Blogs from North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 2

Tour Day 53, Bay of Islands, Russell, New Zealand Day 6, Friday, December 1, 2023 (The first day of Summer in Oceana) – Paul’s plan was to take the Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach Tour on Friday and return to Auckland on Saturday; however, the tour providers didn’t consult him when they cancelled the Friday tour for lack of enthusiasm (only four people had signed up). Plan B was to visit the Russell Museum which shares the stories of Kororāreka (Russell) and Īpipiri (Bay of Islands). It tells the stories of the first Polynesian arrivals in the Bay, through to the development of Kororāreka (Russell), from a small Māori fishing village, to a port of call for visiting ships and whalers to today's tourist town. Although first discovered by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman (Tasman Sea, ... read more

Tour Day 51, Bay of Islands, Russell, New Zealand Day 4, Wednesday, November 29, 2023 – In the morning, we returned to the Auckland Museum to “finish the job.” The afternoon, however, found us driving to Russell, New Zealand – location of Paul’s “weekend getaway.” The drive to Paihia, New Zealand was about 3 ¼ hours and almost 150 miles. In Paihia, we boarded the car ferry for the short trip through the waters of the Bay of Islands to Russell. Paul gave me a short driving tour of Russell before we went to the “cottage.” Work was in progress at the rear of Paul’s property on a retaining wall to keep the neighbor’s driveway from slipping into Paul’s back yard. Paul has had the posts delivered to his property for the same endeavor – driveway ... read more

Tour Day 47, Cruise Day 47 – Day at Sea Cruising the Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel Peninsula – I was so unimpressed that I didn’t take any photos. Perhaps it was the weather, perhaps the landscape, perhaps my frame of mind; however, the crew was busy assembling the first suggestions of the Christmas season. Tour Day 48, Cruise Day 48, Auckland, New Zealand Day 1 – Arrival and My Introduction to Auckland, New Zealand Sunday, November 26, 2023 – My arrival in Auckland differed from other ports of call on the cruise in that it was time to pack my bags and get off the ship. I had a solid breakfast and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. First, my call for departure was well past the time I was assigned the previous ... read more

Tour Day 44, Cruise Day 44 – Te Papa Museum & Cable Car (5.5 hours) - Understanding of New Zealand's people, life and times begins at the wonderful, authentic Te Papa Tongarewa Museum. Its name means 'the place containing the treasures of this land'. A 30-minute transfer takes you along Wellington's scenic waterfront. Upon arrival at the museum, you will take an in-depth guided tour of Te Papa's collection highlights. It is an excellent overview of what makes New Zealand unique. This vibrant land and its diverse natural environment, from the kiwi (a bird; not a fruit) to the kauri tree, is on display. Don't miss Te Papa's colossal squid at 13 feet long and weighing more than a thousand pounds. Explore the powerful geological forces that shape New Zealand's dramatic landscape and come face to ... read more

On Monday morning our accommodation included breakfast so having had our fill we set off about 9. We were heading for Napier, well known for its Art Deco architecture. We drove east across a mountain range. All along the top of the peaks there was a large wind farm, the sails turning majestically in the strong breeze. The sides of the valleys were heavily wooded with many plantations of pine trees. We saw a number of logging trucks, fully loaded, passing by in the other direction. We arrived at Ahuriri, a seaside suburb of Napier, where we were booked into the Navigate Seaside Hotel. We parked by the beach and walked along the shore. It was a sunny day and many families were enjoying the beach. We walked along the Main street. It was lined with ... read more