New Zealand is known for its hikes, locally referred to as “tramps”. Some are arduous (although worthwhile) such as Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Others are shorter, require less preparation, and unless a person is a habitual tripper a rescue helicopter probably won’t be necessary. There are so many tramps around the National Park area of the … More Taranaki Falls (weirdly not near Taranaki)
Botanic Garden versus Botanical Garden. I have no idea which term is more acceptable, but I did enjoy strolling through the Wellington Botanic Garden. Situated at the top of the Wellington Cable Car track is a horticultural wonderland spanning 25 hectares. Although there were several entrances into the Garden, using the Cable Car means we … More Botanic/Botanical, Potato/Patato
Sharks are magnificent creatures, gliding silently through the depths of the sea, while haunting some peoples innermost fears. But I love sharks. I think they are the oceanic kings and queens, and deserve our utmost respect when in their territory. I have had the fortune to swim twice with sharks. The first was a scuba-diving experience … More No Baby Sharks Here!
Nearby where I lived in New Zealand, a picturesque lake lay hidden. Māori for “greenstone lake”, Rotopounamu emulates its name. Unfortunately my photos do not do it justice but trust me, it as green as an emerald and just as precious. The Lake is located within the Tongaririo National Park, mid-North Island, on the western … More Fill a Crater with Water…
Queenstown – unassumingly hip, unusually sophisticated but down to earth, and home to some of the best ski fields in the Southern Hemisphere. Unfortunately, my partner and I were suffering from some sort of mutant common cold bug, so snowboarding went out the window. Worst luck. But bad luck turned into good luck when we … More Zippity Do Dah!
Who knew that New Zealand had their very own royals? As in the mighty Northern Royal Albatross or “toroa.” Had you fooled for a minute, didn’t I? Although I’m writing about birds, there is no doubt that the albatross is a royally, spectacular creature. An Otago wonder, if you will. Located on the cliffs of … More The New Zealand Royals
Continuing on from my two previous posts (These (Hiking) Boots Were Made For Walking) and One Explosive Hike!), this time I’m writing about Tongariro National Park (TNP) in a general sense. Maybe because it’s Winter, maybe because I’d rather be (trying to) snowboard, or maybe just because I want to. Lets start with some Fast … More Thrice As Nice
Lord of the Rings fans know it as Mt Doom – the volcano where the One Ring was created, and after extensive travels with Gollum and the Hobbits, the place of its destruction. The rest of us peeps know it as Mt Ngauruhoe, the aesthetically-pleasing volcanic cone of Tongariro National Park. To access Mt Ngauruhoe, … More One Explosive Hike!
Close to my home in NZ, is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The Crossing is rated as one of the best hikes worldwide and at a mere 19.4km, it takes hikers/trampers through a spectacularly varied alpine landscape. The Department of Conservation (DOC) estimates the Crossing takes 7 to 9 hours to complete, and as it took me … More These (Hiking) Boots Were Made For Walking…
Lets be honest, gas is funny. We know this from the countless kids fart books that are now readily available. Gas equals hilarity, but unless the Gasser has eaten something really toxic, bystanders usually remain conscious. Enter Cameron’s Laughing Gas Pool. Once again, I am writing about Sulphur Point, on the southern end of Lake … More A Bath of Laughs
