Kiwiana 2006 is a collection of photos, pictures and some information from our latest tour of New Zealand. Between the end of November 2006 and March 2007 we travelled mostly by campervan and covered a lot of territory in New Zealand.
Over the course of nearly 4 months we have walked on an active volcano, seen numerous species of birds and marine mammals, climbed a mountain, been choppered up to Glaciers, walked many trails, rode on tractors/trailers, shot across a river on a wire, sailed the Pacific, rode a bike after 20 years, kayaked, snorkelled, and so much more - a list the length of our arms!!
Nearly all of the activities and tours we have done have been exceptional, but one in particular stood out mostly for its uniqueness. It also rated high on our fun-o-metre and we consider it an absolute "must do":
So first place in our ratings (the creme de la creme) goes to:
Gannet Beach Adventures: Based out at Clifton in the Hawkes Bay on the North Island of New Zealand, they are under-rated in the travel guides but we consider this... (... more information below the photos)
Hanmer Springs Pools New Zealand Hanmer Springs on the South Island of New Zealand is a great place for adults and kids as there are separate thermal pools with slides for the kids to enjoy. |
Mission Bay Beach Auckland NZ Waves lap up along the sandy beach in Mission Bay in Auckland on the North Island of New Zealand as the white billowy clouds move in across the horizon. |
Young Gannet Cape Kidnappers New Zealand A mother Australasian Gannet tends to her young on the cliffs at Cape Kidnappers in Hawkes Bay on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Beach Cliffs North Taranaki Bight NZ The North Taranaki Bight in Pukearue Historic Reserve is one of the many natural wonders of NZ where cliffs, beach and coastline make up the scenery. |
New Zealand Kaka Bird Wairarapa A Kaka is a native bird to New Zealand and this one resides at the Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre in Wairarapa. |
Mission Bay Promenade Auckland NZ A long promenade adorns the waterfront in Mission Bay in Auckland on the East Coast of the North Island of NZ. |
Motuarohia Island Track New Zealand Turquoise colored waters surround the coastline around Motuarohia (Roberton) Island in the Bay of Islands in Northland, New Zealand. |
Paihia Motel Balcony View North Island NZ Sitting on the balcony of the Cook's Lookout Motel in Paihia on the North Island of NZ gives one a scenic view of Russell and Waitangi. |
Tourists White Island Volcano New Zealand Tourists wander the landscape of White Island which is an active volcano in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Hookers Sealions Beach New Zealand A pair of Hookers Sealions interact on the beach in Molyneux Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Paihia Town North Island The town of Paihia is a unique place to visit in the Bay of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Dolphin Swimming New Zealand To be swimming with a dolphin is an experience of a lifetime and something that tours in the Bay of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand offer. |
Sandy Shores Orewa New Zealand The long stretch of sandy shores of Orewa Beach on the Hibiscus Coast on the North Island of New Zealand is ideal for many outdoor activities. |
Russell New Zealand The picturesque town of Russell situated in the Bay of Islands on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. |
Bird Attack Hawkes Bay This juvenile Australasian Gannet at Cape Kidnappers in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand is one type of youngster that likes to attack a sign. |
Kayaking New Zealand Three brightly colored kayaks take a break on this kayaking adventure around Okarito Lagoon on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Horse Drawn Wagons Roxburgh Horse drawn wagons make their way through the town of Roxburgh in Central Otago, New Zealand as a fund raising event for Westpac Helicopter Rescue. |
Tasman Sea Cliff Covered in lush greenery and blossoming flowers, the steep cliff heads straight down into the Tasman Sea along Glacier Highway on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Christmas Yard Display The lights on display in the yard of this privately owned house in Pukeuri on the South Island of New Zealand is elegant enough for a King and Queen. |
Goat Island Marine Reserve Goat Island Marine Reserve is a unique place where a glass bottom takes groups of people to explore the underwater world of the New Zealand waters. |
Beach Land Sailing New Zealand A newly founded sport and an easy way to travel Orewa Beach on the North Island of New Zealand is by land sailing. |
Wildlife Cruises Dunedin A boat tour with Monarch Wildlife Cruises takes you to explore the amazing amount of wildlife near Dunedin, Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Frank Kitts Park Wellington Along the Wellington waterfront on the North Island of New Zealand, you will find the amazing Frank Kitts Park. |
Park Bench Akaroa New Zealand Relax on a park bench along the waterfront in the town of Akaroa in Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand and take in the scenery. |
Torch Lily Flowers When the Torch Lily flowers it adds to the beauty of the drive along the Catlins Highway in Southland on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Interislander Ferry New Zealand Passengers board the Interislander Ferry to go back and forth between Picton and Wellington in New Zealand. |
Whakatane New Zealand In the Eastern Bay of Plenty of New Zealand, you will find this incredible town known as Whakatane, the perfect holiday getaway. |
Catamaran Sailboat Paihia Take a trip aboard the Carino, a fifty foot catamaran sailboat that picks you up in Paihia, New Zealand and takes you on an excursion of a lifetime. |
Christchurch City New Zealand Driving along the Summit Road on the Port Hills in Canterbury, New Zealand you get a beautiful aerial shot of Christchurch City. |
Fox Glacier Helicopter Tour Aboard a helicopter tour with Glacier Helicopters you get a spectacular view of Fox Glacier on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Sails TSB Arena The sails stand outside the TSB Arena on Queens Wharf in Wellington on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Penguin Statue Oamaru A statue of a Little Blue Penguin is a welcoming sight for tourists visiting Oamaru, Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Picton New Zealand Boats line the waterfront and harbour of the small town of Picton located on the South Island of New Zealand. |
White Faced Heron South Island The relatively small White Faced Heron was self introduced to New Zealand from Australia and is commonly seen in estuaries in the South Island. |
Ship Creek Beach South Island When you stroll the beach at Ship Creek on the South Island of New Zealand you will find many fascinating pieces of driftwood. |
Backpackers Accommodations New Zealand Backpackers that are traveling through the town of Clyde on the South Island of New Zealand will find the accommodations at the Hartley Arms Backpackers fantastic. |
Mountain Daisy Flower Mt Ruapehu Hiking in Mt Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park on the North Island of New Zealand a Mountain Daisy is one type of flower you will see. |
Clyde Central Otago New Zealand Under fluffy white clouds sits the town of Clyde and the Clutha River in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Picture Of Mission Estate Hawkes Bay One of the oldest vineyards in the Hawkes Bay area, the Mission Estate winery produces award winning wines in New Zealand. |
Oamaru War Memorial NZ With a bed of flowers at its base, the Oamaru War Memorial stands literally in the middle of the road in downtown Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand. |
Little Blue Penguin Statue Set in stone - an Oamaru stone statue of a Little Blue Penguin adorns the main street of Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand. |
Crater Lake White Island Volcano Steam rises off Crater Lake on White Island volcano off the North Island of New Zealand surrounded by the remnants of explosions creating a fascinating landscape. |
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... as the most fun and informative tour - and we did it twice! As well as visiting the gannets at Cape Kidnappers to watch the antics of these sometimes unsociable and clumsy birds, you are taken along a piece of coastline where layers of sediment have collected over centuries and are now uncovered through tectonic plate movement, all clearly visible. The tours are conducted from old red tractors which pull a small train of flat deck trailers along a beach which changes on a daily basis - and yes there are adventures including bogged tractors and trailers! Be sure to look them up during your next vacation in New Zealand.
March 22, 2007 marks the end of our Kiwiana 2006 tour and we will farewell Aotearoa, God's own, Kiwiland, Down under - but we will be back for sure! The diverse landscape, stunning scenery, culture, and wildlife of New Zealand is simply irresistible.
Make sure to read our daily blog about this tour:
New Zealand Travel Blog - Kiwiana 2006/2007
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Fall Pictures
