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)
White Island Visitors Volcano Landscape Hiking The visitors who come to White Island, New Zealand spend their time hiking and exploring the volcano landscape. |
Landscaping Volcanic Rock White Island New Zealand The landscaping on White Island, New Zealand is made up of volcanic rock and small streams consisting of sulphur and other types of minerals. |
Colorful Water Surrounding White Island New Zealand The colorful shades of green and yellow water surrounding Crater Bay where the tour boats anchor while visiting White Island on the North Island of New Zealand. |
Nature Wilderness Russell Lupin Flowers Along a wilderness road in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand, nature brings to life the beautiful Russell Lupin flowers. |
Volcanic Soil Flowers Mt Ruapehu Landscape Across the landscape of Mt. Ruapehu on the North Island of New Zealand, beautiful flowers arise out of the volcanic soil. |
Cape Reinga Lighthouse Sunset Hues New Zealand Soft sunset hues highlight the sky above the Cape Reinga Lighthouse which sits atop the cliff overlooking the waters off the North Island of New Zealand. |
Cape Palliser Lighthouse Coastal Sunset New Zealand The beauty of the coastal region of Wairarapa on the North Island of New Zealand and the Cape Palliser Lighthouse at sunset. |
Catlins Waipapa Lighthouse Southern Scenic Route The Waipapa Point Lighthouse along the Southern Scenic Route in the Catlins on the South Island of New Zealand is one of the rare wooden lighthouses remaining in New Zealand. |
Cape Reinga Lighthouse Scenery New Zealand On this day, a few people stand around the base of the Cape Reinga Lighthouse on the North Island of New Zealand admiring the scenery. |
Coastal Lighthouse Sunset Scenery Castlepoint New Zealand The scenery from the Castlepoint Lighthouse on the North Island of New Zealand is stunning especially when a sunset highlights the coastal shoreline. |
Horse Wagon Procession New Zealand Fundraiser A horse and wagon are part of a procession in the town of Roxburgh in Central Otago, New Zealand which is part of a fundraiser for the Westpac Helicopter Rescue. |
Dusky Dolphin Leaping Kaikoura NZ While on a dolphin watching tour with Encounter Kaikoura off Kaikoura, NZ, passengers received a show from this Dusky Dolphin leaping feet out of the water. |
Ateles Geoffroyi Spider Monkey Auckland Zoo The scientific name for a Spider Monkey is Ateles Geoffroyi and while touring the Auckland Zoo you can see one of these cute animals sitting amongst the trees. |
Coastal Sheep Catlins Highway Otago New Zealand Along the coastal Catlins Highway in Otago, New Zealand, much of the landscape is made up of farmland where sheep graze. |
Helpless New Zealand Fur Seal Cape Palliser A helpless baby New Zealand Fur Seal at the Cape Palliser Seal Colony on the North Island of New Zealand waits patiently for the return of its mother. |
Yellow Eyed Penguin Sandy Beach Dunedin NZ Everybody needs a scratch once in a while and this Yellow-Eyed Penguin had to stop along the sandy beach near Dunedin, NZ to tend to one. |
Wild Russell Lupins Central Otago New Zealand The peacefulness of the Cardrona River in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand as it flows past the banks adorned with wild Russell Lupins. |
Mt Ruapehu Volcanic Landscape Wildflowers New Zealand Across the volcanic landscape of Mt. Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park in New Zealand, wildflowers grow freely in the Spring creating a mass of beautiful colors. |
Egmont National Park Waterfall Taranaki New Zealand A beautiful waterfall is Dawson Falls which drops for eighteen meters into the Kapuni Stream in Egmont National Park in Taranaki, New Zealand. |
Waterfall Streams Purakaunui Falls Otago NZ Along the Southern Scenic Route in Otago, NZ, a waterfall is a common sight, but the Purakaunui Falls is one of the prettiest with its never ending streams of water. |
Great Huka Falls Wairakei Park Taupo New Zealand The great raging water of the Huka Falls in Wairakei Park near Taupo, New Zealand as the white foam explodes atop the water. |
Volcano Sunset Mt Taranaki North Island New Zealand The volcano peak of Mt. Taranaki on the North Island of New Zealand is silhouetted by the yellow stretch of sky at sunset. |
North Taranaki Bight Coastline Sunset Taranaki NZ Pink hues adorn the sky over the North Taranaki Bight coastline in Taranaki, NZ at sunset with the lighting glistening off the tops of the whitecliffs. |
Monkey Animal Cotton Topped Tamarin Auckland Zoo Peeking around the trees in its habitat at the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand, this cute animal is a type of monkey known as a Cotton Topped Tamarin. |
Emu Bird Picture Auckland Zoo New Zealand A head picture of the Emu at the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand, making this bird appear as being rather strange looking. |
Yellow Eyed Penguins Beachwalk Otago New Zealand The beachwalk is something the Yellow-Eyed Penguins do every night when they come ashore at Roaring Bay in Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Mother Fur Seal Cape Palliser Seal Colony NZ A mother fur seal has come close to shore in search of her baby at the Cape Palliser Seal Colony on the North Island of NZ. |
Australasian Gannet Families Cape Kidnappers New Zealand The Australasian Gannet families grow every October at the Cape Kidnappers colony at Hawkes Bay on the North Island of New Zealand as this is when the chicks are hatched. |
Scenic Shotover River Skippers Canyon Central Otago A scenic view of the green shaded water of the Shotover River meandering its way through Skippers Canyon in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Valley Landscape Central Otago South Island NZ Paddocks and farmland make up the beautiful landscape of the Kawarau River Valley near Queenstown in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Russell Lupins Wildflowers Central Otago River Russell Lupins decorate the banks alongside the Cardrona River in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand, the ideal location for these wildflowers to flourish. |
Treble Cone Waterfall Central Otago New Zealand A waterfall cascades over the rock cliffs of Treble Cone in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand where visitors like to hike or mountain bike in the summer months. |
Yellow Plant Lupinus Arboreus Picture Lupinus arboreus is the scientific name for the Yellow Tree Lupins, a plant that grows wild across the landscape near Lake Hawea in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Lakeside Farmland Lake Hawea Central Otago Lakeside farmland dotted with sheep grazing in the lush fields overlooking Lake Hawea in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Sweet Briar Flowers Lake Wanaka Central Otago Bright pink flowers on the Sweet Briar plant bloom along the lakeshore of Lake Wanaka in Central Otago, New Zealand bringing colour to the hillsides. |
Lake Wanaka Shoreline Central Otago NZ The shoreline of Lake Wanaka in Central Otago on the South Island of NZ, brings to life the beautiful vegetation that flourishes along the base of the hillsides. |
Beautiful Lake Wanaka Central Otago New Zealand The beautiful scenery of Lake Wanaka and the Makaroa River Valley in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. |
Kaikoura Peninsula Rugged Coastline Sunset Sunset colors explode across the rugged coastline of the Kaikoura Peninsula near the Seal Colony that reside on the South Island of New Zealand. |
South Bay Canterbury NZ Sunset An amazing sunset encompasses the South Bay in Canterbury, NZ as the peaceful landscape and calm waters fill the area with silence. |
Rolling Hills Kaikoura Peninsula Countryside New Zealand The countryside on the Kaikoura Peninsula on the South Island of New Zealand consists of rolling hills adorned in beautiful shades of green. |
Historical Fyffe House Kaikoura New Zealand The historical Fyffe House along the coastline of Kaikoura on the South Island of New Zealand is known to be the oldest house around the region. |
Toi Toi Grass Plants Picture Kaikoura Beach NZ Toi Toi grass plants are beautiful as they sway in the wind that blows across the Kaikoura beach in the Canterbury region 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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Fall Pictures
