NZ Trip

First we spent a week on the North Island, traveling from Auckland to Northland...

Then we spent about two weeks on the South Island, circling the island from Christchurch to Nelson to Greymouth to Queenstown...

Driving from Christchurch to Motueka -- Nov 28


Driving north from Christchurch...	...up the coast...	...enjoying the views


Roadside waterfall	sheep baaaa! baaa! baaa! baaa! baaa! baaa!	Curious alpacas on a roadside farm

Taking the Aqua Taxi from Motueka to the end of the
Abel Tasman Coastal Track to begin our 3 day tramp -- Nov 29


Mindy on the Aqua Taxi	Aqua Taxi from Motueka to Abel Tasman	Mindy on the Aqau Taxi


Rich on the Aqua Taxi	Seals sunbathing on the rocks in the bay	Mindy on the Aqua Taxi

Day 1 of our 3 day tramp in Abel Tasman National Park -- Nov 29


Abel Tasman National Park - view from the trail	Abel Tasman National Park beach	Rich with his gear in Abel Tasman


Rich hiking on the beach in Abel Tasman	Mindy takes a break from hiking	Rich in camouflage

Day 2 of our 3 day tramp in Abel Tasman National Park -- Nov 30


Abel Tasman National Park	Mindy and Rich preparing to cross a bay in Abel Tasman	Mindy and Rich in Abel Tasman


Abel Tasman National Park	Mindy hiking in Abel Tasman	Rich hiking in Abel Tasman


Rich hiking in Abel Tasman	Rich crossing a brudge in Abel Tasman	Rich in Abel Tasman


Abel Tasman National Park	Rich cooling off in the bay after a long day's hike in Abel Tasman	Rich preparing dinner at the campsite

Day 3 of our 3 day tramp in Abel Tasman National Park -- Dec 1

Driving from Nelson to Greymouth -- Dec 2


Driving southwest from Nelson to Westport	Westport Seal Colony	Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki


Mindy at the Pancake Rocks	Pancake Rocks	Mindy at the Pancake Rocks


Driving south from Punakaiki to Greymouth...	...enjoying a beautiful sunset...	...and the views

A day in Greymouth Black Water Rafting and Montieth's Brewery Tour -- Dec 3


Mindy and Rich preparing to go black water rafting	Montieth's Brewery, Greymouth	The beer making process near it's beginning


The process continues	Rich entering the Boiler House	The beer making process near it's completion

Driving from Greymouth to Fox Glacier via Arthur's Pass -- Dec 4


Driving southeast from Greymouth to Arthur's Pass	Driving southeast from Greymouth to Arthur's Pass	Driving southeast from Greymouth to Arthur's Pass


Driving southeast from Greymouth to Arthur's Pass	Road is Slippery When Frosty	Driving southwest from Arthur's Pass to Fox Glacier


Driving southwest from Arthur's Pass to Fox Glacier	Driving southwest from Arthur's Pass to Fox Glacier	Driving southwest from Arthur's Pass to Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier and driving to Queenstown -- Dec 5


Approaching Fox Glacier	Mindy and Rich at the Terminal Face	Mindy at Fox Glacier


Driving south to Queenstown	Roadside waterfall	Beautiful scenery


Roadside cows	Sheep down the hill	The long and winding road

Hanging out and relaxing in Queenstown -- Dec 6 - Dec 7


Skyline Queenstown	Rich on the luge lift	View of Remarkables from Skyline


Rich and Mindy atop Skyline Queenstown	"Downtown" Queenstown	Rich and Mindy preparing for Kawarau Jet


Rich and Mindy on the Kawarau Jet	Rich on the Kawarau Jet	View from the Kawarau Jet

Driving from Queenstown to Geraldine -- Dec 7


Leaving Queenstown	Driving from Queenstown to Geraldine	Driving from Queenstown to Geraldine


Lindis Pass	Roadside Lupins	Roadside Lupins

Driving from Geraldine to Chrsitchurch, and a day to relax in Christchurch -- Dec 8


Sheep on the way from Geraldine to Christchurch	Alpaca on the way from Geraldine to Christchurch	Christchurch Botanical Gardens


Rich in Christchurch Botanical Gardens	Rich in Christchurch Botanical Gardens	Rich in Christchurch Botanical Gardens

Then we headed back up to the the North Island, traveling to the center of the island for 4 more days...

Morning and afternoon at the Agrodome in Rotorua -- Dec 10


Agrodome Wool Factory	Rich with the Suffolk	Mindy with the Merino and the Corriedale


Agrodome Sheep Show	Mindy with the Merinos	Rich with the Merinos


Mindy with the black sheep	Emus on the farm	Rich feeding the alpacas

Rich hanging out with the alpacas	Rich zorbing down the hill	"That was fun!"


Tamaki welcome ceremony	Tamaki village	Tamaki song and dance

A morning at the Maori Arts and Crafts Center -- Dec 11


Mindy and Rich in front of Pohutu Geyser	Pohutu Geyser erupting	Rich surrounded by geothermal activity


Geothermal area	Rich in the geothermal area	Maori war ship


Maori gathering house	Maori pataka (store house) (front)	Maori pataka (store house) (back)


Carved wooden figure playing music	Carved wooden figure scaring enemies	Carved wooden figure with axe

An afternoon in the Redwood Forest and surrounding area -- Dec 11


Driving to the Redwood Forest	Rich in the Redwood Forest	Redwood Forest

And then, sadly, it was time to go home.
We hope to go back to beautiful New Zealand some day.

Last Update: June 18 2004


Driving from Auckland to Bayley's Beach	Kiwi Crossing	Driving through the Kaiha Forest


Rich in the Kaiha Forest	Driving from Kaiha Forest to Hokianga	Ferry from Rawene to Kohukohu


Driving from Hokianga to Pukenui	More cows...	...and sheep, too


Driving from Pukenui to Ninety Mile Beach	Mindy on windy Ninety Mile Beach	Rich and Mindy at the Cape Reinga Lighthouse -- where the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea come together


Driving back to Ninety Mile Beach	Rich on Ninety Mile Beach	Mindy on Ninety Mile Beach


Driving to Kerikeri	More gerenery scenery on the way to Kerikeri	Rich feeds the chickens and ducks while we stop for lunch in Kerikeri


"Day in the Bay" tour	The Bay of Islands	The Bay of Islands


Hole in the Rock - Bay of Islands	Bay of Islands - Lighthouse	Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands


Rich on Urupukapuka Island	Mindy boom netting	Rich boom netting


Auckland Skyline	Waiheke Island Vinyard Tour - Mudbrick	Waiheke Island Vinyard Tour

RICH & MINDY'SNEW ZEALAND ADVENTURE NOV-DEC 2003