New Zealand
Apr 8-17, 2011
Apr 8 AC793 YYZ-LAX, NZ5 LAX-AKL, NZ8361 AKL-NSN, Apr 14 NZ8146 NSN-WLG, Apr 17 NZ8 AKL-SFO, AC756 SFO-YYZ
New Zealand is one of my favourite countries, and although I had only spent two weeks there in the past I definitely wanted to return and experience more. Unfortunately for all its beauty, New Zealand is difficult to get to and has traditionally been hard to find free business class seats. When I found available points flights to Auckland, I was quick to grab them and to build a vacation around them. Our last time around we did not have enough time to see the north part of the South Island so made that the focus of this trip, while still covering new areas of the North Island and some of our favourites. In addition to the always enjoyable Air New Zealand service, hiking (or trekking as the locals say) the Queens Charlotte was a highlight as was enjoying the wine and food.
Apr 8-10
Full travel days to Nelson via LA and Auckland and head out
Suspension bridge over Buller Gorge
Testing the bridge before a quick hike to a 1929 Earthquake fault line
Looking up river from the bridge
New Zealand Weka Bird at the side of the road
Seals on the West Coast of the South Island
A few of the 40 million sheep in New Zealand
Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki at the end of long day
More of the rocks at dusk
An island off Punakaiki
Apr 11
Punakaiki to Blenheim
Farmland with mountains along the West Coast
Crossing the South Island
Mountains along the way as the clouds lift and we head further east
Waiau River valley
More of the River valley
Looking North to some of the taller mountain ranges
Snow covered peaks of the Inland Kaikouras mountain range
Seal colony in Kaikoura on the East Coast
Looking down at Whalers Bay from Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
Looking back at the coast from the Kaikoura Peninsula
Vineyard near our cottage outside Belheim
A small plane we watched take off and land a few times prior to checking in for the night
Apr 12
Drive to Picton and catch boat to Queen Chartlotte track hike to hotel
Very foggy start to the day in Picton, were worried that we would be hiking in fog
After we get out of the bay, we leave the fog behind
Looking back at Queen Charlotte Sound
Look out after a brief hike at Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary
Looking across the sound to Long Island
A particularly friendly bird hung around us as we waited for the ferry to start our main hike
Another bird on the Queen Charlotte Walking Track
Looking back at the sound from the Track
Some of the higher elevations on the trek
Seemed to be more beauty around each corner and perfect weather
Close to the end of our 15km hike along the track
View of the beautiful sky from our inn after a gourmet dinner with our fellow trekers
Apr 13
Leave the trail on boat and make our way to Nelson
No Road Inn, small hotel we enjoyed on the track
Oystercatcher on the beach outside the Inn
Picton with a lot less fog then when we left the morning before
More of Marlborough Sounds on the drive to Nelson
Beautiful mountains keep the drive interesting
View of downtown Nelson after an evening stroll before dinner
Apr 14
Morning flight to Wellington on the North Island and drive to Napier
Martinborough downtown in our favourite wine region of New Zealand
Stonehenge Aotearoa near Martinborough modern adaptation of the original
Me in the middle of the structure
Some of the art deco buildings in Napier’s historic downtown
More of the art deco theme in the old city centre before a nice meal
Apr 15
Napier to Rotorua
View from my cousin Danny’s beautiful house where we started the day with breakfast
After a short hike we found Huka falls
Some of various volcanic features from Craters of the Moon park
Orakei Korako Thermal Park near Rotorua, a new park for us
Minerals and fungi make for colourful outflows in the thermal park
Minerals and fungi make for colourful outflows in the thermal park
Standing in front of the colourful pools
Some of the pools bubble quietly
The Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest near Rotorua
Apr 16
Stayed along Lake Rotorua and made our way to Lake Taupo
Entrance to Waitomo Glowworm Caves, unfortunately no photos inside
Apr 17
Overnight in Lake Taupo under somewhat rainy weather and then on to Aukland
One of the many interesting corrugated steel structures in Tirau
Obelisk on top One Tree hill in Auckland (one tree no longer included with hill)
Final look back on the city before the long flight home
Apr 17
Home to Toronto via San Francisco and a very long day