Martinborough Accommodation: Mon 17th Feb – Tue 18th Feb Mon 17th Feb It was an overcast morning for our early departure from Napier. We were sorry to be leaving our luxurious apartment but we had a 3.5 hr drive ahead of us to Martinborough where we were picking up a 12:45 pm afternoon wine tour. There… More
Napier (Ahuriri) Accommodation: Sat 15th Feb – Mon 17th Feb Sat 15th Feb It was another fine morning for our last in Lake Taupo so the boys were on a final bike ride and Colleen and I on a walk. It was a two hour trip down to Napier and we found our next accommodation easily.… More
Lake Taupo Accommodation: Thurs 13th Feb – Sat 15th Feb Thurs 13th Feb Our first activity in the Lake Taupo region was a visit to the Craters of the Moon where we finally caught up with Colleen and David. The area was an interesting landscape of craters, mud pools and vents of steam. This crater… More
Tongariro National Park Accommodation: Wed 12th Feb – Thurs 13th Feb Wed 12th Feb It was another glorious morning and you will already know, from my previous post, that we started this with a rather eventful bike ride. It was after 9 am before we got away from our New Plymouth hotel and the drive… More
New Plymouth Accommodation: Mon 10th Feb – Wed 12th Feb Mon 10th Feb It was a beautiful drive from Waitomo Caves down to New Plymouth with the last part of the drive being along the coastline. We found our King & Queen Suite boutique hotel accommodation easily but I had a momentary fright when I noticed… More
Waitomo Caves Accommodation: Sun 9th Feb – Mon 10th Feb Sun 9th Feb Our two hour drive down from Rotorua to Waitomo Caves was rather uneventful apart from the fact we were notified by our recent host that Mark had left behind his cycling gear, rather expensive cycling gear at that, in the washing machine. Luckily… More
Rotorua Accommodation: Fri 7th Feb – Sun 9th Feb Fri 7th Feb It was another beautiful mild morning that Mark started with a bike ride and I started with a walk. We were heading down to Rotarua today but were on a bit of a time budget as we had a Rail cruising activity booked for… More
Mount Maunganui (Mauao) Accommodation: Thurs 6th Feb – Fri 7th Feb Thurs 6th Feb : Waitangi Day: a public holiday It was a 3 1/2 hour drive down to Mount Maunganui (Mauao) but we stopped off along the way at Hot Water Beach, about 30 minutes out of Whitianga. Our timing was perfect: Hot Water… More
Whitianga / Coromandel Peninsula Accommodation: Tue 4th Feb – Thurs 6th Feb Tue 4th Feb The trip from Paihia to Whitianga took 5 1/2 hours and was essentially 4 hours of driving south, from the Bay Islands and back down through Auckland, then about half an hour of heading east followed by an hour heading north… More
Paihia Accommodation: Sat 1st Feb – Tue 4th Feb Sat 1st Feb It was clear and sunny for our 3 1/2 hr drive from Auckland up to Piahia in the Bay of Islands. I had changed my mind a few times about where to locate in this area and eventually settled on the Piahia Beach… More