nov. – dec. 2017

Down Under

Een 29-daags avontuur van Luke Meer informatie

Volgen Overzicht Kalender Delen

Footprints
Foto’s

Het begin van de reis
10 november 2017
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vrijdag 10 november 2017
⛅ 9 °C
Hoogte: 75 m
Engeland Manchester Airport 53.361855, -2.27296853°21’43” N 2°16’23” W
Getting Started
10 november 2017, Engeland ⋅ ⛅ 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)Meer informatie
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zondag 12 november 2017
☀️ 22 °C
Hoogte: 25 m
Australië Town Hall railway station -33.872749, 151.20617733°52’22” S 151°12’22” E
Arrived at last
12 november 2017, Australië ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Got to Sydney at last, 3 flights and 29 hours later, everything went to plan
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maandag 13 november 2017
☁️ 16 °C
Hoogte: 1.025 m
Australië Katumba Railway Station Platform 2 -33.710789, 150.31301933°42’39” S 150°18’47” E
Blue Mountains
13 november 2017, Australië ⋅ ☁️ 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 walkingMeer informatie
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dinsdag 14 november 2017
⛅ 22 °C
Hoogte: 17 m
Australië Wynyard Station -33.865181, 151.20370533°51’55” S 151°12’13” E
Out and about in the city
14 november 2017, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 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)Meer informatie
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woensdag 15 november 2017
☀️ 24 °C
Hoogte: 6 m
Australië The Gap -33.844219, 151.28292833°50’39” S 151°16’59” E
Goodbye Australia
15 november 2017, Australië ⋅ ☀️ 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.Meer informatie
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donderdag 16 november 2017 om 15:02
⛅ 20 °C
Hoogte: 32 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Mount Albert -36.884399, 174.72380136°53’4” S 174°43’26” E
Start of the New Zealand Journey
16 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 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 tomorrowMeer informatie
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vrijdag 17 november 2017 om 18:53
⛅ 17 °C
Hoogte: 32 m
Nieuw-Zeeland The Domain -36.848515, 174.77290336°50’55” S 174°46’22” E
1
Discovering the city of many sails
17 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 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 youMeer informatie
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Reiziger Beautiful bay!
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zaterdag 18 november 2017
☀️ 18 °C
Hoogte: 15 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Mount Victoria -36.827432, 174.79672436°49’39” S 174°47’48” E
Davenport
18 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 seasideMeer informatie
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zondag 19 november 2017
⛅ 16 °C
Hoogte: 8 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Auckland Port -36.844398, 174.76934836°50’40” S 174°46’10” E
Lazy day in the city
19 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 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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maandag 20 november 2017 om 20:39
⛅ 13 °C
Hoogte: 62 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Lambton Harbour -41.282772, 174.77685541°16’58” S 174°46’37” E
Train - Auckland to Wellington
20 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 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 weatherMeer informatie
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dinsdag 21 november 2017
⛅ 17 °C
Hoogte: 63 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Mount Victoria -41.293976, 174.79589841°17’38” S 174°47’45” E
Oriental Bay, Wellington
21 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 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’sMeer informatie
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Reizigerglad you are having fun x
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woensdag 22 november 2017
⛅ 17 °C
Hoogte: 59 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Lambton Harbour -41.282627, 174.77679441°16’57” S 174°46’36” E
Parliament + cable car
22 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 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 routesMeer informatie
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vrijdag 24 november 2017 om 08:22
☀️ 16 °C
Hoogte: 11 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Picton Ferry Port -41.285603, 174.00520341°17’8” S 174°0’19” E
Interislander
24 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 dramaticMeer informatie
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zaterdag 25 november 2017
❄️ 0 °C
Hoogte: 305 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Kenny Isle -41, 17441°0’0” S 174°0’0” E
Picton
25 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ❄️ 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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zondag 26 november 2017
☀️ 14 °C
Hoogte: 12 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Endeavour Inlet -41.092808, 174.18760741°5’34” S 174°11’15” E
Queen Charlotte Track - Day 1
26 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 2Meer informatie
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maandag 27 november 2017 om 20:51
☀️ 14 °C
Hoogte: 16 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Big Bay -41.129955, 174.15119941°7’48” S 174°9’4” E
Queen Charlotte Track - Day 2
27 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 walkingMeer informatie
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dinsdag 28 november 2017
☀️ 19 °C
Hoogte: 27 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Kaipakirikiri Bay -41.199108, 174.03585841°11’57” S 174°2’9” E
Queen Charlotte Track - Day 3
28 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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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woensdag 29 november 2017
☀️ 17 °C
Hoogte: 9 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Thompson Bay -41.269283, 173.9097941°16’9” S 173°54’35” E
Queen Charlotte Track - Day 4
29 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 pictonMeer informatie
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Reizigerphew glad you are ok ,we thought you had been eaten by a Kakapo!! xx
30-11-2017Reageren
ReizigerI did not have any internet connection at all in the lodges on the track
30-11-2017Reageren
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donderdag 30 november 2017 om 22:28
🌙 17 °C
Hoogte: 351 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Queenstown -45.033524, 168.66845245°2’1” S 168°40’6” E
Travelling
30 november 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ 🌙 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 SoundMeer informatie
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vrijdag 1 december 2017
⛅ -1 °C
Hoogte: 294 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Freshwater Basin -44.671608, 167.92591944°40’18” S 167°55’33” E
Milford Sound
1 december 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ -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
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Reizigeryou should have done a fit bit challenge , all that walking !
01-12-2017Reageren
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zaterdag 2 december 2017 om 19:04
☀️ 21 °C
Hoogte: 311 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Lake Wakatipu -45.08606, 168.54748545°5’10” S 168°32’51” E
Lake Wakatipu
2 december 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 excellentMeer informatie
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zondag 3 december 2017
⛅ 17 °C
Hoogte: 418 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Bush Creek -44.941418, 168.83589244°56’29” S 168°50’9” E
Arrowtown & Skyline
3 december 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 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 showMeer informatie
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maandag 4 december 2017
☀️ 24 °C
Hoogte: 8 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Auckland International Airport -37.007889, 174.78320337°0’28” S 174°46’60” E
Another Travel day
4 december 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 IslandMeer informatie
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dinsdag 5 december 2017
☀️ 31 °C
Hoogte: 24 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Coromandel -36.761349, 175.49891736°45’41” S 175°29’56” E
Caromandel
5 december 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 AucklandMeer informatie
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woensdag 6 december 2017
☀️ 23 °C
Hoogte: 12 m
Nieuw-Zeeland Maunganui -36.799961, 175.11389236°47’60” S 175°6’50” E
Waiheke Island
6 december 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 journeyMeer informatie
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