Nov 19, 2009 - Napier

Off early this morning to go to Hawkes Bay and Napier. ... We're staying at Napier tonight before going off to the thermal area at Taupo tomorow. ... We're now sitting in a camp site in Napier getting ready to check out the port area. ...

Nov 19, 2009 - Final Thoughts

We're preparing for our flight to Australia tomorrow.We're preparing for our flight to Australia tomorrow....

Nov 18, 2009 - To North Island

The rain carried on heavily all night and the next morning. We were booked on the 8am ferry to Wellington. ... Arrived in Wellington & went straight to Ti Tahi Bay to call in to see Mike & Lynn who live overlooking the bay. ... Mike is headteacher at the local secondary school and was working from home when we arrived which was great.The rain carried on heavily all night and the next morning. We were booked on the 8am ferry to Wellington. ... Arrived in Wellington & went straight to Ti Tahi Bay to call in to see Mike & Lynn who live overlooking the bay. ... Mike is headteacher at the local secondary school and was working from home when we arrived which was great....

Nov 18, 2009 - Auckland

Vanmiddag in Auckland gearriveerd in de regen en de campervan afgezet en ingechecked in de hostel. ... Er zijn 3 liften naar het observation level op 186m boven de grond en op 40 seconden tijd ben je daar en van daar heb je een mooi uitzicht over Auckland en omgeving, het zicht was vandaag niet perfekt, maar het kon ermee door. ... De grote bedreiging voor de toren en voor gans Auckland komt vanonder de grond. ... Auckland is immers de enige stad in de wereld die op een actief veld van vulkanen is gebouwd. ...

Nov 18, 2009 - Lakes, Mountains and Fjords

Greetings from Te Anua in NZ's Fiordland region. By mid-afternoon, when the ANWB (dutch AA) camper tourgroup turned up on the same campground for the 4th time on my holiday (Kaiteriteri, FJG, Wanaka and now Queenstown), I decided to cut my losses and leave early for Te Anau in the Fiordland so I would at least be 2 days ahead of my dutch "friends". ... On the way back, we had a tour of the power plant which couldonly be reached by taking a 2 km tunnel underground ! From there it was back to Te Anau where I went out for a Fish and Chips dinner in the Fat Duck restaurant. ...

Nov 17, 2009 - Picton

A relaxed visit to a couple of Marlborough wineries on the way to Picton. ... Arrived in Picton & had time to look around properly - last time we were in a hurry to get to Christchurch. ... It's been a lovely sunny day though still with a brisk breeze.A relaxed visit to a couple of Marlborough wineries on the way to Picton. ... Arrived in Picton & had time to look around properly - last time we were in a hurry to get to Christchurch. ... It's been a lovely sunny day though still with a brisk breeze....

Nov 16, 2009 - Havelock, the Vineyards

We took the chance to go to Nelson and look at the vineyards over there. A quick visit to the 'city' of Nelson (cities here need to have over 25,000 inhabitants so are quite small) before returning to Havelock for some sea food chowder and a glass of Brightwater wine. ...

Nov 16, 2009 - new plymouth

Vanaf nu alleen op stap. In ieder geval toch nog een 350km zonder problemen verder gereden naar New Plymouth. ... New Plymouth heeft een 7 km lange walkway langs de kust en daar vanavond al en paar kilometer van gedaan in het halfduister. ... Ik slaap nu op zo'n 20m van de zee en kan ze bijwijlen horen als de wind niet te hard blaast.Vanaf nu alleen op stap. In ieder geval toch nog een 350km zonder problemen verder gereden naar New Plymouth. ... New Plymouth heeft een 7 km lange walkway langs de kust en daar vanavond al en paar kilometer van gedaan in het halfduister. ... Ik slaap nu op zo'n 20m van de zee en kan ze bijwijlen horen als de wind niet te hard blaast....

Nov 15, 2009 - wellington

Vandaag naar Te Papa geweest zoals de Nieuwzeelanders hun nationale museum noemen, voluit heet het Te Papa Tongarewa.Vandaag naar Te Papa geweest zoals de Nieuwzeelanders hun nationale museum noemen, voluit heet het Te Papa Tongarewa....

Nov 15, 2009 - Auckland

“The traveler used to go about the world to encounter the natives. Boorstin Just like we did a few days ago back in Wellington, we decided to go around the city of Auckland ourselves with no organized tour. ... We wandered over to the Viaduct Quay where all the trendy Auckland waterfront restaurants are located. ... We found Kermadec, the place we had figured was the one we wanted…highly rated, classy website, located in the right place overlooking the yacht basin and the old America’s Cup contenders that are available for day trips.“The traveler used to go about the world to encounter the natives. Boorstin Just like we did a few days ago back in Wellington, we decided to go around the city of Auckland ourselves with no organized tour. ... We wandered over to the Viaduct Quay where all the trendy Auckland waterfront restaurants are located. ... We found Kermadec, the place we had figured was the one we wanted…highly rated, classy website, located in the right place overlooking the yacht basin and the old America’s Cup contenders that are available for day trips....

Nov 15, 2009 - Queenstown to Havelock

We decided to make the journey north on one go so Sunday was spent travelling right to Havelock which is just a few miles from the Picton Ferry. Stopped off for green lipped mussels once we got north of Christchurch and saw the seals again near Kaikoura. ... Got to Havelock in the mid evening.We decided to make the journey north on one go so Sunday was spent travelling right to Havelock which is just a few miles from the Picton Ferry. Stopped off for green lipped mussels once we got north of Christchurch and saw the seals again near Kaikoura. ... Got to Havelock in the mid evening....

Nov 15, 2009 - Rocky Ride Back North

Spent some time in Nelson a really nice artsy little place. In Rotorua again and going to the hot springs etc. ...