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New Zealand – A Selection of 35 Pictures

Steaming oceans accompanied us going further north towards Westport, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand

Of the 40 days in New Zealand, we spent 4 weeks on the South Island and a little less than two weeks on the North Island. If the start was not the most pleasant one, we slowly got caught from the unique landscape of both Islands, which couldn’t be more different… Continue Reading →

Cook Islands – A Selection of 26 Pictures

Ranginui´s Retreat, Aitutaki Atoll, Cook Islands

We spent three weeks on the Cook Islands in February 2008 during our Round The World Trip: altogether 9 days on Rarotonga, 7 on Aitutaki and 5 on Atiu. The Cook Islands were definitely a highlight in our trip and finally we discovered some of those Pacific Islands that matched our ideas of the “South Seas”. Continue Reading →

New Zealand – Travel Guide

 

Wharariki Beach, South Island, New Zealand

Wharariki Beach, South Island, New Zealand

Of the 40 days in New Zealand, we spent 4 weeks on the South Island and a little less than two weeks on the North Island. Initially New Zealand was not one of our top 10 destinations, but since everyone was sooo enthusiastic about this country, we felt we should decide for ourselves. Continue Reading →

New Zealand – Budget

Queenstown is only about "Adrenalone", South Island, New Zealand

Queenstown is only about “Adrenalone”, South Island, New Zealand

We spent almost 6 weeks in New Zealand, four on the South Island and a little less than two on the North Island. New Zealand is not a budget destination, nevertheless, we managed to spend 59 Euros per person per day, less than what we had budgeted. This is rather unexpected! How comes we did not spend much more? Continue Reading →

Last Exit: Auckland

 

Ferry to Devonport, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

Ferry to Devonport, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest and culturally most diverse city: When walking through the centre, it seems like strolling through Hong Kong or Tokyo: 20 % of Auckland’s population comes from Asia. Many of them come here to study or learn English, but most are first or second generation New Zealanders. Continue Reading →

Rock The Boat – Overnight Cruise In The Bay Of Islands

Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand

Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand

Famed for its stunning coastal scenery, this place with its 144 islands MUST be explored by boat. So we booked an overnight cruise from Rotorua, where we were grounded due to torrential rainfall for two consecutive days, just keeping our fingers crossed that the weather would improve or be different up north. Our boat, the Rock, has a very interesting history – it used to be a car ferry and was transformed into a very comfortable cruise boat to sleep 36 passengers. Continue Reading →

Hangi & Haka At A Maori Village

Maori "Haka" (a dramatic dance with a lot of chanting, facial movements and tongue poking), North Island, New Zealand

Maori “Haka” (a dramatic dance with a lot of chanting, facial movements and tongue poking), North Island, New Zealand

The second attraction that makes people come to Rotorua is a strong presence of Maori culture, mostly manifested in over-commercialised evening shows. There, tourists from “different tribes” eat Hangi, food cooked on hot stones in pits dug in the ground and watch various dances. The more famous ones are the “Poi”, where female dancers swing ball tied to the end of a cord and the “Haka”, a dramatic dance with a lot of chanting, facial movements and tongue poking. Continue Reading →