Ron Laughlin
I spend 24/7 365 days a year traveling New Zealand with my wife and two cats. Nine months in the South Island and three months in the North Island. We live and work from a self contained seven meter wide-body Hino bus. ronlaughlin
I use a Nikon D-70 and have created quite a collection of award winning shots.
We have been on almost every road in the country and still find new and exciting areas to visit.
Travel Blog Posts
June 9th 2009
I am uploading videos using my photos of New Zealand - enjoy! Christchurch and Akaroa - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZf4zfu5UD8&feature=channel Ashburton region - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpUgAlFN6eA Queenstown to Fiordland National Park - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOZvTxw4pTY Wanaka to Queenstown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_xtcg9jYKQ&feature=channel Haast to Wanaka - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TZRW334o3s&feature=channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TZRW334o3s&feature=channel Mackenzie Country - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w0djssH0cA&feature=channel_page http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w0djssH0cA&feature=channel_page Travel Guide # 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz0K7jXYjsE Travel Guide # 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gYCUuNv6X4 West Coast part One - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4yPeOjhe5Y ... read more
June 11th 2007
The Manitoto Region of Central Otago. Distances to Ranfurly Alexandra (Rt#8) 87kms Duntroon via Danseys Pass 78kms Dunedin via Middlemarch 149kms Naseby 13kms Palmerston(Rt#1) 80kms Milton (Rt#1) 117kms One of the finest “off the main road” excursions to take in The South Island. It is an area of big sky and mighty vistas with the second highest sunshine count in New Zealand. You can head that way from the East Coast turning inland at Palmerston, Dunedin or Milton or another way is driving south from the West Coast on Rt#6 to Alexandra. The Coalpit Dam area outside of Naseby is a top picnic spot and makes a great swimming hole and excellent fishing. The Manuhherikia River off the road to St. Bathans is also an excellent fishing river. We made it a point this year ... read more
June 7th 2007
Picton to Nelson Driving times: Picton to Nelson (direct) 144k- 2hours Leaving Picton for Nelson there are two routes to take. If the weather is good the most scenic route is the Queen Charlotte Drive that twists and winds its way through the Marlborough Sounds. One of the most picturesque drives in the country. Side trips from the Drive to go deeper into the Sounds are at Anakiwa. This is where the beginning of the Queen Charlotte Track is. Another long drive through the Sounds is the turn at Linkwater to Kenepuru Head. One of the most well known lodges is out this route, the Portage. Continuing on Queen Charlotte Drive the road finishes 36kms from Picton on Highway Six. Turn right and you are in the small hamlet of Havelock. Havelock is cne of ... read more
June 7th 2007
Picton to Blenheim/Kaikoura Off to the fabulous East Coast of the South Island! The drive to Kaikoura is about two hours direct. The drive from Blenheim to Kaikoura begins in the Marlborough wine region then turns into barren hills before reaching the East Coast. Along the way you will pass New Zealand's salt works at Lake Grassmere. 1800 hectares of lakes where salt water is pumped in and evaporation takes place. Nearly 40,000 tons are treated. Visitors can stop by on Tuesdays and Fridays at 1:30pm for a guided tour. Continuing south on Route One is The Store (45 minutes south of Blenheim) judged the best cafe in Marlborough. Great place to stop and enjoy the scenery and also a place to stay overnight by the ocean with a campervan. On to Kaikoura along one ... read more
Bicycle/Walk the Rail Trail
Published: June 7th 2007Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Central Otago
June 7th 2007
Central Otago & the Rail Trail What is the Rail Trail and what is it all about? Where can one stay for the night, take a break, have a coffee, rent a bike, stop at the pub, have a meal. All the places that will make a visit to Otago Central a more fulfilling experience. A person doesn’t even have to ride or walk the Rail Trail to enjoy the places in traveling the area. These businesses are what makes Central Otago so wonderful along with the grandiose scenery as a backdrop. Do you know about the Cavalcade? or the Art Deco Weekend at Ranfurly? or visited historic Naseby and tried the ancient sport of curling? or taken the Taieri Gorge Railway, one of the world's great train trips? That's just the beginning of the ... read more
Nelson to Motueka
Published: June 6th 2007Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Motueka
June 6th 2007
Driving times: Picton to Nelson (direct) 144k- 2hours Nelson to Motueka - 51k - 1 hour Nelson to Takaka - 109k - 2 hours Entering Nelson from the east on Route 6 you continue along Tasman Bay to your right. Easy access into the town if you want to stop. Great cafes/restaurants (Morrison Street Cafe for excellent food and coffee) and shopping. Good place to get what you may need since most of the area now will provide only small communities. From Nelson continue on out of town traveling west on Route 6 that meets up with Route 60 in Richmond. After leaving Richmond on the right is the Grape Escape worth stopping at to see one of New Zealand's most unique exhibits of not-to-be-missed carved wood art at the Escape Gallery. Also if you ... read more
Blenheim & the Marlborough Wine Region
Published: June 5th 2007Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Blenheim
June 5th 2007
Details of the Blenheim region for your use to find where to go, what to do, etc. Two routes to Blenheim depending if you came straight from Picton (27 kilometres) or from the Nelson area (116 kilometres - approx 2 hours). - Here is the route from Nelson: From Nelson you return back over Route Six east through Havelock to Renwick. See below for more information about the area. Probably best to go on into Blenheim to the Information Centre at the railroad Station (plenty of parking for large vans/buses) on Route One. Here is the route from Picton: Leaving Picton and heading south on Route 1 the hills begin to fade out and the open plains of the New World's number one cold-climate wine region opens up before you. On the way along this ... read more
Off to Golden Bay
Published: June 5th 2007Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Nelson Region » Golden Bay
June 5th 2007
This is without a doubt one of the top areas we enjoy visiting. A real hidden paradise. We begin our run to Golden Bay after passing through the small town of Riwaka a few kms north of Motueka on Route # 60. After a curve in the road around the field of hops it is all go up the "Marble Mountain". Just on your left not too far up the hill are a couple of pull-offs so you can have a look at the stunning valley you just left and looking out across the Riwaka River Valley toward the Kahurangi National Park and the Arthur Mountain Range. Up and up the road winds to the summit of 791 metres. The odd type of rock should be noted jutting out all over the place. Just prior ... read more
June 5th 2007
Travel Guide from Wellington to Picton Let's get this travel on the road............... We will begin our South Island travel in the North Island providing information for driving into the Wellington area from the north in order to get on the Bluebridge Ferry and, time permitting, also to enjoy the wonderful city of Wellington. Wellington................ First the roads to the city converge whether you are approaching on either Route 1 or Route 2. Entering the city you will go though several kilometres of road congestion. Try not to be there during the busy times when people are going to or coming from work in the city if possible. When you are driving in via Route 1 there are signs to turn to the ferry. If you are planning to use the Bluebridge Ferry ignore these ... read more
February 2nd 2006
A collection of 150 photos taken while traveling New Zealand. Please go to: http://www.jeber.com/Members/ronlaughlin/Gallery/ Enjoy!... read more
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