Second try successful. What a great morning on 'dolfin adventure' boat (see previous blog). I decided to use the voucher from two days ago and repeat the boat tour. If you ever come to Paihia I recommend this tour company because if you do not see dolfins they give you a voucher to return again, and there is no timelimit. The longest record for keeping and using the ticket is 14 years. And because we only saw dolfins during the last part of trip and didn't have time to set up swimming with them, we all got a voucher to return. That means I get three trips for the price of one, if I come back with the ticket. I can use it in Auckland and get half price for that boat tour. The biggest thrill ... read more

This is the best place to end my tour of New Zealand. I'm here for a few days and will return to Auckland city before I fly home. Today I took the 'Swim With Dolfins' boat tour to see the 144 islands in the Bay. The scenery was lovely but we didn't see any dolfins so they gave us a voucher to return anytime. I might try again before I leave. Its 3-4 hours on a boat, a great way to see the Bay of Islands and maybe some dolfins. This was suppose to be the warmest part of New Zealand, closest to equator. The central restaurant says we are 35 degrees south. There are several low pressures going by so the weather is sun and rain and sun and hail, etc. No matter what the ... read more

Last night I went to Rainbow Springs to see the kiwi. What a thrill. You walk through large area with very low fence on either side. The kiwi are running around and can be as close as a few inches away. It was tempting to reach down and touch one, but I refrained. (with difficulty) If you come here, I recommend this site; and come at night first. The ticket is $26 and you can use it again in the morning to go with the staff who feed the animals. Go before nine p.m., because tour groups from nearby Maori dance and meal will come soon after. If you are early you can walk by yourself through forests and cages and blue and green lights. And the best part is that some of the money supports ... read more

Back in Wellington to explore more about this lovely city. Today I went to the bird sanctuary, Zealandia, at top of city. They fenced a valley and lake that once provided the city with drinking water, trapped or poisoned all the predaters such as rats and possum, and reintroduced native species such as bugs, lizards and birds. Its a neat sanctuary because the birds can fly freely as they please and I think many people in Wellington enjoy feathered visiters. There are various displays to educate public about the bugs, birds or lizards. One of my favourites was area where you could push buttons to hear bird calls and they had speakers in surrounding trees so that it seemed as if the bird was right there. I wonder if it confused real birds? The museum/educational centre ... read more

Great weather, just what I expected for Wellington; a gale blowing through this fine Sunday. The winds are not cold, the rain is minimal and I am running around taking photos of 'the ambiance'. Downtown Wellington has good vibe, lots going on Saturday night. I left my luggage at the hotel today and walked to Te Papa, the famous museum. Its open every day and is free. The design and use of space is admirable. Lots to do for young and old, but this Sunday morning it seemed kids day. Perhaps the strong winds brought parents to the museum with lots of space to run around. There are many interactive areas and short videos with displays. I think if you want to come to the museum to feel the culture, come during weekdays. On the second ... read more