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Blogs from North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 15
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New Zealand: The North Island
Published: March 30th 2013Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland
February 14th 2013
So finally I have got around to doing our blog from the North Island of New Zealand its only a month late! After having such a great time on the South Island and meeting lots of great people we were back to travelling alone for the north. We arrived in Wellington late at night with the rest of our flying Kiwi group, once we had disembarked the ferry we caught a taxi to the hotel where they were staying and bid everyone an emotional fairwell. We then headed off on foot to find our hostel in the centre of town. Kate did not believe me when i said it was a 10 minute walk and straight away got in a paddy (one of a few from both of us over the next 24 hours). It turned ... read more
February 13th 2013
After one of those long, useless travel days - night at an airport hotel in Hobart to catch an early flight from Hobart to Melbourne, arrive at the domestic concourse and stumble our way to the international concourse, goodbye Australia, on our way to New Zealand, Melbourne to Auckland, and then...another shout out for our Global Entry card, which works here also...nice to have allies who figure that if we're not a threat in the USA we're not a threat here too. We've been treating ourselves to airport pickups when we first arrive in new cities/countries and so we are met by a jolly, white-haired older woman from the Langham, where we are staying, and whisked away to Auckland, accompanied by her funny running commentary on the lack of highways into downtown, politics, sports, etc. - ... read more
Collecting Rubbish Along Auckland Airport's Shoreline
Published: February 12th 2013Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Mangere
February 12th 2013
Volunteered to collect waste along the Airport's shoreline. This ment getting a chance to work on the far side of the runway, ride a hover craft, explore restricted shoreline, do good for the environment (specifically marine life) and enjoy a BBQ with friends afterwards (while playing with the firetruck and plane spotting). If you get a chance to do this I recommend it.... read more
Waitomo Caves, Tongariro National Park and short stopover in Wellington
Published: February 20th 2013Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Waitomo Caves
February 12th 2013
I left Auckland early in the morning and from Ignacio's house I took a train to Britomart Station. I had spent two more days in Auckland than initially intended and I needed to break the inertia and get going. I got just in time to board the bus that would get me to Waitomo. I bought a bus pass, valid for 5 rides, from the "Naked Bus" company. I had to change buses in Hamilton and arrived at around noon in Waitomo. The main attraction of Waitomo are the "glowworm caves". This is just a fancy name for larvae that glow in the dark. I had heard it was worth a visit and these larvae are endemic to New Zealand and Australia, so I decided to check it out. For more information on these "bugs", wikipedia ... read more
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February 12th 2013
Fandaag gingun wu poezulun. Zu hebbun hier in ut hostul wel drie poezuls. Wij kozun un heule moejluku, met wel vijfhondurt stukjus. Op ut plaatju stondun heule mooju bloemun en boomun. Irst gingun wu allu stukjus op de taful leggun. Ut warun er heul veul. Äpe ferdween bijna ondur allu stukjus, maar gulukig kwam hij snel wir teforschijn. Daarnaa gingun wu allu rantjus zoekun. Firlu sei dat dat un goet iedee was. Ur warun groene rantjus, blauwu rantjus en wittu rantjus. Groenu fan du bloemutjus, blauwu fan du lugt en wittu van de steenun. Gulukig haddun wu ut plaatju op du doos, sodat wu wistun waar allu rantjus moestun. Ut duurdu heul lang fordat wu ut rantju heulumal af haddun en toen haddun wu heule ergu hongur. Äpe kreg un baanaantju fan Firlu en Guus mogt ... read more
February 12th 2013
Our stay in Whangarei is, sadly, coming to an end; so we decided for our last excursion to go by coach to Cape Reinga, the most northern point of New Zealand. “The name of the cape comes from the Māori word 'Reinga', meaning the 'Underworld'. Another Māori name is 'Te Rerenga Wairua', meaning the leaping-off place of spirits. Both refer to the Māori belief that the cape is the point where the spirits of the dead enter the after-life.” (I paraphrase from Wikipedia). It is also the place where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea; seen from the lighthouse the overfalls and whirlpools are spectacular as the two seas struggle for dominance. On our way we stopped of at the ancient Kauri forest to hug some 2000-year old trees. Sometimes it's best to let the ... read more
February 12th 2013
Emma had her day off so we walked down to Taupo and I got myself some sandals before we headed down to the beach and meet her friend Dave and go out sailing on Taupo Lake for a couple of hours. I think we were out for about 3h sunbathing, swimming and chatting about what we have been up to for the past years. While we were on board Emma got a text from Mia asking if I would like to join her and a friend for the Tongariro Crossing the following day. Since I wasn't able to do the hike I had originally planned I thought that sounded awesome and accepted the invitation. So after we got a shore we went up to Taupo to get me some food and better shoes for the walk. ... read more
Day 7 Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Published: February 13th 2013Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Tongariro National Park
February 12th 2013
Even though I had been waking up around 6 every morning, going up at 5 was really hard. But I manage to get up, pack all my food and lots of water and went out to meet up Mia. She picked me up and we got down to Taupo, met up with her friend Luke and hop on the shuttle that would drive us the 1.5h to the begin of the Tongariro Alpine Cross. Normally you go across the mountain and get picked up on the other side, but as I mention in the previous post the Northern part of the crossing are closed since they fear more eruptions. Tongariro is one of many active volcanoes in New Zealand and this one erupted twice last fall so I was told that if it erupted while we ... read more
February 12th 2013
What can I say but, it don't get much better than this! Met John this morning who was taking us out on his boat. Talk about toys for the boys. A garage full of tools and fishing rods and on the drive a Land Cruiser hitched up to a trailer on which is a boat.........happy days. Took the boat out of Gulf Harbour and into the Hauraki Gulf, then motored for about half an hour past Tiritiri Matangi Island. Yet again a beautiful day, and from land the sea looked like a mill pond. This is deceptive however as once at sea there is a slight swell and "Capitan John" decides to show me how fast the boat can go in these water conditions. For a while we just skimmed from the top of one swell ... read more
