South Island: Together with my parents I did another road trip through New Zealand. We spent a few more weeks on the South Island after we had left Wanaka. Most prominent places were The Fiordland, Dunedin, Queenstown, the Glaciers, Arthur’s pass and Cape Farewell in the far north of the South Island. Just before my brother’s birthday on February 3rd we took the ferry to Wellington and started our North Island tour.
North Island: Stops along the way were Wanganui, Taupo, Napier and Gisborne and the remote yet impressive East Cape of New Zealand, the Maori Land. Once a flourishing area in the 1920s to the 1950s the area seems neglected and underdeveloped. Still the East Cape has it’s own charm with beautiful secluded bays, beaches and long peers along most of the shoreline. Back in Auckland we also explored parts of the Northland.
Elan joined us several times over the weekends in Dunedin, Queenstown, Taupo and Coromandel.
Total kilometres on the road: 7.000 plus!
17-Jan 2009
South Island, New Zealand
Wanaka is nicely located on a huge lake at the foot of Mt. Aspiring National Park. Today was a sunny day and we spent some time on the lake shore and cafes in town. In the afternoon we walked to the close by winery for a wine tasting and enjoyed the afternoon sun with a bottle of Riesling and local cheese.
Christchurch - Lake Tekapo - Mt. Cook: On Jan, 13th I took a flight with my parents from Auckland to Christchurch on the South Island. On the same day we made it in our rental car to Lake Tekap and Mt. Cook Village. We aspired to climb up to Mueller Hut, a 1.040 m. ascent. The weather was splendid in the morning with supurb views of Mt. Cook. Therefore we decide to climb up and we eventually made it - after 8 hours! On the way up I felt truly sorry for my parents (67 and 62) for the hard work it was to reach the hut at 1.850 m. But it was way worth the effort. The views of Mt. Cook and the surrounding glaciers are breathtaking from Mueller Hut.
03-Jan 2009
North Island, New Zealand
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you! I hope you all had a pleasant time over Christmas and a great start into 2009. Over Christmas I did some serious hiking around Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand's highest volcano and the highest mountain on the North Island (2.797 m). I walked the Around-the-mountain-track (71 km) and finished off with a trip to the crater lake. The peak is still covered in snow! Over New Year's I hiked another "Great Walk" at Lake Waikaremoana (42 km). The setting there is beautiful. From one of the huts (1.185 m) you overlook the lake on one side and on the other side you can see the coast line. An amazing spot for a hut!
My parents will arrive in about a week. Together we tour the South and North Islands of NZ. In late Feb we also plan a 10-days trip to Tonga. I can't wait.
01-Oct 2008: Auckland, New Zealand
Touch down in New Zealand again! From Mexico I found my way back via the U.S. to New Zealand. I stayed with my dear friend Chris in Auckland for a while before I found my own place in Grey Lynn, Auckland. I also found work with the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) as a web designer.
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