Blogs from Manukau City, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania

Zadnji dan najinega popotovanja sva začela s pakiranjem. Čeprav nisva nakupila zelo veliko spominkov, se je zdelo, da bosta torbi hitro pretežki. Po zajtrku in ko so bile najine stvari uspešno zložene v primerno obliko za na letalo, sva odrinila proti Aucklandu. Dan sva preživela umirjeno v priljubljenem lokalnem zabaviščnem parku in se še zadnjič sprehodila po bližnjem regionalnem parku, ki je pri domačinih priljubljeno mesto za piknike. Zvečer sva na letališču oddala avto in tako sklenila 4521 kilometrov dolgo popotovanje po Novi Zelandiji. Zdaj naju čaka le še pol sveta letalske poti do doma.... read more

After 27 hours of a travel, we arrived in Auckland! Ricky joined us 3 hrs later from Australia! We stayed in sore upper clean motel just outside the airport.....the lady whose home we are renting for the next 5 days gave us the name of a trustworthy car rental place, and Wendy showed up at 10 this morning, and offered to drive with us to Cocklebay where we are staying. Gary got to drive under her tutelage which we don't know how we would have done it without her. Driving on the wrong side of the road takes some getting used to. Kiwi drivers in the big city are like impatient Calgarian drivers. Lots of similarities there. One thing you notice right away is all the birds singing, beautiful! It is nice out, about 22 degrees. ... read more

Today, I went to Rainbows End, it's an amusement park in Maukua. I got up around 7 and got dressed. For breakfast I went down to the coffee shop across the road. I got bacon and eggs and a coffee. Around 8 oclock I was back at the hotel waiting for the cab. Many poeple were walking the street, it was a public holiday but all the city shopping centres were open. Today was a bit cloudy but the sun was peeping through. Rainbows End was roughly 20 minutes away from the hotel. After 15 minutes the cab arrived and I had Steven, my first driver (Mr Grumpy). Even though i've been here for over a week, I still find New Zealand's nature to be breath taking. The trees are incredibly tall and green and there's ... read more

Well, the campervan is rockin' so don't come a knockin' - but unfortunately it's because of the howling wind and pouring rain not because of anything saucy! New Zealand has been a real rude awakening regards the weather, but it hasn't managed to dampen our spirits on this new part of our adventure. We have been travelling for over 100 days now and this leg of the journey is where we are really embracing the backpacker culture! Chez Cain is a beautiful three room dwelling (drivers compartment, and bedroom/living area/kitchen with ensuite bathroom and toilet) with a huge garden and is in a great location (wherever we want it to be!). In reality, we are living in a Transit van sized vehicle and the garden is the whole of New Zealand's great outdoors! Our few days ... read more

Situated by the airport, Butterfly is a fun way to spend a few hours. Attractions include the Crocodile Show, the butterfly house, the buttermilk farm and the aquarium. So its my birthday - 3 family members overseas (Mum, Bals & Hubby) & 3 at work (Angie, Arun & Dad) - I do not want to spend the day at home so go and check out what Butterfly creek has to offer before heading for drinks with friends (all working). I thought it would be a let down but was quite suprised at how much I enjoyed it and the hours just went. The Crocodile Show was amazing. I learnt that Crocs are one of the biggest sulkers in the animal kingdom and can easily sulk for a year (i.e go without food to prove a point). ... read more