http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Central-Plateau/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , North Island , Central Plateau en-us Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:29:16 BST Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:29:16 BST New Zealand temperatures range from subtropical in the north to temperate in the south. The main mountain ranges are a barrier to the prevailing westerlyl winds causing higher rainfall in the west. Remember New Zealand is reversed warm northerlies come from the north and southerlies blow in from the Antarctic.Wear old shoes and a waterproof hairdo. You will get wet that's why they call New Z http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Central-Plateau/blog-283525.html Well here we are off again on another Central Otago Holiday not sure what it is that keeps drawing us back to this amazing part of New Zealand but both Sheryll and I thoroughly enjoy each trip we have made over the past few years. This trip is starting off differently in that I am leaving home before Sheryll and taking Sammy Surf our 4WD our home away from home for the next month down to Wel http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Central-Plateau/blog-257057.html ok now in the south island so heres the last bit from the north......cantremember where i quite got to last time think i told you about tauposo after that we spent a nite in river valley which was literally inthe middle of nowhere the coach couldnt even drive down this dustytrack so we had to walk the last 2 mins of the journey. absolutlelybeatuiful spot a hostel literally on a river with n http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Central-Plateau/River-Valley/blog-250936.html Well we awoke bright and early to find that the weather had finally changed. Whilst there was still cloud it was high and broken which lifted the spirits for our morning of sea kayaking. We had our breakfast and made our way out to the car when we had our first blast of cold air whilst the cloud was clear quickly it had dumped a load of snow on the surrounding hill tops which the locals basica http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Central-Plateau/blog-193940.html Pictures from white water rafting in New Zealand on the Rangitikei at some point in January. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Central-Plateau/River-Valley/blog-131653.html Well... this blog should have regaled you with tales of sky diving and of climbing volcanoes. There should have been unforgettable images of freefall and of the inner steaming vents of Tongariro. Unfortunately the weather man had other ideas for our Central Plateau stay....First day in Taupo we were booked to sky dive at 9am. We awoke early and for the first time since making the decision to dro http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Central-Plateau/blog-98258.html Went to a secluded valley in the Central Plateau of North Island where we stayed in a river lodge right in front of the Rangitekei River. This is one of the foremost rafting rivers in the country with Grade 5 rapids.Team Handsome clearly dominated in our raft with our guide being gobsmacked at the outstanding levels of oarmanship skill courage power arrogance and of course handsomeness. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Central-Plateau/River-Valley/blog-69984.html My travels with my aunt Janet have begun I know I've been a bit lax on the blog writing but fear not I will try to write more frequently while I am traveling. I left Base on the 22nd of January and spent a week staying at my friend Allison's in Riccarton a suburb of Christchurch. We spent the week making smoothies and watching Scrubs It felt so good to leave Base and spend a week not havin http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Central-Plateau/blog-39382.html The same day we left the Thermal wonderland we drove to Lake Taupo I was booked in for a skydive that afternoon and didn't want to miss the appointmentThe SkydiveAt this point in my life I have got to say that the exhilaration from the skydive the feelings of freefall and the accompanying visuals is the purest feeling I have ever felt. I was on a buzz for a long while afterwards replaying http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Central-Plateau/blog-6833.html