Down Under

A 29-day adventure by Luke Read more

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Trip start
November 10, 2017
Down Under Traveler
Getting Started
November 10, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Arrived in Abu Dhabi after 7 hours, security was ridiculous. Waited for around an hour, I then had to take off my shoes, top (had t shirt on underneath, don’t get excited). At one stage I thought he was going to do a strip search in the middle of the security hall. I did see a few ladies get taken into the search booths for a frisk. I then had to empty the whole contents of my carry on bag and put it all in trays to be scanned. This whole routine was then repeated at the gate before boarding

The leg from Abu Dhabi to Melbourne was nearly 13 hours. Loosing the will to live. A few little ones on board, getting worked up/tired and bored. It is a long flight for me, never mind the little peeps

Final hop from Melbourne to sydney. Nice and easy 1.5 hours (just a long wait in Melbourne Airport)Read more
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Arrived at last
November 12, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Got to Sydney at last, 3 flights and 29 hours later, everything went to plan
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Blue Mountains
November 13, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Slept like a baby. Early start to get the train to the blue Mountains. The journey takes around 2 hours

Such a beautiful area, I could of stayed for days, the walking and the views were amazing. The blue mountains area is a must see

A lot of the walking and sightseeing centred around 2 beautiful towns - Katoomba and Leura

I will certainly sleep well tonight after all that walkingRead more
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Out and about in the city
November 14, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Walking around the city (Sydney), seeing some familiar sights and some new ones

Walking around darling harbour, visiting the Chinese garden - a little piece of paradise in the heart of the city

In the afternoon I went to the Sydney Opera House, an amazing space. It is currently in a state of development. The changes to the whole complex will be amazing when it is finished. Apparently it is the only building to be opened by Lizzie twice

In the evening went back near Darling Harbour and had some fantastic food (seafood) at nicks and went to see the Sydney eye (I think that is what they call it)Read more
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Goodbye Australia
November 15, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
This was my final full day in Australia. Had lunch with Amy and Charlotte at Watson’s bay. Charlotte is a little superstar, very happy kid

In the evening I was treated to some drinks and food by Amy. David and some of the other finance team in Aus

The weather for the Australia part of my trip as been superb, farewell Australia.Read more
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Start of the New Zealand Journey
November 16, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
The day did not start well. The fire alarm in the hotel sounded and the building was evacuated. I was dressed but not packed. I had to leave the room and we was not allowed entry for nearly an hour. This put me behind schedule, the clock was ticking for my flight to Auckland. The hotel is based next to the train station, I managed to get a train almost straight away (they run every 15 minutes). I got to the airport, still in a rush. I managed to make up time at checkin and security - extremely efficient

Off I go to Auckland

Checked in to my apartment, really good view of the harbour from the balcony. Just going to plan what to do tomorrowRead more
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Discovering the city of many sails
November 17, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Done a lot of sightseeing today. Started off by going to Bastion point and mission bay, one of the many fabulous beaches within the city

I then went onto the Auckland Museum, I know what you are going to say - boring, but actually there was some excellent exhibitions (permanent and temporary) including the Maori culture, volcanoes just to name a couple. The highlight of the visit was the cultural performance which went through the culture of the Maori using songs (Waiata) and dance. The performance come to a conclusion with the Hakka

I went round a district called Parnell which as a village vibe with loads of shops and boutiques. With my reputation as a dedicated follower of fashion, I obviously loved it. Seriously it was good, with some nice bars and restaurants. I had a couple of stubby’s

I then finished the day by going to the top of mount Eden and then back into the city to go to the sky tower, on the viewing deck it is over 1000 feet. If you don’t like heights then it is not for youRead more
Traveler Beautiful bay!
11/18/17Reply
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Davenport
November 18, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Today I went to davenport, a small village just 15 minutes outside central Auckland on the Ferry

Davenport Is a great little village on the seaside with loads of shopping and trails. The village was home to one of the coastline defences and as lots of old armoury and lookout points

I enjoyed some very nice fish and chips, can’t beat it at the seasideRead more
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Lazy day in the city
November 19, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Had a bit of a sleep in, an easy Sunday. Still over 15,000 steps for those step watchers. Tomorrow I go on the explorer train to Wellington.

Early start
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Train - Auckland to Wellington
November 20, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Early start to get the Northern Explorer Train. It was extremely comfortable and the views were amazing. The first day I haven’t done any walking

The train journey was even longer than expected -12 hours. Leaves on the lines, no a tree had fallen on the lines and had to be removed

The journey was fantastic with loads of mountains, volcanoes, countryside and sheep

Probably the beach tomorrow depending on the weatherRead more
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Oriental Bay, Wellington
November 21, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Had a look round the waterfront and visited Te Papa (national museum) in the morning

Spent the afternoon at oriental bay beach. The weather was perfect, the beach is very nice but not as good as mission bay (Auckland), that was amazing. Was doing a bit of bird watching, looking at the kiwis and the New Zealand kaka’sRead more
Travelerglad you are having fun x
11/22/17Reply
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Parliament + cable car
November 22, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
In the morning I had a look at the Parliament area, went on a tour. No pictures of inside, cameras/phones are not allowed inside

In the afternoon I went on the cable car and went to the botanic gardens at the top. Small area but some nice walking routesRead more
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Interislander
November 24, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Farewell Te Ika A Maui (North Island)

Today I travelled from Wellington to Picton (gateway to the South Island) on the Interislander kaikaiti. Only in picton today and tomorrow before I start on the walking expedition - possibly a bit too dramaticRead more
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Picton
November 25, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ❄️ 0 °C
Did a little hike around the coast and spent some time around picton. It is a lovely little place with very little traffic. The place was like a ghost town even though it was a Saturday
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Queen Charlotte Track - Day 1
November 26, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Start of the walk today. Lovely boat ride to the start at ship cove. The track started very steeply as we went from the cove climbing up onto the headland. After the initial climb the hike was very nice. Today was around 13km

Even though the track overall was very comfortable, I could not believe that I past a couple with a baby (in a pouch on his mother’s back) and a toddler about 3 years old. I know it’s good to take children on a walk, but 13km is a bit much. Surely none of them enjoyed that walk

My room was fabulous. It was basic in terms of facilities. I had a balcony which overlooked the resort, which I had breakfast on before starting Day 2Read more
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Queen Charlotte Track - Day 2
November 27, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Today was another fabulous walk, a short walk for around 4 hours

The resort at Punga Cove is even better than the last one. My chalet is fantastic, the views out to the harbour are amazing, went to the cafe bar for a few beers before going back to read for a few hours. The weather is really good

Tomorrow is the longest day of the track, 8 hours of walkingRead more
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Queen Charlotte Track - Day 3
November 28, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Long day, around 24km. The track was up and down all day.

Any further the day would have been too long. There was some great views of the sound throughout the day
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Queen Charlotte Track - Day 4
November 29, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Today is the final day of the track.

The day started with a hard uphill climb for around an hour. The rest of the hike for the rest of the day was very good.

The terrains was flat and easy under foot. I arrived at our finishing point for around 2pm (around 6 hours of walking). I spent around 2 hours sunbathing and paddling (my feet needed that lovely fresh water) before the water taxi arrived to take us back to Picton. I am just staying overnight in pictonRead more
Travelerphew glad you are ok ,we thought you had been eaten by a Kakapo!! xx
11/30/17Reply
TravelerI did not have any internet connection at all in the lodges on the track
11/30/17Reply
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Travelling
November 30, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
A long day travelling.

A ferry for 3 hours, then a sprint across Wellington to get a flight to Christchurch and then a final flight to queenstown before transferring to my hotel. The first place with a bath, my feet loved soaking in the spa bath for an hour or so

Another early start tomorrow, going to Milford SoundRead more
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Milford Sound
December 1, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C
Today I travelled to Piopiotahi (Milford Sound). The day is a long one, it is around 300km from Queenstown. I set of at 7 this morning and got back for 8 in the evening

The trip is well worth it
Traveleryou should have done a fit bit challenge , all that walking !
12/1/17Reply
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Lake Wakatipu
December 2, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Went around Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown

Our guide on the cruise around the Lake was hilarious. His jokes weren’t very good, but it was the way he laughed at them himself with a very dirty laugh. When he was taking pictures for the ladies it was like a model shoot, you are looking good darling that is excellentRead more
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Arrowtown & Skyline
December 3, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
In the morning I went to Arrowtown. Arrowtown is an old gold rush town,. The Main Street is in the same style it was a hundred years ago, similar to a Wild West town. Arrowtown was also as an original Chinese settlement

In the afternoon I went on the skyline gondola and went to see another Hakka showRead more
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Another Travel day
December 4, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Everything went to plan, back in Auckland

Another great place to stay, I have been so lucky on my hotels and apartments. Popped out and got something to eat - Chinese. The food was amazing, the service was terrible. The waiter was on his laptop in the corner and if anyone wanted a drink he just told them to help themselves out of the fridges, he barely managed to take the food from the kitchen. The chef was screaming at him to take the food to the tables

Two more full days left, already sorted what I am going to do. Tomorrow I am going to coromandel and the the final day to Waiheke IslandRead more
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Caromandel
December 5, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Another full day going to the coromandel Peninsula

First stop of the day was a climb up mount Paku, then a walk to cathedral cove

And finally a visit to the hot water beach, preparing your own hot water spa by digging a hole in the beach. The water was really hot. This was an excellent end to the day before driving back to AucklandRead more
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Waiheke Island
December 6, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Went to Waiheke on the ferry from central Auckland. The island as loads of beaches and little villages

I visited Oneroa, little Oneroa, surfdale and Blackpool beach. Had some great fish and chips at the seaside, what more could you want

It was a nice easy day and a great way to end the New Zealand journeyRead more
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