Category Archives: New Zealand

Wellington: City Center

Posted on February 23, 2018 by kenwehner

13 – 17 February 2018 To complete our tour of New Zealand’s North Island we spent several days in the country’s capital, Wellington. Wellington is the second largest city, however at about 417,000 residents it is much smaller than flagship … Continue reading →

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Tongariro National Park

Posted on February 22, 2018 by kenwehner

12 February 2018 On our drive south between Rotorua and Palmerston North we spent the day in Tongariro National Park. After a picnic lunch in the small town of Ohakune, we spent the afternoon hiking in the park. First we … Continue reading →

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Hobbiton

Posted on February 21, 2018 by kenwehner

10 February 2018 For any Lord of the Rings fan Hobbiton is a must see, but you don’t need to be a fan to enjoy stepping inside the world of the hobbits. The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies … Continue reading →

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Taupo

Posted on February 20, 2018 by kenwehner

9 February 2018   Today we travelled south to Taupo, the center of North Island. Our first stop was at Aratiatia Rapids on the Waikato River. It’s a popular spot for tourists, especially when the dam opens and floods the … Continue reading →

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Tauranga: Mount Maunganui

Posted on February 19, 2018 by kenwehner

8 February 2018 Mount Maunganui is north of Tauranga. The town was busy with tourists. We hiked the Summit Trail from the base to the top. The hike was strenuous at times but we enjoyed the exercise and the 360 … Continue reading →

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Tauranga: Kaiate Falls

Posted on February 19, 2018 by kenwehner

8 February 2018 Kaiate Falls outside Welcome Bay is a pleasant hour hike from the car park with several levels of water falls.  

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Auckland to Rotorua – The Long Way

Posted on February 18, 2018 by kenwehner

7 February 2018 After a successful introduction to New Zealand it was time to get on the road. The drive from Auckland to Rotorua should only be 3 hours assuming you take the most direct route, but then again when … Continue reading →

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Cathedral Cove

Posted on February 17, 2018 by kenwehner

6 February 2018 The highlight of today was Cathedral Cove. Had we better understood the area, we might have planned to spend the entire day. The hike was mildly strenuous but the payback was awesome. We walked the beach but … Continue reading →

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Rapaura Water Gardens and Falls

Posted on February 16, 2018 by kenwehner

6 February 2018 On our last day in Auckland we rented a car and took our first road trip. We drove around the Firth of Thames along the west shoreline to Coromandel Forest. Our first stop was east of Tapu … Continue reading →

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Auckland: City Center – Part 2

Posted on February 15, 2018 by kenwehner

2 – 6 February 2018 Throughout our stay in Auckland, we walked the city center and surrounding areas. Most days we found ourselves at the shops and restaurants along the wharfs. It might be unfair but I could not help … Continue reading →

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