Not a place for pregnant women or asmatics. Otherwise - as usual - really friendly people. We flung us with a touristgroup - maorivillage-outing, ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing

Everyday- things

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [549]

Holiday is more than sightseeing. It is also everyday-things like wathing old movies on TV or new movies in old cinemas. We just came out from this cinema I remember from I was a young girl/child in this country. The stars (and moving clouds)and the ... Read more >

Tags: Philosophy of travel

The best YHA in the world?

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 | By jonnygo | Views [3014]

Stale sweat, skids on the bedsheets, threadbare carpets, cheap pasta cooked to death and pot noodles all spring to mind when discussing hostels.  Most follow this business model - but not this one.  True to its name....."Smylies" YHA in Springfield ... Read more >

Tags: Food & eating

Donuts, skiing and crustal movements

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 | By jonnygo | Views [1930]

What do Homer Simpson, Skiing and crustal collisions have in common? The answer is, they are all features of New Zealands South island. "Hold on," you say, "surely Homert Simpson is a Yank?" Indeed he is, BUT we're in the Town ... Read more >

Tags: Adventures

Gallery: Serengeti

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 | By hope_brian | Photo Gallery

His majesty - The Anchient Kauri

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [508]

We went into the forest of Tane Mahuta and came out as someone else. It was a moment of awe when we encountered this enormeous tree. It is possibly more than 2000 years old. Makes you think it was around when Jesus walked the earth. The trunk is 13m in ... Read more >

Tags: The Great Outdoors

Waitangi Treaty grounds

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [500]

The Waitangi treaty was signed here in 1840 between maori chiefs and the British crown. The first thinking that the crown would protect their land, the latter not quite thinking along the same lines. Anyway - the Waitangi treaty is important and referred ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing

The homestead and a kiwi

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [517]

We went on a trip up north with Meinita. First stop in Whangarei: A lovely preserved house from 1886, originally buildt in kauriwood for a Dr Clark and his family. It has been in continuous use untill 1976, but made up with the original inventory from ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing

KAWAKAWA - Hundertwasser's toilets

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [483]

Never, ever, have I taken a pee in such a toilet. Built by the Austrian  artist and architect Friedrich Hundertwasser. He lived here his last 25 years and wanted to give something back to the comunity. Never more will I take a leak without thinking of ... Read more >

Tags: Culture

Glowworm caves

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [769]

Off the highway we saw a little sign to glowworm caves and turned of. It was the  Kawati caves, owned by a maorifamily. The guide told of how her ancester found the caves, and it was inhabited! Here comes the story: This cave was discovered by Roku ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing