Destination: New Zealand

NZTV

Mon, 6 Aug 2007 | By ciaranandruth | Views [480]

Wrecked. Just wrecked. Today was occupied by clothes washing, reading, grocery shopping, cooking and watching some New Zealand TV - the highlights from which were the farewell to the All Blacks who left from Christchurch today for the World Cup in France ... Read more >

Tags: Relaxation

It's all about the snow!

Mon, 6 Aug 2007 | By greenalligator | Views [576]

Yup, it really is. The first couple of weeks in Wanaka saw frosts you could almost ski on and little sign of a cracker season. However the tables are slowly turning and each morning bares yet another sweet sweet dusting on the scenic landscape that ... Read more >

Tags: Snow

OZ to NZ

Sun, 5 Aug 2007 | By ciaranandruth | Views [494]

One more early morning, one more flight. This one a short 2.5 hour hop across the Tasman Sea to the land of the Long White Cloud. They call New Zealand the Ireland of the south, and to be quite honest the clouds and mist are reminiscent of home, as is ... Read more >

Tags: planes trains & automobiles

The Kauri Museum

Sat, 4 Aug 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [658]

Meinita took us to the Kauri museum in Matakohi. A lovely museum, absolutely worth the trip. Of course we have our own private chauffeur. Lovely Meinita! On the way back we went to the Muruwai beach. We walked and climbed and the results is on the pictures:... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing

Searching for Quad

Sat, 4 Aug 2007 | By jonnygo | Views [1011]

New Zealand is a bizzare country of Capitals. In an attempt to encourage tourism across its small townships the government has coached folk to create their own USP. "Gore," for example is the self procalimed, "brown trout capital of ... Read more >

Tags: Adrenaline

Ginger potion cures motion on ocean

Sat, 4 Aug 2007 | By jonnygo | Views [1728] | Comments [1]

The thing about throwing up amongst 1600 ferry passengers is that its impossible to do it quietly. Interislander ferries describe the trip from Picton in the south island to Wellington in the north as a, "breathtaking journey."  This is no ... Read more >

Tags: planes trains & automobiles

Tiritiri island bird-sanctuary

Fri, 3 Aug 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [594]

We took the ferry to Tiritiri island bird sanctuary. It was a lovely day and we had a lovely walk throught the bush listening to and watching birds. Tiritiri was a grazing island until in the 80's. It's incredible how the island has been transformed from ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing

Floods and fire

Wed, 1 Aug 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [567]

The news here show pictures of floods. Dead sheep, landslides, flooded houses and roads. We ourselves have been spared, though. From the Canary Islands we hear that a huge fire is blazing through the mountain around our village. The temperature is around ... Read more >

Tags: Philosophy of travel

School visit

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [550] | Comments [1]

Lucky me spent three days at St. Mary's primary school. This is the school where Avril, Susan, Maria and Meinita work.(The girls we climbed Rangitoto with, remember?) And since Maria is teamleader, I got permission to stay and learn. I had such a lovely ... Read more >

Tags: Culture

Seals, sandflies and sea kayaks

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 | By jonnygo | Views [1656]

"Beware the hideous biting sandflies of New Zealand," warns Sir Ian McKellan in the Lonley Planet guide.  We relaxed in the knowledge that the icy weather was way too cold for their bloodthirsty mouths. Not so....for in a place known as Milford ... Read more >

Tags: Adventures

Wellington

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 | By karen-and-erik | Views [504]

I, Karen, spent 6 hours in the 6-story Wellington museum -Te Papa, while Erik was on a "Lord Of The Rings tour" and at a tattoo-museum. We both had a lovely time. We walked around the city and the shops were open real late in the Cuba-district.... Read more >

Tags: Relaxation

Gallery: kinder surprise auckland

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 | By shaina | Photo Gallery

My itch to Twitch

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 | By jonnygo | Views [1068]

Trying to shoot a partridge using a shotgun is tricky business - shooting an Albatross with a camera is even more challenging. I'm gaining a lot of satisfaction photographing wild birds - even though I don't get a tasty dinner at the end. Colourful ... Read more >

Tags: The Great Outdoors

Hobbit Habitat

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 | By jonnygo | Views [1451]

When my trip began in South Africa I recall a chap in Cape Town asking us in all sincerity if Hobbits where a real race of people. He assumed that the films were shot in England and that we were part of the cast. (actually I'm not that short) We ... Read more >

Tags: On the Road

Gallery: life at arthur street

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 | By shaina | Photo Gallery