2. Arrival and Waiheke Island
8 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ 🌙 59 °F
Despite leaving Sacramento on the morning of 4/6, we arrived in Auckland late on 4/8 due to crossing the international date line. Our tour driver was waiting patiently for us, and we got to our hotelЧитать далее
3. Heading South
11 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
We picked up our rental car and headed south from Auckland to Rotorua. Most vehicles here are from Asian companies - Mitsubishi, Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai. Ours is a Chinese model - GWM tank. A niceЧитать далее
4. Rotorua-Waimangu Volcanic Valley
12 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
This morning we enjoyed a visit to Waimangu Volcanic Valley.
WVV is the world's youngest geothermal valley, whose surface activity commenced in June 1886 via a violent eruption. We strolled down theЧитать далее
5. Rotarua - Te Pa Tu
12 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
We were scheduled by our tour company for a cultural experience at Te Pa Tu, which embraces many indigenous Maori traditions. We watched (and participated in - ugh) some singing, dancing and otherЧитать далее
6. Rotorua to Wellington
13 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
Our 450 km drive from Rotorua to Wellington was slightly delayed by the flashing lights of the kiwi police who wanted to have a friendly chat with Mike. And it wasn't to welcome us to Wellington. TheЧитать далее
7. Wellington-south end of North Island
13 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
Trivia question for my friend AT. What is the windiest city in the world? Nope, not Chicago. Yep, its Wellington.
Wellington is a harbor town located at the south end of North Island and is theЧитать далее
8. Wellington ll
14 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ 🌬 63 °F
The city's architecture was eclectic and interesting - a few shots here.
Our cable car ride left us at a cozy cafe where we grabbed a beverage before descending. A few more pix here.
9. Picton & Marlborough Sound
15 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
A 3 hour ferry ride brought us comfortably from North Island across the Cook Strait (which connects the Tasman Sea to the west with the South Pacific Ocean to the east) to South Island. This ferry hadЧитать далее
10. Queen Charlotte Track
16 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
The word "track" generally means hiking trail. The full Queen Charlotte Track is a very popular 3-5 day hiking/mountain biking route spanning 71 km of the Marlborough Sound with picturesque views ofЧитать далее
11. Picton to Kaikoura to Christchurch
17 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ 🌬 59 °F
Our route now takes us south down the eastern seaboard to Christchurch, before heading inland. We had an overnight stop in Kaikoura so as to keep the daily drive times down. Our weather has turned aЧитать далее
12. Christchurch
18 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
Christchurch, the largest city on South Island, is our last coastal stop before heading inland.
We're fortunate to be here on Good Friday; most NZ shops and restaurants are closed for the holiday,Читать далее
13. Christchurch to Mt. Cook
19 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
The first 2 hours of our 4 hour drive from east-coastal Christchurch heading due west gave us the rare experience of tedious flat farmland. I'm posting this a little late - we've now been through muchЧитать далее
14. Mt. Cook
19 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
At 12,219 ft, Mt.Cook, located in the Canterbury region on South Island, is the highest peak in NZ, and is a popular mountaineering destination.
Part of the fame of the area is attributed toЧитать далее
15. Stairway to Heaven - 2,200 Steps
20 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
Mt. Cook (cont.)
On Sunday we donned our rain jackets and baseball caps & headed out on a cloudy drizzly day for a trek up Sealy Tarns Track, a 3.3 mile, 1791 ft elevation gain path out of Mt.CookЧитать далее
16. Milford Sound (Hike) Track
22 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F
The Milford Sound Track (trail) is a popular 33 mile track located in the tropical forest of the Fjordlands in the southwest part of South Island. The scenic, rugged landscape is known for its naturalЧитать далее
17. Milford Sound Cruise
22 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
A trip to NZ cannot be complete without the proverbial cruise on the Milford Sound. One of the most famous places in NZ, the Sound is a fjord, which, by definition, is a deep inlet of the sea,Читать далее
18. Queenstown & Wakatipu Lake
23 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F
Our next stop is Queenstown, a charming city with an urban population of around 28,000, noted for its ski and adventure tourism. It is located on the nw corner of Wakapitu Lake which is the longestЧитать далее
19. QT - Paragliding!
24 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F
The first thing I saw when glancing out from the balcony of our room was the paragliders soaring like birds down from the mountain top.
I am so doing that! 😎
I signed up, headed up the gondola,Читать далее
20. Lake Dunstan Mountain Biking
25 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☀️ 45 °F
The Lake Dunstan Hiking / Cycling Trail is a newly constructed (2021) 55km trail that runs from Smith's Way to Clyde in the south central part of South Island. The trail was an instant success, andЧитать далее
21. XC Train & Christchurch (again)
28 апреля, Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
Leaving Queenstown we buzzed up the coast to Franz Josef, which boasts Franz Josef Glacier as its main (and possibly only) attraction. With sketchy weather & a lack of interest in seeing anotherЧитать далее






































































































































































































































































































