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)
Pelorus River Marlborough NZ Pelorus River on its journey from the Richmond Range to Pelorus Sound in the Marlborough Sounds on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Coastal Adventures Abel Tasman The pristine coastal waters of the Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand are an ideal destination for kayaking adventures. |
Ruatapu Cave Orakei Korako NZ Ruatapu Cave is situated in the hidden valley of Orakei Korako on the North Island of NZ. |
Livingstone Daisy Flower Picture The Livingstone Daisy flower creates beautiful pictures growing on a wall in North Otago, New Zealand. |
Tractor Trailer Tours New Zealand Gannet Beach Adventures has family oriented tractor trailer tours that take you to the world famous gannet sanctuary in New Zealand. |
Chacma Baboon At the Auckland Zoo on the North Island of New Zealand you could have a staring contest with this Chacma Baboon. |
Huka Falls New Zealand Photo The spectacular Huka Falls are the largest falls on the Waikato River near Taupo on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Sumatran Tiger Photo The Sumatran Tiger is a beautiful member of the cat family with this particular one residing at the Auckland Zoo on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Toitoi Plants Kaikoura Toitoi plants blowing in the breeze along the Kaikoura Beach on the East Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. |
Giraffe Zoo Photo A giraffe at the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand loves to pose for photos. |
Ancient Tuatara Reptile At the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand you can find a Tuatara which is an ancient reptile in danger of becoming extinct. |
Christmas Traditions New Zealand Traditions at Christmas are very important for the residents of Pukeuri, Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Mud Pools Orakei Korako Fascinating boiling mud pools can be seen at Orakei Korako near Taupo on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Cute Hippopotamus How can anyone say a hippopotamus is not cute when you look at a picture like this staring back at you. |
Clyde Dam New Zealand Water rushes through to the Clutha River from Clyde Dam in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
North Taranaki Bight Coastline New Zealand Stunning rugged cliffs adorn the North Taranaki Bight coastline on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Fyffe House Kaikoura The Fyffe House is a charming colorful house in Kaikoura on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Eastern Water Dragon This creature is part of the lizard family and is known as the Eastern Water Dragon which can be examined at the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand. |
Volcano New Zealand Mount Ngauruhoe is one of many active stratovolcanoes on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Wings Over Whales Kaikoura On a whale watching flight with Wings Over Whales in Kaikoura, New Zealand you get a chance to see enormous sperm whales resting on the surface. |
Yellow Lupine Bush NZ A beautiful yellow lupine bush blossoms along the lakeside in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Canterbury Landscape New Zealand From a roadside viewpoint, the lush green hillsides form the picturesque landscape of Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Kingston Flyer Steam Train The Kingston Flyer Steam Train is a famous vintage steam train that runs twice daily on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Bonnet Macaque Monkey The Bonnet Macaque is an Old World monkey who is a daytime animal and resides at the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand. |
Surf Lodge 45 Opunake The exterior of Surf Lodge 45 is painted with murals and is situated in Opunake, Taranaki on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Pukaki River Canterbury NZ The control gates are opened and Lake Pukaki drains into the river canal in Canterbury, New Zealand. |
Luxury Chateau Tongariro NZ The Chateau Tongariro is a luxury hotel in NZ nestled in the shadow of three towering active volcanoes. |
Aranui Cave Waitomo The fascinating limestone formations of the Aranui Cave at Waitomo Caves on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Lady Knox New Zealand Geyser The Lady Knox Geyser at the Waiotapu Scenic Reserve in New Zealand erupts on a daily basis. |
Franz Josef Glacier New Zealand Franz Josef Glacier on the South Island of New Zealand is designated as a World Heritage Site. |
Kelp New Zealand Waters The waters of the Kaikoura Peninsula off the South Island of New Zealand is filled with beautifully golden colored kelp. |
Ring Tailed Lemur Auckland Zoo A Ring Tailed Lemur on alert in its habitat at the Auckland Zoo on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Luxury Vacation New Zealand Punga Cove Resort is a luxury vacation spot in Endeavour Inlet on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Pohutukawa Flowers Beautiful red flowers adorn the Pohutukawa tree at Omata Beach on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Motueka Town New Zealand Turquoise waters of Tasman Bay encompass the town of Motueka in the Tasman District of New Zealand. |
North Taranaki Bight New Zealand The large bay of the North Taranaki Bight extends northeast from the Waitara River to the Mokau River on the West Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. |
Cinder Cone Volcanoes New Zealand The cinder cone of Mt Taranaki, the second largest of New Zealand's volcanoes. |
Giraffe Animal Picture A profile of a Giraffe with slender neck and unique spots at the Auckland Zoo, North Island, New Zealand. |
Apricot Tree Roxburgh Brilliant colored apricots are ready to be picked on this apricot tree in Roxburgh, New Zealand. |
Hectors Dolphins New Zealand Two amazing sea creatures known as Hectors Dolphins frolic aimlessly in Akaroa Harbour in New Zealand. |
Covered Wagons New Zealand Among the covered wagons in the procession through Roxburgh was this interesting version which included comfy car seats for the driver and passenger. |
Orangutan Pictures The Orangutan is a highly endangered animals, why? ... Human involvement of course! |
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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
