New Zealand

Wellywood, dragon boating and other stories
2012-04-22, Auckland, New Zealand. By: snutbrown

Yet again it's been ages...so let's get on with it! A few weeks ago, we popped back to Sydney for a long weekend. We had intended to do this not long after we arrived in New Zealand but we didn't have...

2012 Here We Come!
2012-01-15, Auckland, New Zealand. By: snutbrown

Here we are again, weeks have gone by and you haven't heard a peep from us. Rest assured we're still here, still doing well and still enjoying New Zealand. In fact, as I thought it may, New Zealand ha...

The World Was Here To Play
2011-11-06, Auckland, New Zealand. By: snutbrown

Hello world :0) Got lots to tell you about so thought I'd take the opportunity to at least make a start while England make a rather dire attempt at playing France in rugby - some big tournament thing ...

Living in the City of Sails (Part Two)
2011-08-28, Auckland, New Zealand. By: snutbrown

Wondering what to do with a grey weekend afternoon we stumbled across the Rialto cinema in Newmarket (actually, it had been recommended by Steve but this was the first time we'd been) and what a pleas...

Living in the City of Sails (Part One)
2011-08-27, Auckland, New Zealand. By: snutbrown

Chris reporting here...Blimey! It's been quite a long time since we last wrote our journal - about eight weeks by my reckoning - and so much has happened. I'll try and recount the highlights in rough ...

Kia-ora!
2011-06-30, Auckland, New Zealand. By: snutbrown

And so, after a whistlestop four and a half week trip back to the UK to catch up with friends and family we set off once more for foreign fields. The time at home passed quickly as we knew it would an...

An Aussie living in New Zealand surrounded by Americans.
2011-03-02, Oxford, New Zealand. By: marciamay

So here I am in Oxford, New Zealand. Oxford is a rural town, 45 mins out of Christchurch. I arrived a few days after the earthquake. I haven't been here quite a week yet but I am already settled i...

Quake Afterthoughts
2011-03-01, Auckland, New Zealand. By: rozredhead

Auckland Afterthoughts 01 03 2011 Just two afterthoughts following the Quake. When we gor off the plane from Christchurch to Auckland there were people from the Salvation Army waiting at ...

Aukland Interval
2011-03-01, Auckland, New Zealand. By: rozredhead

Auckland Interlude Tuesday 1st March 2011 Our last morning in Tahiti was mostly lazy luxury. The breakfast buffet was even better than usual with oysters left over from the previous evening (w...

And the Earth Moved
2011-02-22, Christchurch, New Zealand. By: rozredhead

And the Earth Moved! 22nd February 2011 We are fine. You will have heard of the major earthquake which hit Christchurch today. There has been serious damage to buildings and some fatalities,...

Methven
2011-02-19, Methven, New Zealand. By: rozredhead

We are now in a sleepy Hill Billy town called Methven at the foot of some spectacular mountains so it is a ski resort in their winter but it is pretty quiet in summer except for the fishing. The riv...

Wellington to Whale-watching
2011-02-17, Kaikoura, New Zealand. By: rozredhead

Wellington to Whale-watching 17th February 2011 We left Turangi on Tuesday morning and drove to Wellington. Strange and varied scenery on the way with moonscapes, mountains and arable land. ...

Maori Mudpools and Turangi Trout
2011-02-14, Turangi, New Zealand. By: rozredhead

Maori Mudpool and Tongariro Trout 14th February On Saturday morning we left Auckland to drive south via Rotorura where we visited a Maori village and some sulphurous springs. The Maori greeted...

New Zealand
2011-01-22, Christchurch, New Zealand. By: Gibbiodini

We arrived in new zealand about a week before we had planned, mainly because australia was so expensive and we needed somewhere cheaper! So we decided to try and travel round as cheaply as we could. A...

Chinese Soap opera and Auckland arrival
2011-02-12, Auckland, New Zealand. By: rozredhead

Arrival in Auckland Friday 11th February Our last meal in China was very good but we shall not bore you with a gastrogram. The soap opera was quite good however and Roz was fascinated by a Chi...

Sand Surfing in Opononi
2011-02-07, Opononi, New Zealand. By: caveman

Early (up at 7am) & off to the pool at Kerikeri. I did 30 lengths, Mag 40, Nick 67! Then , after lengthy debate, Jessie & Harry stayed home, Dave was at work, & the rest of us set off to Opononi...

Waitangi Day
2011-02-06, Waitangi, New Zealand. By: caveman

Mag Rob & I set off before 8am to Waitangi. Very special day for maoris, anniversary of signing of the main treaty between Maori & English. Also very interesting time, as the current situation is ...

A Busy Day
2011-02-04, Kerikeri, New Zealand. By: caveman

First we all went to Puketi Forest - we looked at the Kauri, Then we went to Tapotahi beach, had a super time, the best beach in the world for swimming, clear water, gentle incline, warm water, hot...

Off to Auckland to pick up Nick & Rob tomorrow
2011-02-02, Auckland, New Zealand. By: caveman

Set off at 8.30am. Not a bad drive, lots of roadworks, but the lack of time constraints meant that they didn't cause us any concerns. Stopped at Wellsford, at a picnic stop, & we were accosted by 4 b...

SWIMMING IN THE SEA AT TUTUKAKA
2011-01-25, Tutukaka, New Zealand. By: caveman

Went to Whangarei for the day. Met up with Rena plus kids at Whangarei Falls, had picnic lunch by the falls. Then we went to the Tutukaka coast. We stopped at Kowharewa Bay for a couple of hours....

Hot Springs - Warm Rain
2011-01-22, Nga Wha, New Zealand. By: caveman

Rainy day. At lunch time, we headed out to the hot pools at Nga Wha springs (pronounced narfa). Weird experience, we were submerged in hot smelly water, with torrential rain falling on us. After...

DAY 23 ROAD TRIP - Thames to Kerikeri
2011-01-18, Thames, New Zealand. By: caveman

The weather has really broken, there are reports of a 3 day cyclone, really heavy winds & torrential rain heading our way. We set off in light drizzle. The aim of the day is to travel all the way ...

DAY 22 ROAD TRIP - Gisborne to Thames
2011-01-17, Gisborne, New Zealand. By: caveman

Another long driving day. We set off across the Eastern Cape, & I was concerned that it could be another difficult drive, the map showed lots of green (mountains), but in the event, it was a super jo...

DAY 21 ROAD TRIP - Eketahuna to Gisborne
2011-01-16, Eketahuna, New Zealand. By: caveman

Set off early, with the intention of getting a good few miles covered today. Quite a good road for a good while. We liked Woodville, I noticed Skinny Mulligan's pub. Dannevirke obviously had vikin...

DAY 20 ROAD TRIP - Ferry, Picton to Wellington
2011-01-15, Picton, New Zealand. By: caveman

We received a text from the ferry company that our crossing was very busy, & suggesting that we book in early. Therefore we set off from the Custom House before 9.30 am, on what looked to be an easy ...

DAY 19 ROAD TRIP - Nelson & surroundings.
2011-01-14, Kaiteriteri, New Zealand. By: caveman

After the exertions of yesterday, today was more of a relaxed day, looking at the area immediately around Nelson. There is a very pretty beach along the road from the Custom House, named Tahunanui....