Lake Tekapo
Before heading out of Christchurch, I paid a visit to the Quake City Exhibition. In the heart of what once was the Central Business District, this exhibition explains the background of the earthquake in 2011 (and the historic ones), the science behind plate tectonics, liquefaction, sand volcanoes… But it also gives a human touch to […] Read More
Bonjour, Akaroa
If things would have turned out a bit differently, I might speak French in La nouvelle Zélande, aujourd’hui! I took a day trip out to the Banks Peninsula, that sits on the middle of the East coast, a bit south of Christchurch. Formed by two massive volcanos, the peninsula is mountainous, rugged, and possesses several […] Read More
Heading South
I woke up to a great sky and decided I’ll hit the road early, no detours… choosing the fastest track, an easy-to-navigate highway. The cliché that there are more sheep in New Zealand than people is surely true. I stopped counting… Farmland, forests and hills make up most of the scenery. Sheep, cows and bulls! […] Read More
Heaven and Hell
I slept like a baby after the evening in the Polynesian Spa, ready to start the day in Rotorua… But somehow, I was undecided what to see, the thermal pods in the park, the Lake, the Māori site with the Geysir… I walked a bit along the lake and through those sulfur and steam vents… but […] Read More
Thermal
It was a long day in the car. I underestimated the time it would all take, even if I only drove about 225 kilometers. Most of it was on tiny, windy beach-mountain-beach roads that took forever. I also did not factor in how much time I would actually like to spend in various spots, so […] Read More
Coromandel Peninsula
I got my car at 10 in the morning, then packed up my stuff, got a coffee for the way and my repaired bag, and ran into Clint and a friend. Final hugs, and off I go. My first stop tonight is Hot Water Beach, however I took quite a detour via the Coromandel Peninsula. Separated by […] Read More
NZ Road Trip
I have been busy planning my road thrip through New Zealand in the past weeks, and I think I am pretty close to sorting it all out. It’s prime travel time in NZ, the backpackers are everywhere and the hotels and hostels are pretty full, that’s why it took some time to plan it… It’s […] Read More
Aotearoa
Aotearoa – the Māori name for New Zealand, translated: “The land of the long white cloud”. I’m starting to plan the trip around the islands, after my three weeks in Auckland. Here’s my itinerary for the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Māui (“the fish of Maui”). I booked cheap stays in between. Seems there are some hot springs […] Read More
Left sided
It’s really just a question of ignoring your fears and taking them head on. So I rented a car and drove on the left side. Big deal. Indeed. I am no experienced driver. In all my life I have driven maybe 5000 Km, most of that through American or Canadian national parks, desert roads and […] Read More
Yarra Valley
Kate, my fantastic host, took me on a day trip to the Yarra valley today. She rented a car from a car sharing club that she is a member of, and we drove off. Thanks god I did not have to drive 😉 I was just handling the map, and we pretty much made it […] Read More