Blogs from Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania

Travel is not reward for working, it's education for living-Anthony Bourdain Back to the Pacific Ocean and following in the footsteps of Captain Cook. In the past year I have been tempted by some incredible airfare flash sales to the South Pacific, and here we are again, this time headed to New Zealand after a deal too good to pass up with some Delta miles I earned on a credit card. We, like so many others, have been enchanted with going to New Zealand ever since seeing the Lord of the Rings movies. This incredible country largely stayed off travelers radars before Peter Jackson showed the world the gorgeous expanses offered here. He recognized its the only place that could double as a fantasy world with little needed cgi. Our flight was a 13 hour non-stop ... read more

Tour Day 47, Cruise Day 47 – Day at Sea Cruising the Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel Peninsula – I was so unimpressed that I didn’t take any photos. Perhaps it was the weather, perhaps the landscape, perhaps my frame of mind; however, the crew was busy assembling the first suggestions of the Christmas season. Tour Day 48, Cruise Day 48, Auckland, New Zealand Day 1 – Arrival and My Introduction to Auckland, New Zealand Sunday, November 26, 2023 – My arrival in Auckland differed from other ports of call on the cruise in that it was time to pack my bags and get off the ship. I had a solid breakfast and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. First, my call for departure was well past the time I was assigned the previous ... read more

Within this city’s boundaries there are 53 volcanoes, more than 50 islands, 3 wine regions, numerous beaches and a boatload of Kiwis that make it a truly exciting and vibrant place - what’s not to love? As the largest and most multicultural city in New Zealand, Auckland is far more than just a gateway to the country’s blockbuster natural scenery. Indeed, it is an attractive place, formed by volcanoes and flanked by natural harbors. Its population is as notable for its size as its diversity, with one-third of all Kiwis calling it home. It’s a genuine cultural melting pot, and the nation’s most vibrant city. Thanks to its location on a narrow isthmus, many of Auckland’s districts weave around bays and harbors, and most residents live within 2 miles of the ocean. As a result, the ... read more

Nya Zeeland. Definitivt helt ny mark för mig. Väldigt långt bort. 12 timmars tidskillnad från hemma, södra halvklotet och vintertid. Ett mytomspunnet land. Det jag vet är att det är ett modernt samhälle, ur en massa synvinklar och att man är väldigt stolt över sitt ursprung som Nya Zeeländare med Maorier som ursprungsbefolkning. Min förväntan var att det skulle i mångt och mycket vara väldigt likt Sverige. Så klart både rätt och fel men mycket åt det rättare hållet. Naturen är ju oxå något man hört talas om, höga alpliknande snötäckta berg, fjordlandskap och ett böljande och bördigt landskap med en massa får genomborrat av massa små och stora vattendrag. Yes- helt korrekt. Sagan om ringen är ständigt närvarande och det är en mix i naturen utan dess like.Mil efter mil med vinodlingar kantat med nån ... read more