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)
Maori Warriors Wairakei Terraces Maori warriors dressed in traditional costumes at the Wairakei Terraces near Taupo on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Whakapapa Ski Slopes New Zealand The Whakapapa ski slopes on Mt Ruapehu on the North Island of New Zealand in the summer with Mt Ngauruhoe in the backdrop. |
Southern Wairarapa Coastline North Island The diminishing hues of the sunset seen from the Southern Wairarapa coastline on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Ruakuri Cave Rafting Waikato Black Water Rafting offers a fascinating journey through the Ruakuri Cave in Waikato, New Zealand. |
Power Station Dawson Falls Taranaki The Dawson Falls Power Station in Taranaki, New Zealand keeps electricity flowing to the Dawson Falls region. |
Suspension Bridge New Zealand Cross over the Waiohine River on this suspension bridge to Tararua Forest Park on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Baby Fur Seal Cape Palliser A baby fur seal pauses on the rocks of the seal colony rookery at Cape Palliser, New Zealand. |
Mallard Duck A Mallard Duck stops and stands at alert to check out the surroundings in the field in Ngakuta Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Titirangi Bay Campground New Zealand Lush greenery and sheep surround this campground in Titirangi Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Mount Tasman New Zealand The white peaks of Mount Tasman in Canterbury, New Zealand glisten in the sunlight. |
Lyttelton New Zealand The town of Lyttelton and the harbour in New Zealand with Diamond Harbour on the opposite side. |
Akaroa Town South Island Street cafes fill the streets of the town of Akaroa on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Auckland Zoo Adventure The entrance at the Auckland Zoo on the North Island of New Zealand is where the adventure begins. |
Kiwi Orchard Kiwi ripen in the sun's rays in an orchard near Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Rangaunu Bay New Zealand Rangaunu Bay in Pukenui, New Zealand is a large mouth bay where boats take pleasure in docking for a day or two. |
Mount Cook South Island NZ The snow covered mountain peak of Mount Cook on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Waipoua Forest Trees NZ A boardwalk meanders through the rainforest amongst the tall Kauri trees in the Waipoua Forest on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Akaroa Harbour Lighthouse South Island The historic Akaroa Harbour Lighthouse stands in its new location in Banks Peninsula on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Wainui Beach Waikato NZ Wainui Beach in Waikato, New Zealand is a long stretch of beautiful sandy shoreline. |
Sky Tower Auckland Standing in the street and looking up at the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand makes one realize how high is high. |
First Church Otago Dunedin The exterior of the First Church in Otago, New Zealand has some incredible architecture that is one hundred and twenty-five years old. |
Castlepoint Fishing Wairarapa People fishing off the rocks near Castlepoint Lighthouse in Wairarapa, on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Platalea Regia Bird The Platalea regia also known as the Royal Spoonbill bird wades in the shallow waters in Otago, New Zealand. |
Gillespies Beach Sunset New Zealand Standing on Gillespies Beach on the South Island of New Zealand, the sunset glistens off the rocks on the beach. |
Christmas Magic Otago The magic of Christmas comes to life at this house in Pukeuri, Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Nectarine Trees Central Otago Rows of nectarine trees in an orchard near Roxburgh in Central Otago, New Zealand. |
Otira Viaduct Arthurs Pass NZ The 440 metre long Otira Viaduct through Arthur's Pass is one of the most notable environmental engineering achievements in New Zealand. |
Mission House Kerikeri The Mission House is a historic building in Kerikeri and is a great landmark known throughout New Zealand. |
Nugget Point Otago Rocks or nuggets arise from the waters beyond Nugget Point along the Southern Scenic Route in Otago, New Zealand. |
Railway Station Dunedin Otago Immaculate gardens in the front of the Dunedin Railway Station in Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Lighthouse Sunset Castlepoint Sunset turns the horizon into amazing hues from Castlepoint Lighthouse on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Marokopa Waterfall New Zealand At the base of the waterfall of Marokopa Falls on the North Island of New Zealand the water divides between large boulders. |
Auckland Zoo Animal The Ring-tailed Lemur is naturally found only in Madagascar but they are also a common animal at the Auckland Zoo. |
Kaikoura Coast Seafood Enjoy some fine seafood at Nin's Bin along the Kaikoura Coast near Kaikoura on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Neptunes Necklace Neptunes Necklace in the tidal pools at the Fossil Forest in Curio Bay in Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Taieri Mouth Otago Taieri Mouth in Otago, New Zealand has a small harbour where fishing boats tie up to the pier and come ashore. |
Spur Winged Plover The Spur Winged Plover is a common sight along the Southern Scenic Route in Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Hokianga Harbour New Zealand Beautiful colored waters of the Hokianga harbour near Omapere on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Curio Bay Fossil Forest Otago The fossil forest at Curio Bay in Otago, New Zealand is an intriguing creation that has formed over past years. |
Drysdale Sheep The cute face of the Drysdale Sheep is one of over 600,000 found throughout New Zealand. |
Oystercatcher Bird New Zealand The black body of the Oystercatcher makes the orange feet, eye and bill prominently stand out on this bird at Ocean Bay, New Zealand. |
Apricot Trees Central Otago Beautiful apricot trees loaded with apricots encompass the walkway through this orchard in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
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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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Golf Pictures
