Inka, Jojo & Enzed

Safely Home & Celebrating with Bubbles

2008-04-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

Moin to You in downunder,
the girls are back....they were a bit delayed in Frankfurt but got the last possible train to Hamburg.....here you see many lucky, happy faces..... not because of the champagne...YEAH RIGHT ..it was 1:30am in the middle of the night.... then one hour drive home by car.....then sitting in the kitchen telling stories for another hour.....it was a short "sleep" night...even too long for Jojo...she stayed in bed only for an hour...still living in downunder time.....we will see how long that will go on for ... today is the confirmation celebration.
The photo of the "flying backpacker" shows the next possible tourist to New Zealand....
Love to you
Christoph

Fare Well InkaJo

2008-04-10T02:39:00.000-07:00

Spoke to Inka tonight .. they're busy working out how to make 30kg into 20kg and doing what is really hard for the female of the species ... leave clothes behind!!! ... I think a cool beer on a warm Auckland evening is what is really needed ... maybe down at the Viaduct Basin ... they wont really need any sleep tonight ... plenty of time for that on the flight from Auckland to Seoul ... may as well go straight from the downtown bars to the bus at 7:00am and head for the airport ... which is about 5 minutes away from where I was brought up on the farm ... no longer there now ... just houses for as far as the eye can see!!!

Viaduct Basin (often Viaduct Harbour) is a former commercial harbour on the Auckland waterfront, now turned into a development of mostly upscale apartments, office space and restaurants. It is located on the site of a formerly run-down area of the Freemans Bay / Auckland CBD waterfront in Auckland City, New Zealand. As a centre of activity of the 2000 America's Cup hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the area enjoyed considerable popularity with locals and foreign visitors.

HISTORY
Original purpose
The Viaduct Basin is so-called because of a failed scheme by the Auckland Harbour Board in the early years of the 20th Century. As the size of ships were increasing dramatically rather than to build new wharves or dredge the harbour channels, it was proposed that cargo ships moor out in the Waitamata harbour channel and be unloaded into "lighters", small barges that would then ferry the goods to shore via the specially built wharves in the new "Viaduct Lighter Basin". The shipping companies refused to co-operate and forced the Harbour Board to engage in dredging and construct new wharves.

This left the newly completed lighter basin without a real purpose, so it was used to berth the various fishing boats and thus tidy up the appearance of the Auckland waterfront further east. Next to the Viaduct Basin a fish market and various warehouses were constructed, including Turners & Growers Ltd, the city's main produce wholesalers. The far side of the area was connected by a mechanical bridge that was able to be raised to allow the passage of fishing vessels into the basin.

New quarter
The development of the Viaduct Basin in the late 1990s as a mixed-use area of apartments and restaurants has been an uneven success. Some of the resulting buildings are very handsome, and the area was provided with a good selection of public, and semi-public spaces. In the basin itself are moored a colourful array of working boats and yachts, some of which are available for charter. The Auckland City Council has initiated a programme of public artworks for the area.

However some of the new residents of the area have objected to the use of the public spaces for events on the grounds of noise, so the attractive and expensive hard landscaping is less used than originally intended, since the area was designed as a setting for ongoing use by large crowds of people as it saw during the America's Cup in 2000. Some local residents have also objected to the high prices charged by the restaurants and shops. Noise and security issues connected with the local venues and eateries are also an ongoing concern as the Viaduct Basin continues to be a popular attraction for Auckland residents and tourists.

Adjacent to the area are the National Maritime Museum, the Tepid Baths pools, Victoria Park and the stylish Princes Wharf development. The Auckland CBD and main waterfront areas are directly to the east of the development, while the Northern Motorway a short distance to the west allows connection to parts beyond.

The Kiel Blue Line changes colour

2008-04-09T14:45:00.001-07:00

X-IT Day ... Friday 11 April 2008 is the day we fly home from our great time (more than 5 months of experiences) in that little country somewhere in the South Pacific ... back upover to Kiel ... on the other side for our second summer in 12 months ... it's tough but someone has to do it.

Rawene

2008-04-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to rawene.co.nz - a little information for visitors about Rawene. If you're thinking of visiting New Zealand's far north, then Rawene is an appealing and well-situated base for your stay. Rawene is a relaxed village on the southern side of the Hokianga Harbour with some of the best accommodation in the area.
Accommodation in RaweneRawene has accommodation to suit any budget and taste, from the luxury experience of the postmaster's lodgings to the fantastic facilities at the motor camp. No matter where you stay you are guaranteed an ultra relaxed atmosphere and fantastic far-north hospitality.
Things to do in Rawene and surrounding areasTo the South are the giant sand dunes across from Opinoni and the Waipua Forest where you will find the last great stands of the Kauri tree and the legendary Tane Mahut a . Inland is the Wairere Boulder Valley, which is worth a look at for its truly unusual basalt boulders. There are fantastic coffee shops where you can sit down and relax with a cappuccino, kayak in the Hokianga Harbour or simply take it easy and take in the scenery at the far-north pace.

The Top

2008-04-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

A lonely lighthouse and a gnarled, twisted pohutukawa tree on a windswept cliff top on the northern tip of New Zealand have a special place in the Kiwi psyche.Like Land’s End in Britain, this ultimate extremity of our dramatic landscape holds great historic and spiritual significance. The venerated pohutukawa is the Reinga, “the place of leaping” in Maori mythology, where the spirits of the dead leap off the headland and climb down the roots of the 800 year old tree, and descend into the underworld to return to their traditional homeland of Hawaiiki. Scenic tours run daily to Cape Reinga from Paihia and Kaitaia and include an exhilarating ride along the vast expanse of 90 Mile Beach, plus a hair-raising trip over the shifting sands of Te Paki Stream. The tours also offer adrenaline-pumping slides down the massive west coast sand dunes.

From the Cape Reinga carpark climb to the lookout point and revel in the liberating sense of freedom and space. Cape Maria Van Diemen dominates the west and the North Cape is a black smudge to the east.Standing there you feel the fresh sea breeze and marvel at the bright light which shimmers off the ocean crests. The seabirds wheeling and screaming over the agitated sea catch the eye and you suddenly realise you are witnessing the immense power of two mighty oceans merging together.

To the west an endless succession of Tasman Sea rollers advance towards the Cape while an opposing force powers in from the Pacific. The resulting collision is a maelstrom of churning ten metre waves erupting in explosions of spray and spume. It is fascinating to try and predict the collision points and to wonder at the energy released by this violent clash.From the carpark you can join part of the New Zealand Walkway System. A track leads down to Werahi Beach and continues on to Te Paki Stream. A track above the carpark winds around the coast to the Department of Conservation campsites at Tapotupotu Bay and Spirits Bay. Walking the Cape Reinga hills with a sea breeze, bright sunlight, pure air and wide vistas is a sheer delight.

Sand toboggans at Te Paki Stream

2008-04-08T01:22:00.000-07:00

Sand tobogganing on the sand dunes above Te Paki Stream ... right up at the top of New Zealand

The Kiel Blue Line

2008-04-08T01:18:00.000-07:00

The Stone Store

2008-04-08T01:16:00.001-07:00

The Kerikeri basin
This view of the Kerikeri basin is taken from Kororipo pā and shows the Kerikeri Mission House (right) and the Stone Store (left). New Zealand’s oldest stone building, the store was built between 1832 and 1836 to house supplies, and produce from the mission farm. It was later used as a library, military barracks and trading post, and ended up as a general store. Now under the care of the Historic Places Trust, it is open to visitors.

The Mission House

2008-04-08T01:15:00.001-07:00

Kerikeri Mission House
The Kerikeri Mission House (sometimes known as the Kemp House, after a missionary family that occupied it) is New Zealand’s oldest standing European building. Built by missionaries and Māori sawyers and carpenters in 1821–22, this simple wooden house was occupied until 1974, when it was presented to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

Bay of Islands

2008-04-08T01:12:00.000-07:00

Bay of Islands
Expanse of water with several long inlets and over 150 islands, south of Whangaroa Harbour. It formed when the sea drowned a number of river valleys, creating an irregular and attractive coastline of more than 800 km. The area shows signs of volcanic activity, with many eruption outlets and lava flows. Its outer limits are marked by the headlands of Tokerau on the north and Rākaumangamanga on the south.
A number of hapū (sub-tribes), with Ngāpuhi and/or Ngāti Hine affiliations, have a lengthy association with the bay. It was first visited by the ancestral navigators Kupe and Ngake (or Ngahue), and later Toikairākau.

European arrivals
The first European visitor was Captain James Cook in 1769, who named the bay. In 1772 the French navigator Marion du Fresne arrived. After a series of misunderstandings he was killed with 24 of his crew. In revenge the French destroyed three Māori villages and massacred around 250 people.
The next encounter was more peaceful. In December 1814 Anglican missionary Samuel Marsden arrived from New South Wales and preached the first Christian sermon on Christmas Day. The next year he established a mission station at Rangihoua Bay. Others were set up at Kerikeri (1819) and Paihia (1823). The bay was chosen for these missions because it was one of the first reached from Sydney, and had safer anchorages than the west coast. But Marsden’s contact with travelling Māori before he came to New Zealand, notably Te Pahi and Ruatara of Ngāpuhi, probably also influenced his choice.
Through the later 1820s and 1830s whalers favoured the bay for provisioning, bringing trading opportunities for which Māori competed vigorously. Whaling was concentrated at Kororāreka (now Russell), across the water from Paihia.

The Kiel Blue Line

2008-04-07T04:06:00.001-07:00

InkaJo

2008-04-07T03:59:00.000-07:00

Latest Generation HUGO

2008-04-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

Kaitaia

2008-04-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

We are heading up here to do the bus trip up 90 mile Beach and on upto the top of New Zealand ... Cape Reinga. Sleeping in the new Hugo .. our Toyota Spacio ... cramped but we are flexible ... STRONG ... BRAVE ... & CLEVER!!

Kaitaia, the most northern town in New Zealand is about 116 kms south of Cape Reinga. It has a good shopping centre, a variety of cafés and restaurants, a museum and Visitor Information Centre.
Kaitaia is a 4 to 5 hour drive from Auckland via the Twin Coast Discovery Highway travelling either the east coast or west coast of Northland. A daily express coach service is available to and from Auckland or alternatively Air New Zealand has regular scheduled flights into Kaitaia airport.
The town can cater for most accommodation requirements and conference facilities are available in the area. It is also a starting point for tours which leave Kaitaia daily, taking in the scenery by air or on land.
A busy farming town, it also supports vineyards and fruit growing - especially avocados. Like most rural towns Kaitaia has its very own annual Agricultural & Pastoral Show, well over a hundred years old and one of the oldest in New Zealand.
The surrounding areas are home to many skilled craftspeople working in wood, pottery, paint, glass, ceramics, flax, bone, and greenstone.
Its Maori and European history is long and rich - with a strong Dalmatian community harking back to the days of the gum digging boom. The Far North Regional Museum has moa, kiwi and gum digging displays, early transport and communication history, and the work of Arthur Northwood and his brothers from early last century - the Northwood Photographic Collection.
A Community Centre serves as a venue for concerts, plays and other cultural events as well as conferences, seminars and meetings. Other recreational facilities include an indoor sports centre, facilities for bowls, golf, tennis & squash and a shooting range.

Whangarei

2008-04-05T18:56:00.000-07:00

The Whangarei District covers the south eastern part of the region that is known as Northland. It extends from Langs Beach at the southern end of Bream Bay to Bland Bay further north, a distance of just under 100km.
The very indented coastline is over 200km in length. The Kaipara District lies on its western boundary and the Far North District lies to the north. At its greatest width, the distance east to west is about 60km.
Whangarei District has an area of 270,000 hectares inclusive of the off-shore islands of the Poor Knights and the Hen and Chickens Islands. Because of its extremely indented coastline, no part of the District is more than 40kms from the sea.
The city of Whangarei is 160km from Auckland. It is the largest urban centre in the Northland region and is the principal commercial centre. Whangarei is situated at 35.8 south 174.4 east. It is the hub for most of the transportation and storage services into and out of Northland

Whangarei, pronounced [ɸaːŋaɾei] in Maori and [fæŋæreɪ] in English ("fung-a-ray"; the initial consonant is pronounced /f/ in English), is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although it is commonly classified as a city, officially it is under the jurisdiction of the Whangarei District Council, a local body created in 1989 to administer both the city proper and its hinterland.
The city population was estimated to be 50,900 at 30 June 2007, up from 47,400 in 2001

More information about Whangarei

HISTORY
This was the area of the Musket Wars between the Maoris and the English

Marsden Point
Marsden Point, on the south head of Whāngārei Harbour entrance, is the site of New Zealand’s only oil refinery. It operates around the clock, 365 days a year. Almost half the fuel output is carried by pipeline to Auckland. The rest is shipped around the country from the deep-water berth at the point.

The Kiel Blue Line

2008-04-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

well InkaJo have a new Hugo .. a rental car and are on their way up to the north of the North Island ... more news when travel reports come through.

The Kiel Blue Line

2008-04-04T19:46:00.001-07:00

The Death of Hugo

2008-04-03T23:52:00.000-07:00

Well hello on the other side of the world ... here is the latest after havingt alked to the Stong Brave Clever Kielers. This story may not be factually correct in every little detail but you will get the rough idea.
InkaJo were travelling in Mr Hugo along the Forgotten World Highway whichis pretty much a back country road from Stratford to Taumarunui in what is known as the King Country in NZ. Hugo has been smoking lately even though he knows it is very bad for his health. Somewher about 50km from Taumarunui, Hugo starts smoking big time and going up a hill expresses a couple of very loud banging noises. He manages to go for about another 2-3 km before coming to a grinding stop. He needed OIL ( or as the blonde says ... some 710!!) and would not start again.

Some cars came by but no one had jumper leads .. so they could not start Hugo. Then a local farmer came by in a ute .. thats like the front of a car and the back of a truck ... a very NZ Australian type of vehicle !! .. They got Hugo started and drove to the famer's cousin's place further up the road ... he was also a mechanic ... yeha!!. He thought he would be able to get Hugo going so that InkaJo could get to Hamilton. They managed to get a second hand turbo unit from Taumarunui .. but it was nearly as bad as the bust one and Hugo was still smoking badly. The mechanic disconnected the turbo unit, which of course means less power but at least Hugo was running. They took him for a test drive up some hills and Oh my God the smoke was even worse!!! ... basically it appears that the motor was stuffed .. so what are two strong brave clever girls to do .. they go horse riding on the farm !!!
... and then arrange for poor Hugo (who had carried them for about 12,000km around NZ) to be sold to a wrecker. Never mind I suppose we are all born and we will all die.

I spoke to InkaJo about 4 hours ago at 4pm NZT and they were on a bus on their way to Auckland .. me thinks that a farm in the back blocks of Taurunui is a much more preferable place to be. They were both in an OK condition and probably have learnt more about life in the last week that all the rest of their trip. I think it will be an experience. although rough, that will last a lifetime ... something to tell the grandchildren .... YEAH RIGHT!!
more news tomorrow I hope.

Caterpillar, Main St & shakey knees

2008-04-03T02:46:00.000-07:00

Feet, face, reflection & natural arch

2008-04-03T02:43:00.000-07:00

Food !!

2008-04-03T02:41:00.001-07:00

Top of the South Island

2008-04-03T02:38:00.000-07:00

South Island Vistas

2008-04-03T02:34:00.000-07:00

Drought !!! we need rain

The Kiel Blue Line

2008-03-31T00:01:00.001-07:00

... as far as the turbo explosion ... SCHROTT

The Forgotten World Highway

2008-03-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

Well Inka, Jojo and a sick Hugo are somewhere on this road ... Hugo has had enough and blown the turbo unit ... but the Inka Jojo team are OK and have found a helpful farmer and are arranging a replacement turbo unit. Another experience in life's unpredictable journey !!!

... will keep you posted as reports come through. They are in a part of the country that has poor cellphone coverage ... message pigeons only!!!

THE FAMOUS ROAD in the MIDDLE of NOWHERE

1. Introductory Sign and Whakaahurangi Maori Trail The large sign gives travellers full information and a map illustrating all site locations along the entire Trail.
2. Douglas Village Like most small Taranaki settlements Douglas Village has declined with the closure of its dairy factory and store.
3. Douglas Brick Kiln This building, classified by the Historic Places Trust, is situated 200 metres along the side road and a short distance along a farm driveway.
4. Strathmore Saddle This point on clear days gives a great vantage of the four North Island mountains. The saddle also lies close to a fault line and in the surrounding hills there is still some evidence of the ‘shell rock’ containing fossils of marine life deposited when the land was the ocean floor millions of years ago.
5. Aotuhia (Bridge to Somewhere) An optional side-trip on an interesting and scenic backcountry route to this once abandoned valley (allow at least two hours for the return trip). A feature is the ‘Bridge to Somewhere’ built in 1937 of similar design to the Mangapurua Valley ‘Bridge to Nowhere’.
6. Te Wera The railway east joins the highway again near this point. The site sign is close to a spectacular large rhododendron, the Te Wera Forest and Recreational Camp and old saleyards site. Unique arboretum with named trees and short walk available.
7. Pohokura Saddle Named after a Maori Chief, Pohokura was first settled in the late 1880’s. In these early days the road over the saddle was so bad that it took three days to pack supplies from Stratford. Now sealed, the saddle provides a view of the valley once home to the railway workers building the Pohokura tunnel.
8. Whangamomona Saddle The saddle provides a spectacular view of the boundary of the Patea and Wanganui River watersheds with beech and podacarp forest flanking the highway. Start of a three hour circular forest walk, or a 100m walk into the beech trees.
9. Whangamomona Village The ‘Valley of Plenty’ was first settled in 1895 and by 1898 there were 187 people in the district. During the early 1900’s the settlement flourished but the great flood of 1924 started the settlement’s decline and now it is almost a ghost town. Republic Day celebrations are held every 2nd year, the closest Saturday to the beginning of January 2007.
10. Tahora Saddle Another spectacular vantage point for the central North Island mountains and surrounding valleys. Two Maori Pa sites are visible on prominent hilltops to the west and east. The saddle also overlooks two railway tunnels.
11. Tangarakau derives its name from the ‘felled trees’ cut down by the legendary Tamatea to repair his canoes on the Whanganui River. First settled in the 1900’s the village boomed in 1925 when it became home to 1200 people, the families of workers on the nearby railway.

12. Moki Tunnel A 180m road tunnel built in 1936. The floor was lowered in 1985 to allow triple-decked stock trucks to pass through. A short walking track along old saddle road (western portal) leads visitors into bush with abundant bird life.
13. Moki Forest Another detour off the highway (8km-15 minutes) to mature forest with outstanding regeneration of native species. Home of the endangered kokako bird.
14. Mt Damper Falls (85m) A further 8km past the Moki Forest sign through high semi-plateau farmland is the site sign for Mount Damper Falls. A walk of 20 minutes will bring visitors to a platform to view one of the highest falls in the North Island. Allow at least 2 hours for the detour to sites 13 and 14. Toilet available near site sign 14.
15. Morgan’s Grave Last resting place of Joshua Morgan, leader of a surveying party and his grave is considered a memorial to the men who had to find a way through this difficult country.
16. Tangarakau Gorge Carved by the river into sedimentary sandstones and clad in luxuriant native bush the Tangarakau Gorge is the next site on the trail. Large coal deposits originally formed in ancient peat swamps in a low lying prehistoric landscape and were mined in several locations in the Gorge and small pockets of coal can be found adjacent to the Gorge site sign
.
17. Tatu Coal Mine Village Four houses, a school and a hall were located near here for the workers of the now abandoned Tatu Coal Mine. A larger settlement called Puketihi with about 30 houses, a post office, store, two teacher school and reticulated water supply is located 4km up Waro Road.
18. Tatu Coal Mine The mine entrance is situated 6.5km up Waro Road which is unsuitable for vehicles, but does provide a pleasant walk.
19. Ohura Ohura township is 10km off the main trail. The township has declined since the closure of the coal mines.
20. Nevins Lookout Panoramic views of the King Country and the Central North Island mountains can be gained from the hill. Please ensure that the gate is shut behind you when entering or leaving.
21. Maraekowhai Reserve A site of considerable historic significance as it was a stronghold for rebellious Hauhau Warriors, part of an initially peaceful religious movement in Taranaki which became disenchanted with the style of European land acquisition. A war pole "rongo niu" was built in 1864 with four arms which it was believed radiated out in all directions calling warriors to the "cause". They danced around the pole to incantations which they believed would make them invincible to musket fire. A peace pole "rere kore" was built at the end of hostilities and both poles are now preserved on the site.
22. Papa Drive A fine example of many such drives, were built in the early 1900’s for road culverts. Most have now been replaced but some like this one continue to give good service.
23. Aorangi Flour Mill Although the original mill building has long since disappeared the trenches used to carry water from the Opetea Stream to the mill wheel can still be seen. The site sign is located on River Road opposite Koino Road junction.
24. Aukopae Tunnel The present road cutting was constructed in 1968. Walking access can be gained to the tunnel by following the line of the original road, allow 45 minutes for the return trip.
25. Aukopae River Boat Landing Landing place of the river boats which at the turn of the century transported settlers, livestock, provisions, mail and tourists from Wanganui to Taumaranui. The site sign is located 500m off the trail on Saddlers Road.
26. Nukunuku Museum Follow the sign from Aukopae Landing to Nukunuku Museum. The museum owned by Mr (Jock) Erceg is an interesting collection of memorabilia of the days of the Maori, river boats and early settlement.
27. Otunui River Boat Landing The Otunui Landing is a reminder of the time when the Whanganui River provided the main access to the King Country. Now scarcely distinguishable from any other section of the river bank, the landing is a popular picnic spot. Access can be gained by crossing the road bridge and then walking through the paddock on the opposite side of the stream. The site sign is situated in the picnic area at the junction of the River Road and Otunui South Road.
28. Te Maire Reserve Situated 0.5km from the River Road, access to the reserve is gained by driving over Te Maire Bridge. The reserve is a fine example of podacarp forest with well defined walks of up to 3 hours duration, with good views from the lookout and tree identification signs.
29. Herlihy’s Bluff The Bluff consists of alternating layers of coarse sandstone and fine mudstone laid down to a total thickness of 1.3km when the region was beneath the sea 15-25 million years ago. Very unstable, the bluffs have provided a headache for the road builder. The site sign is situated at the rest area.
30..TAUMARUNUI.

The Forgotten World Highway, one of New Zealand's most secluded roads, explores the ever-changing landscape between Taumarunui and Stratford.
New Zealand's first heritage trail, this scenic route winds over four mountain saddles, alongside the spectacular Tangarakau Gorge and passes through the 180-metre-long, single lane, Moki tunnel.
Stop, stretch your legs and explore historic sites and scenic walks along the way. View stunning vistas of Mt Taranaki's zen-like cone to the west; and Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro to the east.
Other highlights include the Mount Damper Falls, several 4WD tracks and the tiny settlement of Whangamomona, a small village declared a 'republic' by residents back in 1988.

This back-country hamlet celebrates its independence every second January when around 6,000 people flock to its village to partake in a bit of sheep racing, gumboot throwing, whip cracking, possum skinning—and the occasional shoot-out.
If you’re keen to drop by on Republic Day, don’t forget to grab your temporary passport from the local hotel to ensure safe passage through the area.
The Forgotten World Highway is a legendary one-day road trip—in more ways that one—but be sure to fill up your tank before you begin the journey as the next petrol pump is some 150 kilometres away!

Len Lye

2008-03-30T19:07:00.001-07:00

Len Lye, born Leonard Charles Huia Lye (5 July 1901, Christchurch, New Zealand - 15 May 1980, Warwick, New York), was a New Zealand-born artist known primarily for his experimental films and kinetic sculpture. His films are held in archives such as the New Zealand Film Archive, British Film Institute, Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and the Pacific Film Archive at University of California, Berkeley.

Lye's sculptures are found in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Berkeley Art Museum. Although he became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1950, much of his work went to New Zealand after his death, where it is housed at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth.

Have a look at some Len Lye short films at Google Video

Good Bye HUGO

2008-03-28T03:35:00.000-07:00

... and off HUGO went ... disappearing in a cloud of smoke ...

The Kiel Blue Line

2008-03-28T03:26:00.000-07:00

New Plymouth

2008-03-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

Jojo and Inka are in New Plymouth ... the bump on the left hand side half way up the North Island

Tim & El Rancho

2008-03-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

Tim works and lives at El Rancho in Waikanae.The camp is situated on the Waikanae River, close to the beach and just 60 kms north of Wellington , El Rancho (Waikanae Christian Holiday Park) is set amongst 70 acres of park land. You'll feel yourself relax as you come down our drive.

"Enjoy all the holiday park has to offer – from quiet, secluded retreat venues to exciting, challenging programmes for the whole family. Choose from our different accommodation options to suit you, whatever your budget.". Take a leisurely stroll down the riverside to Waikanae Beach - sheltered by Kapiti Island to the west and the Tararua Ranges to the east – the swimming is superb at one of the best sandy beaches on the coast. We love providing camps, holiday programmes and conference facilities to serve churches, schools, groups and families from all over New Zealand .

Guests return year after year to the premier holiday park on the Kapiti Coast. Enquire now and let your holiday begin…

For Tim's New Zealand photos go to hisphotosite

Waikanae

2008-03-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

Inka & Jojo call into Wakanae to meet up with Tim Hoff ... have a few beers ... forgot where they were going and ended up staying the night ... left the next day headed for Wanganui .. and are now in New Plymouth ... the bump on the left hand side half way up the North Island

Waikanae (pronounced Why-kah-nye) is a small town on New Zealand's Kapiti Coast. The name is a Māori word meaning "The waters of the yellow eyed mullet". Another settlement called Waikanae Beach exists near Gisborne on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand.
The town is about 60 kilometres north of Wellington, New Zealand's capital city, and is between the towns of Paraparaumu, eight kilometres to the southwest, and Otaki, 15 kilometres to the northeast.
Geography
Waikanae and its neighbouring settlement of Waikanae Beach serve as quiet places for families and older people. Many new cafes have opened up in Waikanae and Waikanae Beach to service both the locals and visitors to the beautiful Kapiti Coast. Just north of Waikanae is the small settlement of Peka Peka.
The town and surrounding area is most noted for its beautiful beach and river mouth, which is opposite the long form of Kapiti Island, which lies four kilometres offshore in the Tasman Sea. The waters between Waikanae Beach and Kapiti Island are a marine reserve, and whales are sometimes spotted on their migration routes through the narrow corridor. The beach itself is composed of black sand, but is still great for water sports and long walks. Inland, behind Waikanae, are the Tararua Ranges and the Akatarawa Valley, home to a popular conservation park, Staglands Wildlife Reserve. A road through the valley provides a link with the Hutt Valley via Reikorangi and Cloustonville

Don't pull the wool over my eyes

2008-03-26T01:02:00.001-07:00

It ain't heavy ...

2008-03-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

They wouldn' work !!

2008-03-26T00:57:00.000-07:00

timber town chicks fallin' for you !!

The Blue one is mine !!!

2008-03-26T00:53:00.000-07:00

Jack Johnson Groupies

2008-03-26T00:43:00.001-07:00

Hawaiian musician Jack Johnson has announced a three-date New Zealand tour in March next year - but he's skipping Auckland in favour of smaller venues.

The acoustic artist will be making his first Taranaki appearance on March 23 (Easter Saturday) at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands. He will also play Christchurch and Napier. Venture Taranaki events manager Garry Sharpe-Young says playing a concert is not the only thing Johnson will do while he is here. "We believe he's very keen for a surf before and after the concert," Mr Sharpe-Young says. He says the concert coincides with the annual national Masters surfing champs along Taranaki's coast.

"It's likely Jack could catch some of the action and go for a few surfs of his own. Imagine paddling into a wave with Jack Johnson next to you." The 32-year-old singer/songwriter performed three years ago in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. This tour he returns to Christchurch while making first-time visits to Napier and New Plymouth.

Big Bird

2008-03-26T00:34:00.000-07:00

The albatross colony ... Otago Peninsula .. Dunedin

A bare town

2008-03-26T00:29:00.000-07:00

They liked it so much .. that they named the town after it ... YEAH RIGHT

Nudist Sunbathers

2008-03-26T00:21:00.001-07:00

Southern Beaches

2008-03-26T00:19:00.000-07:00

The "J" Runners

2008-03-25T23:58:00.001-07:00

Jeremy, Josh and Jojo doing some "Chariots of Fire" running on the Wellington Wharves

The Kiel Blueline

2008-03-25T23:56:00.001-07:00

Heading back up the North Island ... calling in at Waikanae to see Tim and probably have some Kapiti hokey pokey icecream ... then onto Wanganui

Cruisin' in the Sounds

2008-03-25T23:48:00.000-07:00

Images from the ferry trip from Picton to Wellington .. early morning in the Marlborough Sounds

Preparing to say Goodbye

2008-03-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

Caffe Laffare

2008-03-25T04:41:00.001-07:00

& Courtenay Place looking for fancy icecreams !!!

The Cooking School

2008-03-25T04:39:00.000-07:00

Smiles to melt the ICE

2008-03-25T04:31:00.001-07:00

Playing Cards

2008-03-25T03:58:00.000-07:00

The Camera Repair

2008-03-25T03:41:00.001-07:00

In the middle of the workbench underneath the lamp !!!

Pukeko Signs

2008-03-25T03:40:00.001-07:00

The common name in New Zealand, used for Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus is Pūkeko, and is derived from the Māori name for the species.
The Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), also known as the African Purple Swamphen or Purple Moorhen or Purple Gallinule or Purple Coot , is a large bird in the family Rallidae. From its name in French, talève sultane, it is also sometimes known as the Sultana Bird. It should not be confused with the American Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica.

The Pukeko prefers wet areas with high rainfall, swamps, lake edges and damp pastures. The birds often live in pairs and larger communities. It clambers through the reeds, eating the tender shoots and vegetable-like matter, they have been known to feed on invertebrates (like snails) and to rob eggs from nests and also eat ducklings. Sometimes they eat small fishes as well. They will often use one foot to bring food to their mouth rather than eat it on the ground. Where they are not persecuted they can become tame and be readily seen in towns and cities.

This species has a very loud explosive call, also described as a "raucous high-pitched screech, with a subdued musical tuk-tuk". It is particularly noisy during the breeding season. In spite of being clumsy in flight it can fly long distances, and it is also a good swimmer, especially for a bird without webbed feet.

Waterfalls

2008-03-25T03:39:00.003-07:00

Funghi

2008-03-25T03:39:00.001-07:00

WOF Day

2008-03-25T03:37:00.001-07:00

Getting a "Warrant of Fitness" for Hugo to prove that he is roadworthy

Warrant of fitness inspections
What is a warrant of fitness?
A warrant of fitness (WoF) is a periodic safety inspection that is compulsory for light vehicles (eg, most cars, vans, utes and 4WDs).
Vehicles first registered anywhere less than six years ago must have WoF inspections every 12 months.
All other vehicles must have WoF inspections every six months.
Who carries out the WoF safety check?
Approved garages and testing stations (WoF agents) carry out WoF inspections. There are around 3,500 WoF agents in New Zealand.
To find one near you, look in the Yellow pages.
What does the WoF inspection include?
The WoF inspection is a general safety check, and includes:
tyre condition (including tread depth)
brake operation
structural condition. (Rust is not allowed in certain areas)
lights (Are all bulbs working? Do lights comply?)
glazing (Is your windscreen safe?)
windscreen washers and wipers
doors (Do they open and close safely?)
safety belts (Must not be faded or damaged; buckles must work properly)
airbags (if fitted)
speedometer (Must be working)
steering and suspension. (Must be safe and secure)
exhaust (There must be no leaks and the exhaust must not be too loud or smoky)
fuel system (There must be no leaks).
After your vehicle passes its warrant of fitness check, it's your responsibility to keep it in the condition that it was in when it passed the inspection.

A strong worker

2008-03-25T03:16:00.000-07:00

Stars

2008-03-25T03:11:00.000-07:00

We are sailing ...

2008-03-25T03:10:00.000-07:00

Sky Diver

2008-03-25T03:04:00.000-07:00

Internal Sustenance

2008-03-24T19:49:00.001-07:00

BEFORE

AFTER

Close Encounters

2008-03-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

Suspenders

2008-03-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

Glacier Girls

2008-03-24T19:21:00.000-07:00

Franz Joseph Glacier .. West Coast, South Island

Southern Images

2008-03-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

HUGO

2008-03-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

Hugo looks very small between to bigger cousi bros

(translation = relatives)

Back to NZ home

2008-03-24T04:21:00.001-07:00

Inka and Jojo arrived back in Wellington at lunchtime today ... the washing machine has been busy, the clothesline is full of clothes .. the clothes dryer is working overtime and ther are now two very tired bodies sound asleep upstairs at 14 Karamu Street. The photos in the last few postings are some that the girls took during their South Island travels .. and I will try and get some more posted tomorrow

Chinese Reunion

2008-03-24T04:19:00.001-07:00

Inka, Kristen of the "Chinese Club" & Jojo in Wellington today (Monday 24 March 08)

YES ... I have learn't to hold a glass !!

2008-03-24T04:18:00.000-07:00

On the Road Again

2008-03-24T04:12:00.000-07:00

Inka,Jojo & Hugo

Tree-mendous Jojo and then a one way bridge roadsign .. cars travelling in the direction of the large white arrow have right of way

Coastal Sunrise

2008-03-24T04:11:00.001-07:00

Moeraki Boulders

2008-03-24T04:07:00.001-07:00

Southern Scenes

2008-03-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

Bottom of the South Island

2008-03-24T04:02:00.000-07:00

The Kiel Redline

2008-03-18T00:06:00.006-07:00

Hanmer Springs

2008-03-18T00:06:00.005-07:00

Situated in the unique alpine village of Hanmer Springs 90 minutes drive north of Christchurch, the major gateway to the South Island of New Zealand. Hanmer Springs is a year round holiday destination offering a variety of outdoor activities, great cafes and accommodation.

In fact, the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa are so popular that they were voted BEST VISITOR ATTRACTION at the 2004, 2005 and 2006 New Zealand Tourism Awards and also received the coveted Distinction Award in 2006.

Hanmer Springs has always been famous for its thermal pools, their theraputic and relaxing waters have attracted millions of people. But Hanmer is much, much more than just hot water. The village is great for those who want to do everything and for those who want to do nothing.
Hanmer Springs is located in mountains of North Canterbury, nestled between the Kaikoura ranges and the southern alps. Hanmer is a sub alpine village sitting at 385m above sea level, sitting in a natural basin views of mountains and hills can be seen in every direction.
Our weather is more extreme than that of Christchurch, with beautiful hot days in the summer to snow and ice in the winter. But more often than not the weather seems to be fine, but no promises.

Geraldine

2008-03-18T00:06:00.003-07:00

Geraldine was discovered in the 1840s, but it wasn’t until 1854 that Samual Healings built the first bark hut in Talbot Street . He married a Maori woman, Aga Hei, and the totara tree which he planted to mark the birth of his daughter still stands on the site today in Talbot Street , opposite the police station. Sheep were quickly established in the area, together with pit saw milling of the native bush. When the bush had been cleared, wheat crops were grown across the plains. Originally called Talbot Forest , Geraldine was renamed Fitzgerald in 1857 after the first superintendent of Canterbury , the Irishman, Edward Fitzgerald. The name was finally changed to Geraldine which was the Fitzgerald’s family name in Ireland . Today Geraldine is in the heart of a prosperous farming area with sheep, cattle, deer, dairy cows, cropping and fruit growing in abundance. Almost 2400 people live in the town and its surrounding areas.

Fairlie

2008-03-18T00:06:00.001-07:00

Fairlie is a Mackenzie District town located in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is a service town 48 kilometres from Lake Tekapo whose main economic function is to provide goods for the agricultural area that surrounds it. Its population as of the 2001 census was 723, comprising 375 females and 348 males, marking a 14.4 percent decline in population since 1996.
From 1884 to 1968, the town was served by the Fairlie Branch railway, though until 1934, this branch line actually terminated a kilometre beyond Fairlie in Eversley.
Fairlie is commonly known as the gateway to the Mackenzie Basin. It was first known as Fairlie's Creek and supposedly named because it reminded early settlers of Fairlie in Scotland.
Fairlie hosts the annual Mackenzie District Agricultural and Pastoral show every Easter Monday. The 105th annual show was in 2006.
Being on the tourist highway between Christchurch and Queenstown, tourism is fast becoming a major industry within the town.

The Kiel Redline

2008-03-12T02:31:00.001-07:00

Aoraki

2008-03-12T02:23:00.000-07:00

The Story of Aoraki
Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, is called Aoraki by the Maori.
According to legend, which explains how the mountain's name came about, Aoraki and his three brothers were the sons of Rakinui, the Sky Father.
They were on a voyage around Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, when their canoe was stranded after striking a reef in the ocean.
Aoraki and his brothers climbed on the top side of their canoe. The cold south wind hit them, froze them, and turned them into stone.
The legend says their canoe became New Zealand's South Island which was then called Te Waka o Aoraki.
Aoraki, the tallest of the brothers, gave his name to the highest peak.
His brothers and members of his crew became the mountains of the Southern Alps.

Joshua and Sir Ed Hillary

Cromwell ...

2008-03-12T01:37:00.001-07:00

We stayed here on the night of 12 March

Cromwell is a town in Central Otago in the Otago region of New Zealand.
It is situated between State Highway 6 (linking to Wanaka, 50 km north, and Queenstown, 60 km west) and State Highway 8 leading to the Lindis Pass, 75 km northeast, and Alexandra, 33 km south. The road to Alexandra winds through the Cromwell Gorge.
In 1862 gold was discovered at the river junction, leading to the arrival of thousands of miners. After gold became scarce, the area became a centre of pastoral farming and stone fruit production. The latter is commemorated with the giant sculpture of stone fruit which stands outside the northern end of the town.
Cromwell formerly lay at the confluence of the Clutha River and Kawarau River, which was noted for the difference between the colours of the waters of the two rivers and also for the historic bridge at the convergence of the two.
Since the construction of the Clyde Dam and the filling of Lake Dunstan in the early 1990s the river confluence was drowned, as was the old town centre. In preparation for this, approximately one-third of the town was rebuilt on higher ground, including a new bridge, town centre, college, and civic amenities. Several of the old buildings of the town which escaped the flooding have been retained as a historic precinct close to the shore of the Kawarau.
It is unknown when and why the town was so named, although given the proximity of Naseby it is likely to have been named for Oliver Cromwell. The town was previously known as The Junction, The Point, or Kawarau.
According to the 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings, the permanent resident population of Cromwell was 2667, an increase of 54 since 1996.
Nearby settlements are at Bannockburn, Lowburn, Tarras, and Ripponvale.

The Clyde Dam is New Zealand's third largest hydroelectric dam, and is built on the Clutha River, near the town of Clyde.

History
There was considerable controversy when the dam was planned as to whether it was needed, and because it would flood many houses and orchards upstream at Cromwell, as well as the scenic Cromwell Gorge, which was a highlight of the then young but growing New Zealand tourism industry. Construction would also require the closure of the Otago Central Railway beyond Clyde, though materials for the dam would provide significant traffic for the rest of the line, which was experiencing a drop in freight tonnage. The dam was constructed, following the passing of enabling legislation, as part of Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon's Think Big projects of the late 1970s and early 1980s, creating Lake Dunstan. The power station has a capacity of four 120 MW francis turbines (for a total of 480MW), but is only allowed to run 432 MW due to resource consent conditions. The dam was built so that two further penstocks and turbines could be installed, but as of 2007 there are no plans to do so.

During construction, the adjacent rock was discovered to be microfractured, because of an earthquake faultline. A large amount of slurry cement was pumped into the rock to stop water leaks. This additional work was one reason for a major project cost over-run, which made the dam the most expensive in New Zealand. The other areas of over-run were due to stabilisation of landslides in the Cromwell Gorge. There are over 18 km of tunnels throughout the gorge for draining purposes. Because of all this extra work it overran the budget by nearly an extra 50% and delayed the filling of Lake Dunstan by a few years

Clyde

2008-03-12T01:05:00.000-07:00

The modern town of Clyde could be described as a little town with a big heart. After the dam construction was finished, the population settled at just over 800 people although people living on the Earnscleugh Flats, Mutton town, and Springvale areas consider Clyde to be their home town.

Until fairly recently Clyde was a sleepy hollow, a popular place to retire to for many people from Otago and Southland. It came alive in summer when a huge influx of holidaymakers – up to 5 thousand – descended upon the town. Many of them owned land or holiday homes in the area. But that is changing.

The impact of the rapid economic development in Central Otago during the past two or three years has seen a significant increase in the price of land and houses as well as large subdivisions and houses being built. There are a number of lifestyle blocks.

The major activities and industries in the district are pastoral farming, orcharding, viticulture, and hospitality.

Health Care : Dunstan Hospital, the major hospital for Central Otago, is based in Clyde and dates back to 1863. The aging hospital was upgraded and refurbished at a cost of several million dollars and was opened in November, 2005. Local GP’s (doctors) are based in Alexandra, ten minutes drive away.

Education : Clive has a thriving Play Centre and a quality primary school. A school bus provides a service to secondary schooling in Alexandra although some parents chose to send their children to boarding schools further afield.

Facilities : Two general stores, camping ground, community hall, swimming pool, Volunteer Fire Brigade, petrol station and garage, a thriving hospitality industry providing dining and accommodation, several parks, 3 museums, 3 churches, Lake Dunstan (boating, swimming) the Masonic Lodge Hall – one of the gems of the historic town - and many beautiful gardens.

Clubs/organisations : Most sports including bowling, rowing, and rugby. Tennis courts, and a golf course. There is also a bridge club and a theatre group.

Climate : Hot and dry in summer with temperatures easing into the 30-35 degree Celsius range. The spectacular autumn colours lead into very cold and frosty winters with snow on the surrounding mountains. Sometimes there are hoar frosts creating breathtaking scenery and bitter cold. The average rainfall is about 440mm a year.

Moeraki Boulders

2008-03-10T14:50:00.002-07:00

A little fishing village on the coast south of Oamaru has become famous for a geological wonder on its windswept sands.The Moeraki Boulders are huge spherical stones that are scattered over the sandy beaches, but they are not like ordinary round boulders that have been shaped by rivers and pounding seas. These boulders are classed as septarian concretions, and were formed in ancient sea floor sediments. They were created by a process similar to the formation of oyster pearls, where layers of material cover a central nucleus or core. For the oyster, this core is an irritating grain of sand. For the boulders, it was a fossil shell, bone fragment, or piece of wood. Lime minerals in the sea accumulated on the core over time, and the concretion grew into perfectly spherical shapes up to three metres in diameter.The original mudstone seabed has since been uplifted to form coastal cliffs. Erosion of the cliffs has released the three tonne captive boulders, which now lie in a haphazard jumble across the beach.

Further erosion in the atmosphere has exposed a network of veins, which gives the boulders the appearance of turtle shells. Similar boulders occur at Shag Point, and the nearby swimming beach of Katiki. In Hawke’s Bay in the North Island, scientists have found that the central core of similar boulders contained perfectly preserved skeletons of turtles, sea snails and extinct reptiles, such as plesiosaurs.Moeraki has a long history of Maori occupation, which is represented in the town today by the Kotahitanga Maori Church and a pa site nearby.

This small seaport town was the first European settlement in North Otago. Behind the town a road leads to the lighthouse where you can find a yellow-eyed penguin sanctuary and a seal colony. There are other walks of ecological interest around the coast, and through the Trotter’s Gorge native forest. South of Moeraki is the town of Palmerston, where you can follow an historical scenic route to Central Otago.Moeraki makes a fascinating stopover point, both for the dramatic coastal scenery and the curious geological phenomenon on the beaches.

Some images from when the BLANDFORD team went to Moeraki in 2004

Dunedin

2008-03-10T14:50:00.001-07:00

One aspect that makes Dunedin unique is its Scottish heritage. The city's Scottish beginning gives it a special flavour which makes it quite different from anywhere else in New Zealand or Australia.
Late nineteenth century visitors, like the French political scientist Andre Siegfried, the Irish land radical Michael Davitt and the inimitable Mark Twain, were struck by the city's Scottish character. Since that time immigration from Scotland has declined to almost nothing, but the Scottish character remains intact.
Dunedin is the old Gaelic name for Edinburgh, yet Dunedin is nothing like the Scottish capital except for the street names and the entrancing "Juliet" towers which grace some of the older houses. Dunedin is hillier, smaller, closer to the sea and has better climate than Edinburgh.
Yet the place somehow reminded the founding settlers of the Midlothian countryside from which the majority came. It's rugged hills were familiar and they were delighted to discover that a bracing winter's frost was usually followed by a still, blue day, that the surrounding country was ideally suited to running sheep and growing oats, wheat and barley and that the river water was clear and clean. Galloway dry stone walls are dotted around the hills of the Otago Peninsula. Dunedin seemed tailor made for settlement by Scots.
These Scots, who established their own special free church Presbyterian settlement would made three major contributions to Dunedin's distinctive character.
First, they brought with them a passionate enthusiasm for education. The wealth generated by the gold rushes was soon put to good use in setting up Otago Boys' High School in 1864, the University of Otago in 1869 and Otago Girls' High School in 1871. Girls' High was one of the first state run secondary schools for girls in the world. New Zealand's oldest university has gone on to become the second largest in the country and boasts a range of special schools, including the first medical school in New Zealand.

The Catlins

2008-03-10T14:36:00.000-07:00

The Catlins - the name that conjures up images of a corner of New Zealand untainted by the modern world - a place where time has stood still and a visitor may enjoy forest, wildlife and the life-style of a bygone era. This image is a true reflection. Accidents of history have favoured protection of the Catlins and it still retains many accessible wildlife havens in its varied hill and scenic coast.

Visitors to the Catlins should plan to stay at least two or three days to fully explore this very unique area with its wildlife and spectacular natural places. The Catlins is a great place to stay and enjoy, and to get a little off the beaten track!

The map below illustrates the Southern Scenic Route. The route runs from Dunedin in the North through to Invercargill in the South (passing through the Catlins) and up to Te Anau.It is clearly marked along the highway with frequent signposts. The road is now fully sealed, but is winding and narrow in places, so care must be taken.

The Catlins is a region of forest, countryside and coast between Kaka Point and Fortrose on the south-eastern corner of the South Island. Owaka, the main town, has a population of around 400 and a collection of essential shops and services. Accommodation in the Catlins area is full of local character, especially if you choose to stay in B & Bs, farmstays and self-contained cottages.
A quick history

The Catlins' first human inhabitants were Maori of the Kati Mamoe, Waitaha and Kai Tahu tribes, which today are known collectively as Ngai Tahu. No formal Maori pa (forts) were located in the Catlins, but there were many hunting camps. The area was once inhabited by giant flightless birds known as moa, and the timber of the forest was ideal for canoe construction.

European whalers arrived in the early 1800s, followed by settlers who came to farm the land and harvest the dense native forest. The area gets its name from Edward Cattlin, the ship's captain who purchased a large tract of land from local Maori in 1840. However authorities didn't formally transfer the land until 1873, a little late for Captain Cattlin who had died in Sydney 17 years earlier.

The Catlins coast has always been a challenge for mariners, and shipwreck stories abound in the area. The most tragic shipwreck occurred in 1881, when the SS Tararua struck the reef at Waipapa Point, resulting in the loss of 131 lives. It was the worst sea disaster in New Zealand’s history and led to the construction of the Waipapa Point lighthouse. Another historic lighthouse, at Nugget Point, guards the other end of the coast.

Photogenic geography
Beneath the Catlins' forest and farmland, Triassic and Jurassic sandstones and mudstones often reveal interesting fossils. At Curio Bay you'll find the petrified remains of a forest that’s over 160 million years old. The fossilised trees were closely related to modern kauri and Norfolk pine.

Another oddity is Jack's Blowhole, where a large sea cave has collapsed to leave a deep ocean-filled hole in the middle of a field. At the northern end of Waipati Beach you can walk to a series of tall sea caves - these caves are accessible two hours either side of low tide.

In most of the Catlins region the land rises sharply from the coast to the inland ranges. For this reason, many of the area's rivers pour over waterfalls as they approach the ocean. Purakaunui Falls is particularly beautiful, cascading 20 metres in three tiers. The most amusing waterfall is Niagara Falls, named by a surveyor with a sense of humour (they fall less than a metre).

Curio Bay
Curio Bay contains the remains of a fossilized Jurassic forest. At low tide, the fossil remains stretch from Curio Bay for 20 km around the coast to Slope Point and are some of the least disturbed in the world. By the late Jurassic period, New Zealand was an extensive landmass linked to nearby parts of Gondwana (Australia/Antarctica).

At that time Curio Bay was a broad floodplain flanked by active volcanoes which flooded the forests with volcanic debris. The lower parts of the trees were buried and turned to stone. The trunks that lie exposed were carried in by the flood and were partially buried. Due to the very complete nature of this process known as 'silification', the petrified wood and its texture are of an unusually high quality. It looks very much like real wood yet feels just like stone.

Curio Bay is the site of one of the world's finest fossil forests. The platform of petrified stumps, fallen trees and fern imprints are easily accessible at low tide, or can be viewed form the platform above.

The Kiel Redline

2008-03-10T11:22:00.001-07:00

Bluff

2008-03-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

Best known for being at the bottom of New Zealand for the Bluff oysters. (YUK says Jojo!!!!)

Some say that Bluff oysters are the finest in the world. They are grown slowly in the cold clean waters of the Foveaux Strait. In season, they are dredged by Bluffs oyster fleet.

Oystering first began commercially at Stewart Island in the 1860s. Coastal cutters were simply beached on the beds at high tide and the oysters shovelled aboard as the tide dropped. The catch was transported in the shell to the mainland and right from the outset demand was so high that within a few years the beds were exhausted. Depleting beds caused the closure of the harvesting in 1877. In 1879 new larger beds were discovered in deeper water and the centre of activity gradually shifted from Stewart Island to Bluff.

Although commonly known as the Bluff oyster, it is known by others names, including mud oyster, flat oyster, dredge oyster, Foveaux Strait oyster and deep water oyster.The species is actually found throughout New Zealand, but is most common in the south.

A quota system was introduced in 1963, the twelve oyster boats then engaged in the industry being set a limit of 170,000 sacks per season (each sack containing, on average, 800 oysters). The quota was progressively reduced until in 1970 with 23 boats operating, it was 115,000 or 5000 per boat (in eating terms that equates to two dozen oysters for every man, woman and child in the country). Seasons were relatively good until the 1986/87 season when the beds were struck by the parasitic protozoan Bonamia. This caused the oysters to become watery and black. Because of the Bonamia the season was ceased in 1991 and did not reopen until 1994 with a limited quota and fewer boats.

When oystering first began it was a race to get the first oysters back to the wharf. Today some boats are met by helicopters who whisk the oysters away to be distributed throughout the country.

Invercargill

2008-03-05T00:08:00.006-08:00

The City of Invercargill invites you to experience the warmth, friendliness and hospitality that makes Invercargill such a great place.
Invercargill is favourably placed on the Southern Scenic Route and is the gateway to some of New Zealand's most beautiful scenery and destinations including the Southland heartland, Stewart Island, Fiordland and the Catlins. Visit the Venture Southland Tourism website for more information on these areas.
With a combination of cultural attractions, a rejuvenated city life and outstanding nature reserves and parks, visitors to Invercargill often say how much there is to see and do in Invercargill.
From excellent shopping to lively cafes, restaurants and bars, Invercargill has all the benefits of city life with few of the drawbacks. The inner city upgrade has transformed the city centre into a modern, attractive and vibrant heart of the city. The variety and number of heritage buildings in the city centre add to Invercargill’s character.

Invercargill's Water Tower, probably the City's best-known landmark, is situated on Reserve land on the south-west corner of Queens Drive and Gala Street - the highest point on the Town Belt of the original town of Invercargill.
This 42.5m high city landmark in red brick was completed in 1889 to the design of William Sharp, a former civil engineer for the Public Works Department. On top is a water tank which has a capacity of 297,000 litres. The Tower is considered a unique example of Victorian architecture and has been classified by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
The Water Tower still performs one essential duty in that the water in the tank provides enough pressure in the water mains within the City should the electric power supply to the pumps be interrupted unexpectedly.
Make the trek up the 112 steps inside the Tower to get a fantastic view over the city.

The Kiel Redline

2008-03-05T00:08:00.005-08:00

Milford Sound

2008-03-05T00:08:00.003-08:00

Milford Sound - Icon of New Zealand
Lying at the most northern and accessible end of Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound is reached either by road, air or foot. The road to Milford Sound is considered to be one of the world’s finest alpine drives.There are plenty of tour operators providing travel to Milford, or you can take your own time and drive yourself.Visitors to Milford normally opt for a cruise of the sounds by launch, and the experience for most is unforgettable.This is a unique opportunity to get close up views of some of the best scenery Fiordland has to offer. Be inspired as mountain peaks soar overhead and waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres into the sea below. Often, dolphins accompany your cruise up the sound and seals are a common sight as they bask on rocks.Visit the underwater observatory in Harrison Cove and get a different angle on the unique underwater marine life.With the exception of the Milford Deep Shuttle, all departures on the sound visit the Observatory as part of a Milford Sound Cruise.Of course there are lots of other things to do at Milford Sound as well, including diving, tramping, sea kayaking, fishing and more.

Some photos of the BLANDFORD team in Doubtful Sound .. next door to Milford Sound

Te Anau

2008-03-05T00:08:00.001-08:00

The best base for exploring the Fiordland region is the attractive resort town of Te Anau. From here it is just twenty minutes drive to the picturesque Lake Manapouri.

Fiordland National Park lies at the South West of the South Island of New Zealand. 1.2 million hectares in size, Fiordland is the largest National Park in New Zealand. It is the work of over 500 million years of constant sculpting as the land was relentlessly ground, split, fired, and pressured by the elements. Even today this process continues.Fiordland’s economy is based mainly around tourism, with some fishing, agriculture, forestry and hydroelectric power development. The heart of Fiordland is the resort town of Te Anau, lying at the foot of Lake Te Anau. Te Anau is the gateway to Fiordland and is the start of the road which leads to famous Milford Sound.Fiordland is characterized by low population numbers, few roads, and an isolated and untouched state. Its landscape is typically wild and mountainous and is a rare place where humans have made little impact on the environment. Instead, there lie countless mountains and fiords, rivers and lakes, and forests teaming with life.So great is Fiordland’s beauty, that early explorers put aside their usual dry explanations, and instead opted for a more romantic and mysterious approach.

In the words of E.H. Wilmut: "The peaks in every direction are crowded and crushed together, till looking over the scene one appears to be viewing a petrified ocean".The sheer scale of Fiordland defies description. The land abounds with valley after valley, rivers stretch for miles - fed by Fiordland’s many lakes, and near vertical cliff faces tower impressively overhead in the fiords and sounds, while waterfalls plummet hundreds of feet into the icy water below.Milford Sound is the most famous example of this, where the steep rock walls and cascading waterfalls of the fiord attract thousands of visitors per year.Fiordland is well known for its changeable weather - where rivers and waterfalls were once calm and placid - they can within a moment become thrashing torrents of water, demonstrating to the fullest extent Fiordland’s sudden and unexpected changes. But come back within a day, and that same place will be peaceful and silent again, except the sound of birds and other wildlife.Fiordland National Park has a unique system of walking tracks and the most famous - the Milford Track - is known world wide. After all, Fiordland is coined ’The sightseeing and walking capital of the world.’

FIORDLAND HISTORY
Fiordland has a wealth of history covering nearly two centurys and a great variety of people, from the early navigators and explorers to whalers, sealers and surveyors.Hardship and persistence in some of the remotest, most difficult country in the world characterise the tales of human exploration and settlement of Fiordland. And as the noted naturalist and explorer Richard Henry observed, Fiordland was ’fine country for a waterproof explorer or prospector’, country ’utterly useless except for mountaineers’. Tongue-in-cheek remarks - undoubtedly but they convey something of the essential flavour of the region and the exaspera-tion it can induce.The historian John Hall-Jones has written that in Fiordland can be found ’some of the earliest signs of man’s first contact with’ New Zealand.

The country’s first European house seems to have been built in the area, and New Zealand’s ’first shipwreck and first ship-building’ took place in the remote fiords of the southwest. Early Maoris began to explore Fiordland from about 800 years ago. They were inventive, adventurous and resilient, as all who venture off the well-trod way must be. Remnants of the major southern Maori tribe Ngatimamoe, fled into remote parts of the Fiordland in the late 18th century. They were pursued by Ngaitahu tribesmen from the north, and about 1780 two battles are said to have been fought in the far southwest at Preservation Inlet which the Maoris called Rakituma, ’the threatening sky’. About 5 years later legend has it that Pukutahi led another group of fleeing Ngatimamoe intending to take refuge and settle in the Murchison Mountains (’the land of the moho’ - takahe) between the south and middle fiords of Lake Te Anau. Te Hau, a Ngaitahu warrior, led a party which caught and slew some of the escapers in a fracas thought to have taken place across the lake from the hotel at Te Anau.The survivors disappeared and entered lore as the poignant holders of the names ’lost tribe’ or ’wild natives’ of Fiordland. In 1851 Captain Stokes of the survey ship Acheron recorded that he and his crew ’came on the fresh foot-marks of some natives’ in Bligh Sound, most likely members of the ’lost tribe’ that Paddy Gilroy, skipper of the Amazon, had seen there in 1842. And Captain Cook had earlier made contact with Maoris when he put the Resolution in to Dusky Sound for repairs and to rest his crew from March to May of 1773.

Europeans approached Fiordland from the cold lumpen seas of the south and west, or from the south and east over a rolling and often rugged landscape. The great navigator and voyager, Cook, took Endeavour in close to Dusky and Doubtful sounds in March 1770 but the time of day, and the wind direction, forced him to sail prudently away. But he returned in 1773 and left us with a rich legacy of information and observation which fas-cinates to this day.One of Cook’s midshipmen, George Vancouver, returned to Dusky in 1791. The following year a party of 12 sealers went ashore from the Britiania. Within about a year they’d collected 4,500 seal skins, and so began a period of intense slaughter (which decimated and threatened fur seals around New Zealand’s southern coasts with extinction) before the activity became uneconomic and the carnage ended early in the 19th century. The sealers knew the wild coastline as well, and likely better, than anyone, and in the early 1 800s there were sealing stations at Dusky, Dagg and Doubtful sounds. In 1829 a substantial whaling station was built at Preservation Inlet but it too, due to indiscriminate killing of a kind that had quickly destroyed the sealing business, soon came to the eerie end that follows excesses caused by ignorance and greed. By 1838 the station at Preser-vation was deserted and the whales, those great and noble ’singers of the sea’, were given a temporary respite and reprieve.

From then until 1851 when Stokes sur-veyed the West Coast in the Acheron, there was a lull in the exploration and charting of the Fiordland coast. Stokes and his party pieced together the work of earlier arrivals, greatly added to the number of places and features named, and provided the basis for all subsequent maps.Land explorers, surveyors, gold-seekers and runholders approached the region via the Waiau and the upper Mataura and Greenstone valleys from 1852 on.C. J. Nairn and W. H. Stephen reached Lake Te Anau in January 1852- see the commemorative plaque at Bluegum Point. Sheep runs were taken up in the 1850s, David McKellar and George Gunn looked into the Eglinton and Hollyford valleys and beyond in 1861, and James McKerrow surveyed large areas of the southern half of the Park in 1862-63. In 1863 Patrick Caples was the first European to travel overland from Queenstown and down the Hollyford to Martins Bay where a short-lived settle-ment, promoted vigorously and with misplaced optimism by Otago’s superin-tendent James Macandrew, began in 1870. Jamestown a ’miserable’ place according to one of many disgruntled settlers - endured for about 5 years before most abandoned the place.Explorers came and went but some stayed.

One who remained was the legendary Donald Sutherland who arrived at Milford in an open boat in December 1877. As he said himself, 96km in ten hours was indeed ’a bully run’. The same year, 1877, William Docherty began his nearly 20 solitary years of prospecting in Dusky Sound.Another notable Fiordland pioneer was the naturalist Richard Henry who lived in a hut on the south shore of Lake Te Anau from 1883 until he left in 1894 to become official caretaker on Resolution Island in Dusky Sound. Henry spent about 15 years on the island and for many years he attempted to establish there hundreds of flightless birds such as the endangered kakapo and kiwis. To his dismay he discovered that stoats and weasels were swimming to the island and undoing all his efforts. Sadly, he wrote in his diary that he was beaten: ’I feel I cannot stay here much longer.’ It was another instance of introduced animals hastening the descent towards oblivion of native species. While Henry was making his heroic efforts in the southwest others were con-tinuing to explore the country further north. Quintin Mackinnon was given credit for discovering the pass on the Milford Track (he was drowned in Lake Te Anau in 1892), Te Anau township -then called Marakura - was surveyed in 1893, and the real thrust of road and track construction was then set to begin.Gold-mining and prospecting also lured people to Fiordland last century. In 1886 there was a small rush to Martins Bay but pickings were slim and within a year all but a hopeful handful of miners had left. The area around Big Bay was worked over in the 1890s, and there was a thriving gold-mining town, Cromarty, at the head of Kisbee Bay in Preservation Inlet. Sawmills also operated there and at other places along the south coast, some of them persisting well into the early years of this century.

But the gold ran out, sawmilling slowed and then stopped, and the remote coasts of Fiordland seemed to have again with-drawn into a kind of primeval isolation and quiet - except for the birds, of course, the slow irresistible encroach-ment of the magnificent forests, the barking of seals, and the whistle and roar of wind and wild seas. After 1945 the crayfishers began to arrive in increasing numbers from ports around the South Island, and in the 1950s and 1960s crayfishing boomed. It became a major export industry; small fortunes were made, vessels and lives were lost. Since then catches have declined but there is still a reasonable living to be made by the hardy people who engage in this hazardous occupation. Hazardous, too, is the business of live deer recovery and commercial shooting from helicopters. Though not as lucra-tive as it was, this high-risk activity is still of major economic importance to Fiordland. Farming in the Te Anau basin along the fringes of the Park has grown rapidly in recent years, especially since 1960 on land developed with direction and assis-tance from the government’s Lands and Survey Department. Cattle and sheep farming (black sheep are a feature on some properties), and deer farming too, are carried out with an intensity never envisaged before the depression of the 1930s.But the most important commercial activity in the Fiordland area is tourism. People come from all round the globe to visit the region and experience its magnificent natural features. Tourism has grown steadily over the years, start-ing in earnest, perhaps, with the opening of the Milford Track in the 1890s and blossoming even more when the Homer Tunnel went through and was opened to traffic after World War II. Then with jet travel firmly established the future of the region as a tourist attraction was assured. Both commercial operators (of which Fiordland Travel Ltd is by far the largest) and the Eiordland National Park staff work together in an effort to pro-tect and preserve the qualities and natural features of the region for the en-joyment of future generations of people. Each visitor explores Fiordland in his or her own way and contributes to the ongoing history of the region, parts of which have rarely - and sometimes never - felt the tentative and wondering press of a human foot. Curiosity endures, history goes on

Queenstown

2008-02-27T00:32:00.000-08:00

We are here

Surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is New Zealand’s premier four season lake and alpine resort destination.
Whatever you do, whatever your style, Queenstown will feed your imagination, fuel your passions and revitalise your spirit.
Rugged mountains, majestic lakes, crystal clear air, and just so much to do. From bungy jumping to wine trails, jet boating to tramping, dining out to skiing, the tricky part is extending your stay to try and fit everything in. Irresistible AttractionThe area has captured hearts and imaginations since the first Maori came in search of pounamu (greenstone) and the giant Moa bird. More recently, gold miners, adventurers, filmmakers, wine enthusiasts, Hollywood stars and US Presidents have been drawn to this magical region and its intense alpine energy.

Simply an Adventure
Adventure for fun, accessible adventure, adventure for relaxation. Queenstown is renowned for adventure. But there’s much, much more. Queenstown is a sophisticated holiday resort set in the magnificent landscapes of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. (Plenty of Activities)

Downtown
Born as an 1860’s goldmining camp, 140 years later Queenstown has a compact and sophisticated downtown area tucked into a picturesque bay on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Dwarfed by the surrounding mountains, there are amazing views from everywhere. There’s also a permanent buzz in the downtown area where you’ll find a lively café/bar scene and excellent shopping. (Click for retail)

An Eventful Year
If having an unbeatable list of activities isn't enough, any one of the wide range of events on offer in this region could prove an irresistible attraction. The 45th parallel provides four distinct season and the locals dont let any go by without a fitting celebration or two. (Events Calendar)

Nightlife

Dusk to DawnQueenstown rarely sleeps. Sophisticated wine bars, live jazz, top DJ’s, long summer nights in a garden bar serving locally brewed beer or après ski in front of a roaring log fire, there’s more than 160 licensed bars and cafés in downtown Queenstown and the socialite is spoilt for choice all year round, any night of the week. (click here)

The Kiel Redline

2008-02-27T00:29:00.001-08:00

We are in Queenstown ...

Wanaka Sky Dive

2008-02-27T00:03:00.000-08:00

Yes me .. Jojo ... did this from 15,000 feet above the ground.

Scenic Skydiving at its very best! Skydiving New Zealand with Skydive Lake Wanaka is a scenic adventure experience like no other! Our mission is quite simply to offer you the best skydive experience in New Zealand. Let us introduce you to the awesome adrenalin of skydiving, whilst delivering an unequalled level of safety and personal service, in one of the most stunning locations in New Zealand.
Beautiful Lake Wanaka is situated at the base of the Southern Alps offering a breathtaking skydiving adventure over the mountains, glaciers, rivers and lakes of Mount Aspiring National Park.
See New Zealand’s highest mountains, Mount Cook (Aoraki) and Mount Aspiring (Tititea), with glaciers that feed glistening rivers, crystal blue lakes and the rugged World Heritage Mount Aspiring National Park.
This dramatic and mountainous landscape makes Skydive Lake Wanaka the most spectacular tandem skydive in New Zealand!
Choose your Skydive Altitude: Skydive Lake Wanaka offer tandem skydiving from 15,000 and 12,000 feet, with a range of skydiving DVD and photography options to capture your New Zealand skydiving experience, allowing you to re-live your personal skydiving adventure over and over again! This is your adrenalin-fuelled introduction to the real spirit of New Zealand.

Wanaka

2008-02-22T01:07:00.005-08:00

We are now in Wanaka ... beautiful ... and all is well with us and Hugo

Lake Wanaka is the picture and the mountains are the frame. Move easily from one to the other while you pursue outdoor adventures of every kind in Wanaka.
Highlights include Lake Wanaka, Mount Aspiring National Park and Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World.

Gillespie Beach

2008-02-22T01:07:00.003-08:00

We also visited Gillespie Beach and saw some dolphins .. a magic finish to a magic day

Thanks to Rolf Hicker for a couple of these amazing images.

The Gillespies Beach is a wild stretch of coastline near Fox Glacier on the South Island of NZ and is the ideal place to build a rock memorial. The remaining rays of the sun at sunset glisten off the rock memorial that was hand crafted on Gillespies Beach in NZ.
A rock memorial is built for many different purposes and if you categorize all of them into one group they are actually called cairns. Each cairn is a pile of stones erected by humans and they add a touch of class to the beach of NZ at sunset. These rocks are a symbol of a burial site or a rock memorial, can mark the summit of a mountain, mark a path across barren terrain or glaciers or are sea markers to help mariners locate themselves.Dredge at work, Gillespies Beach

SOME HISTORY
A small dredge worked the beach sands for gold on Gillespies Beach, South Westland, in the 1930s and 1940s. Significant levels of radioactivity were found in the dredge-sand concentrates. During the Second World War this seemed to be the best chance of finding uranium in New Zealand, but subsequent testing showed that the uranium content was too low to be of economic value.

Fox Glacier

2008-02-22T01:07:00.001-08:00

We did the walk onto the Glacier ... awesome
At 13kms, Fox Glacier is the longest of the awe-inspiring New Zealand West Coast glaciers. At its head, soaring peaks of over 3,000m (10,000ft) dominate the vista. These include Aoraki (Mt Cook) and Mt Tasman, which, weather permitting, can be viewed on our heli-hiking experience. This mighty moving river of ice falls 2,600 metres, or a little over 8,000ft, on its journey from the base of the Southern Alps to the West Coast. New Zealand’s West Coast glaciers are unique and probably the most accessible glaciers in the world, as they terminate amongst temperate rainforest just 250m above sea level. So special is this mountain environment, that it forms part of the South Westland World Heritage Area.

Fox Glacier moves fast...The unique combination of climate and shape means that Fox (and Franz Josef) Glaciers move at approximately 10 times the speed of other valley glaciers around the world. At Fox Glacier this is due to the funnel-like shape of the glacial valley and the huge nevé, the snow accumulation area, at the top of the glacier. Fox Glacier’s nevé is 36 square kms, bigger than the whole of Christchurch City!
...and is currently advancing!Glaciers constantly advance and retreat, held in delicate balance by the accumulation of snow gained in the upper glacier and ice melting in the lower part. An increase in snowfall at the nevé will result in the glacier advancing. Correspondingly, a faster melt will result in the glacier retreating. Overall Fox Glacier has been advancing since 1985.

Punakaiki

2008-02-17T14:32:00.001-08:00

Punakaiki is best known for its Pancake Rocks and Blowholes - both of which are spectacular and a must-see when visiting the West Coast ... and we have just been here and are now heading for Hokitika the greenstone capital of NZ

Punakaiki is the service centre for the Paparoa National Park - 30,000 ha of varied landscape from lush West Coast native rainforest and mountain tops, to expansive rugged beaches and coastline. But there's more to see and do here than that - ecotourism and tourist activities are plentiful. Take a walk along the beach looking for greenstone; walk the numerous forest and mountain tracks into the Paparoa National Park. Picnic on the beach, surf, or explore the amazing limestone caves.

Lake Brunner
The lake and surrounding rivers and streams have some of the best Brown Trout fishing in the South Island, with year round fishing on the lake and some rivers. Fishing guides, licences, tackle and tackle hire are available in Moana. The area features abundant bird life, and a variety of wetlands and rainforest ecosystems. There are many walks in the area from 10 minutes to 6hours.

Lake Brunner is the water playground of the Central West coast, with all forms of boating and water sports. Scenic lake tours are available all year round including a water taxi service to all areas of the lake. There are many great spots for picnicking on the lake edge.Moana has a world renowned working pottery making domestic and sculptural works, salt glazed and coal fired.
The Lake Brunner area is well serviced as a holiday destination with accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. There is a service centre for motoring needs and grocery supplies, a hotel, fully licensed café, as well as a variety of land and water based activities.

Dragons Cave Adventure

The trip is in a wild, natural cave and has different floating sections on tubes across flat, slow moving water done in the dark to the light of a galaxy of glow-worms in the roof. Your adventure with us is one of intrigue, anticipation and even a touch of romance. In between the floating sections you can do things like slide down an underground waterfall, cuddle through the Love Tunnel or ride the 'Wild West Big Wet and Greasy'! A 100 foot natural rock hydroslide.

The Kiel Redline

2008-02-13T00:18:00.000-08:00

We are in Westport

Westport

2008-02-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

We are now here ... the port town of Westport is the largest centre of the Northern West Coast and the perfect starting point for exploring the region's heritage and scenery.
Westport is steeped in history; a visit to Coaltown Museum will help you imagine life as it was for New Zealand's pioneering coal miners as you walk through a simulated underground coal mine. Nature lovers can visit the Cape Foulwind Seal Colony, and the nearby coastal walkway offers views of the magnificent West Coast sunsets.
Charleston
Just twenty minutes south of Westport lies the historic gold mining township of Charleston where you can explore the gold-workings. Relax and take in nature's wonders from the Nile River Rainforest Train. Charleston is also famous for its Glow Worm Cave Tour. The galaxies of glow worms and incredible stalactites and stalagmites formations in one of New Zealand's largest caves will astound you.
Denniston
Just 15 minutes from downtown Westport is the village of Waimangaroa - the gateway to the historic settlement of Denniston, located 600metres above sea level with sweeping vistas of Westport and the surrounding landscape.
Denniston was established in the 1800s by coal miners working on the Burnett's Face, Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale mines. Originally, the only access up 'the Hill' was the steep Bridle Path, or a heart-stopping ride in a coal wagon up the Incline. It's arduous and often treacherous access meant that many of the early settlers came down from 'The Hill' as they called it only once a year - some, particularly women, not for a decade or more. Today, shingle roads linking the original settlements provide vehicle access across the plateau. The remnant relics, mine sites, rope roads and townships remain as an evocative reminder of one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments in which to live. The plunge from the head of the incline is a view not to be missed.
As well as its incredible history, Denniston offers a wide range of walking tracks from a few minutes to a full day.
For those looking to pit their skill and endurance against the remarkable terrain, the Department of Conservation and local recreation groups have developed a number of mountain biking and four-wheel driving tracks.

Karamea... WEST COAST

2008-02-09T01:12:00.000-08:00

... we are now in Karamea ... having travelled through Westport to pick up the JF package which was forwarded on from Karamu St.

... Karamea sits at the end of a no-exit highway sandwiched between rainforested hills and the Tasman Sea. The town serves hikers and adventurers who are looking for a taste of New Zealand wilderness. Limestone arch formations are a special feature of the area. You can walk to the Oparara Arch, which spans the Oparara River, or venture further to find the Moria Gate Arch. To see the Honeycomb Hill Caves and Arch, you’ll need to book a guided tour. Karamea is near the southern entrance to the Heaphy Track, a multi-day walk through the Kahurangi National Park. Day walks include the Fenian Track, Mt Stormy and the first leg of the Wangapeka Track. Functional facts: Approx. population 680, information centre, limited accommodation and shopping.

The Heaphy Track is one of NZ's Great Walks. The track is 82 kilometres long crossing a range of landscapes just a small part of the Kahurangi National Park covering tussock covered downs, river flats, lush forest, and the scenic West Coast, rugged in beauty and diverse in nature. The nikau groves that tower the last part of the Heaphy Track to Karamea make it especially beautiful. The track is not difficult, and suitable for families and those with little experience. It is recommended that you carry clothing and equipment for all conditions as weather conditions can be changeable at all times of the year. The Heaphy Track can be walked either way, but often the preferable route is to walk from the Collingwood end to Karamea. This is mainly due to the fact that you climb onto the table-lands and then drop down to the West Coast.
The distances between the huts vary from 8km to 16 km. Most huts accommodate 20-26 trampers, with full gas cooking facilities. It is advisable to carry your own cooking utensils, as well as cutlery. Trampers should be aware of the need to respect others, and share space and facilities.Sand-flies: Yes, there are sandflies on the Heaphy Track, especially once you hit the Coast. Carry a good insect repellent. Also be aware that mosquitoes may be a problem.

The Oparara Basin
Kahurangi National Park - the ultimate destination...
Rich unspoiled rainforest stretching across a broad valley floor, three magnificent arches sculpted by the Oparara River, bush-fringed streams stained the colour of billy tea from the humic acids washing down through the soil, and an underground treasure hidden away in a highly complex cave system, combine to make this area one of immense national and international significance.The Oparara River is the habitat of the whio or blueduck, which frequents the swift-flowwing waters. The Department of Conservation has some 450 stoat traps in the Oparara as part of its blue duck protection scheme.
Taking just 45 minutes drive from Karamea to get there!

Havelock

2008-02-02T00:57:00.001-08:00

Well we have headed back upto the top of the South Island again to Havelock ... one of the gateways to the wonderful Marlborough Sounds

Enjoy your experience, exploring information on businesses, local attractions and community activities in the Havelock area. The green shellmussel capital of the world and gateway to the Marlborough Soundsat the top of the South Island, New Zealand.Discover the Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds. Havelock is a great tourist destination with tours, cruises, boat charters, fishing trips, walking tracksand sea kayaking.

Havelock is the gateway to the Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds.Discover the Marlborough Sounds at the top of the South Island. An extraordinary place of a labyrinth of bays, coves and inlets. There is about a fifth of New Zealand's coastline in this unique area.Much of the Pelorus and Kenepuru area is accessible by road, but to truly explore this treasured destination, stroll down to the Havelock marina where waterfront taxis and charter vessels are moored. Experience the Sounds by boat, sea kayak or on walking tracks with very good shelter in most weather conditions and all year round. The crystal clear waterways of the Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds are famous for fishing, great diving, boating, kayaking, swimming and water-skiing.Enjoy the natural beauty of native bush and crystal clear waters.A great place to experience New Zealand wildlife; gannets, shags, blue penguins, tui's, wood pigeons, weka's and dolphins are often seen.
There are studios and gardens open to the public to visit and numerous lodges, B&B’s and home stay establishments. Discover campsites, holiday parks, fishing lodges and backpackers tucked in fern-fringed coves.

Marlborough Sounds

2008-02-02T00:56:00.000-08:00

... and we are going sailing here !!!!!

The Marlborough Sounds encompass 20% of New Zealand's total coastline. This intricate maze of waterways consist of three sounds, namely the Queen Charlotte Sound, the Kenepuru Sound and the Pelorus Sound. Within the area are pristine native forest ranging from towering 800 yr old Rimu trees, lush punga tree ferns and beautiful native orchids, all plunging down to the shoreline. The myriad bays, coves and inlets are perfect for exploring by sea kayak.The Queen Charlotte Sound is the more well known of the three Sounds, and is dominated by bush-clad shorelines, deep bays and coves, ideal for exploring by sea kayak. The Kenepuru Sound is the smallest of the three Sounds. The Pelorus Sound has expansive waterways, with some exposed areas. Whilst Tennyson Inlet and Nydia Bay are two particularly beautiful sea kayaking areas, the rest of the sound does have a predominance of farmland and forestry.
Stretching between the Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sound is the Queen Charlotte Track. A 71km track renowned for its stunning views and contrasting landscape. The unique aspects of this track are also the variety of accommodation available along the track and the water transport services which allow your luggage to be transferred each day, whether you are walking guided or freedom.Located in the heart of the Queen Charlotte Sound is Picton, the largest town (5000 residents) in the Marlborough Sounds. Picton is where the inter- island ferry (between the North and South Island) arrives and departs. This is a 3 hour ferry ride for those travelling to and from the North Island. For those travelling from around the South Island, we can easily be reached by car, bus or train.