Blogs from Oceania - page 7263

The road down to Invercargill was meant to be very scenic. The map failed to show just how bendy it was. With speeds of little of 40km/h this trip could take all day (and it did). This area had a whole section in the guide book dedicated to beaches, waterfalls, lookouts etc etc etc…. It turned out that although there were some lovely beaches the New Zealand tourist board had gone over the top with what they considered to be worth seeing. Each place of interest would normally be found by turning off the road and continuing for miles down gravel roads. After one very long gravel road we reached what was described as a breathtaking waterfall. 10 minutes of walking and we arrived or at least we think we did. We did have to check ... read more

I find myself on another transfer to the coach station, ready for another coach journey, this time sat next to a venomous Canadian drama queen with an attitude problem. I decide that rather than making the effort to be polite to her, I'll just avoid conversation as much as possible, and this tactic seems to work. My Journey takes me to Rainbow Beach, a small town which is becoming increasingly popular as an access point to Fraser Island thanks to its close proximity, being only a 15 minute barge trip away. Rainbow beach itself is far from picturesque, but by sheer virtue of its tiny size it is a pleasant town. The 'business centre' - a strip of about 5 cafes and about as many shops - leads you down to the beach with its perfect ... read more

Auckland was both very different to Christchurch and Queenstown. It struck us almost instantly as a very metropolitan city, quite similar to London in many ways and unfortunately where we were staying was far from the nicest street in the city! I actually had 2 best friends form home in Auckland who had been or will have been working in the city for around 3 months, one at the Auckland Sky Jump Tower (Adam) and the other in a bar on the Viaduct (Andy) (Aucklands equivelant to Sydney's Circular Quay, i.e. a very nice selection of bars and resteraunts over looking the water front). As there were only three of us arriving to begin with, when we arrived we checked in then went to the bar just for a quiet beer before the other 2 decided ... read more

Päivi (se jolla olin au pairina pari vuotta sitten) lähetti aamulla viestiä, että voitas nähdä. Soitin sille ja sovittiin, että mennään sinne yökylään. Otettiin juna Hornsbyyn tai siis jouduttiin vaihtaan lopussa bussiin, ku ne kunnosti junarataa. Hornsbyssa tavattiin Päivi ja lapset. Sieltä ajeltiin Cowaniin missä ne austelee. Koirat oli aivan innoisaan kun ne näki mut! ihmeellistä kuinka ne muistaa 2vuotta sitten olleen ihmisen. Mut ne olikin sillon ihan pentuja ja olin niiden kaa aika paljon... :) käytettiin koiria ulkona ja kierrettiin Cowanin ympäri sekä pelailtiin vähän fudista. Illalla käytiin hakeen vuokraamosta pari videota: in her shoes ja Flightplan. Oli aika hyviä! :) mä annoin Minnan mennä mun vanhaan sänkyyn ja otin ite toisen lasten sängyn. Adrian ei ollu kotona, ku se on Englannissa käymässä, niin Alex meni sit Päivin viereen. Ja Minna (Päivin sisko) oli jollain ... read more

Well its 11 days since last I blogged and we have travelled some miles since then. We left Ceduna on Thursday 16th for the long awaited crossing of the Nullarbor. The road was great and the weather even better for driving - overcast with the occasional sprinkle of rain. Quite a few road trains around but didn't bother John at all really. He had been warned so many times that it was almost an anti-climax. We didn't hit the real desert until about 270k out. Then very flat and scrubby. Passed through Yalata roadhouse on aboriginal land and it is closed. A bit further on pass the turn off to 'Head of Bight' where the whale watching is fantastic in season. This is also closed as the sign says 'no whales'! About here we start on ... read more