New Zealand, 2026

We’re knocking on a bit, my wife and I, so we’re taking opportunities for long-distance travel whilst (a) we’re still capable and (b) we can afford the insurance. Hence this trip, to New Zealand.  Our original plan had been to tack NZ on after our Australian adventure, but we realised then that this wouldn’t do New Zealand justice. In the event, this decision was shown to be the right one, as we were actually quite glad to get home after several weeks exploring Oz.

Thus, we have several weeks to explore New Zealand. We will, of course, be Doing The Tourist Bits; indeed, although we are travellers and not holidaymakers (no, we’re not), the Must-See places will form the majority of our time there. But we have a couple of contacts to visit, including an old school friend of mine from well over 50 years ago, one from my musical past and one Camino-inspired link with contact made via social media, so we’re operating throughout the friendship spectrum here.

I hope you will join us through the following pages as our trip unfolds; I look forward to your company!

 

Preamble: preparing, panicking and packing

Arrival to Auckland

Auckland – Ambling, Art and Architecture

Transfer to the Coromandel Peninsula

A Damp Day in Coromandel

On To Hobbiton

Mud, mud, gurgling mud

Kiwi bono?

Intermission: we take to the trees

Taupō – a lake larger than Singapore

Tongariro! (IYKYK)

Taking a Deco at Napier

Gannets – The End Of Napier Show

Wending our way to Windy Wellington

Wellington Wildlife

From Wellington to Abel Tasman

The Full Nelson

Back to Picton, then to Kaikoura

Hiking Kaikoura

Christchurch: I – the city centre

Christchurch II – The other bits

Cross Training

Hokitika – damp but engaging

Franz Josef – The Road To Heli

What, The Actual Fox?

More Moeraki

Making Haast (Slowly) to Wānaka

An Aspiring Day

Scenic drive to Te Anau

Ooh…er…mmm…(Doubtful Sound)