This Blog is based on photos and notes taken by Alex Reid during a drive around New Zealand in February 2017, with Lynda and Michael Brooks.

Click on any image to get a higher-resolution version.

Tuesday, 7-Feb-17: Depart Sydney:
We flew from Perth (via Melbourne) to Auckland, New Zealand, to meet up with the Brooks and drive (in convoy) around the North and South Islands of NZ.
We arrived at about midnight on Monday, and stayed overnight in the Ibis hotel at Auckland airport.
First thing in the morning we collected our hire car, and then drove into Auckland, where we had arranged to meet up with the Brooks on Mount Eden.
View from Mt Eden over an extinct volcano to the city and harbour beyond.

Then we drove North to Paihia on the Bay of Islands, stopping on the eay to admire the view over Whangarei Heads, then taking a diversion to see Waipu Cave (but the walk turned out to be too long, so we just admired the rock formations next to the car park. We also took a small doiversion just before arriving into Paihia to Veronica Lookout, with geat views over the bay of Islands.
On the road North, view over Whangarei Heads.
Close-up view of Whangarei Heads.
Fascinating rocks and trees near the carpark for Waipu Cave.
Our hire cars at the carpark.
View from Point Veronica Lookout over Bay of Islands - a Princess cruise ship at anchor.
Another aspect of the view of Bay of Islands from Point Veronica.

Wednesday, 8-Feb-17: Paihia, Northland
We set out on Wednesday to explore To Puketi Forest (one of the largest tracks of native rainforest in the North), had lunch at Okaihau Dairy, then back to Kerikeri where we saw St James Church (oldest church in NZ, 1824, but this structure 1856), and the Stone Store, the first stone building in NZ, dated from 1832.
To Puketi Kauri forest.
Within the forest.
St James church, Kerikeri (1878).
The Stone Store (1832).

Thursday, 9-Feb-17: Waitangi Treaty Grounds:
Today we drove to the nearby Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location for the Waitangi Treaty signed by the British respresentative (James Busby) and the Maori chiefs from the North Island in 1840. We had a guided tour given by Dan Busby (a descendant).
This was followed by a cultural performance by Maori singers/dancers in the Meeting House.
We then looked round the museum, and went for a short walk through nearby rainforest.
The Treaty House, the Residence of the British representative.
The study of the Residence where the treaty was signed.
The Waitangi Meeting House.
Interior of the Meeting House.
Carvings in the Meeting House.
The Maori cultural performance.
Waitangi War Canoes.
Nearby rainforest.
Silver fern in the rainforest.

Later that day, Michael and I went in search of nearby Haruru Falls.
Haruru Falls.

Friday, 10-Feb-17: Travelling South:
We left Paihia after 3 nights, travelling to the West coast and then South via Omapere (coffee), the giant kauri tree Tane Mahuta, the Kauri Museum in Matakohe, then bypassing Auckland over the Harbour Bridge (complete with traffic jam), to Hamilton (dinner @ Mercer McDonalds). Helen and I stayed with Darryl & Sue Smith, while the Brooks stayed at a nearby hotel with the intention of meeting up with a former colleague of Lynda's (and then to visit the glowworm caves).
The harbour at Omapere.
The West coastline at Omapere.
The Waipoua Rainforest.
Tane Mahuta: Lord of the Forest: 2,000 years old, 51m high, 14m girth; largest living Kauri.
The road cedes to the Kauri.
Matakohe Museum kauri root system stump (of a smaller kauri).
Matakohe Kauri Museum pioneer church.
Matakohe church interior - such splendid wood!
Auckland waterfront.
Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Saturday, 11-Feb-17: Hamilton:
We spent a lot of the day (accompanied by Suzanne, and later by Darryl) visiting Hamilton Gardens, including a Dahlia exhibition/competition. These gardens were extensive and most impressive, with many "rooms" in different "styles". Here are some examples. Then some dahlias, then the rose gadren.
Japanese raked garden.
Hedged Borders.
Flower Borders.
Chinese garden.
A Wild garden.
Arabic garden.
Italianate garden.
Knot garden.
Kitchen garden.
A Monet-style garden.

Dahlia Exhibition.
Wonderful dahlia blooms.
Great way to exhibit dahlia blooms.

Hamilton Rose Garden

Sunday, 12-Feb-17: Waitomo:
Visited Waitomo Glow Worm Cave today. Marvellous! Of course, you can't take photos, so these 2 were from postcards...

The imposing entry ti the Glowworm Cave.
The exit from the Cave.
Helen at the Cave exit.
A lookout avove the cave entry, with great views over the "lumpy" countryside.

Also today went past the Otorohanga Kiwi House; didn't go in this time (did so in 1989); but managed to snap this little beauty (from a postcard!!).

Monday, 13-Feb-17: Waitomo:
Today we paid a visit to Hobbiton, which was quite wonderful!
Helen and I leaving our "mansion" in Hobbiton...

Later on, we visited Rotorua. The Brooks were not keen to actually visit the main site of boiling mud, steaming sulphur, etc (perhaps because they thought the small would be overpowering); we had visited it in 1989, so not worried about skipping it. But we did visit Kuirau Park, Rotorua, whoch is freely open to the public, and boasts several examples of boilng mud. Here's one.

Tuesday, 14-Feb-17: Taupo, Napier:
Huka Falls, Taupo, where Lake Taupo empties into the Waikato River at the rate of 200,000 litres/second!!

Waipunga Falls, just off the road between Taupo and Napier.

Napier, art deco capital! Rebuilt after a devastating 7.9 earthquake in 1931.

Wednesday, 15-Feb-17:
Yesterday 15/2, we visited the Cobblestones Early Settlers Museum in Greymouth. Very well done, with many early buildings relocated to the site.

Thursday, 16-Feb-17:
Driving through New Zealand countryside, with its wonderful lumpy hills!

Today drove to Mount Victoria with its wonderful views over Wellington (also visited the film location nearby where the hobbits first encountered the Nazgul in the Lord of the Rings).

Thursday, 16-Feb-17:
Today visited Weta Cave in Wellington suburb of Miramar.

Thence to the Te Papa Museum to be wowed by the very moving Gallipoli exhibit with double life-size and extraordinarily realistic characters from the WWI campaign.

Friday, 17-Feb-17:
On a very wet (but not too windy!) last day in Wellington we visited the splendid Lady Norwood rose garden in the Botanical Gardens. We voted on yhe most fragrent, but not many were scented (to my nose!) - maybe the rain & cloud cover dampened their enthusiasm for attracting bees!

Following the Botanical Gardens, we embarked on the Ferry crossing Cook Strait to Picton on the South Island of New Zealand. We put our car on the ferry, but the Brooks returned their car in Wellington (at the ferry terminal) and collected a new one in Picton (at the ferry terminal). Weather continued rainy and gloomy.

Saturday, 18-Feb-17:
Today we set off to explore the South Island of New Zealand, first travelling down the West Coast. The coast is quite rugged in places and picturesque (especially now the rain had ceased). We stopped near Charleston to view the rocks, etc and then again at Pancake Rocks and Blowhole.

Blowhole.
A wild turkey at Pancake Rocks.

Sunday, 19-Feb-17:
Today we continued down the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, visiting Hokitika Beach, the Hokitaki Glowworm Dell (but too light to see any), then the WestCoast Treetop Walk.
Hokitaki Glowworm Dell
Treetop Walkway.

Then we reached Franz Josef Glacier. It receded nothing much (overall) between 1965 and 2010, but has since receded beyond what was expected for 2100.

Monday, 20-Feb-17:
Today we had a look at Fox Glacier on our way to Queenstown - looks great from a distance, using zoom (especially with kind weather!).

Then we started to drive inland, passing Thunder Creek Falls, Lake Hawea, and Roaring Meg before reaching Queenstown.

Tuesday, 21-Feb-17:
Now attending the eResearch Conference in Queenstown, NZ - the scenery (view from my current session) is just a bit distracting!

Wednesday, 22-Feb-17:
Setting sun on the mountains viewed from our B&B in Queenstown, after a wonderful day exploring the surroundings, on Lynda Brooks' birthday.

Earlier in the day we visited Arrowtown, a most beautiful, scenic town near Queenstown.

While in Arrowtown, we had a look at the location where the Ford of Bruinen was filmed for LotR.

Queenstown from the top of the Gondola ride (Bob's Peak), late afternoon today, Remarkables in the background.

Thursday, 23-Feb-17:
Another day in and around Queenstown. Today we drove all along Lake Wakatipu to the small settlement of Kingston at its head. On the return journey, we observed "The Devil's Staircase", as well as playing a little ducks and drakes!

Then we visited Kawarau River gorge, where the first commercial bungy jumping site was established in 1988. I didn't jump!! I wonder how many took time to admire the beauty of the gorge, or note its the location where the LotR Fellowship group, paddling down the river, saw the 2 large statues?

Friday, 24-Feb-17:
Today we traveled from Queenstown across country, heading for Christchurch, but with an overnight stop at Lake Tekapo. Before crossing the high country at Lindis Pass, we stopped to admire the reflections in Lake Hayes, near Queenstown. Then some quite rugged countryside.

On the way to Lake Tekapo, we decided to take a diversion to Mt Cook (Aoraki), 3,724m high, with absolutely stunning views across Lake Pukaki. Aren't we glad we did!!!?

And we checked out Tasman Glacier, one of the Eastward-facing glaciers from Mt Cook, currently retreating at an average of 0.5km/year (now 17km long). The black mass at the end of the glacial lake is the galcier (very dirty!), with the white bit in the background the most recent deposits. Aoraki in the background. We also checked out the Green Lake on the way.

So we arrived at Lake Tekapo. A favourite photo opp (especially for brides!) is the Church of the Good Shepherd, overlooking Lake Tekapo. I'm delighted to report that they have a big picture window behind the altar, so the congregation can admire the view, even if it distracts/detracts from the sermon! Also, the statue to border collies, without these dogs New Zealand's sheep industry could not have prospered as it did.

Saturday, 25-Feb-17:
We arrived at about lunchtime in Christchurch at our AirBnB apartment, which was fine - especially since our first booking was abruptly cancelled by the owner (it didn't give us a good impression of AirBnB!). Amyway, we spent the rest of the day "cihilling out", prior to "doing" Christchurch!

Sunday, 26-Feb-17:
Slight drizzle in Christchurch, Sunday morning - so what better way to spend the time than in the Transitional ("Cardboard") Cathedral at their morning service. It's really quite a stunning building, so I hope they don't just demolish it when the old one gets repaired (if it does!). The steel beams forming the A-frame are covered in cylidrical shapes actually made of cardboard, hence the name - you can see a few of them each side of the stained glass window.

Behind the Cathedral is art art work consisting of 185 empty chairs, representing the 185 people who died in the earthquake of 22-Feb-2011.

Other evidence of the devastating effect of the earthquake can be seen all over the city, including the container city established in the centre to allow business to carry on ("ReStart"), the damaged Anglican and Catholic Cathdrals, and the Quake Exhibition in the centre.

Monday, 27-Feb-17:
We continued our exploration of Christchurch, checking out the Victoria Clock Tower which survided the Quake, and New Regent Street ("the most beautiful street in New Zealand"), and then Botanical gardens and punting on the Avon, which give testimony to the resilience of nature...

Tuesday, 28-Feb-17:
And so we say farewell to Christchurch and New Zealand, first checking out the appropriately-named Gormley statue, "Stay". Tried to have a look at the identical one in the Arts Centre, but they had covered it in polystyrene since yesterday!

Alex Reid
29-Sep-23/7-Apr-24