New Zealand 2002
A small group tour starting in Auckland on the North Island and finishing in Milford Sound in the South Island.
Our tour started in the northern city of Aukland.
The Kiwis had recently taken the America's Cup ...
... and were "Prada" of it.
An elevated exhibit in the marina.
In the Arnui Caves south of Aukland, not far from the glow worm caves we also toured.
The Whakarewarewa Thermal Village in Rotorua.
Structures in this thermal area survive earthquakes as the land floats on the fluid springs.
A Maori demonstration.
Elsewhere in Rotorua we attended a sheep shearing demonstration in the Agridome.
The Waikato River near Toupo. The hiking trails were closed because Queen Elizabeth was at the Huka Lodge downstream.
Huka Falls
Suited up for a rafting trip through the rapids on the Turangi River.
While our staid California tour companions were sent off with a calming guide, we were paired with a trio of hell-bent for excitement women farmers from Australia.
Our guide had experience on other rivers but not this one. Nor did he know how to cope with the Aussies. He fell out of our raft - twice.
On our way south toward Wanganui.
Our farm stay, with the Fullerton-Smiths east of Wanganui.
Henry took us and co-tourist Moira into the fields to do a sheep-shift.
Shifting the sheep to another pasture.
Wellington, seen from Mount Victoria park.
Our tour boards an interisland ferry bound for the South Island.
Heading around Mount Victoria and out to sea.
Passing rock formation at the mouth of Wellington's harbor.
Marlbough Sound at the north end of the South Island.
Picton, the ferry's destination and our arrival at the South Island.
Driving south from Picton toward Blenheim.
Our first winery visit in Marlbough County, west of Blenheim.
Another winery, the Pondet Estate, that featured olive oils and paintings as well as wines.
Roses are to a vinyard what a canary is to a coal mine. They will be first to detect a contageon.
We insisted on visiting the source of our favor sauvignon blanc.
Abel Tasman National Park
A three-day shore walk.
Beach at the entrance to the park, near Nelson.
Much of the trek was along narrow paths.
Typical vegatation along the trail.
The silver leaf fern is the symbol of New Zealand ( explained
The walk had its Ups ...
..., which provided great views, ...
and Downs. Water shoes were required to take this excursion. Several times we had to ford estuaries or streams.
Now out of the park and driving to the west coast, we experience the swing bridge at the Inangahua fault line.
The tiny harbor of Charleston, an old gold mining town. Notice the narrow entrance from the ocean.
The near channel is that narrow entrance to the Charleston harbor. It is not often passable, and it certainly wasn't this day.
"Pancake Rocks" at Punakaki
"Pancake Rocks" at Punakaki
Driving inland along the Makarora River.
Agriculture near Makrora
Agriculture near Makrora
Lake Wanaka
Lake Hawea
At lake's edge in Wanaka.
A colorful residence in Queenstown.
Enroute to Milford Sound.
Mirror Lake
Milford Sound
The view westward at the eastern end of the sound.
Milford Sound (actually, it's a fjord) seen as we cruise back into the sound from the ocean.
My video has lots of exciting extras: sheep herding, hakka chants, bungy jumping and more. Copyrights obligate me to limit viewing to friends and family. If that's you, please email me (bill@billduncan.us) for access.
©Bill Duncan 2023
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Our tour started in the northern city of Aukland.
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The Kiwis had recently taken the America's Cup ...
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... and were "Prada" of it.
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An elevated exhibit in the marina.
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In the Arnui Caves south of Aukland, not far from the glow worm caves we also toured.
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The Whakarewarewa Thermal Village in Rotorua.
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Structures in this thermal area survive earthquakes as the land floats on the fluid springs.
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A Maori demonstration.
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Elsewhere in Rotorua we attended a sheep shearing demonstration in the Agridome.
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The Waikato River near Toupo. The hiking trails were closed because Queen Elizabeth was at the Huka Lodge downstream.
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Huka Falls
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Suited up for a rafting trip through the rapids on the Turangi River.
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While our staid California tour companions were sent off with a calming guide, we were paired with a trio of hell-bent for excitement women farmers from Australia.
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Our guide had experience on other rivers but not this one. Nor did he know how to cope with the Aussies. He fell out of our raft - twice.
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On our way south toward Wanganui.
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Our farm stay, with the Fullerton-Smiths east of Wanganui.
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Henry took us and co-tourist Moira into the fields to do a sheep-shift.
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Shifting the sheep to another pasture.
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Wellington, seen from Mount Victoria park.
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Our tour boards an interisland ferry bound for the South Island.
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Heading around Mount Victoria and out to sea.
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Passing rock formation at the mouth of Wellington's harbor.
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Marlbough Sound at the north end of the South Island.
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Picton, the ferry's destination and our arrival at the South Island.
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Driving south from Picton toward Blenheim.
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Our first winery visit in Marlbough County, west of Blenheim.
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Another winery, the Pondet Estate, that featured olive oils and paintings as well as wines.
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Roses are to a vinyard what a canary is to a coal mine. They will be first to detect a contageon.
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We insisted on visiting the source of our favor sauvignon blanc.
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A three-day shore walk.
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Beach at the entrance to the park, near Nelson.
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Much of the trek was along narrow paths.
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Typical vegatation along the trail.
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The silver leaf fern is the symbol of New Zealand (explained
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The walk had its Ups ...
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..., which provided great views, ...
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and Downs. Water shoes were required to take this excursion. Several times we had to ford estuaries or streams.
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Now out of the park and driving to the west coast, we experience the swing bridge at the Inangahua fault line.
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The tiny harbor of Charleston, an old gold mining town. Notice the narrow entrance from the ocean.
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The near channel is that narrow entrance to the Charleston harbor. It is not often passable, and it certainly wasn't this day.
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"Pancake Rocks" at Punakaki
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"Pancake Rocks" at Punakaki
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Driving inland along the Makarora River.
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Agriculture near Makrora
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Agriculture near Makrora
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Lake Wanaka
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Lake Hawea
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At lake's edge in Wanaka.
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A colorful residence in Queenstown.
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Enroute to Milford Sound.
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Mirror Lake
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The view westward at the eastern end of the sound.
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Milford Sound (actually, it's a fjord) seen as we cruise back into the sound from the ocean.
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My video has lots of exciting extras: sheep herding, hakka chants, bungy jumping and more. Copyrights obligate me to limit viewing to friends and family. If that's you, please email me (bill@billduncan.us) for access.
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