Blogs from Oceania - page 7247

Hi all, welcome back. After our last entry we still had a couple days to spend in Christchurch, checking out some of the highlights and finally a little bit of the nightlife! As you can see from the pictures we went to the botanical gardens, the museum and a general stroll around town. The english/scottish heritage of the city is evident and only becomes more so as you head to Dunedin. We went out that night in search of an improv comedy show, but when we were dining at The Dux de Lux we met a nice couple from the U.S.A and ended up having a interesting visit with them. We even managed to get a little dancing in and my wallet and I didn't part ways, so all in all a pretty good night. When ... read more

Drove from Paihia (2 hours) to Ahipara where we stayed at Endless Summer Lodge. Named after a definitive surf movie filmed in 1966 called The Endless Summer. A really great hostel - better than most hotels we've stayed in for a fraction of the price. After a day of walking along the endless beaches and relaxing, took a tour to Cape Reinga - where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet. The day included a speedy 4-wheel drive along 90 mile beach and sand surfing down enormous sand dunes!! Great fun!! Also stopped off at url=http://www.ancientkauri.co.nz/Ancient Kauri Kingdom and Gum Diggers Park.... read more

This is a picture Ailsa and I took while sitting on King's Beach at Caloundra at dawn. We were on our annual pilgrimage to the coast to celebrate the birthdays of various members of our families and for some reason we were up at the crack of dawn and decided to photograph the event.... read more

It had been raining in the night & looked like it wouldn't let up for the rest of the day - it was like the Greymouth we remembered. We left Global Village Backpackers with a new passenger, Randi who was travelling in the same direction & wanted to stay at The Old Slaughterhouse having had a similar recommendation to us. After stocking up on grub at the supermarket we headed north along the west coast. Punakaki was our first stop & luckily the rain had cleared leaving bright sunshine over the rugged coastline. The Pancake Rocks are funnily enough rock formations that look like stacks of pancakes that are continually eroded by the rough Tasman Sea. In between the pancakes are several blowholes which given the right conditions (a high tide & south westerly swell) spurt ... read more

hmm, went out last night. Had a few drinks with Alex and Jules then some aussie guys, Gary and David, joined us and we went to Base backpakcers...there bar was a bit more lively. had such a good laugh...crazy camp german man was buyin us tequila! Gary was shy but so sweet. David was just drunk! Hired a bike today...big mistake. Maggie Island is incredibly Hilly!!!! im not used to bike riding, let alone uphill! and it was hot...oha nd it rained! so i was thoroughly pissed off. Decided to ride to the start of some of the islands little walks. Walked up to Hawkings Point which is a large boulder with a panoramic view from the top. On my way back down however, I slipped and cut my hand. Further took the shine off the ... read more