Wednesday, 30 October 2013
Auckland 30th October
Final day in New Zealand before our flight to Fiji tomorrow morning at 6.50am. Will have to be up at 4am!!! Visited Davenport a colonial style town across the harbour by ferry and did the self guided tour. Toyed with doing the skywalk in Auckland but quickly decided not to. Went to the art gallery and Albert park this afternoon. Hopefully will post some pictures when we get to Fiji as current WiFi connection isn't cooperating.
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Auckland 29th October
We are spending the final couple of days in New Zealand in Auckland. The tall ships are in the harbour along with some very expensive looking modern boats. Auckland is built on 55 volcanoes, not all of which are extinct! It has 2 harbours one on the Tasman sea and the other on the Pacific.
At 328m the sky tower is the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere and you can bungy jump from the top if you're feeling brave.
Monday, 28 October 2013
Russell
Caught the ferry across to Russell from Paihai. This was the first capital of New Zealand and has several 'oldest in New Zealand' including the Christ church. This memorial in the graveyard commemorates one of the Maori chiefs who supported the signing of the treaty.
Pakeha is the Maori name for Europeans.
Saturday, 26 October 2013
Awesome
Brilliant day. Got up at half past six on Sunday morning for the swimming with dolphins boat trip at 8am. Started with close up views of a family of orca killer whales which included 2 young feeding with their mothers. A hammerhead shark sought refuge under our boat before the orcas went after it, swimming right under the boat. They then shared whatever they caught, the mothers feeding the young whales. Awesome as it said on the crews shirts! Then it was over to another side of the bay to don our flippers, snorkel and wetsuits (water temp 17°c!) and swim with some bottlenose dolphins. Apart from us three, I estimate the average age on the boat was about 20. Phil and Ellie are concerned about my reference to selfies and the like in some of my blogs, but I am just getting down with da kids :-). Anyway I struggled to keep up with the kids as they swam after the dolphins. This turned out to be a good thing as the dolphins did a u turn and swam alongside me and below me for a minute. They seemed to look at me mockingly and roll their eyes as if to say poor old guy, can't keep up. Amazing experience and would love to do it again in warmer waters.
Here's a picture taken on my phone of one of the orcas ( better ones on my camera) I didn't get any photos of the dolphins as I was too busy trying to breath. Hopefully Cath got some possibly with me.
Friday, 25 October 2013
Treaty house and Ngatokimatawhaorua
Historic treaty house and the world's largest ceremonial war canoe.
Local chippys
Found 2 slightly unusual fish and chip shops in Paihia. First one claims to have fed 5000 in the past!!
Paihia, The Bay of Islands 25th and 26th October
Long drive up to Northern part of New Zealand to stay in Paihia in the bay of islands (25th). There were a few 'Driver reviver' complimentary roadside coffee for weary travellers set up along the way. Very interesting way of promoting road safety. Arrived at the start of Labour weekend (bank holiday) so the omens are good. We have visited Waitangi and Haruru falls today (26th). People swimming and canoing right under the falls. Booked on the dolphin eco experience tomorrow which includes swimming with dolphins. 8am sailing so hope the water is warm!
Waitangi
Visit to New Zealand's most important historic site where the signing of the treaty (NZ founding document) between the British and the Maori chiefs took place on 7th Feb 1840. Photos are of the Maori meeting house and the flagpole which is where the treaty was signed.
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Empty beach and singing toilets!
Fantastic Whangamata beach, just a few minutes from our motel, was virtually empty this morning apart from a few canoeists. The toilets near the beach talk to you about how to operate the locks, then play 'what the world needs now is love sweet love' whilst you are in there - and all for free!! Beautiful sunny day today. Enjoyed a couple of beers at the beach sports club, then tried out the pool this afternoon though the water was a bit chilly. Then had a dip in the spa hot tub on our balcony. Moving on to the bay of islands tomorrow.
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Hot water beach
Mary watching for intruders whilst I dig out a bathing spot at hot water beach. Then Cath and I enjoying the fruits of my labour in the very hot water which percolates up through the sands. Mary got a turn too but is more camera shy. Loads of people come with their spades for the prime slot 2 hours before and after high tide. It is literally scalding hot in places.
Cathedral cove
1 hour walk along some stunning headland from Hahei beach to Cathedral cove. Cheated by catching the water taxi back which took 5 mins.
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Whangamata 22nd October
On the move from Rotorua to Whangamata today which is on the Coromandel peninsula. Stopped off at Matamata to see the Hobbiton movie set where they filmed the Lord of the rings and the hobbit. Cath and Mary have taken the 2 hour tour and I have decided to catch up on my writing the blog and doing some reading as we need to leave some books behind before the flight to Fiji at the end of the month. Apparently the tour takes in the Green Dragon inn and offers traditional Hobbit 'fayre'!!!
Rotorua was a great place to stay with people and property situated right next to hissing and steaming holes, boiling water and hot plopping mud. One of the best things about New Zealand is its attitude to health and safety. They warn you of the dangers but leave it to the individual and their common sense to take responsibility themselves. Consequently you can get really close to things that would be fenced off in the UK and other countries with their more claims conscious legislation. After a few days we got quite blasé about walking next to steaming fumaroles.
Looking forward to visiting hot water beach and sampling the delights of the bay of plenty which includes an active volcano (white island). Still enjoying the trip immensely.
Monday, 21 October 2013
Educational blog
I have heard from a third party that my blog is being used for educational purposes!! I will collect my fee when I return. :-)
Mount Ngongotaha
Writing my blog from the terrace of the Aorangi peak cafe overlooking lake Rotorua.
Lady of leisure
Relaxing lunch at the Aorangi peak cafe with great views over Rotorua after a trek up Mt Ngongotaha.
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Pot holes are different here
Hole in the middle of the road with boiling water and steam coming out!
Rachael's pool
Source of the thermal mineral water used for treating various skin disorders, and also used by the Polynesian spa we soaked in yesterday which had 4 pools each with a different temperature - 36°,38°,40° and 42 °c.
A roof with a view
View from the Roturua museum roof which is a former bath house that gave theraputic treatments. The city, where we are staying for 4 nights, is built entirely in the crater of a volcano. The distant skyline all around is the rim. Sulphur bay, seen here from the paddle steamer on which we had breakfast, lies on top of an active geothermal field. The milky coloured water is highly acidic and forms a wildlife sanctuary for birds.
Rotorua 20th October
Early 8 am start this morning as we are going on the lakeland queen, a paddle steamer, for breakfast on lake Rotorua. It takes about an hour to cruise around the lake. Then its a trip to the museum which was formerly a bath house but now also contains Maori art and history and a cinema which simulates an earthquake. Scary! Relaxing in the park and by the lake in the after noon as its a beautiful day.
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Wai-O-Tapu thermal wonderland
This is like a journey to the centre of the earth with boiling mud pools, geisers and sinter terraces and a champagne pools. This is part of the artist's pallette.
Aratiatia Dam and rapids
.....and the rapids just after they opened the dam. It takes about 5 mins to fill up and the dam is open for about 15 minutes, three times a day.
Rotorua 18th and 19th October
We have seen some amazing and unique sights on the way up from Taupo to Rotorua. First we stopped off to see the opening of the aratiatia dam and the rapids. Then visited wai-o-tapu thermal park to see some fantastic natural phenomena caused by the coming together of 3 tectonic plates. More relaxed day today as we spent the afternoon experiencing the thermal pools in Rotorua followed by a mud massage. Bliss!!
Happy birthday Elizabeth from grandma Cath and Mary and Ed
Thursday, 17 October 2013
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
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