Blogs from New Zealand, Oceania - page 2384

This morning we drove out to the start of the 'Rob Roy' track. The drive was on very bumpy unsealed roads, culminating in a '4WD recommended' section. However after being passed by 2 other camper vans we decided to contine. Eventually we got to the start of the walking track. We followed the track, climbing for about 2 hours before being rewarded with spectacular views of the Rob Roy glacier... An excellent spot for a picnic. Approaching the glacier, we could hear the rumblings of an avalanche - we were saftely on the other side of the valley.... read more

I met a fellow Unitarian who organizes the gatherings of a small group in Wellington. She took me in her car to look down on Wellington from various high view points around the city.... read more

New Year’s Eve in Franz Josef. I woke up around 5:30 am to go to the bathroom and was somewhat relieved that it was raining so we wouldn’t hike the glacier. Michael woke up about 8:00 am and I told him it was raining when I got up earlier. He said it must have cleared since he could hear helicopters. I looked outside and it was pretty clear except for a few clouds right over the glacier. We looked at each other and I told him he should call to see if there was still room on the trips for the day. When he called, the girl asked him if he had seen the photos at their office and was sure we wanted to make the trip. This didn’t serve to make me more comfortable, but ... read more

Yep, we're in Auckland and we bought a van. It's awesome here, New Zealand is kickass. But first let me recap our last week in Fiji. We left Lautoka and spent a night in Nadi on our way to Mana Island. Our friend Rio from Nananu-i-ra was there so that was cool. She told us that Dangerous Dave was staying down the road, so later that night we go to surprise him at his hostel and see what he's up to. We walked around to the back of the bar and find him in the front of a Fijian conga dance. Typical Dave style. The next day, Dave flew to Auckland and Bryan and I hopped on a 9am boat to Mana. The ride was amazing, it took about 45 minutes to get to the island ... read more

After spending Wednesday recovering from our jet lag and the hamhandedness of Jack Black in King Kong, we spent the next two days exploring the bustling metropolis of Auckland. A city of a little over one million people, or 1/4 of New Zealand's total population, it is pleasant, outdoorsy, multi-cultural, but not overwhelmingly interesting. Kind of like a Southern Hemisphere San Diego. On Thursday, we took a ferry across the bay to Devonport, a quaint village of shops and rich people. We walked to the top of a dormant volcano, which afforded a great view of Auckland and the surrounding areas, including its well-used waterways. After heading into town for fish and chips and a pint, we headed back into the city. Both that night and the next we grabbed dinner at Japanese restaurants. The Asian ... read more