Blogs from Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 9

From Rotorua to Napier we drove down the Thermal Highway offering many opportunities to see the results of the volcanic and geothermal activity of New Zealand. We stopped to walk a most interesting and informative self-guided tour along the Waimangu Volcanic Valley where sulphurous fumes spew out of vents in the rocks in numerous locations. On June 10, 1886, a line of craters from the northern end of Tarawera all the way to the Waimangu Valley was formed by violent erruption. All plant, animal and bird life was destroyed but in the intervening years lush plant life has returned to all but the hottest spots of geothermal activity and the birds do not seem to mind the sulphurous fumes. The fern and the kiwi bird are New Zealand's national emblems. The huge ferns, something like palm ... read more

"If you wake up at a different time, in a different place, could you wake up as a different person?" --- Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk. Qantas (my courier over a couple of thousand miles) insist on starting their safety videos with an introduction from Billy Bob Thornton (or someone resembling him) wearing a pilot's uniform; and I thought, the last thing Billy Bob Thornton should be trusted with is a safety briefing to a plane full of people. And there was me, cramped into a centre aisle seat on a twenty-two hour flight from London to Sydney. On my right, Crocodile Dundee, complete with hat, obstructing the path to the aisle and with it the commode and well-rehearsed DVT exercises. On my left, a Frenchman who had been living in Glasgow for the past nine years, ... read more

Saturday 11th April 2009 - The 2009 Volkswagen Nationals The sun doesnt hit our van till quite late in the morning, but Rob and Cassie behind the hedge from us get the sun much earlier. So after breakfast, its straight round there for a chat in the sun. Theres a nice tree on the site next to ours shading us from the mornings warmth. The show was held down on the waterfront, at the quieter end of Marine Parade (ie not in the centre of town). It was a great spot right on the water, and a pretty good show too. There must have been close to 200 vehicles (never did hear a final count), bugs, buses, type 3's etc etc. Many we have seen year after year, but there seemed to be a few new ... read more

February 23rd OK, It has been a long day but I feel I should make a stab at an update. From the Mount I continued my journey south. Rotorua, to Taupo with a stop to look at some geothermal sites. Even though these generally are not my cup of tea, flat white, long black or any other options I have to say the park I stopped at south of Rotorua was excellent. To a more important topic, the coffee. Never having been to Europe I don't know what the cafe scene is like, but I have to say I am loving this!! If Starbucks hadn't run this whole thing into the ground in the US I would be tempted to open a New Zealand style Cafe in Kansas City. If I don't do anything in the ... read more

These are a few photos of New Zealand.... read more