Page 5 of Call 2 Adventure Travel Blog Posts


Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Orewa December 11th 2012

As an end of year function a group of 10 of us went clay pigeon shooting. It was the first time i'd ever fired a shotgun, but much to my surprise I took to it like a duck to water (I got first place - though it came down to the last shot between myself and another guy). While my friends suggested that it had something to do with the fact that I'm American and that I must have at least 10 guns at home, I suspect it was more likely that a bit of the Hazen hunting gene got passed on to me. Anyway it was a great day and I highly suggest anyone looking for a fun afternoon consider clay pigeon shooting.... read more
Score Card to prove the win!

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Mount Eden December 9th 2012

For the longest time I've wanted to visit one of the last remaining countries that is yet to be overrun with tourists - Laos - and this Southern Hemisphere summer I get to. I've been planning the trip since July, and now I find I'm just over a week away from departing. I'm so excited about the prospect of venturing deep into the unknown for three weeks. There are so many elements of planning that are only now just coming together and still more to resolve. I initially started out with this grand vision of travelling through the country really rough, without prearranged accommodation or transport... this footloose and fancy approach was really attractive to me (and in many ways necessary given the remoteness of most of Laos), but "reason" has prevailed in the last 24 ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » North Shore November 11th 2012

Saw some interesting art on the shore today.... read more
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Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Paihia October 22nd 2012

Went to Paihia for Food and Wine Fest.... read more
Russell by Ferry
Monday morning
Drive up

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Cairns August 5th 2012

Got to catch-up with Mom and Bill in Cairns late July/early August 2012. We had a great time exploring northern Queensland from the hills, to the rainforest and out to the reef. The most surprising thing for me was the number and variety of animal life... after living in NZ for so long I forgot what it's like to see wildlife other than birds roaming the wild. The reef was exciting and everything that it's hyped up to be. My highlight was Fitzroy Island and resort... I'll go back in a heartbeat.... read more
Bill, Jeanette and a Croc
So many whales
Car Ferry to Cape Tribulation

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » New Plymouth March 18th 2011

You know you are at Womad when you can hear an American musicologist talk about his life while New Zealand indie darling Lawrence Arabia busts out hit single Apple Pie Bed in the background. We went to New Plymouth for WOMAD at Brooklands Park where about 35,000 people gathered to sample the international diversity of more than 350 performers, there to entertain us on six stages with dance, art and music. We were entertained by an array of international musicians, including the legendary Bob Brozman, a performer and ethno-musicologist who has travelled the world studying the ancient roots of music. Brozman plays resonator guitars, an instrument created in the 1920s before the electrical guitar was invented. "This sound changed my life," says Brozman, who found two of the instruments in a pawn shop when he was ... read more
Main Stage
Rest of crowd at main stage
Photo 5

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Wanganui » Wanganui January 5th 2011

Hi All, Donavin reporting in after a fantastic canoe trip along the Whanganui River over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday break. Question: When is a Great Walk not a walk? Answer:-. When it is a canoe trip down the Whanganui River. Don't ask me why, but the Whanganui River Journey is designated as one of the nine Great Walks of New Zealand. For the last three years, since Marcos made the suggestion, I’ve been fixed with the idea of canoeing slowly down one of New Zealands most beautiful and pristine rivers – that idea became reality this year. To travel down the Whanganui is also to experience in part the history of New Zealand; the river was an important travel route for hundreds of years for the Maori who lived along its shores and, in the early ... read more
Night 1 Take Out Point
Flooding
Post Flood

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel April 4th 2010

I got out on my first proper vacation since breaking my leg this Easter weekend. In addition to breaking out of Auckland I got to break in a new car. After going without a car since 2004 I purchased a car this last week. The selection of the type of car was inspired by my travels with friends in New Zealand where a larger vehicle would have come in handy to cross river fords, pack dive and camping gear, all the while ensuring comfort on NZ's winding roads. I got myself a Honda CRV and it was fun to drive. We got up early on Friday and drove to a friend's family batch in Coromandel, near Port Jackson. The batch was originally the quarry master's home from 1910 or so - the property (including quarry) had ... read more
Old quarry equipment
Granit wharf build with stone from the quarry
Sunset

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » North Shore February 21st 2010

Update on my leg. I was advised last Thursday that I can start to put weight on my foot/moon boot, that's great news! I go in for surgery on Tuesday - a minor procedure to remove one screw. After this procedure and the week or so it will take for the wound to heal I can start to more fully enjoy the beach - water here I come... Today we went to Browns Bay, swimming was not yet in my agenda so I sat back and enjoyed the shade of a tree and the cool breeze. I've posted a photo of the beach and weather... yes you in the northern hemisphere should be jealous of the warm summer weather.... Hope all is well for you. ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central January 12th 2010

Happy New Year to you all. It’s been a few months since I made my last travel post. I guess you get busy with the day to day and time slips away; that and my trusty camera has taken its last photo and I found myself bedridden for nearly two months with a broken leg. The topic of this brief blog posting is an update on my leg. On 16th October I was playing a league softball game for the American team here in Auckland. Strangely enough the American team is made up of 5 or 6 Americans and the rest are a range of nationalities, most are Kiwi. Anyway it was the third inning and I was up to bat with runners on 1st and 2nd bases. I hit the ball deep, unfortunately there is ... read more
Broken
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