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Grafton

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    • TravelerNZ and the SubAntarctic
      16
      Day 22

      Aotea and Tiritiri

      January 7 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

      Our last day before arriving back in Auckland was blessedly spent back in nature. On the Great Barrier Island Aotea we hiked past a New Zealand Christmas tree through a fern forest to a hilltop view of the surrounding area.

      After lunch we visited Tiritiri Matangi Island. This island was designated as a nature reserve in 1984.. Predators have been largely eradicated, thus it is home to a thriving bird and plant community. At the top of the island is a sun-drenched lighthouse.

      Today we are in Auckland awaiting our flight back home. It has been a magnificent experience. The wildlife, especially in the subAntarctic, were the stars. But our fellow passengers and crew win awards all around for their supporting roles. Here are pictures of our new friend Jenny (who lives in South Carolina), Charlotte and me in Milford Sound, Charlotte in our room (having our medicinal afternoon potato chips) and a celebrity guest hired by Lindblad: Louis Mitchell, cartoon artist, who is a creative director of Sesame Street.

      It has been a magnificent trip!

      Nevertheless I am looking forward to getting home so I can continue my daily morning walks at La Jolla Shores with Bruno.

      See you soon.      Read more

    • TravelerNeuseeland
      Day 2–5

      Auckland

      February 26 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

      Nach unzähligen Flugstunden war es geschafft, wir sind in Neuseeland. Wir bleiben erst einmal 2 Tage in Auckland um den Jetlag auszukurieren. Unsere innere Uhr ist noch nicht vollständig am anderen Ende der Welt angekommen, aber wir sind optimistisch. Wir besuchen eine kleine Farm und begrüßen die ersten Schafe der Reise. Heute sind wir dann mit dem Bus ins Stadtzentrum gefahren und hatten vom Skytower aus einen fantastischen Blick über die Stadt. Danach ging es zum Auckland War Memorial Museum, wo wir in der parkähnlichen Anlage das sommerliche Wetter genossen haben.Read more

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    • TravelerHalf around the world and back
      2
      Day 59

      Defeated by water

      January 4, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      So our plan was to go snorkeling at Goat Island where Susanne also snorkeled 10 years ago. Beforehand we had plotted out a diving shop we'd go to that had good reviews for renting cheap snorkeling gear. However, when we woke up it was very windy and not too warm. Machiel hadn't slept very well and was shivering. We decided to pack our backpacks first as we had to hand in the car in the end of the day. This was a bit of a challenge since we recently obtained some more stuff, like beach towels. But we somewhat managed to squeeze it all in. Then we first had a look at the conditions at the beach. It wasn't too perfect, but there were other people in the water. Susanne decided to give it a go, and rented snorkeling gear at the beach instead of the other shop, as it was somehow even cheaper (35 NZD for 2 hours vs 40 for the whole day) given that she would anyways only use it for 2 hours and not a whole day. The first snorkel wasn't too waterproof which meant it got it bit too salty, but after switching it for another one, it was working well. The underwater world had some really big fish to offer. Among them the big-gray-with-shiny-turquoise-dots-fish and the big-red-white-striped-fish-who-likes-to-stick-to-the-ground. It wasn't as great as in Susanne's memory, also because the sea was a bit rough and therefore the water not that clear, but it still pretty nice. Machiel meanwhile was the flipflop & towel guy. After a while a break was needed as the water was, despite wearing a wet suit, very cold. She went in once more for a little while, but the sea didn't have much more to offer today. The car meanwhile had warmed up a lot but it took Susanne quite a while in it until she felt warm again.

      We drove to Auckland trying to find a cheap gas station to fill up in. This wasn't easy, but we found one with a small detour. Arriving at the car rental location in Auckland, the car was quickly inspected while we were packing whatever was left in it. Then we walked to the hostel we booked. Yes, for the first time in 13 nights we were sleeping at a hostel again. It didn't have any atmosphere but it was functional and provided us with a good kitchen to bake the free kumaras we got on the kumara farm 2 nights ago. That was delicious.      Read more

    • TravelerExpedition happiness
      2
      Day 3

      Kia Ora! Ich bin angekommen!

      February 11, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

      Leute, ich habe es geschafft. Krass, was für eine Tour 😂 der erste Flug ging total schnell rum, doch die 16 Stunden danach.. Puh. 😴 Mehr als 3 - 4 Stunden konnte ich nicht schlafen. Total verrückt durch verschiedene Zeitzonen zu fliegen und komplett das Zeitgefühl zu verlieren.
      Nachdem ich mein Gepäck geholt habe, bin ich in den Skybus gestiegen und erstmal zum Hostel gefahren. Frisch geduscht und dennoch hundemüde bin ich durch die Stadt spaziert. Um 14 Uhr konnte ich endlich einchecken und habe dann 3 Stunden geschlafen. Musste sein :-) Viel passiert hier heute nicht mehr, ich gehe früh ins Bett. Morgen früh fahre ich mit der Fähre auf die Waiheke Island. Strand, Meer und spazieren gehen steht auf meinem Plan. Dann gibt es auch endlich vernünftige Bilder zu sehen 😅      Read more

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    • TravelerMS Columbus
      1
      Day 78

      Neuseeland Auckland

      February 19, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

      Einen Tag in Auckland verbracht. Es war auch Mal wieder schön eine große Stadt zu besuchen, aber ich finde die kleinen Orte schöner.
      Ich konnte heute ausschlafen und gehe erst um 19 Uhr arbeiten🙃. Morgen ist ein Seetag und dann geht es nach Wellington. Nächste Woche folgt dann Australien 😍.
      Wie es im März weiter geht weiß hier noch keiner. China ist auf jeden Fall gestrichen aufgrund des Coronavirus. Wie es mit den restlichen Ländern in Asien aussieht wurde uns noch nicht mitgeteilt.      Read more

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    • TravelerNouvelle-Zélande
      11
      Day 3

      J1 - J6 : Auckland baby

      January 13, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

      Au programme ces jours-ci : cuver notre jetlag (surtout celui de Lino), et trouver un van!
      Comme pied a terre, on un airbnb de fou avec superbe vue!
      Les premières expériences de Lino : Bus, pieds dans l'océan et premières promenades en NZ
      Pour Marco... la conduite à droite!!!!
      On finit par trouver notre bonheur: un ford transit situé à Kerikeri (3h au nord).
      Objectif atteint, quand on reviendra a Auckland, on en profitera pour visiter un peu on espère...
      On a quand même fait quelques excursions : promenades dans QueenStreet et Viaduct Harbor (où les plus grands bateaux sont amarrés), grimpette sur le Mont Eden (ancien volcan), une glace chez Giapo (la plus chère mais plus extravagante de notre vie), Sky Tower,..      Read more

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    • TravelerPetra+Hacky auf Attila's Tour
      1
      311211
      Day 7

      Waiheke Island

      January 12 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

      Die erste Nacht richtig durchgeschlafen. Dementsprechend motiviert starteten wir früh in den Tag und nahmen die Fähre nach Waiheke Island. Dort erwartete uns tolles Wetter, Sightseeing mit Hop on Hop Off Bussen und ein super Mittagessen mit Weinverkostung. Auf dieser kleinen Insel gibt es etliche Winzer.
      Danach wollten wir einen kleinen Spaziergang machen und starteten den 25 minütigen Walk durch die Kauri Wälder zum Strand.
      Irgendwie klappt die Navigation mal wieder nicht, etlichen Schildern zum Beach gefolgt und nach 1:40 h am Strand angekommen. Allerdings ganz woanders. Da das Funknetz auf der Insel nicht so gut ist, haben wir einen sehr netten Mann nach dem Weg gefragt, der gerade mit seinen Kindern schwimmen war. Er zeigte nach rechts die Straße hoch und Maps sagte 2 km. Nach 5 Minuten steilem Anstieg haben wir beim ersten Auto versucht zu trampen und es klappte. Es war wieder dieser Mann, der uns in die falsche Richtung geschickt hatte und uns danach direkt zur Haltestelle gefahren hat. Macht auch nicht jeder.
      Dann ging es wieder auf die Fähre, den der Sky Tower wartete noch auf uns.      Read more

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    • Elisabeth og Peter WidmerNew Zealand og Australia
      32
      Day 5

      Hernes bay beach

      January 29 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

      I dag bestemte vi oss for å finne en strand utenfor byen. Vi var veldig fornøyde da vi satte oss på en rutebussog gikk av etter 28 minutter. Gikk et kvarter ned til en fin strand. Men skuffelsen var stor da vi fikk se et skilt hvor det stod at det ikke var anbefalt å bade. Vi lå litt i sola, passet på å ikke ligge for lenge, siden det er lenge siden vi har vært i sol og kroppene våre må tilvennes dette vidunderlige som kommer ovenfra..Read more

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    • Viking 23/24 World Cruise
      34
      Day 42

      Aukland, New Zealand

      February 2 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

      Toured the North Shore and Davenport Village. Stopped atop Mt Victoria for spectacular
      Views.

      Note: Devonport is a relaxed bayside village with cafes and seafood restaurants; Fish and chips here are a must! The area is noted for small boutiques and art dealerships along Victoria Road as well as local beaches (Devonport and Cheltenham). The volcanic cone of North Head has harbour views and underground army tunnels. Mount Victoria provides a pristine lookout.Read more

    • Tasmania & New Zealand
      221
      Day 29

      🌵 Cacti cabin 🌵

      March 12 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

      Sad to leave our swish, one bed apartment, but leave we did, after another scrummy breakfast in a local cafe. It’s a grey mizzle/rain day today, actually the first prolonged rain we’ve had the whole trip, so we can’t moan too much.

      After picking up our hire car (a Corolla), we make our way out of town bound for Hamilton, then Tauranga, near our next accom.

      Made a pit stop in Woolies. (Didn’t know they were in NZ too) but noticed it was defo more costly than Oz. We then motored on to Waitao.

      Our cabin is at the end of a gravel hill, surrounded by lovely scenery and the most amazing and enormous cacti - heaven 😊

      Kerry, our host, came to say hello and showed us around round her cacti garden and nursery. She’s cacti mad (I know the feeling) with everything in the cabin 🌵 themed.

      Sitting out on the front porch, with a cuppa, the scene was silent. Apart from the deafening cicadas chirping and the bouncing birds tweeting - bliss!      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Grafton

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