SEE MENU ABOVE for North Island and South Island specific posts or archived posts below
North Island Archive
Hawke’s Bay Daytrips
We have left New Zealand, but my NZ Travel Diary is incomplete. Longing for the wine and hikes of Napier and Hawke’s Bay.
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Tongariro Volcanoes-Color Explosion!
Feeling small, surrounded by giants in the Volcano Zone. Hiking in Tongariro a high point!
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Taupō – Central North Island
From Hobbiton and Rotorua, to Lake Taupō and Tongariro National Park, Central North Island’s volcanic middle-earth is unforgettable.
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NZ-East Cape Escape
Taiawhiti “The coast upon which the sun shines on the water”…except during a week of torrential rain. But we sloshed onward.
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Gold! And The Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty – WOW! Named by Captain Cook. Warm and sunny with avocados, citrus, kiwifruit at roadside stands. And…oh those walks.
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Coromandel-Seaside Splendor
“Good for your Soul” is the tagline for The Coromandel Region where Kiwis holiday. Two coastlines with mountain ranges and forest in-between.
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Whangārei-250 Miles of Beaches!
Why Whangārei? We never expected a wonderland! Underestimated by tourists en route to the Bay of Islands, this is a “stop and stay” city.
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Far North-Paihia Day Trips
This post features a massive boulder field (thank you volcano), gallery, parrots, and a bicycle trail (with eye-pecking magpies).
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Northland – Seas and Trees
The one where I became addicted to coastal walks and climbing up the path…just to see.
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Winterless North-Bay of Islands
After a pause in blogging, this post resumes our travel memories looking at Northland. There was SO MUCH sensory overload that I had to step back..and wait for all of Northland to reveal itself. Here is the view from the Bay of Islands.
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Cape Reinga-Where Spirits Soar
At the top of North Island is Cape Reinga and the sea. Stunning.
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First Peoples-Waitangi Treaty
New Zealand was transformed from an exclusively Māori world into one of European domination. The story is told at The Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Far North. The historical site is stunning.
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Hobbiton – The Shire
After reading The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings and watching all 6 movies during lockdown. Hobbiton was a must do!
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Prismatic Rotorua
Between Rotorua and Taupo are fantastic geothermal areas with unique moss and mineral formations, crystal blue lakes, and lots and lots of steam
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Blown to Oblivion! Taupo Volcanic Zone
Walking on a volcano! The Tarawera Crater Walk, an infamous eruption in 1886, a “blast” of a walk today.
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Waitomo Glowworms and the Forgotten World Hwy
Driving a road called the Forgotten World Highway; Walking through a cave with “big shiny…
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Ring Around the Mountain – Taranaki
North Island, west coast – Mt. Taranaki, a perfectly shaped volcano.
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Wine, Badlands, Lighthouses – Lower North
Astoundingly beautiful day-trips around Martinborough with iconic lighthouses, cliff drives and rugged pinnacles.
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South Island Archive
Cape Farewell to Cook Strait
Cape Farewell – The most northerly point of South Island. On the map (slightly rotated)…
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Tasman and Golden Bay – Top of The South
Maybe it was the joy of seeing new things after lockdown and/or the luxury of additional time. Able Tasman was perfect.
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Cape Foulwind, A Swingbridge, And Centre of NZ
Upper South Island: State Road 6 from east (Nelson) to the west coast.
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Kaikōura, Nelson-Sudden Stops
In March, we drove to Kaikōura on the upper east coast with planned stays in…
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Aoraki Mt Cook – Cloud Piercer
Backdrop for the Hobbit and LOTR movies – Iconic Aoraki/Mt Cook – NZ’s highest mountain – and so approachable.
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Quirky Moeraki and Ōamaru
NZ is never predictable. Leaving the wild-lands mid-March we anticipated scenery of a more familiar…
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Dramatic Dunedin
Imagine a beach with towering mosaics showing streaks and patterns of all colors; or a…
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The Catlins-Southland’s Secret
On our way to the VERY Bottom of South Island, we drove through the magical Catlins.
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The Bottom End
Just when you think your destinations may become predictable, you make memories you will never…
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Birding in NZ
Birdsongs, parrots and birds in Stewart Island, Arthur’s Pass and around NZ.
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Fiordland-Wet and Wild
Fiordland is a remote corner of New Zealand. Within this corner, we visited two iconic…
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The Remarkables and Middle-Earth
“An exhilarating road, with hairpin turns, serpentines and steep grades…This road is not recommended if…
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