Franz Josef Glacier
Day 181 – Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand Yesterday was spent getting here, from Punakaiki to Franz Josef Glacier. It is the name of the town, and the name of its main attraction. Today, a shuttle took me to the car park from which many trails go to and around the glacier. I started with…
Pancake Rocks
Day 179 – Punakaiki, New Zealand Today’s bus was early, like 7:15 am early. Fortunately, I had my trusty travel pillow with me. The bus driver, from his accent, was Canadian, and I must have been the last one to arrive because he called me by name. (Everybody knows me!) He kindly gave us the…
Last day at Abel Tasman
Day 178 – Nelson, New Zealand The day began with my alarm not ringing. Fortunately, I woke up -and checked the time- and had still half the time I had scheduled for the morning. So instead of leisurely packing up my stuff -check-out day- and having a quiet breakfast with lots of time over my…
Abel Tasman National Park – 2
Day 176-177 – Marahau, New Zealand I didn’t write last night because I started nodding off over my 6-o’clock cup of tea, and I decided that shower, preparing next day’s lunch and diner were a priority. The morning boat took me to Tonga Quarry, where I had ended last day’s walk. I went for a…
Abel Tasman National Park
Day 175 – Marahau, New Zealand I’m up to date with my pictures! Check out Napier, Wellington, Marahau and Abel Tasman National Park. To recapitulate, the 4-5 day walk that follows the Abel Tasman National Park’s coast is labelled a Great Walk in New Zealand, and more important for me, it is graded “easy”. That…
Geyser, sulphur and mud pools
Day 165 – Rotorua, New Zealand Rotorua sits on a diagonal line crossing the North Island drawn by the meeting of two tectonic plates, giving the region particular geothermic activity. One such place is Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Waters), where geysers, hot (boiling hot) springs, mud pools, bubbling pools can be seen. Wai-O-Tapu – The artist’s palette…
Down the Hobbit hole
Day 164 – Rotorua, New Zealand Hobbits! Actually, there wasn’t any, but I’ve seen plenty of houses, clothes, and accessories. Let’s track back a bit. Today was the day I visited Hobbiton, the place that was the set for the Hobbits’ village in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. To be accurate,…
Another dash through Auckland
Day 162 – Auckland, New Zealand I arrived yesterday in Auckland, and spent today in the War Memorial Museum, which has a large Maori culture exhibit as well as a cultural performance I went to watch. I went for a combined ticket that included a highlight tour (a guided tour giving you a highlight of…
Haruru Falls
Day 160 – Paihia, New Zealand Today I stayed near the town where I lodge, Paihia. There is a 5-km walk to Haruru Falls that is reputed to be pleasant, and it is! Of course, what they don’t tell you is that you have to walk almost as long just to get to the start…
Day trip to Cap Reinga
Day 159 – Paihia, New Zealand (It’s the 5th of November, so there are fireworks getting off everywhere tonight!) I was a bit anxious this morning about the weather, since yesterday’s rain had cancelled, I was afraid it would reschedule today. But no, we had a beautiful day. The bus was a bit late picking…