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Dobster - Matt Simmons & Kirsten Johnson

Well the time is almost there, bought the round the world ticket with BA/Quantas (7 destinations with up to 29000 miles and no requirement to circum navigate the globe £1350 each) and leaving on the 19th March. Been looking forward to doing this for over 10 years and can't wait. I'm travelling with my girlfriend who is Australian and our rough itinerary is as follows:

Leave 19th March
South Africa (2 weeks)(mainly the western cape)
Western Australia (10days)(Perth and the Margaret River)
New Zealand (3 Weeks) (Into Auckland and out of Christchurch)
Sydney (4 Days) Blue Mountains (2 Days)
Drive Coastal route to Melbourne and spend 2 weeks with family in Melbourne)
Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays (1 Week)
Drive Ocean Road from Melbourne to Adelaide (1 Week)
2 night in both Singapore and Bangkok and then spend final week on Island Resort in Thailand.
Travel Home 25th June.

Really hope to keep this blog up to date to help our family and friends to stay in touch and see what we are up too.

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Matt & Kirsten

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Joined on: March 7th 2007
Last Login: March 4th 2008

Blog Entries: 34
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Blogs & Travel Journals

by Dobster, order by Date newest first.

By Dobster
April 24th 2007

Tuesday 24th April - Kayaking the Abel Tasman Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Abel Tasman National Park » Kaiteriteri

Kayaking
Just before we head off

[url='/Videos/3355.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3355.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'] Kayaking with the Seal Pups 2 DONT FORGET TO VIEW THE VIDEO OF THIS BLOG ON THE VIDEO LINK After an uncomfortable night’s sleep with both of us scratching our Sand Fly bites, we wake early to drive to Kaiteriteri beach for our days Kayaking activity. We have been told this is the best way to take in the coastal beauty and sea life of the Abel Tasman. After our induction on the beach we load our kayaks on an Aqua Taxi and head north for Onetahuti Beach. We are paddling i [View Full Entry]

By Dobster
April 23rd 2007

Mon 23rd April â€“ Abel Tasman Coastal Trail Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Abel Tasman National Park » Marahau

Split Apple Rock

Today we have booked an Aqua taxi to drop us off and pick us up along the Abel Tasman Coastal Trail. We drive down to Marahau where we catch the 09.15 Aqua Taxi. As it’s low tide a tractor drags us out to the water. This area and the beaches in particular are absolutely unspoilt. Firstly we visit Split Apple Rocks an interesting rock formation (which amazingly looks like a split apple!) just of the coast. We continue further up the coast past Anchorage, Torrent Bay and Bark before stopping briefly at Tonga Island to view the seal colony. Finally [View Full Entry]

By Dobster
April 22nd 2007

Sun 22nd April - Nelson to the Abel Tasmin Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Motueka

Nelson Cathedral

After packing the van and filling up with fresh water we headed for Nelson. After a lovely wander along Maitai River that snakes through the town we headed for the Cathedral one of the largest in NZ, The town was very quiet being a Sunday but had a nice feel to it. Nelson is both a busy port and the gateway to the Abel Tasmin. We headed out of town on R6 for our destination of Motueka at the southern most tip of the Abel Tasmin National Park. Abel Tasmin was a Dutch explorer who discovered Tasmania and also has [View Full Entry]

By Dobster
April 21st 2007

Sat 21st April â€“ Ferry to the South Island Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Nelson

On the Ferry
Approaching the South Island

It was an early start this morning at 6.00am to travel to the ferry port in Wellington to catch the 7.30am Interisland Ferry to Picton. It’s another beautiful morning and the water is flat calm. It’s a 3 hour crossing to the south island but after 2 hours you enter the Marlborough sounds which are spectacular. You get the most wonderful view form the ferry. Here’s a question for you! What’s the difference between a Fjord and a sound? Answer to come shortly! We arrived at Picton a quaint little town and port that we wandered around for an hour [View Full Entry]

By Dobster
April 20th 2007

Friday 20th April â€“ The Flying Fox & Drive to Wellington Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Wellington

Matt at Huka Falls

Today is mainly a travel day to drive the 380km to Wellington to catch the ferry to the south island. (If you ever camp or hire a campervan in NZ get a “Top10 Holiday Park” members card as it save us over $100 on the crossing and only cost us $30). The first 100km of the drive was spectacular along the edge of Lake Taupo and up and over the Tongariro National Park. Our only planned stop today is at “Gravity Canyon” a place just east of Taihape which has the longest, fastest and highest flying fox in NZ. The [View Full Entry]

By Dobster
April 19th 2007

Thursday 19th April â€“ Fishing on Lake Taupo Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Taupo

Kirsten Fishing
Her first fish!

Waking up to another beautiful day in Taupo we get ready at a leisurely pace and head into town. We have chartered our own fishing boat and a skipper “Marty” to take us out on the lake to fish for trout. Lake Taupo is the biggest lake in NZ and was formed from the crater of a large volcano, which over the years filled with fresh water. Some parts of the lake are 400m deep. The trout (both brown and rainbow) we introduced into the lake and because they have no natural predators they have thrived We headed out south [View Full Entry]

By Dobster
April 18th 2007

Wednesday 18th April - White Water Rafting & Hell’s Gate Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Rotorua

Before Rafting
Matt in the sexy gear!

It was bloody freezing last night, I swear my nose was frozen when I woke up this morning from the draft coming in the back of “Dolly”. It’s a beautiful day and the “Blue Lake” opposite our campsite looks beautiful. After a leisurely breakfast we setoff off for our daily excursions. I’m going white water rafting and Kirsten is getting a massage in a Spa called Hell’s gate. It’s never good to turn up to an adventure location to find an ambulance outside. Apparently a guy in the earlier group had broken his leg by getting it trapped between roc [View Full Entry]

By Dobster
April 17th 2007

Tuesday 17th April â€“ Rotorua and the Maori Village Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Rotorua

Maori Village

Our destination today is Rotorua the volcanic hub of New Zealand. We drive approximately 120km due East of Waitomo on route 30 taking in some breathtaking scenery. Today is mainly a travel day and to catch up with the washing. We arrived at our “Top Ten” Holiday camp on the Blue Lake at about 3.00pm. The one thing you can say for Rotorua is that it stinks of sulphur (rotten eggs). Basically it reminds me of a smelly Las Vegas! The weather is pretty good today but we are expecting a cold night! Rotorua is the hub of Maori culture [View Full Entry]

By Dobster
April 16th 2007

Monday 16th April - Waitomo Caves Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Waitomo

Lynton & Kirsten
Grabbing a beer before caving

We had survived our first night in the Van otherwise known as “Dolly”. The bed is quite comfortable and we have one good pillow but the other pillow I swear is plastic! It’s got a cover on it to stop you from peeing on it; so it’s now referred to as the “Piss Pillow”! We setoff early 8.30 and head south along the M1 before joining the M3. Our first stop was at Lyntons parents place in Te Awamutu. Lyntons parents manage the local race track and his father was a jockey before he retired. Lyntons parents kindly gave us [View Full Entry]

By Dobster
April 15th 2007

Sunday 15th April â€“ Mount Maunganui to Hamilton Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hamilton

On the way up
Mount Maunganui

Today we are heading South East to visit one of Kirstens friends Lynton in Hamilton. We head south via Waihi to Mount Maunganui a major surfing destination. Mount Manuganui is basically a large hill perched in the end of a natural harbour, which provides 360Degree views of the surrounding area. Unfortunately you have to walk up the hill to see them. After a really steep 40min walk we arrived at the summit welcomed by the spectacular views. It’s well worth the walk! The beaches along this coast seem to go on forever! Mount Maunganui is famous for its man made [View Full Entry]

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