Nov 21, 2009 - Taupo

After a dunk in the campsite hot pool we did manage to walk into town via the river path, going past the bungy jump as we went. Followed the river gorge out of Taupo visiting geothermal features on the way. ... Took a wrong turn & ended up at the geothermal power station which was very impresive with huge steel pipes and boiling hot water running in the streams running away from it.After a dunk in the campsite hot pool we did manage to walk into town via the river path, going past the bungy jump as we went. Followed the river gorge out of Taupo visiting geothermal features on the way. ... Took a wrong turn & ended up at the geothermal power station which was very impresive with huge steel pipes and boiling hot water running in the streams running away from it....

Nov 20, 2009 - Napier

Keith writes. The centre of Napier was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931 and rebuilt in a Art Deco style. ... After photos we ascended to the lookout on the heights of Napier. ... It was all blue skies, sunny and hot.Keith writes. The centre of Napier was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931 and rebuilt in a Art Deco style. ... After photos we ascended to the lookout on the heights of Napier. ... It was all blue skies, sunny and hot....

Nov 19, 2009 - Final Thoughts

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

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 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 - 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 - 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 16, 2009 - Bay of Islands

“Often it does seem a pity that Noah and his party did not miss the boat. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds is a 500 acre reserve where the Confederation of Maori Chiefs signed the first treaty with British Government. ... Each year it is launched on Waitangi Day (February 6th) for the annual treaty celebrations. ... It is a very peaceful and beautiful setting overlooking the vast bay with its many islands.“Often it does seem a pity that Noah and his party did not miss the boat. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds is a 500 acre reserve where the Confederation of Maori Chiefs signed the first treaty with British Government. ... Each year it is launched on Waitangi Day (February 6th) for the annual treaty celebrations. ... It is a very peaceful and beautiful setting overlooking the vast bay with its many islands....