Thread: NZ trip

Wow, that is an amazing part of the world.

Looks a great place to visit, will be putting that on the itinerary for our trip there next year.

Not brave enough to go to the South island eh? Can't say the earthquakes really scared me or the roof coming down on the Invercargill Sports stadium. But othes around weren't impressed. (SWMBO won't go back.)
I really envy that visit to the kauri museum. If there is a reason to go back to NZ for me- that's it.
Thanks for the photos, ajw.

Carry Pine

Hi Carry,

We spent a couple of weeks in the South Island a few years ago. For jaw-dropping scenery the south island is much better than the north. There's a train trip that goes from Christchurch to Greymouth, across the island. It's called the trans alpine train (from memory), and it is stunning. While we were there, the Kiwis were struggling to figure out how to get Aussies back to the south island. While there's been some major destruction in parts of Christchurch, much of the city is still going well, and they're desperate for tourists.

They also have glaciers in the south island. We took a helicopter trip to the top of one - an amazing experience.

We decided to go back to see the north island because my wife has a keen interest in volcanoes. To see mud boiling and steam spurting out of the ground is a bit surreal. This time we took a helicopter trip from Taupo to Mr Ruapehu, and saw a crater lake. It's expensive, but it's a fantastic way to see NZ.

I'd highly recommend it to anybody looking for a place to go that's not too far away. Obviously, I'd also recommend the Kauri museum. It's much larger than I expected it to be, and you could spend a couple of hours there easily.

cheers,

ajw

[QUOTE=ajw;1221028]Hi Carry,

. There's a train trip that goes from Christchurch to Greymouth, across the island. It's called the trans alpine train (from memory), and it is stunning.

I was waiting on the platform to take this train trip and a 5.4 aftershock hit. I am used to being on platforms when those superfreighters (3 locos + 53 trucks) go by. This was different. The Christchurch platform sort of went in waves. No cracks though. And no train trip!

Graham

Wow. Shame you missed the train trip. Were you there when the main quake hit? I remember the building I was in swaying a bit when the Newcastle quake happened, but it didn't last long and others didn't seem to notice it.

ajw

We honeymooned in NZ self drive for 20 days... loved it, that museum was brilliant

We also honeymooned in NZ. 3 weeks on the South Island including a Heli hike on a glacier. Absolutely loved it. We also walked the Milford track which I highly recommend. North Island next time.

Originally Posted by ajw

Wow. Shame you missed the train trip. Were you there when the main quake hit? I remember the building I was in swaying a bit when the Newcastle quake happened, but it didn't last long and others didn't seem to notice it.

ajw

Missed the main quake but first flight into CC after. Highlight of my trip wa going to Doubtful Sound (just down the road from Milford. I also cycled from Dunedin out to the Otago peninsular. (photos attached)

Can you see the name of the fishing boat in the background?

Graham

Can't make out the name of the boat. What is it?

I loved Milford Sound. From memory, they get around 10 metres of rainfall a year there. We struck it lucky and had a sunny day.

ajw

Originally Posted by ajw

Can't make out the name of the boat. What is it?

I loved Milford Sound. From memory, they get around 10 metres of rainfall a year there. We struck it lucky and had a sunny day.

ajw

Well I just had to take the photo. Boat is named 'Easy Rider'.

Graham

I lived in NZ on the South Island for 5 years and loved it. I would go back to NZ just to visit the Kauri Museum, it is the best I have ever seen. Thanks for the photos they brought back many memories of a great trip up to the North Island and a visit to a world class museum.

I remember walking up to that old tree. Thought we'd missed a turn somehow, as the track ended up against a "cliff". Can remember the goosebumps on looking up and discovbering the cliff was in fact the tree.
Humbling is the whole feeling.

Yeah , same here.
The board walk veered off to the left and the cliff was up ahead , complete with a few seedlings and vines sprouting out of the crevices
I was describing that to some old foresters in northern Sweden , and described a circle larger that the large farmhouse kitchen that we were in .
They thought that that was the best joke they had heard in years.



I have been told by mates that come from up that way , that there are Kauri that are larger that Tane Mahuta , but are too deep into the bush for a roadside stroll .