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| Touring New Zealand 2005 - Introduction |
Introduction
The 2005 travelogue is, as usual, written as we go and closely linked to a regular series of lighthearted Emails sent out as "News from The Antipodes". The travelogues have always been written as we go (this year on our Toshiba Portege), superficially spell checked and made available to our friends - in previous years they have been copied into an email and sent.This year we are repeating the approach we used for a similar series from Australia ("News from Downunder") and uplifting them as we go to our web site and limiting the emails to a summary. This approach will, we hope, allow us to provide some background information for those new to the newsletter whilst allowing those who have heard much of it before to quickly scroll through the web pages to new sections.
This year we have gone one step further than previous years and added many pictures from Pauline's Digital Canon A75 Camera in high and low resolution as well as re-using some of the best previous pictures from Film and stills from the Peter's digital video camera.
Itinery
This year we are spending our time in North Island and our travels will include two weeks sailing in the Hauraki Gulf. The route can be followed as we progress from the links at top and bottom which will be common to all the pages.
We are also including our initial plan for the trip which we will progressively update as we proceed - we never keep to our plans as we adapt to weather and to follow interesting diversions!
17-19 Jan Fly AirNZ to Auckland, Christine 20 Jan Collect campervan. Christine 21 Jan Christine 22-23 Jan 2 nights Dargaville/Trounson Kauri Park 24 Jan Opononi then Rawene ferry to Ahipara 25-26 Jan Cape Reinga then 2 nights Waitiki Landing 27 Jan Back to Ahipara 28 Jan Lunch at Mangonui then Whangaroa Harbour 29 Jan Kerikeri then Hururu Falls 30-31 Jan Thro' Paihia, Opua and Kawakawa to Matakohe 1 Feb Auckland 2-3 Feb MOTAT then to Thames 4-5 Feb Waihi Goldmine tour then 2 nights Rotorua 6 Feb Taupo then Taumarunui 7-9 Feb SH43 to Stratford then 3 nights at East Egmont 10 Feb Drove around the mountain then overnight in Wanganui 11-13 Feb Wellington * 14 Feb Valentines Day cruise on Waimarie, Wanganui 15 Feb River Road to Raetihi 16 Feb Napier - Taihape Road to Kuripapango 17-20 Feb Napier Art Deco Festival * 21 Feb Lake Tutira then Lake Waikaremoana 22 Feb Back to Wairoa then to Gisborne 23 Feb Tauranga 24 Feb Waihi 25-27 Feb Auckland Christine 28 Feb Return van 28 Feb-14 Mar Sailing Auckland * 15 Mar Finish sailing - Auckland 16 Mar Whangarei Falls 17 Mar Russell 18 Mar Tauranga Bay 19 Mar Tauranga Bay 20 Mar Sandspit 21 Mar Auckland Christine 22 Mar Auckland Christine 23-24 Mar Take van back then fly to London
Background Material
After each visit we also try to extract more from the chronological organisation and consolidate the content into specific pages. Some background pages which may be of interest are:
- New Zealand Wines, Wineries and Vineyard Restaurants - brings together our favourite vineyards to visit. Selection is not solely the on the quality of the wine but is biased towards those with good vineyard restaurants, magnificent scenery and a friendly and helpful approach.
- New Zealand Goldmining - Introduction to Goldmining Techniques and Travels in various Goldfields.
- Kauri, both logging and the gathering and use of it's gum forms another unique part of New Zealand history worthy of investigation.
- Active Thermal Areas - New Zealand is also an area which is very active geologically and has a number of fascinating thermal areas, predominantly North Island.
- Maori Culture and Heritage - One can not fully understand and appreciate New Zealand without gaining some understanding of the Maori Culture and Heritage and the interactions with the first settlers and their way of life.
- Sailing in New Zealand - An Introduction to Sailing in New Zealand with an index to our own sailing in the Hauraki Gulf, The Bay of Islands and the Coastal Passage between them and on up to Whangaroa Harbour.
- The Whanganui River Story The story of the River and the river boats that served it.
- New Zealand Books - We have built up a library of books on New Zealand during our visits and have initiated a catalogue. Our books cover many topics from Sailing and Fishing through the Goldfields and Art Deco to Maori Culture.
