New Zealand - Feb. 2023 (88 Images)
1. Forgot about NZ visas! Applied online at airport; Rick's didn't arrive. Julie lobbied hard; AA let him board...
2. It was a 15-hour flight from Dallas, TX to Auckland, NZ.
3. Rick prayed for a NZ visa and legal alien status while he slept in-flight.
4. Our planned route around northern NZ.
5. Julie was first behind the wheel of our rental car.
6. Our first night was in Hamilton, and we treated ourselves to roasted meat take-away for dinner – yum.
7. Next day, we stopped for snacks for the drive – so many interesting chip flavors.
8. A couple of weeks before our visit, a cyclone hit northern NZ, impacting many places we planned to visit.
9. We saw many signs like this, and it was never a good sign.
10. Mud slide ahead…
11. On our way to Waitomo Caves. The scenery reminded us of the United Kingdom.
12. Inside the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, where the worms hang on the ceilings and glow!
13. We saw the glowing worms by boat – here we are leaving the cave.
14. Did you know Kiwi Birds are endangered, nocturnal, and unable to fly?
15. Giant Kiwi Bird - this one is not endangered, nor nocturnal, but it is indeed unable to fly.
16. On the way to Tawhai Falls in Tongariro National Park.
17. Getting in position for a great view of the falls.
18. Tawhai Falls.
19. The view we had hoped to have of Mt. Tongariro.
20. The view we actually had of Mt. Tongariro...
21. Unable to take the chairlift up the mountain, we drowned our sorrows at Schnapps.
22. Relaxing at Schnapps.
23. We had an improved view of Mt. Tongariro from the bar.
24. Next day, the mountain was still in the clouds, so we drove up it to see what we could see.
25. Above tree-line, as we ascended Mt. Tongariro.
26. Amazing views before we entered the clouds.
27. At the end of the road, but nowhere near the top. It was very windy and freezing cold up there!
28. Lost in the clouds.
29. The remnants of ancient lava flows reminded us of Hawaii.
30. A parting shot of Mt. Tongariro, as we headed north to Taupo.
31. Lake Taupo.
32. Rick - while ignoring the beautiful view behind.
33. NZ plant life is incredibly diverse - even just growing wild along the highway!
34. The cyclone unfortunately destroyed some of that plant life.
35. We spent an afternoon at DeBretts Geothermal Spa in Taupo. Ahhhhh...
36. We'd scheduled a kayaking trip. Tour guide claimed this weather is ideal for kayaking. We cancelled.
37. Instead, we visited the raging rapids leading to Huka Falls.
38. Huka Falls.
39. At Taupo's Lava Glass Gallery, where we bought some cool glass and toured their Glass Sculpture Garden.
40. Giant glass orbs!
41. Giant glass flowers!
42. This comforting sign welcomed us to the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland.
43. Steam and the aroma of sulfur was rampant.
44. And the colors were out of this world.
45. A very crazy and dangerous place!
46. Julie appears to be visiting another planet.
47. No swimming allowed.
48. We ate a lot of tasty steak pies in NZ.
49. Ready to hike along the awesome elevated Redwoods Treewalk.
50. Walking among the redwoods was great fun.
51. All smiles.
52. So serene and peaceful.
53. Good perspective showing the size of the trees.
54. At the Te Puia Māori Arts and Crafts Institute.
55. Such amazing carvings!
56. Saw Kiwi Birds at the Te Puia Kiwi Conservation Centre. Bigger than expected – size of a large cat!
57. The eerie geothermal area at Te Puia.
58. Enjoying the steam and sulfur!
59. Pōhutu is the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere, reaching 100 feet.
60. It was a longgg drive to Whitianga, with way too many curvy roads and obstacles along the way.
61. The Pacific Ocean at Whitianga’s Buffalo Beach.
62. On the beach, which was across the street from our hotel.
63. Tons of seashells there.
64. Exploring Hot Water Beach, outside Whitianga.
65. Geothermal water seeps up from the depths that, with some digging, makes natural hot tubs! Yeah, right...
66. Julie worked with these friendly Brits to create a hot tub of sorts.
67. Angry waves coming from the east.
68. Very angry waves!
69. On the much-too-narrow road back to Auckland.
70. The Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway.
71. Karangahake is the site of a former gold mine.
72. Artsy photo!
73. Another artsy shot -- a developing fern frond, which is a popular NZ symbol.
74. The view from our Auckland apartment.
75. Another shot from the apartment.
76. Harbor sunrise - perfect way to start the day.
77. Another nice way to start the day. Guess which bagel is Rick’s.
78. Julie loved Best Ugly Bagels!
79. Making our way to the Sky Tower. It’s the tallest free-standing structure in the southern hemisphere.
80. The view from the top of the tower, including our apartment building, left center.
81. That’s Mt. Eden – the highest volcano in Auckland. No worries, it last erupted 15,000 years ago.
82. Rick modeling an All Blacks uniform. What an odd name for a rugby team!
83. Relaxing on the patio for our last night in NZ.
84. We watched this HUGE ship enter the harbor.
85. Night-time in the harbor.
86. Morning walk before our flight home.
87. The flight home was only 12 hours, due to prevailing winds.
88. It’s no fun when the vacation’s over.