A Photo Look at New Zealand's North Island

Okay, I took close to 500 photos in New Zealand and while they all aren't here there are more than other posts.  You have been warned.  

I arrived in Auckland in the evening of Sunday April 5 so my first real sight of the city was the following morning from the coach on the way to Paihia.

After a couple of hours on the bus we arrived at Paihia which is on the east side of the North Island above Auckland.  Paihia is in the Bay of Islands.

View from the beach in Paihia.

As soon as I arrived I checked into my hostel and then boarded a boat for a cruise around the islands.  Almost right away we spotted dolphins swimming in the water.

The main feature of the boat ride was to head out to the "Hole in the Rock" island.  The water was far too rough for us to drive through the hole but it was nice to look at all the same.

Once we left the "Hole in the Rock"  also known as Motukokako Island we stopped at Urupukapuka Island where I walked around.  The island was very hilly but it lead to some great shots.  You'll notice the sheep.  In case you didn't know there are sheep EVERYWHERE in New Zealand.

The following day I took a tour to Cape Reinga via the 90 mile beach.  Our first stop was in a Puketi Forest.  You'll notice how wide the trees grow although they don't grow super tall.

Once we left the forest we headed down onto 90 Mile Beach.  90 Mile Beach is an actual road even though it's all just sand like a regular beach.

90 Mile Beach

We stopped near the end of the beach and drove up stream towards some sand dunes for sandboarding.  

Can you see the people at the top?  We had to climb up but then we got to sand board down!  It was a ton of fun even though my toes had seen better days.

After sand boarding we headed back onto the bus and stopped at Taputaputa Bay for a swim stop for those that wanted it.

We then headed to Cape Reinga and its lighthouse.  The Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet at Cape Reinga and the area was breath taking.

View taken at Cape Reinga

Cape Reinga light house.

The Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea meeting - notice there are waves in two directions?

From Cape Reinga we headed back to Paihia with a stop for super fresh fish and chips in Mangonui, a fishing villiage.

The next day I explored Russell which is just a short boat ride away from Paihia.

The view from Russell.

Later that afternoon I headed back to Auckland.  I again arrived in the night and so other than walking around town there wasn't a ton to do.  The following morning I walked my way to the Auckland Museum where I took in a Maori show and saw a lot of Maori art.

Maori men from the cultural show I watched.

The Auckland Museum from the outside.

Once I left the Museum I made my way back into the city and boarded a boat to Devonport a small suburb of Auckland.  The rain wasn't on its best behaviour (it kept pouring on me) but I was able to walk around, and climb one of two mounts in Devonport.

View of Auckland from the "Mount" I climbed in Devonport.

The next morning I boarded my not much bigger than a pencil jet and flew to Tauranga. 

The pencil sized plane I flew in from Auckland to Tauranga. 

Yes, every seat is a window and an isle seat.

Tauranga is located on the Bay of Plenty which is on the east side of the North Island, below Auckland.  It is called the Bay of Plenty because 1. it's a bay and 2. they can grow PLENTY of fruit there.  The photo below is taken from the airplane.  You'll notice dark lines.  They are lines of super tall trees which are there to protect the growing kiwi fruit from the wind.

 

Donna and Guy were waiting for me at the airport and they brought me back to their place.

We then picked up some of her friends in Papamoa (sp?) and headed to Kiwi 360 to learn about Kiwi farming.

Kiwi Fruit!

Donna and I in with the kiwi fruit

That evening we went to Mount Maunganui for a climb up the mountain at sunset.

Moon rise in Mount Maunganui

View taken from Mount Maunganui

Sunset from Mount Maunganui

Don't feel too badly for Donna and Guy. 

 This is the view from their kitchen and living room window.

TThe next morning we headed to Kinloch, a small community just outside of Taupo.  On our way we stopped at Orakei Korako one of many geothermal parks in region.  It was really amazing to see all that the ground around me was doing.  Remember there are many volcanoes in New Zealand and it's in a very high earthquake zone.

A geyser at Orakei Kurako geothermal park.

Boiling mud!

Hidden Valley, where Orakei Korako is located.

After an hour or so at Orakei Korako we finally made it to Kinloch.

My welcome to Kinloch by Guy's mom and dad.

Once settled Guy drove Donna and I into Taupo with stops at Huka Falls, and a view point. Donna said it was impressive that I could see all three mountains (Ruappehu, Tongariro, and Ngauruhoe) in the background.  She also mentioned that Ngauruhoe (the cone shaped one) is Mordor from the Lord of the Rings. Thanks Donna ;-)  After the view point we walked around Taupo and spent time in the Taupo Hot Springs.

Huka Falls

View point in Taupo with Taupo Lake in the background.

Taupo Hot Springs

(We actually had our own private pool and didn't use this bigger pool.)

The next morning, Donna, Guy, Doug (Guy's dad), and I did a 14 km hike up and over a ridge on the lake.  

View from the hike.

Guys parents then took me out on their boat so that I could see some Maori carvings, and try my luck fishing.  

  

The Kinloch boat marina.

The following morning we headed back to Tauranga via a few stops. The main stop was in Waitomo where I was able to go into the glow worm caves.  Unfortunately I could only take photos as we were exciting the caves at the end of the tour. 

Me and Donna with the large sheep shearer in Te Kuiti. 

Waitomo Caves

The Shearing Shed in Waitomo - they shear these rabbits for wool.

I don't remember this town but they had  animals like this sheep

 and the pukeko (sp?) bird  below.

As we made our way back to Turanga we where super lucky to pass a look out point just as the sun was setting.

The next morning Donna and I as well as her friends from Papamoa headed to Rotarua to catch a sheep show and to learn about Kiwi birds.  Rotarua also has a ton of geothermal parks but since we had already visited Orakei Korako we had to give them a pass in Rotarua.  However in Rotarua you can't help but notice them as the town smells like sulpher. 

The sheep in the sheep show.

Me and the baby sheep!  

While I did see real kiwi birds they are nocturnal animals and we weren't allowed to take photos of them so you get this instead.

"Downtown" Turanga

On Friday morning I boarded a bus and headed to Napier.  The bus ride took over five hours with stops in Taupo and Rotarua.  It was a nice way to see more of the country side.  The bus driver even stopped at a Waipunga Falls, before finally arriving in Napier, on the Bay of Hawkes.

Waipunga Falls

Napier is the art deco capital of New Zealand (and maybe the world??).  Although I didn't have much time there I was impressed by all the different building I saw.  I was too late to do a walking tour but I was able to sit in on an informational video about its history.  The Bay of Hawkes is one place I wish I had more time though as it's also in prime wine country.  Can you imagine me in a wine region and NOT visiting a winery?

The next morning (I told you I didn't have enough time in Napier) I was on a plane to Wellington.  Wellington is near the bottom of the North Island.  It's a very hilly place - a bit like San Francisco. While in Wellington I walked around and shopped (and SPENT finally buying a wool garment that I had been looking for since I arrived in NZ), visited the parliament building and  the museum, and I took the cable car up one of the hills.

Some of Wellington from the water.

The "Bee Hive" building of parliament.

Te Papa Museum in the background.

Over all I'm really glad I went to New Zealand.  It's a great country with some amazing people.  I even prefer their accents to the Aussie ones I'm hearing in Melbourne.  New Zealanders are a bit quirky too and you just never know what you're going to get or what you're going to see.  And it's so green and lush and reminded me a lot of BC.  I know I missed an entire Island but I am trying to see if there is any way I can get back there before I head back to Canada.

Anyhow it's time I get back to my dad because he's HERE IN MELBOURNE with me!!  How lucky am I.

(I'll try to get to fixing the typos later, but I just wanted to get this up for you guys).

I'm Alive and Still in New Zealand

Hi, this will be a quick update (I hope) so that know you know that I'm still alive in New Zealand. Unfortunately you'll have to wait for photos though as I don't have the cable with me to download.

New Zealand

I arrived into Auckland on Sunday evening. Most things were closed for the night so I just walked around taking in what I could. Early Monday morning I was picked up by the "Kiwi Experience" bus and whizzed off to the Bay of Islands and the town of Paihai. WOW, what a beautiful place. Upon arrival I quickly booked a boat tour and got to see many of the islands up close and personal. New Zealand is a lot more like BC than anything I've seen in Australia and I'm loving it. I can't believe how much I miss GREEN GRASS, mountains, and water.

During my second day in the Bay of Islands I did a day tour to Cape Reinga via the 90 mile beach. We made several stops along the way but you'll have to wait for photos to find out about them. What I can tell you is that we were really lucky because typically you can only drive along 90 mile beach in one direction (yes, you actually drive ON the beach right beside the ocean) but because of the tides on the day that I was traveling we were able to drive in BOTH directions. Cape Reinga was also beautiful spot. It was an excellent travel day with the exception of me getting sick on the bus.

On my third day in the Bay of Islands I headed to the town of Russel via boat before heading back to Auckland. I spent Thursday in Auckland exploring downtown and the marina area, the Museum of Auckland where I caught a Maori Cultural Show, and the suburb of Devonport (you get there by boat). I had every intention of going up the Auckland tower to get photos before sunset, during sunset, and of the night sky. I was pretty disappointed when I showed up to find out it was closed for a private function.

Friday morning I boarded a tiny plane (you know the kind a bit wider than a pencil) and headed to Tauranga. Donna and her husband Guy were at the airport waiting for me. It was so nice to see another Canadian. Donna and I (as well as some of her new friends) headed over to Kiwi 360 to learn about Kiwi fruit farming (Kiwi that we know is called Kiwi Fruit here in NZ. Kiwi refers to either the bird or a New Zealander - Kiwi Fruit refers to the fruit.) I've never seen so many Kiwis at one time. It was pretty cool. Donna and I then headed home and picked up Guy. We headed to Mt. Maunganui and walked up as the sun was setting. The views along the route up were incredible and I'm so glad we took the time to hike up. (I have done more up hill walking here in NZ in a week than I have my entire time in Australia).

Saturday morning we packed up the car and headed to Kinloch, a small town near Taupo. Along the way we stopped at a geothermal park which was pretty incredible to see. When we finally arrived in Kinloch I was greeted by Guy's parents who were super friendly. After a bit of visiting we headed to the hot pools in Taupo for some relaxing. We spent a bit of time wondering around Taupo too. Taupo is home of Ironman New Zealand so it was really cool for me to be there. I'd love to do the Ironman there. It reminded me a lot of Penticton.

Sunday we did a 14 km hike up and along a ridge that followed Lake Taupo. The views were breath taking. In the afternoon we went out on the boat to see the Maori carvings, and we attempted a bit of fishing (which weren't interested in being fished).

This morning we packed up and head back to Tauranga. We spent the morning back in Taupo (I was hoping to find SOMETHING with IM NZ on it - no luck) before heading out towards Waitomo. We stopped a few times along the way but again you'll have to wait for photos for details. Once in Waitomo I went into the glow worm caves which was an experience. It was pretty cool to see them but after my tour guide on the day I went to Cape Reinga all I could think about was what he called them. It's not approriate to post here so you'll have to e-mail me directly to hear what he said.

We are now back in Tauranga and Donna is making dinner (and it smells great). Tomorrow Donna and I are off to Routarua. I'm not sure if I'll get another chance to post a blog while I'm here but I will do my best to write one when I get back to Melbourne this coming weekend.

Okay, this is a bit longer than I expected but hopefully it lets you in on what I've been up to. Keep in touch. Photos to come! K

It's Time to Fall Back

Just when you (my Vancouver friends and family) figured out our new time difference with your daylight savings time, we are now switching off daylight savings time.  So as of 3 am tomorrow morning (Sunday, April 5) I will be seven hours behind, but one day ahead.  That means when it's 7 pm for you, it's 12 noon for me but the next day.  It will make verbal communication with the mother country that much harder.  Thankfully e-mail knows no time zones.

It's a good thing I know about the time switch though because I have a flight to catch tomorrow at 12 noon, which is the old (or will be soon enough)  1 pm.  I don't really care what time it is as long as I'm at the airport in order to I catch my flight to New Zealand.  It's going to be another great adventure, including an awesome five day visit with my friend Donna from back home.  I'm not sure how much (if any) blogging I'll do while I'm in NZ but there will be a full update when I get back.  Remember when I land back in Melbourne after this adventure my DAD will be waiting at the airport for me.  So many great things to look forward to...

Term One DONE!!

I'd be lying if I said that this first term has been all roses.  To be perfectly honest it hasn't been all that wonderful.  For the first time in my teaching career I actually didn't enjoy going to work.  Many little things went wrong although individually nothing was all that major.  I've adjusted to planning the Australian way and I'm surviving with very few resources.   But I think that even with a couple of attitude adjustments  I got tired of pushing the little things to the side and they started to affect me.  From a professional stand point I'm trying to take in all that I can educationally here in Melbourne.  Like the system I've left behind for the year this one has many positives and negatives.  But I'm observing and learning (and trying my best to keep my mouth shut even though at times it practically kills me) so I can share when I return.  

The plus of this term is the staff members that I've met and clicked with.  People have been very kind to me and I appreciate that a lot.  The friendships will only continue to get stronger.  My class has also jelled nicely and my  more challenging students realize I'm on their side so dealing with their personal issues is a lot easier.  Obviously there are still challenges as there are in any classroom but the ones in my class  keep me challenged in a positive way. How boring the day would be if everyone did the right things all the time.

I look forward to a better term two.  But first things first... look out New Zealand HERE I COME!!!!