Page 3 of StuandRach Travel Blog Posts


Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef September 25th 2010

Listed as a must do in every guide book we have read and recommended to us by everyone we met in New Zealand, the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers on the west coast of the South Island, were penciled in to be one of the highlights of our whole trip, let alone our time here. Would we get up close and personal with huge ice formations and freezing caves on a guided hike on the glaciers? Or maybe we would splash out for a once in a lifetime helicopter flight over the Southern Alps and glaciers with an exhilarating snow landing? These were the choices facing us as we drove south through the drizzle to the northernmost glacier at Franz Josef. After checking in at our campsite and brimming with excitement at what the days ahead ... read more
Franz Josef Glacier from Sentinel Rock
Franz Josef Glacier from Peter's Pool
Stream near franz Josef

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Te Anau September 20th 2010

During the journey from Queenstown to Te Anau today, which featured about half an hours worth of dull and flat terrain, Rachel and I decided to play a game, which I thought i would share with you! We thought of all the places that we have visited on our journey so far and labelled them with the first word that came into our mind. I've put a list below, feel free to add a comment with a place and the word that springs to mind if you have been to any of these! Toronto - Rachel: Food Stuart: Yummy New York - Rachel: Busy Stuart: Congested Washington - Both said Politics Las Vegas - Rachel: Disappointing Stuart: OTT Zion National Park- Rachel: Beautiful Stuart: Rocky Grand Canyon - Rachel: Huge Stuart: Awesome New Mexico - Both ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Marlborough September 17th 2010

Misty fiords and sun drenched beaches. Torrential rain and glorious sunshine. Snow capped mountains and dry flat vineyards. Intense, deep reds and subtle, fruity whites. Alpine meadows and wave slammed rocks. Giant Sperm Whales and tiny Fur Seals. Our first impression of New Zealand’s South Island was that of vast contrasts. Within two days of arriving in Marlborough, home of world renowned wineries, we had experienced more varied sights and activities than many people do in a lifetime. Our arrival in Picton was mist shrouded and chilly, but following a forty minute drive along a very windy road we were just outside a beautifully sunny Havelock taking photos and admiring some stunning views out into the Marlborough Sounds and down onto the seaside town. We had been told by many people and read many travel guides ... read more
Marlborough Sounds
Havelock
Boutique Chocolate Factory

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Wellington September 15th 2010

A seven hour drive stretched ahead of us as we said goodbye to Taupo and trundled out of town in our third van in ten days on the long and winding road southwards to Wellington and our last stop on the North Island. The weather was fair and we were in good spirits despite the long journey ahead. Rather than taking the direct route along the state highway into Wellington, we decided to take the more scenic Tongariro National Park route and encounter the gargantuan Mt. Ruapeho that had been the subject of many of the exhibits and videos we had seen in our last couple of days in Taupo and the surrounding area. The landscape was barren in the foreground with the imposing and foreboding mountain range rising through the mist and clouds in the ... read more
Tongariro National Park
Chateau
Memorial to the train disaster at Tangiwai

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Rotorua September 12th 2010

Before I launch into an explanation of the title of this blog, I thought it would be nice to update you on where I am writing the blog from. No, I am not 35,000 feet up like the last couple of times, we are sailing across the beautiful Cook Strait in between the North and South Islands of New Zealand, on board the early morning ferry from Wellington (North Island) and Picton (South Island). Looking out of the window, all I can see is the beautiful blue expanse of the windy strip of water, and in a couple of hours we will be navigating our way through the picturesque lands of the Marlborough Sounds before we dock in Picton. Anyway, back to the story of our New Zealand adventure, and our journey to the heart of ... read more
Rach and her mate
Memorial Gate at the entrance to Whakarewarewa
Polynesian Spa

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central September 12th 2010

I left the last blog with us having battled through the Friday night rush hour traffic on Auckland’s motorways and after seven hours on the road we finally made it back to the Manakau Campground. We rang the campervan company to report the fact that our waste water pipe was still leaking and they said that they would have a representative with us at 8am on Saturday morning to have a look at the problem. A sunny and breezy Saturday greeted us as we awoke early, showered and changed ready to leave for a day in Auckland as soon as the Backpacker Campervan rep had been and sorted out the van. Unfortunately, both our mobiles and the internet (for Skype) had no coverage so we couldn’t call them when at 10.15am, this rep still hadn’t turned ... read more
Auckland Harbour
Rachel Posing Like A Japanese Tourist
Auckland Harbour Bridge

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Paihia September 9th 2010

The delightful sound of seagulls running up and down the roof of the campervan woke us from our slumber on Thursday 2nd September in Russell. As we opened the doors to let in the light from the overcast skies, we saw that our camping area had become an aviary! Ducks, seagulls and some nondescript, small brown birds had gathered round the van, probably drawn in by the delicious aromas of the sizzling bacon Rachel was preparing for my breakfast sandwiches. After a very short ferry crossing from Russell (a peninsula) to Paihia, we were at the gateway to the Bay of Islands, a very popular destination for tourists in the north of New Zealand. The Bay of Islands are a scattering of 144 islands off the east coast, varying in size, some are deserted and some ... read more
Donald
Large Maori Canoe
Rachel and a Tree

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Manukau City September 3rd 2010

Well, the campervan is rockin' so don't come a knockin' - but unfortunately it's because of the howling wind and pouring rain not because of anything saucy! New Zealand has been a real rude awakening regards the weather, but it hasn't managed to dampen our spirits on this new part of our adventure. We have been travelling for over 100 days now and this leg of the journey is where we are really embracing the backpacker culture! Chez Cain is a beautiful three room dwelling (drivers compartment, and bedroom/living area/kitchen with ensuite bathroom and toilet) with a huge garden and is in a great location (wherever we want it to be!). In reality, we are living in a Transit van sized vehicle and the garden is the whole of New Zealand's great outdoors! Our few days ... read more
Welcome to Auckland
Chez Cain!
Rachel driving the beast

North America » United States » Hawaii » Oahu » Honolulu September 1st 2010

Once again, we have a mile high blog entry! We are high above the Tasman Sea on our way to Auckland. It’s a relatively short flight, only two and a half hours. For the first time in a long time, we experienced cold weather last night and this morning. We even had our fleeces and jeans on to come to the airport this morning! (PS - We are on to day 2 in New Zealand now when I am actually able to put this online!) Well, back to Hawai’i and picking up the story after our day seeing the natural sights of the south east coast of O’ahu on Wednesday. We had a double whammy of great activities planned for Thursday. First of all, we drove up the east coast towards Kualoa Ranch. This ranch is ... read more
Kaulua Ranch
Pearl Harbour bunker sign
Pearl Harbor Bunker

North America » United States » Hawaii » Oahu » Waikiki August 29th 2010

What a week! A real whirlwind tour of one of the eight magnificent islands that make up Hawai'i. Yet again I am passing the time on a long haul flight by writing another entry. We have been in the air for about 3 hours now and are somewhere near the international date line over the Pacific Ocean on our way to Sydney for an overnight stay before a relatively short 3.5 hour flight to Auckland, where we shall begin our four week Campervan adventure! We took off from Honolulu at 10.45am on Sunday 29th August and despite the fact that the flight is 10 hours, we shall be landing at 5.45pm on MONDAY 30th August in Sydney! We lose a whole day of our lives! It feels crazy but because the time difference is almost 24 ... read more
On the way in to Honolulu
Welcome to Hawai'i
s with Aussie friends outside the palace




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