Blogs from Russell, Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania
Tramping and Tobogganing
Published: April 27th 2012Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Russell
April 27th 2012
Tramping continues to be one of our favourite activities since it affords us an opportunity to experience great vistas and to get off the beaten track. The most challenging tramp we have done so far was the Kauaeranga Track located on the southern part of the Coromandel Peninsula, southeast of Auckland. The origins of this track go back to the 1860s when it was used to bring in supplies by pack horse to those logging large Kauri trees high up and deep in the bush. This tramp proved to be the longest in terms of time - about 8.5 hours - as well as the steepest. There were sections requiring ladders, clambering up and over boulders, and to reach the top of the pinnacles, pulling ourselves up by iron rungs embedded in the rock. The effort ... read more
North Island....North of Auckland
Published: February 12th 2012Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Russell
February 12th 2012
Hi! We've been struggling to find the time to write our blogs...this travelling isn't relaxing!!! We got our campervan on Sunday 22nd January and were so surprised at the size of it...we were going to be in luxury for 5 weeks! It had a toilet and shower, microwave and even a tv with a dvd player! It is 7.1m long, so I thought I'd leave the driving to Anton after the moped incident! After packing up the van, we headed north of Auckland up the west coast to a place called Waipoua Forest. It was 7:30pm by the time we arrived at a government camping ground (cheap sites with few facilities) and it was already full. Apparently you have to arrive quite early to get a spot. Luckily there was a campsite down the road that ... read more
Defeat from the jaws of victory (again)
Published: October 16th 2011Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Russell
October 14th 2011
The Tumbleweed is blowing through the empty camps of the home nations teams and a second rate France team is on their way to getting stuffed in the Final game. The referee for the Wales/France game is hiring Salmon Rushdie’s bodyguard team and the Kiwi’s are all smiles now. Anyway Roy, Orbison will soon be singing “its over” and we can all go home, or in our case head north to Oz. Earlier, on the road up from Wellington on our way to Auckland we stopped at Whangeria where the minor road that follows the river is constantly being washed out due to the rain leeching away the sandy soil taking the road with it. There is a permanent team who work at keeping the route clear, with part of the road being a gravel track ... read more
Follow the coast
Published: May 15th 2011Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Russell
April 12th 2011
I started at 8am and got the ferry to russel then it was allk go. Was a dam hard day on the bike but i followed the coast the wole way. There were some day good views along then way but couldnt be fucked getting the camara out. Iwas feeling real sick by mind after noon i put it down to dehydrateion i spewed me guts up twice and had a sleep on the side of the road. Ive got to get a better set up for me water. I stoped about 2ks from the highway and sleeped in a dry water way nexted to the road i got 77ks 14kav and sleeped like alog. The nexted day i got doing and had a real crack at it witch i paid for by the time i ... read more
Day 85: Russell: Paihia's Good Twin
Published: February 22nd 2011Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Russell
February 22nd 2011
Today was the first of my three scheduled excursions, all with Fuller's Great Sights: the Hole in the Rock and Cape Brett cruise. I made it in to the wharf in 20 minutes, rather to my surprise, which meant that I had half an hour to wait. The clerk at Great Sights gave me poor advice: she told me to wait until the official boarding time to go onto the wharf itself. It's a good thing I only partially followed her advice, as there was a long line on the wharf within fifteen minutes of my arrival. At that point I asked someone else if the Hole in the Rock cruise was loading yet, and was told that it was, so I got in line. Actually, I got in the wrong line; two tour boats ... read more
Greetings from New Zealand
Published: January 22nd 2011Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » RussellJanuary 22nd 2011
Hello everyone! Had a great time in Auckland. Boat trips, museums, zoo, explorer bus, beach, cinema (and singing with Harikrishna group!). It was good to see a Starbucks and Subway again (and there was even a Specsavers). I contemplated (briefly) impressing you by doing the Sky Tower jump or doing the Sky Walk!). Can you imagine? Lots to do in Auckland and weather was very good. Have hired a car for 3 months and am now travelling the North Shore. It's beautiful up here but the rain has at last found me! Never mind, I'm in a lovely hostel in Okiato, Russsell, which has a fantastic view across the harbour.Tomorrow I'm going on an overnight cruise round Bay of Islands - lots of activities including kayaking - should be fun. Next day taking the tour bus ... read more
November 11th 2010
Day 7 Tuesday Breakfast on Peter and Jenny’s balcony in the sunshine. Morning in Russell, went to the oldest church in New Zealand and the museum, then drove over to the start of a footpath that took us to Whangamumu harbour. This actually turned out to be a 5 mile hike up a mountain and down the other side but boy was it worth it! We ended up in a small bay where there were about 10 dolphins swimming up and down right near the shore. We sat there for ages and watched them - magical! Memorable moment today in Russell. Went into a charity internet cafe run by volunteers to post our blog. The man in charge must have been in his 70’s, had great difficulty transferring our photos from the smart card to a ... read more
Days 4 - 6
Published: November 16th 2010Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Russell
November 8th 2010
Day 4 Saturday Woke at 5.30 - not like me but I guess a bit of jet lag has kicked in. Lovely day, the sun is shining on Auckland so it was time to explore. Walked up to the Sky Tower entrance, 328m, (1,076 feet). Not sure I was brave enough, too high, too thin, too many windows and a floor made of glass!!!! But I did go up and after a few trembly minutes ... wow what a view! 360o view of Auckland in all its glory, well worth the wobbly knees and sweaty palms. Stayed up there for ages and watched several jumpers who fell passed the window at regular intervals. Quiet afternoon in a park, early night methinks! Thought for the day: Why is Auckland full of decorated Christmas trees at the beginning ... read more
high as a kite
Published: July 14th 2010Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Russell
July 14th 2010
We were checking emails one evening and came across one from the Whangarei group on Couch Surfing. It was from an American girl asking if anyone wanted to join her competing in the Russell Birdman contest. A couple of weeks before, I had seen an article in a paper (NZ Herald travel section?) about the festival and thought it would be a fun way to spend a Saturday. I hadn’t mentioned it to Colin as of course he would be playing football that day, and I try my best not to find us other things to do on a Saturday too often! But it seemed like fate had dropped this group posting in our in-box. We decided that we’d reply and see what happened. The least we could do would be to offer a bed and ... read more
From the ridiculous to the sublime....
Published: July 22nd 2010Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Russell
July 13th 2010
To the right is a picture that prompted me to hit the diet. This was taken last October and I was standing next to a REALLY SKINNY good-looking person. I knew something had to be done if I was going to go to France with a clear conscience. The second picture was taken today... Do you see the difference? Well, you should - there are about 20 pounds, or 8 kgs, missing..... But this now will give me the freedom to eat without guilt for the next few weeks.... I am armed with books of restaurants, books of street markets, articles of restaurants, lists of restaurants. And I am also armed with expandable-waist wraparound skirts, and expando-pants, and shorts with elastic waists. Hopefully, the damage I inflict will be minimal. But this isn't about me. It's ... read more
