Hi everybody
19th Feb
We started out at 8.20 am this morning with a city tour of Dunedin stopping at the signal hill for the views over the city and then to the steepest street in the world which Stuart managed to walk up and get his certificate proving he had managed it.We then travelled up the coast to Moeraki to see the rock boulders and to have the best fish and chips ever and then went further up the coast to Oamaru , very interesting buildings. We stopped at Benmore Dam looking down the valley at Lake Benmore and Lake Waitaki , the views were fantastic.We stopped the night at Lake Tekapo again with marvellous views.
20th Feb
Early start at 8.30 am , stopped at the lake to see the statue of the sheppard dog and the the little church.On route to Christchurch we stopped at Geraldine to see the woollen shop which has the largest jumper in the world and also a copy of the tapestry of King Harold of 1066 which took the guy 25 years to do.In Christchurch we just had time to look round the botanical gardens and taken to yhe highest point as we had early start in the evening with a tram ride around Christchurch with all free drinks and then to a restaurant.
21st Feb
End of our New Zealand tour . left Christchurch for Fiji to the Sofitel. Had a walk around the beach before getting ready for a nice meal.
Sunday, 21 February 2010
Thursday, 18 February 2010
14th Feb
Went on the Haast river on a jet boat ride and did 360 degree spins.After we stopped at a salmon and trout farm for morning coffee and fresh scones.We had a lovely journey through mountains to Queenstown where we had a marvelous apartment suite and the views from the restaurant overlooked Wakatipu lake.
15th Feb
Away from hotel at 7.55am for our Skippers canyon tour , the old gold miners trail, very narrow tracks with extremely steep drops inches away in a 4 x 4. Afternoon looked around Queenstown.
16th Feb
A lie in this morning until 9.30 am , when we went for our open jet boat ride on a narrow canyon river and then came back to town and went up on the gondala overlooking Queenstown where we saw bungy jumping and luge rides and paragliding.In the evening we had an a la carte meal at the hotel.
17th Feb
Left hotel at 7.30 am to Te Anau where we were stopping the night and travelled to Milford Sound and had 2.hr 30 min cruise around the fiord land , seeing whales and seals with wonderful views of the mountains and glaciers.
18th Feb
We started the day with a short ferry crossing to glow worm caves to see the glow worms and fantastic caves with rushing waterin them.After we travelled to Dunedin scottish heritage. The weather has been a little unkind to us taday , raining.
Went on the Haast river on a jet boat ride and did 360 degree spins.After we stopped at a salmon and trout farm for morning coffee and fresh scones.We had a lovely journey through mountains to Queenstown where we had a marvelous apartment suite and the views from the restaurant overlooked Wakatipu lake.
15th Feb
Away from hotel at 7.55am for our Skippers canyon tour , the old gold miners trail, very narrow tracks with extremely steep drops inches away in a 4 x 4. Afternoon looked around Queenstown.
16th Feb
A lie in this morning until 9.30 am , when we went for our open jet boat ride on a narrow canyon river and then came back to town and went up on the gondala overlooking Queenstown where we saw bungy jumping and luge rides and paragliding.In the evening we had an a la carte meal at the hotel.
17th Feb
Left hotel at 7.30 am to Te Anau where we were stopping the night and travelled to Milford Sound and had 2.hr 30 min cruise around the fiord land , seeing whales and seals with wonderful views of the mountains and glaciers.
18th Feb
We started the day with a short ferry crossing to glow worm caves to see the glow worms and fantastic caves with rushing waterin them.After we travelled to Dunedin scottish heritage. The weather has been a little unkind to us taday , raining.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Kia Ora everybody ( means hello in maori)
Feb 8th
Left Auckland at 8.00am to view the highest point called Mt Eden then made our way to the Goldfields railway for 30 min train journey of the Karangahake gorge .We then went to Longlands homestead at Matamata to a working dairy farm and had lovely lamb lunch. We then travelled to the Whakarewarewe village , a maori village with hot geysers and springs and then to our hotel in Rotorua.
Feb 9th
We did the city and lakes tour with the Duck (a vehicle that travelled on land and water) in the afternoon we had walk around the shops and the lake in Rotorua and saw seaplanes and helicopters.
Feb 10th
Early morning start again , visited the Wairakei thermal power station where they generated electricity from the hot underground water.Visited the Huka falls which was a photography delight and then had 2 hour drive to Napier where we stopped the night.Had time to walk around the city and Hawk's Bay.Dana tell Ian we did not go Mission wines but went next door to Church Road winery where we had wine tasting and dinner.
Feb 11th
Left Napier at 8.00am and visited a lovely car museum and then onto Wellington , and visited the Te Papa museum and on the way to the hotel we stopped at the highest point Mt Victoria which had a 360 degrees view of Wellington.
Feb 12th
Even earlier start today 7.00am . We had a little tour around Wellington before boarding the ferry over to the south island which took 3 hours but we had plenty of free food and drink.When we arrived at Picton we joined another coach to Christchurch stopping enroute to take pictures of seals and even saw a whale.
Feb 13th
Once again an early start to the railway station to board the Tranzalpine to Arthurs pass, magnificent views.Taking place today was the coast to coast contest of 253 kms where they cycled , ran and canoed the way to Christchurch over 12 hours which we saw them running in the mountains.We also went to see the Franz Josef glacier. Good night another early start.
Feb 8th
Left Auckland at 8.00am to view the highest point called Mt Eden then made our way to the Goldfields railway for 30 min train journey of the Karangahake gorge .We then went to Longlands homestead at Matamata to a working dairy farm and had lovely lamb lunch. We then travelled to the Whakarewarewe village , a maori village with hot geysers and springs and then to our hotel in Rotorua.
Feb 9th
We did the city and lakes tour with the Duck (a vehicle that travelled on land and water) in the afternoon we had walk around the shops and the lake in Rotorua and saw seaplanes and helicopters.
Feb 10th
Early morning start again , visited the Wairakei thermal power station where they generated electricity from the hot underground water.Visited the Huka falls which was a photography delight and then had 2 hour drive to Napier where we stopped the night.Had time to walk around the city and Hawk's Bay.Dana tell Ian we did not go Mission wines but went next door to Church Road winery where we had wine tasting and dinner.
Feb 11th
Left Napier at 8.00am and visited a lovely car museum and then onto Wellington , and visited the Te Papa museum and on the way to the hotel we stopped at the highest point Mt Victoria which had a 360 degrees view of Wellington.
Feb 12th
Even earlier start today 7.00am . We had a little tour around Wellington before boarding the ferry over to the south island which took 3 hours but we had plenty of free food and drink.When we arrived at Picton we joined another coach to Christchurch stopping enroute to take pictures of seals and even saw a whale.
Feb 13th
Once again an early start to the railway station to board the Tranzalpine to Arthurs pass, magnificent views.Taking place today was the coast to coast contest of 253 kms where they cycled , ran and canoed the way to Christchurch over 12 hours which we saw them running in the mountains.We also went to see the Franz Josef glacier. Good night another early start.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Hi we are back again bringing you up to date
4 th Feb
Left Auckland 8.00 am and visited Kauri museum which was all about logging of the Kauri trees in the area from the 1840,s until it was stopped early in the 1930,s since they were wiping out all the trees altogether covering over hundreds of square miles., then onto Waipoura forest to see the oldest Kauri tree which is over 2000 years old . We then travelled onto Omapere and had an hours cruise which turned out to be quite dramatic as a boat had capsized and we had to rescue a husband and wife who had been in the water 30/40 minutes but they were fit and well though a little cold.We then went to the Copthorne hotel which was on the shoreline where we had an Hangi dinner on the beach.
5th Feb
We drove to the Bay Of Islands where we visited the Waitangi treaty house which was the most visited and historic home due to this being the house where the treaty was signed between the British and the Maori's in 1840 and which is the basis of New Zealand law today.We then went onto Paihia for our lunch and then anoyher cruise to Cape Bret lighthouse and the Hloe in the Rock and was very lucky to see dolphins and their young.
6th Feb
Today we went over to Russell peninsula which was by ferry and took only 10 mins. We had a very interesting 1 hour tour and then visited the Pompallier printery showing how the first books were nade.On the peninsula was private retreat which only cost NZ$ 42000 per night ,could only aford 2 mins ,apparently Bill Gates goes there quite often.Then went to the Waitangi where they were having the celebrations for 170th anniversary of the signing of the treaty.
7th Feb
Easy day today starting 10.00am stopping enroute to Auckland at Whangarei where there was a nice marina and Clapham's clock museum and lunch was at Warkworth carrying on the coastal road to Auckland.Staying 1 night in Auckland at the Langham hotel, early start tomorrow.
4 th Feb
Left Auckland 8.00 am and visited Kauri museum which was all about logging of the Kauri trees in the area from the 1840,s until it was stopped early in the 1930,s since they were wiping out all the trees altogether covering over hundreds of square miles., then onto Waipoura forest to see the oldest Kauri tree which is over 2000 years old . We then travelled onto Omapere and had an hours cruise which turned out to be quite dramatic as a boat had capsized and we had to rescue a husband and wife who had been in the water 30/40 minutes but they were fit and well though a little cold.We then went to the Copthorne hotel which was on the shoreline where we had an Hangi dinner on the beach.
5th Feb
We drove to the Bay Of Islands where we visited the Waitangi treaty house which was the most visited and historic home due to this being the house where the treaty was signed between the British and the Maori's in 1840 and which is the basis of New Zealand law today.We then went onto Paihia for our lunch and then anoyher cruise to Cape Bret lighthouse and the Hloe in the Rock and was very lucky to see dolphins and their young.
6th Feb
Today we went over to Russell peninsula which was by ferry and took only 10 mins. We had a very interesting 1 hour tour and then visited the Pompallier printery showing how the first books were nade.On the peninsula was private retreat which only cost NZ$ 42000 per night ,could only aford 2 mins ,apparently Bill Gates goes there quite often.Then went to the Waitangi where they were having the celebrations for 170th anniversary of the signing of the treaty.
7th Feb
Easy day today starting 10.00am stopping enroute to Auckland at Whangarei where there was a nice marina and Clapham's clock museum and lunch was at Warkworth carrying on the coastal road to Auckland.Staying 1 night in Auckland at the Langham hotel, early start tomorrow.
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Hi kiwis
29th Jan
We took local tram to the Victoria market via the Docklands , market much bigger than Nottingham , you could buy anything there. The meats were to die for and the prices were much chaeper than England. In the afternoon we went to the Eureka sky deck to the 88th floor which gave us wonderful views of Melbourne.
30th Jan
Had to get up at 4.30 am to leave the hotel at 5.30 for the airport to New Zealand , leaving our fantastic suite behind us.In the afternoon we a walk around Auckland.
31 Jan
The Quay West apartments had lovely view over the harbour where we could see the cruise ships coming in.We took a cruise around the harbour and in the evening we went to the harbour side fish restaurant.
1st Feb
We took the ferry to Devenport ,weather a little showery today so took an hours coach tour around which took us to the highest point ,giving us lovely views of beaches and Auckland city.Could not afford to live here since all properties are at least 1 million NZ$ upwards.
2nd Feb
Packed our bags again , now with all clean clothes, to move to the Langham hotel for the start of Scenic tour.After checking in we went to the Sky Tower which had a good view of the city and saw 2 guys jumping from the top sky diving.Met up with fellow travellers for dinner in the evening.
3rd Feb
We were taken in the morning for a little tour to Mission Bay before heading to the ferry port for our trip to Waiheke island.We had 1hour 30 min tour which was very interesting, especially with 35 vineyards on the island,had a sample.Tonight we are treating ourselves to a meal at a restaurant called No 5.
29th Jan
We took local tram to the Victoria market via the Docklands , market much bigger than Nottingham , you could buy anything there. The meats were to die for and the prices were much chaeper than England. In the afternoon we went to the Eureka sky deck to the 88th floor which gave us wonderful views of Melbourne.
30th Jan
Had to get up at 4.30 am to leave the hotel at 5.30 for the airport to New Zealand , leaving our fantastic suite behind us.In the afternoon we a walk around Auckland.
31 Jan
The Quay West apartments had lovely view over the harbour where we could see the cruise ships coming in.We took a cruise around the harbour and in the evening we went to the harbour side fish restaurant.
1st Feb
We took the ferry to Devenport ,weather a little showery today so took an hours coach tour around which took us to the highest point ,giving us lovely views of beaches and Auckland city.Could not afford to live here since all properties are at least 1 million NZ$ upwards.
2nd Feb
Packed our bags again , now with all clean clothes, to move to the Langham hotel for the start of Scenic tour.After checking in we went to the Sky Tower which had a good view of the city and saw 2 guys jumping from the top sky diving.Met up with fellow travellers for dinner in the evening.
3rd Feb
We were taken in the morning for a little tour to Mission Bay before heading to the ferry port for our trip to Waiheke island.We had 1hour 30 min tour which was very interesting, especially with 35 vineyards on the island,had a sample.Tonight we are treating ourselves to a meal at a restaurant called No 5.
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