Kiwiana 2006

A summary of our New Zealand Tour 2006 / 2007 - Kiwiana

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 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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Thermal Mud Bath Picture Thick boiling thermal mud from the Wai-o-tapu Scenic Reserve is good for the skin and would possibly make a great bath albeit too hot.	Eglantine Rose Picture A fragrant delicate flower, the Eglantine Rose is an agressive plant which grows in Central Otago, New Zealand.	Haast River New Zealand The Haast River in New Zealand stretches for miles through the glacial valley that was created by nature's wonders.
Kayaking Okarito Lagoon New Zealand Kayaking on the Okarito Lagoon on the South Island is an excellent way to discover the natural wonders of New Zealand.	Tuatara Reptile The Tuatara is an endangered species of reptile and you can view them at the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand.	Ripiro Beach New Zealand The beautiful Ripiro Beach extends for miles along the coastline in Kaipara on the North Island of New Zealand.
Fossil Oyster This fossil oyster is on display at the Mangapohue Natural Bridge Scenic Reserve in Waitako on the North Island of New Zealand.	Picture Of Old Train Taking us back to a by-gone era, old steam trains such as the Kingston Flyer are a fascinating sight.	Picture Of Opunake New Zealand Wall murals are a big feature in the small town of Opunake along the Surf Highway in Taranaki, New Zealand.
Zoo Picture Two Ring-tailed lemurs forage and socialise at the Auckland Zoo, New Zealand.	Waitomo Cave Tour Waikato Explore the incredible Aranui Cave on a tour of the Waitomo Caves in Waikato on the North Island of New Zealand.	Fountain Geyser Picture The Lady Knox Geyser goes off like a fountain at the Wai-o-tapu Scenic Reserve near Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand.
Agathis Australis Kauri Tree The scientifc name for the Kauri, a native tree of New Zealand, is Agathis australis.	Lighthouse Cape Reinga New Zealand The lighthouse stands atop Cape Reinga in Northland on the North Island of New Zealand.	Cape Foulwind West Coast The fury of the ocean creates a stunning picture of Cape Foulwind on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
Dunstan House Clyde New Zealand A heritage hotel known as the Dunstan House in the town of Clyde in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand.	Mangapohue Natural Bridge Waikato The Mangapohue Natural Bridge crosses parts of a beautiful reserve in the stunning countryside of Waikato, New Zealand.	White Faced Heron New Zealand The White Faced Heron shows off his beautiful markings as he flies above the estuary in Otago, New Zealand.
New Zealand Scaup A New Zealand Scaup watching over her three chicks at the Auckland Zoo on the North Island of New Zealand.	Hiker Kapuni Loop Track NZ A fairly easy trail for any hiker is the Kapuni Loop Track in Egmont National Park on the North Island of NZ.	Lake Dunstan Central Otago The pristine water of Lake Dunstan separates the two towns of Clyde and Cromwell in Central Otago in New Zealand.
Paua Shells Many shapes and sizes of Paua Shells are on display at this unique factory in Carterton, New Zealand.	Australasian Gannet Chick NZ A mother Australasian Gannet tends to her chick at the Cape Kidnappers colony on the North Island of NZ.	Black Water Rafting Cave New Zealand Black Water Rafting provides you with an experience of a lifetime that takes you through a cave in Waitomo on the North Island of New Zealand.
Duntroon Waitaki Valley NZ A dummy sits outside the blacksmiths shop in Duntroon in the Waitaki Valley on the South Island of NZ.	Meerkat Animal Picture This Meerkat resides in his luxurious home at the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand.	Tug Boats Wellington Harbour Prepared for work at any given time, red tug boats line the harbour of Wellington on the North Island of New Zealand.
Furneaux Lodge Marlborough NZ Surrounded by green hillsides and forests, the Furneaux Lodge is a peaceful place to stay while in Malborough, NZ.	New Zealand Tour Companies Encounter Kaikoura is one of the tour companies that offers dolphin watching trips on the South Island of New Zealand.	Taranaki White Cliffs New Zealand The North Taranaki Bight in New Zealand is made up of the beautiful White Cliffs and amazing beach that stretches along the coastline.
Dusky Dolphins Tour Kaikoura The calm, green waters off Kaikoura in New Zealand give passengers a clear view of the Dusky Dolphins on this tour.	Kiwi Sign South Island This road sign alerts drivers on the Forks-Okariko road on the West Coast of the South Island of NZ to keep their eyes open for any crossing kiwi.	Cape Kidnappers Beach NZ The turquoise hues of the ocean laps up on the sandy beach of Cape Kidnappers in Hawkes Bay, NZ.
Giraffe Facts You can view a giraffe at the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand and learn all the facts of this intriguing animal.	Huka Falls North Island NZ Lush green trees surround the fast moving Huka Falls in Wairakei Park on the North Island of NZ.	Australasian Gannets Colony Adult and their young are part of the colony of the Australasian Gannets in Hawkes Bay on the North Island of New Zealand.
Bungy Jumping New Zealand Bungy jumping at Thrill Seekers Canyon near Hanmer Springs on the South Island of New Zealand is an ideal location for first time jumpers.	Split Apple Rock Tasman NZ Photo of the rock formation at Split Apple Rock in Tasman Bay on the South Island of NZ.	Tasman Glacier New Zealand A beautiful scenic picture of the snow covered Tasman Glacier in Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand.
Pied Shag Kaikoura Peninsula The pied shag enjoys his viewpoint from this rock on the Kaikoura Peninsula on the South Island of New Zealand.	Geyser Picture The famous Lady Knox Geyser erupts daily at 10:15am in the Wait-o-tapu Scenic Reserve, with some human help.	Gore Bay Kaikoura New Zealand The Kaikoura coastline of New Zealand is full of unique bays like that of Gore Bay.