http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , North Island , Wellington Region en-us Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:59:27 BST Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:59:27 BST It has been a whirlwind trip around the North Island of New Zealand Last week we started our trip off by heading North from Auckland to Paihia. We took a half day boat cruise around the Bay of Islands. The highlight for me was seeing a pod of dolphins. We watched them swim around the boat for about 15 minutes very fun. Unfortunately they were not very cooperative when it came to having their p http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/blog-326630.html As we had to catch the ferry at 10am we were all up relatively early. Feeling proud of our early morning organisation we got to the ferry port 15 minutes early only to be told that the ferry was running 40 minutes late. Not wanting to sit in a queue waiting for the ferry we headed back into town to a bakery 4th Best in New Zealand 2006 for some cake and coffee. When we returned to the fer http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-323715.html Here are some pictures that I took myself on my phone so not great resolution thought I'd post them as the Trademe entry will disappear. Will get some more soon.The sea is literally across the road.Barry http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-306629.html Moved from Rowena's City Lodge to a flat in Seatoun http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-302631.html Winter in Queensland in Australia is like a good summer in Ireland but arriving in Auckland felt exactly like being at home that is to say cold windy and wet. New Zealand was in the grip of an icy spell of weather and elsewhere in the country lots of snow was being dumped on the mountains. We went straight to the nearest outdoor clothing store and bought some very warm jackets. Next we picked up http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-302067.html Note This is a journal entry from when I was an exchange student in 19941995. The photos have been scanned from the original prints.Living around the Pauatahanui Inlet for a year was amazing. It is such a beautiful place whether enshrouded in mist or peppered with yachts for the Sunday Regatta. I loved to look at it by moonlight when it was all silvery and peaceful.The weekly Rotary meetings http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Porirua/blog-286178.html Our SPCA adopted doggie Lola is a real blessing. After only a week with her we have completely fallen head over heels in love. She is a beauty. Calm when you want her to be excited when you want her to be. She is already walking next to me on the lead and despite a few glitches here and there is overall a very easily trained dog. Some pics of our first 'child'. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-285362.html Well have now moved up to an area called Northland which is about a 30 minute walk to work or a 1520 minute bus ride into town but am loving it. First night in a proper bed was so lovely Slept wonderfullyCurrently still working at Clarkes cafe in the library. New flat is awesome am living with 4 other girls but one s leaving by the 8th Juneish. But all good so far. moved in last sunday.Hav http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-278959.html A last minute decision to go bush this weekend turned out to be an excellent idea. The Levin side of the Tararuas weather forecast was for full sun both days something that never occurs in the usually cloudy and overcast rainy Tararua National Park. It must have been the first time I have ever seen the tops so calm and clear. The pictures say it all. We hiked for 5 hours up to Waiopehu hut mo http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/blog-277803.html Donc voila un autre truc tres touristique mais tellement sympa a faire On a passe la journee a faire une excursion LSDA. On a vu les endroits ou ont ete filmees certaines scenes revecues quelques unes d'entre elles fait les stars hollywoodiennes pour une apres midi... Les photos sont celles que j'ai prises et celles tirees du film. Admirez les ressemblances Les fans sauront de quoi ca parle.H http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/blog-271063.html HelloIn case you were wondering what the next plan is and to give you all a vague idea of my locations for the next four to five months I thought I'd post another blog. So on the 12th of May Sarah and I will fly to Shanghai China. We will spend 3 nights in Shanghai before flying to Beijing where we will start an Intrepid journey of the Silk road . The tour covers 4000km across the breath of http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Mana-Island/blog-266251.html Irsquom so glad to finally be somewhere that 90 of the food is organic. Even the McDonaldrsquos is healthier here because of the oil they use. Therersquos fruit and vegetables in the house at all times and they donrsquot really used processed food. Instead of going shopping and buying a lot groceries at once they prefer to go to the supermarket a few times a week so their food is fresh. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-259149.html My first week was the hardest. I donrsquot know why I didnrsquot think it would be but man it was rough. I cried I got mad and I racked up a huge phone bill according to my mom. Being this far away from home for the first time isnrsquot easy. And since Irsquom not here for a vacation it makes it even harder at times. The days are so long and Irsquom learning to take things one day http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-259147.html Irsquom sorry itrsquos taken me two weeks to write my first blog. Irsquove been busy since the moment I arrived which I wasnrsquot expecting so Irsquove been trying to get adjusted as fast as I can not to mention get over my jet lag again which I wasnrsquot expecting to be so bad. I donrsquot have the internet where Irsquom staying so I only get to check my email and get on http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-259145.html We got up and started making the arrangements to fly home. We had to go through American Airlines Quantarsquos Partner. Of course the call went to India. The lady on the phone was very nice but inexperienced since it was her first day. It took about 3 hours to get everything booked. We were very fortunate to be able to rebook our flights for the next day. We then booked a flight from Wellingto http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-258373.html It was up early for the sailing at 0825 we had to be in line by 0725. I woke Mum to say goodbye and then Madge and I headed off towards Wellington along familiar highways of my childhood. McKay's crossing that notorious fatal accident railway crossing is now a flyover and apart from some roadworks near Paekakariki it was a good run till I caught up with the tail of the Wellington Motorway slo http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/blog-257278.html After an adventurous morning of jumping out of planes we headed to WaiOTapu thermal area a much calmer environment Here we saw lots of craters and mud pools that were a variety of different colours due to the minerals in the rocks there were green red orange blue and black all were very impressive if not a little smellyThe following day we drove down to the coast stopping at Himatangi b http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-256808.html For the past 5 days we have been staying with our friend Ron Head. Ron lives on the kapiti coast just north of Wellington. It has been great to Ron again he stayed with us in 2005. The Kapiti Coast is named because just off the coast is Kapiti Island.Ron lives right on the beach. Went to a Friendship Force meeting. The Kapiti Coast FF is hosting a group from Hanover Germany. They really know how http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Paraparaumu/blog-254217.html New Zealand thoughts observations1. Language it takes awhile to pick up on the pronunciation and terms. Some examplesW sounds like daKiwis tend to raise their voice as they finish talking often I am trying to figure out what the question is and they are simply saying Irsquom done talking your turn. 2. Terms Kiwis have a lot of terms that are different than US English and for the most pa http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Paraparaumu/blog-251201.html Hi All I think I wrote last time about the Mauri Cultural Centre but had not downloaded pictures from that trip. I have sent a few this time. Hope my pix are coming through OK. I am sending them using Shawphoto rather then the Travel blog. I didnrsquot think the blog pix were great quality. You will need to highlite the address for the pictures put that address into your address bar and t http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-248146.html Panorama Wellington HarborWe left Wanganui Friday morning after sensibly deciding not to kidnap Billy. I'm sure he's much happier chomping on twigs by the river than cooped up in the back of our van. We've decided to get our very own Billy one day when we've got somewhere suitable to keep him.And we nearly fell over when we realised it's now February Someone's messing about with our heads http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/blog-242627.html Well i arrived after what was probably at least a 30 hour journey from heathrow 2.35pm 5th jan to wellington airport 11.30am 7th jan Stopped at LA then Auckland then on to Wellington. Was met by AnnLouise and Josh at the airport who drove me back to their place. We then had a stroll round some parts of Wellington as i was quite awake The City is so amazing and staying on Oriental Parade w http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-235328.html Hi everyone just a quick update since the hostel I'm currently at has free internet which is great. Right now im in Wellington the capital of NZ the southernmost city on the North Island I hopped off the Kiwi bus for several days and have been hanging out with the 2 english dudes I met in Fiji so far we climbed a small mountain went bowling played some cards watched a movie went swimming http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-233949.html Countdown to LA So the suns no longer shining today...grey clouds in the sky. But alas Auckland is only a drive away just a week away today.Packing is almost done the clutter is almost done with.I have to say being a chick packing your suitcase to go away is one of the hardest things and emotionally draining I Mean a girls gotta have 10 pairs of shoes to choose from.Just a quick fi http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/blog-219196.html Halli Hallo meine Liebenso ich weiss im Moment gar nicht wo ich anfangen soll da sich in den letzten Wochen soviel getan hat....Ich fang einfach mal anBin Mitte Oktober aus dem Chateau abgehauen im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes bin aufgewacht und hab mir gedacht nee nee hier muss ich weg...Hab die 2 Jungs Richy und Tom angerufen die ich im Chateau kennengelernt habe die sind eine Woche vorher http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-217202.html We arrived in the North Island around 5PM a little later than expected due to the lsquochallengingrsquo conditions on the ferry. Windy Wellington as it is commonly called is the little known capital of New Zealand no itrsquos not Auckland and a surprisingly cultured happening place particularly when you have just spent 6 weeks in the south island With plans to meet our friends Andr http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-205580.html ..leuteuebrigens duerft ihr gerne kommentare schreiben auf dieser seite..freu mich schon darueberund die einladung fuers fotoalbum behalten und ab und zu draufschauen...fotos sind relativ aktueller als die eintraege hier...das muss man sich mal vorstellenwas die leute so fuer aufgaben also beim film hatten...aeste ins bild halten oder blaetter bemalenweiterhin hat peter jachson extra l http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/blog-189162.html adam and i have been in new zealand for about three months so we thought it was time we let everyone in on what we're up to. we spent our first week in auckland just roaming around and trying to decide where we wanted to settle down. we decided to either go to the south island to christchurch or wellington new zealands capital just at the bottom of the north island. since we had to go through wel http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-188963.html picturesnbspAustralasia raquonbspNew Zealand raquonbspNorth Island raquonbspWellington Region raquonbspWellington By hayleyandjamesJuly 6th 2007hayley mason hey everyone had a lovely meal last night with the Rattee family Met Lyn jane's mum david jane's brother and craig jane's bf. Lyn paid for the delicous meal which was so nice of her. We went to a resturant called Fi http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-178156.html Well yesterday i started my bartending course. Made black russians both varieties nothing special but lots of bar professionalisms talked about and how to keep up with rushes and what days are like. A bit more than i typically expected went on behind the bar but i think it will be easy to do. It goes on until wenesday next week when have to do an exam and a practical. Also have been hittin http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-166188.html