Reset search
New Zealand
  • David Brown
  • David Brown

New Zealand

A 7-day adventure by David Read more
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
Newest first
  • Trip start
    March 18, 2016
    David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Newcastle-under-Lyme

    March 18, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C

    New Zealand. Last so many others it came to my notice as the gorgeous and breathtaking backdrop in the cinematic Lord of the Rings. That was 15 years ago and then after all that time the actual decision to go and the planning seemed to happen so quickly. The itinery was planned and even then the three weeks that were planned seemed far too short. Yet here we were packed and ready to go.Now normally when going away on holiday I’m used to having to drag myself out of bed at some unspeakable time in the morning and then blearily eyed wander through the airport checks. So not flying until 16:50 was a new experience and in fact it left us having time to kill at home before leaving for the airport even though we had to drop Koshka at the cattery and take Alison’s car into the garage. In that time to kill I worried that just like some amazing film trailer which turns out to be all the best bits of the film would New Zealand be the same?Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Heathrow Airport

    March 18, 2016 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    After a very convoluted taxi ride via Keele Services and many Cheshire back roads we made the the short hop from Manchester to Heathrow on the first of our nearly 24 hours we would be in the air.

    At Heathrow we had dinner in a restaurant which had an unusual wall design.Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    KLIA

    March 19, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    After that there was nothing else to do but get through the long 23 hours of flying which included a transfer at Kuala Lumpar airport. Still all the hours of flying helped me catch up my film viewing cramming in The Martian, Creed, Edge of Tomorrow, Robot & Frank, and The Drop in between fleeting attempts at sleep.Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Auckland

    March 20, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Arrived at around 1.30pm and after a long wade through security and baggage reclaim we met Barry our taxi driver. As he drove us to our hotel he gave us us a guide to Auckland's history including it's eruptive past. As a bonus he introduced us to the Asian Wave so we were now able to greet people we met with this local friendly gesture.

    After dropping our bags at Rydges we set off to take our first taste of New Zealand. We wandered down to Queen Street and started to get into the idea of how compact New Zealand urban areas are compared to the UK. Sad to see the number of people begging, suppose I was a little too starry eyed to think I wouldn't see it here. The docks were breezy and I wished we had more time to get out on a boat to explore further. In the end we had dinner, where Daniel tackled a crab, before returning early to the hotel as the jet lag kicked in.

    Crab tackling here - https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…    Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Auckland Domain

    March 21, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    First full day in New Zealand and after a fabulous breakfast we set off to go to the Sky Tower only to be blocked by protesters. They follow me everywhere, they tried to stop me going to the Colosseum when we were in Rome last year! So instead we headed for the Auckland Museum. Weather was hotter than expected and so it was a pleasant stroll through the city and into The Domain leading to the museum. We took the time to start admiring some common birds of New Zealand but maybe not so common for us!Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Auckland War Memorial Museum

    March 21, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Inside Auckland Domain is the Auckland War Memorial Museum which despite its name is a museum of New Zealand history. The war memorial itself is a sombre reminder of all those who have lost their lives in battle and is genuinely moving.

    Elsewhere there is fascinating insights into Maori culture from before their arrival in Aotearoa. An excellent piece on volcanoes and their fascinating beauty but equally devastating affect on the New Zealand landscape.

    We had a fantastic time here before catching the bus which gave Daniel the opportunity to demonstrate his 'cool' way of flagging down a bus.

    You can see a fabulous Haka performed by Maoris at the museum here.

    https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…    Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Auckland Art Gallery

    March 21, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Daniel loved going here even though he was still in mourning for his sunglasses.

    Introduced to some great work by New Zealand artists such as Louise Henderson and Colin McCahon and his paintings of kauri trees.As well as the paintings of Maori chiefs by Charles F Goldie.

    The cafe here was very good too and allowed me to sample the hoptastic Tuatara APA, that's Aotearoa Pale Ale by the way!    Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    ... in Auckland

    March 21, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    We strolled from the museum back through Auckland stopping at The Occidental, a Belgian beer cafe, on the way. It was at this time that I first hand started to observer the horror of wifi addiction that was to cast such a long shadow over the holiday!Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Sky Tower

    March 21, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    So the protesters having moved on we ventured back to the Sky Tower. Taking the express elevator up we were soon drinking in the view. With the sea and the volcanoes and helped by the clear blue sky, Auckland looked gorgeous.

    From up here we saw Mount Eden and sadly realised we would not have the time to visit it. Maybe that was why they were playing 'Heaven Knows I'm miserable now'. It's true! Don't believe then you can hear it here for yourself.

    https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…

    We were soon to realise that when it came to music New Zealand seemed to be addicted to the eighties. If we stopped somewhere and music was playing it would invariably be eighties songs.

    More pictures at the top of the Sky Tower here.

    https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…    Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Our New Home

    March 22, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    So repacked and ready to go. Barry came and picked us up and gave us another tour as we headed back out to the airport to pick up what was to be our home for the next 2 and a bit weeks.

    Getting behind the wheel was nervous due to high winds coming in from the sea and the lorries overtaking on both sides. By the end of the day my shoulder and arm were aching from gripping the wheel too tight, I was worried that I was not going to be able to drive all holiday but as the days wore on I fell in love with driving our home on wheels around New Zealand's roads.Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Hobbiton

    March 22, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    And so to Hobbiton which was pure magic. There was no overt commercialism and strolling around looking at all the Hobbit holes and the attention to detail like small ladders, axes, clothes on lines just added to the immersion you felt. As the sun broke through the clouds as we sat outside The Green Dragon drinking beer brewed in The Shire my breath left me. I could quite happily have sat there for days watching the light play across the fields and off the surface of the lake. This would not be the last time I felt like this in New Zealand. It will be also not the only time that I say that the pictures do not do it justice, there is a magic that cannot be captured by a camera.

    Some video and pictures can be found here.

    https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…

    https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…    Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Waiteti Trout Stream Holiday Park

    March 22, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    And so off to our first camp site where we met lots of flies and lots of rain!

    Daniel made a friend of the owner as he (Daniel that is) ran around the campsite banging on doors begging people to save him from the flies.

    We also had the disappointing news that our trip to White Isle the following day had been postponed so we fell asleep with the rain drumming on the roof with a new destination to dream about.

    https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…    Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Rotorua

    March 23, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    After braving the rain on our walk to Lake Rotorua we headed in town itself. Despite the rain we wandered around this former spa town with its eerie sulphur pools which bubble and steam away. You get used to the sulphur smell in the air after a while.

    The lakeside area with it's almost derelict view reminding me of a place where they would film Blakes 7. We had coffee in a restaurant that had the little hatches in which you could select your lunch something that used to be common place in England.

    We had our dinner in The Pig and Whistle which had formally been a police station. I had a great pint of the Macs Green Beret definitely one for hop fans.

    Pictures - https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…

    Video - https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…    Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Rotorua Museum

    March 23, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We visited the museum which was the site of the former bath house where people would travel from all over the world to experience the miraculous curing properties of the water that had run through volcanic rock. We noted that it had taken its bathware from Stoke on Trent!

    Also the small film that told the history of the Mount Tarawera eruption which had destroyed the pink and white steps which were a local tourist attraction starred a young pre-FOTC Bret McKenzie.    Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Huka Falls

    March 24, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    On our drive down to Lake Taupo we stopped at the Huka Falls. The sheer power of the falls is incredible and hypnotic. A short walk up Waikato shows the width of the river before it is forced the narrow gap that constitute the falls. I think it was here that I finally felt comfortable driving the campervan after my earlier worries...I didn't drive it into the falls.

    Video - https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…

    More Pictures - https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…    Read more

  • David BrownNew ZealandDavid Brown

    Lake Taupo

    March 24, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Where I found paradise...

    The campervan parked by the lake edge and I sat watching the sun go down over the lake. Some of the most perfect moments in my life, close my eyes and I am back there.

    The next morning we swam in the lake, cold, reviving and wonderful. I remember crossing the highway (highway hah!) and the campsite office with its souvenirs, I regret not buying one now. I remember the place we stopped for petrol, so friendly and welcoming.

    An amazing place.

    http://www.motuterebay.co.nz/

    Video - https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…

    More pictures - https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2215A2246…    Read more

    Trip end
    March 24, 2016
  • 2026© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice