Tongariro National Park

Posted on February 22, 2018 by kenwehner

12 February 2018

Pic 2018-0212 09 Ohakune Mtn (4) Edit

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 hiked the Waitonga Falls Trail, about 75 minutes of medium difficulty down to the base of the falls. Nearly back to the trail top we heard what we thought was Waitonga Falls but it was actually another waterfall. The viewpoint was not signed and a bit dangerous. A short drive up the park road was the car park for Mangawhero Falls. The designated lookouts are a short walk. Both falls are impressive and definitely worth the time.

Waitonga Falls

Pic 2018-0212 05 Other Falls from Waitonga (5) Edit

Second falls from Waitonga Falls Trail

Pic 2018-0212 07 Mangawhero Falls Walk (5) Edit

Mangawhero Falls

Our last hike of the day was on the Ohakune Old Coach Trail from Marshalls Road to the Hapuawhenua Viaduct. The entire trail is 15 km and follows the old North Island Rail Line. The trail uses the old rail bridge which we enjoyed walking across. While the old rail sleepers are tightly spaced it is a bit unsettling to look down between them. There is much more to do in Tongariro National Park and could have easily spent another day in the area.

Old Coach Trail

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Hobbiton

Posted on February 21, 2018 by kenwehner

10 February 2018

Pic 2018-0210 01 Hobbiton (64) Edit

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 were filmed in New Zealand at sights throughout the country. The Shire set was constructed at Alexander’s farm and has been preserved for movie set tours ever since.

Director and New Zealand native Peter Jackson chose the location. As the story goes, they built the Shire for the LotR films and then dismantled it, restoring the land to be farmed again. When they decided to make the Hobbit trilogy movies, they re-built and expanded the Shire to remain permanently.

Not unlike the feeling we had stepping into Cars Land, the whole family enjoyed walking through Middle Earth, if only for a moment.

 

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Taupo

Posted on February 20, 2018 by kenwehner

9 February 2018

Pic 2018-0212 01 Taupo (1) Edit

 

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 river. They open the dam a few times each day and we were fortunate enough to be there during one of those times.

Further down the Waikato River is Huka Falls. The falls are not very tall but the extreme flow of blue water rushing through a narrow chasm is worth the visit. There are several lookout points all an easy walk from the car park. There are hiking paths along the river but we opted to spend our time at another tourist sight.

Craters of the Moon is a geothermal boardwalk, about an hours walk. It reminded us of the thermal features we saw in Yellowstone. There are numerous thermal parks in central North Island. We enjoyed Craters but I don’t think I’d recommend it over some of the other parks in the area.

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Tauranga: Mount Maunganui

Posted on February 19, 2018 by kenwehner

8 February 2018

Pic 2018-0208 03 Mt Maunganui Hike (43) Edit

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 degree views. After the hike we spent time in town. We did not stay in Tauranga but it is a nice area to visit.

 

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Tauranga: Kaiate Falls

Posted on February 19, 2018 by kenwehner

8 February 2018

Pic 2018-0208 01 Kaiate Falls (16) Edit

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

Pic 2018-0207 04 Marokopa Falls (10) Edit

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 do we ever take the direct route?

The day started easily enough, we checked out and drove from Auckland down to Hamilton. Once in Hamilton we walked along the river and briefly in town. From there we planned to take the scenic route to visit sights southwest of Hamilton. Instead of following a map we plugged it into the GPS and instead of taking the quickest route we doubled what should have been a 90 minute drive. We ended up winding through the mountains where there are far more cows than people. When the GPS said we arrived we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere. Eventually we got back on track and found our first stop, Marokopa Falls.

Luckily the falls were quite impressive and an easy walk from the car park.

Pic 2018-0207 04 Marokopa Falls (11) Edit

Mangapohue Natural Bridge, our next stop, was only a few minutes down the road. Again an easy walk and a great display of nature helped easy the pain of a long day in the car.

We will be staying in Rotorua, a good center point for exploring the areas tourist sights including Tauranga, Taupo, Hobbiton, and the sights along Thermal Explorer Highway.

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Cathedral Cove

Posted on February 17, 2018 by kenwehner

6 February 2018

Pic 2018-0206 06 Cathedral Cove Walk (12) Edit

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 did not come prepared for a full beach day. The scenery was fantastic and the beach is lifeguarded, making it a ‘must see’ destination.

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Rapaura Water Gardens and Falls

Posted on February 16, 2018 by kenwehner

6 February 2018

Pic 2018-0206 03 Rapaura Falls (11) Edit

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 at the Rapaura Water Gardens and Falls. The gardens and trail to the falls are privately owned. They have a cafe which was doing good business but we opted to bring our lunch and eat in the picnic area. The gardens were nice and the falls were modest. It was fun to get out of the city and see some of the countryside. The water gardens and falls themselves was a nice stop but I wouldn’t put them on the ‘must see’ list.

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Auckland: City Center – Part 2

Posted on February 15, 2018 by kenwehner

2 – 6 February 2018

Pic 2018-0203 05 Auckland Wharfs (45) Edit

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 but compare Auckland to Sydney, a comparison Aucklanders might resent. Auckland is a nice city with tremendous potential.

Pic 2018-0203 03 Aotea Square (3) Edit

Town Hall – Completed 1911

Pic 2018-0204 10 Sky Tower (35) Edit BW

Harbour Bridge – Completed 1959

Wharf Area

 

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Auckland: North Head and Devonport

Posted on February 14, 2018 by kenwehner

5 February 2018

Pic 2018-0205 04 North Head (35) Edit

Today’s number one goal was to find a place to watch Super Bowl 52. The sports bar on the Viaduct was packed but luckily for us most places along the wharf were showing the game. The rainy day couldn’t dampen our spirits when the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the hated New England Patriots for their first ever Super Bowl win. The game ended around 4 PM local time so we only had a few hours in the evening to see the sights.

We opted to take a ferry from Queens Wharf to Devonport and walk to the North Head. The ferry ride was short but did give us nice views of Auckland’s skyline. The North Head Reserve is a public park that has the reminents of WWII military defences. It was a nice walk for us and the kids enjoyed exploring tunnels and climbing old cannons.

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