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piiiiiiiiiiictures!
Jan. 9th, 2009 10:30 am
Well, some of them, anyway:
9 photos in the area around Auckland (mostly Piha beach, a few others)
6 photos in the Northland and Kauri forest area
12 photos in and around Rotorua
More to come!
Well, some of them, anyway:
9 photos in the area around Auckland (mostly Piha beach, a few others)
6 photos in the Northland and Kauri forest area
12 photos in and around Rotorua
More to come!
Yeah, not the greatest picture, but we bought the set anyway on a CD so I could post a few
( Flushed down the big hole )
( And a political footnote )
tired and happy (to be dry)
Dec. 30th, 2008 09:01 pmJust a quick long and exhaustive (because hey, free internet) update from the antiquated guest computer at the Pukenui Lodge in National Park, where Britt and I are recuperating from hiking the Tongariro Northern Circuit.
( Christmas in Rotorua )
( To Tongariro )
( We cross Mordor and successfully climb Mount Doom )
ETA: Rotorua photos and Tongariro photos.
Tomorrow, laundry. And groceries. And Waitomo.
( Christmas in Rotorua )
( To Tongariro )
( We cross Mordor and successfully climb Mount Doom )
ETA: Rotorua photos and Tongariro photos.
Tomorrow, laundry. And groceries. And Waitomo.
radio silence
Dec. 23rd, 2008 09:48 pmBritt's neck is doing better, although he's still healing up, but I think we are good to go. If it ever stops raining, we will head to Rotorua tomorrow (Rotorua, that's the name! And send your troubles down the drain!) and spend a couple of days soaking in hot pools and learning about Maori culture and geothermal energy, possibly not to include Christmas as the entire country apparently shuts down. Thence to Tongariro National Park to hike around hopefully inactive volcanoes, and then to Waitomo for the glowworm caves and something intriguingly called "black-water rafting." Updates to come as I get net access.
Happy holidays of whatever sort you celebrate. I am personally planning to celebrate get-the-hell-out-of-Dodge day.
Happy holidays of whatever sort you celebrate. I am personally planning to celebrate get-the-hell-out-of-Dodge day.
north to the (sub)tropics
Dec. 20th, 2008 07:39 pmWhat is this "snow" you all are talking about? *sheds another layer of clothes*
( Back from the Kauri Coast (a bit early) )
ETA: 6 photos from this trip
( Back from the Kauri Coast (a bit early) )
ETA: 6 photos from this trip
on our own
Dec. 17th, 2008 09:19 amYesterday we had "drive on the left" lessons, culminating in taking Anne and Doug to the ferry terminal to begin their long trip back to the US. The baby birds are on our own now! Although I guess the metaphor breaks down when you consider it's our "parents" who left the nest. But we are going to leave the nest as well (in our borrowed Honda Jazz right-hand-drive car, OMG, please let us not wreck it!) tomorrow; today we are doing laundry and buying groceries and getting ready to head out to the northern tip of NZ, Cape Reinga, for a three-day hike and other touristing.
We are both antsy to get moving, although we enjoyed the Auckland area a lot. The Auckland Museum was really interesting (and had the best museum food we have ever tasted!) and the Maritime Museum had all sorts of nifty stuff. Devonport, across the harbor (where we are staying) is a neat little town built on several old volcanic cones which are fun to climb and give great views from the top. There is a decent beach across the street, and Britt and I played in Anne and Doug's sea kayaks and then joined them in the water for a swim, and yes, ordinarily we would never actually get in the water in the harbor of a big city, but it's pretty clean due to the strong tidal action and, I suppose, enlightened environmental care.
Our visit with Jenine and Nat was a lot of fun but kind of short, so we may stop by and visit them again. Or at least go back to the Leigh Sawmill Cafe and Brewery (attn![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
alembicresearch - apparently it's for sale) because man, that was good beer.
Right now it is apparently snowing a foot in Durango. Heh.
Oh, and happy birthday, Dad, I think. It's confusing when you're just the other side of the Date Line from everyone else you're talking with. ETA: Er, for tomorrow. That is. Darn date line.
We are both antsy to get moving, although we enjoyed the Auckland area a lot. The Auckland Museum was really interesting (and had the best museum food we have ever tasted!) and the Maritime Museum had all sorts of nifty stuff. Devonport, across the harbor (where we are staying) is a neat little town built on several old volcanic cones which are fun to climb and give great views from the top. There is a decent beach across the street, and Britt and I played in Anne and Doug's sea kayaks and then joined them in the water for a swim, and yes, ordinarily we would never actually get in the water in the harbor of a big city, but it's pretty clean due to the strong tidal action and, I suppose, enlightened environmental care.
Our visit with Jenine and Nat was a lot of fun but kind of short, so we may stop by and visit them again. Or at least go back to the Leigh Sawmill Cafe and Brewery (attn
alembicresearch - apparently it's for sale) because man, that was good beer.Right now it is apparently snowing a foot in Durango. Heh.
Oh, and happy birthday, Dad, I think. It's confusing when you're just the other side of the Date Line from everyone else you're talking with. ETA: Er, for tomorrow. That is. Darn date line.
coming to you live from Leigh
Dec. 14th, 2008 11:58 amand justjenine's living room, where Nat and Britt are doing the dishes after a great breakfast.
Yesterday we "fished" for cockles, which is actually easier and quicker than going to the supermarket to buy shellfish (assuming you have an appropriate tidal flat). Step one: walk out into the shallow water during low tide. Step two: dig your hands under the mud. Step three: pull up the cockles. Between easy-to-get seafood and Nat and Jenine's humongous garden, it looks like feeding oneself is pretty darn easy here.
Also - we went to a brewpub! I admit I was disappointed in NZ beer up to now, but I give four thumbs up (mine and Britt's) to the Leigh Sawmill's Thornycroft amber.
Okay, now we are going to a predator-free preserve, or maybe a beach. (Omaha Beach. Insert WWII reference here.) Jenine (and I) wave at all of YOU.
justjenine's living room, where Nat and Britt are doing the dishes after a great breakfast.Yesterday we "fished" for cockles, which is actually easier and quicker than going to the supermarket to buy shellfish (assuming you have an appropriate tidal flat). Step one: walk out into the shallow water during low tide. Step two: dig your hands under the mud. Step three: pull up the cockles. Between easy-to-get seafood and Nat and Jenine's humongous garden, it looks like feeding oneself is pretty darn easy here.
Also - we went to a brewpub! I admit I was disappointed in NZ beer up to now, but I give four thumbs up (mine and Britt's) to the Leigh Sawmill's Thornycroft amber.
Okay, now we are going to a predator-free preserve, or maybe a beach. (Omaha Beach. Insert WWII reference here.) Jenine (and I) wave at all of YOU.
soft landing in Auckland
Dec. 13th, 2008 10:04 amHaving friends at one's destination has got to be the cushiest way to do foreign travel. The first day we just walked around Devonport with them; the second day they drove (TOO FAST ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD OMG) to a dramatic windward beach where we hiked across black sand and clambered up steep rocky hillsides to look out to sea; and on the third day, we fledglings borrowed their bicycles and struck off on our own.
So far we have explored an entertaining aquarium (penguins! camouflage sharks! gigantic spiny lobsters!) and the entire Auckland museum, and ridden and walked around town, and hiked on Piha beach and on one forest trail in the Waitakere park which led to a beautiful waterfall. We have also drunk a lot of wine and spent many hours catching up with Anne and Doug (who, as nice as it is to have them taking care of us here, we kind of wish they still lived in Colorado!) Today Jenine's coming by and taking us to visit her and Nat for a few days, giving Anne and Doug a few days' respite from us.
We haven't yet gotten out to the parks and big hiking and stuff yet, which we are both excited to do. But, you know, easing in slowly and all that.
ETA: 9 photos in the area around Auckland (mostly Piha beach, a few others)
So far we have explored an entertaining aquarium (penguins! camouflage sharks! gigantic spiny lobsters!) and the entire Auckland museum, and ridden and walked around town, and hiked on Piha beach and on one forest trail in the Waitakere park which led to a beautiful waterfall. We have also drunk a lot of wine and spent many hours catching up with Anne and Doug (who, as nice as it is to have them taking care of us here, we kind of wish they still lived in Colorado!) Today Jenine's coming by and taking us to visit her and Nat for a few days, giving Anne and Doug a few days' respite from us.
We haven't yet gotten out to the parks and big hiking and stuff yet, which we are both excited to do. But, you know, easing in slowly and all that.
ETA: 9 photos in the area around Auckland (mostly Piha beach, a few others)
