Location: Hobbiton Movie Set, Waikato region North Island, New Zealand Gandalf: I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone. Bilbo: I should think so—in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late Read More
Kaikoura Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand There’s just something about the water. A pull you can’t escape. Likes the waves in the ocean, a sense of peace washes over you. I think I could stay here all day.
Location: Rotorua, Bay of Plenty North Island, New Zealand New Zealand’s first inhabitants were the Maori, seafarers from the eastern Polynesian islands. These indigenous tribes arrived around 1300 and their culture persists today. 15% of the New Zealand population is Maori; in Rotorua, 40% of the population is Maori. Hence, it is considered one of the Read More
Location: Rotorua, Bay of Plenty North Island, New Zealand After Auckland, I started my trek south and stopped in Rotorua. Rotorua is aptly named. It smells….rotten. The city is known for its geothermal activity. Geysers, bubbling mud pools, sulphuric lakes. You name it, it’s here. The city is built around the Rotorua caldera (created post Read More
My hostel is a bit away from the “main” part of town and there is no public transportation. However, they do offer free bikes! Fingers crossed it does not fall apart before I return. You have to lean slightly forward all the time as the seat is loose and will tilt backwards and, I don’t Read More
Location: Waiheke Island, North Island, New Zealand With one last day in Auckland, I chose to visit a nearby island (because being on one island wasn’t enough). Waiheke Island sit just to the north ( I think) of Auckland in the Hauraki Gulf. Although small, clocking in at 92 km2 , it still boasts a population of almost Read More
Location: Auckland, New Zealand Distance Travelled: 7,071 km Hours in a Plane: 16 hrs over 3 days After what felt like a million years of travel, I had finally arrived in Auckland, New Zealand. The time difference (+17hrs from Ontario) was a bit disconcerting at first and took time to get used to. Not necessarily Read More
Before I sent off on this adventure, I wrote of list of my ‘Top 5’ experiences / places to travel as a sort of guidepost to help me keep true to why I wanted to do this in the first place. One of those items was :spend 1 month on a beach in Greece. Well, I Read More
Location: Hamakua & Kohala Coasts, Big Island, Hawai’i There is a big advantage to driving a car on the Big Island; scenic routes and lots of them! Basically, almost every road is transformed into a charming drive through picturesque countryside. A picture is indeed worth a thousand words; so for once, I’ll leave it at Read More
Location: Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park No visit to the Island of Hawai’i would ever be considered complete without a trip to the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Located in the south of the island, this National Park , a World Heritage site since 1987, is home to two active volcanoes: Kilauea & Mauna Loa. The latter is Read More