Blogs from Rangitoto, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania

I'm still getting the hang of this travel blog business. If I'm sending too many entries, feel free to skip them. I missed posting yesterday, so I'm going to post two blogs today. Once again, I am yielding to the temptation of publishing the color sketches of Rangitoto Island. It may take a few days to get off of Rangitoto Island since I took 196 pictures here. I have subdivided them into Color Sketches, Landscapes, Seascapes, Black & Whites, Flowers, and Flowers. I will try to limit each blog to 25 images or fewer. If that's too many, let me know.... read more

Finally arrived in Auckland, New Zealand after traveling from Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada. Needless to say, with a total trip time of 33 hours, including a 13 hour flight from San Francisco, I was quite travel-worn. Day 1 was slow, just walking around Auckland enjoying not having to wear a jacket. It was 20 C. The day before in Canada around 0 C. On day two the pace quickened a bit with a trip to Rangitoto Island. This is the largest volcano in the Auckland area and only a brief 25 minute ferry ride from Auckland. Numerous trails are available to hike; the most popular being the Summit Trail to the top. The hike takes about 60 to 90 minutes to the top. The trail is actually a road and you pass the unique lava fields ... read more

Getting out to LAX was a breeze. LAX, I can say I officially hate. Large airport, terrible signage, smoggy smelly air, Nicest TSA I've ever met, but sucks to fly international. You have to go out of the airport, take a bus then back through security to catch your plane. Just glad I don't have to do that often. We arrived into Auckland Airport about 8 am on Monday the 20th. The staff and customs are really nice. They even joked and teased. We made a quick call on the pay "tele" to the cab company. Within 40 minutes of arriving we had our luggage, went through customs, got a local phone number and had a driver calling us by name and placing our bags into the trunk of his car. We are staying at a ... read more

Kia Ora from my first stop in New Zealand - Auckland! New Zealand is a place I never hear bad reviews about so I am so excited to travel here. I stayed in Auckland for a couple of days before my South Island trip. Coming from Melbourne, where it was 40 degrees, I was prepared wearing my jeans and coat for the big drop in temperature- the mid twenties! I don't know what I was thinking because it was actually really warm (how surprising!). I arrived at my hostel and checked in to my 6-bed dorm. Myself and Stu didn't stay in dorms whilst we travelled around Asia so I think they are going to take some getting used to. I have stayed in dorms before on other holidays but I forgot how little space I ... read more

Trotz Rotznase und Husten hieß es am Samstag mit meiner Mitbewohnerin Lisa: Auf zur Vulkaninsel des Rangitoto! Die liegt wenige Kilometer vor der Küste Aucklands und ist in nur 25 Minuten mit der Fähre zu erreichen. Schon die Überfahrt war schön - mit tollem Blick auf die Skyline von Auckland. Auf Rangitoto angekommen begann dann der Aufstieg. Ringsherum nur schwarzes Lavagestein und die Sonne von oben. Wir sind ganz schön ins Schwitzen gekommen! Natürlich ist es aber beeindruckend, dass all das vor erst 600 Jahren beim letzten Vulkanausbruch entstanden ist... Nach einer kurzen Rast entschieden wir uns zu einem Abstecher zu den Lavahöhlen. Dass man dazu eine Taschenlampe hätte mitbringen müssen, haben wir erst hinterher im Reiseführer gelesen :) Und genau darum hat Lisa jetzt eine Beule am Kopf! Sie war so darauf konzentriert, sich nicht ... read more