Visited Tongariro National Park today, home of Mt Ruapehu. At 2797 M it is the highest peak in the area. I was aiming to complete some volcanic walks on the mountain. The Skyline Ridge was the first. To get to the start point requires 2 chairlift rides and you start at 2,020 M. I quickly re-learned I am not fond of heights as my hands grasped the bar tightly. Although the actual trail only went to 2,300 M it was a gruesome hike. At times the trail was hard to determine and there were parts where you were scrambling over volcanic rock and walking through volcanic ash. I must admit it was not a fun hike and it took me well over an hour to get to a good vantage point, with plenty of breaks of ... read more

When you vacation in New Zealand it is like having a different vacation every day. Today I left for Rotorua a popular destination know for its Maori culture and geothermal activity. First, however, I had ti hike the Okere Falls Track where you could see three different waterfalls - Trout Pool Falls, Okere Falls and Tutea Falls. The later is interesting because it is the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. I observed a few rafts tumbling down the falls. Seemed like quite the experience. Next stop Rotorua. I visited Kuirau Park to view some sulfur pools and mud flats. The smell of the hydrogen sulfide released due to the geothermal activity was ever present. To get a better appreciation of this activity I purchased a ticket for entrance into Te Puia Geothermal Park. In ... read more

Leaving Whitianga for points south I had to stop at the local beach - Buffalo Beach for the mandatory selfie and some shelling. Did both. Next stop Mt Raku, a small dome-like extinct volcano. Although the climb was short, it was steep and thankfully only 15 minutes to the top. Gorgeous views of the surrounds and especially a good view of Ocean Beach from afar. Of course, after the hike I walked the beach and picked more seashells for the grandkids. Final stop, Waihi Beach. A lovely beach with some nice walking trails. My third nice beach of the day so who could complain. Settled for the night in Tauranga all set for my assault the next day up Mount Maunganui.... read more

Spent most of the day at Tawharanui Regional Park which is about an hour north of Auckland. It includes an open sanctuary as well as a marine reserve. The open sanctuary is free from plant and animal pests so native plants, birds and animals can breed successfully. A 2.5 km pest-proof fence keeps pests out. Within the Marine Reserve I visited Anchor Bay and walked about a km up the sandy beach. Did some shelling. Picked up a few unique New Zealand shells for Gabrielle and Xander. After investigating a sea cave at one end of the bay, I wanted to hike around the coast but unfortunately it was high tide and much of the beach unaccessable to hike. Alas, I started another cross country trail, hiking up a steep path adorned with hundreds of sheep. ... read more

Second day in the Hokiaga area. Started my day with a short 20 minute hike to the Waiotemarama Gorge Waterfall. A pleasant hike thru a tropical forest. Next to the access point to the waterfall lies Labyrinth Woodworks. A unique store specializing in puzzles, toys, and a hedge maze on the property for all to try. The eccentric owner makes the visit worthwhile. I then revisited the lookout at Arai te Uri Heritage area. This time I followed a well-groomed trail to see the vantage point and the coastal scenes below; particularly noting the differences between the peaceful harbour and not so peaceful Tasman Sea. I explored a cove in the area with a lovely beach along the Tasman Sea. The sea was indeed rough that day my friend! My last activity was a 4 km ... read more