Here is the final, short breakdown of my trip to New Zealand. I can’t envision it of much interest to most readers, but at least it will give my parents a chance to practice their English. Most of the banal observations can be read with longer descriptions on the Lonely Planet Guidebook:
First three days in Auckland, I stayed next to the SkyTower (SkyCity). David Robinson, the very first reader of Grow-a-brain I ever met, showed me around Ponsonby.
Meeting with Sue Stanaway of Bayleys Real Estate's City Living division, who gave me an overview of current real estate investment trends in play today. Also, she gave me some large coffee-table display books of waterfront properties, which will help me later as I'm looking for what and where to buy.
Real estate prices have gone thru the roof in the last 3 years, and desirable locations, especially on beaches & lakes are rather expensive. Lots of British & American investors are pouring money in.
A boat trip to Waiheke Island. I saw those 2 dogs sitting inside a parked car on an empty beach, shielding themselves from the rain.
I liked the areas of Mission Bay & Parnell. Best ice cream there - Movenpick. Best $35 breakfast at the Skycity Grand Hotel.
On the hotel TV, I saw a late episode of Frontier of Dreams, which described the history of New Zealand, and the aspirations of all new generations as they come to this new land. It was a very appropriate program to watch.
Rented a car and started driving around the North Island. Driving on the left side of the road was no problem at all. All together I drove over 4,300 km.
Kerikeri (population 5,000), a lovely Mediterranean-style village. The owner of the gorgeous Kerikeri Village Inn wants to sell this inn.
I had no idea before that the Austrian artist Frederick Hundertwasser lived his last many years, and died in NZ. Drove through Kawakawa, and saw his famous loo.
2 days in the far northland areas around Kaitaia. A drive to the isolated Cape Reinga. A walk on the white sands of Parengarenga.
Gorgeous woodcraft and furniture made out of ancient kauri logs which were dug the from swamps, 35,000-50,000 years old.
Stood besides Tane Mahuta, New Zealand's tallest Kauri Tree, growing in Waipoua Forest on the northern end of North Island – 169 foot tall, 21,000 years old. The Polynesian god of the forests, birds and insects.
I stayed with 5 different hosts that I met thru a hospitality cyber-club called Couch Surfing. This is an excellent way of meeting local people when traveling, if you are looking to interact with new strangers. I also met 2 real-life bloggers, Dodderyoldfart of Rest Area 300 and Michael Green of Triplux.
Didn’t make it to the famous mudbaths of Rotorua. Instead I took a drive thru Coromandel peninsula.
Local Christmas parade at the small town of Piopio.
The beautiful Lake Taupo.
Met 'Kat', a wonderful photographer in Hawkes Bay. Great dinner at a waterfront restaurant on West Quay, a redevelopment zone in Napier.
Christmas dinner with Karen & Davis’s family, a couple of hard-core gamers.
When I reached Wellington, the beautiful capital, I read about the 3 LOTR film premiers that took place at the historic Embassy theatre, so I decided to see Peter Jackson’s 'King Kong' which just opened there. When I was in Christchurch, I saw Jackson’s earlier Heavenly Creatures, which took place right there. It closed a cycle for me.
Had a ‘flattie’ as I was driving in the exclusive neighborhoods above Wellington. The AA mechanic showed up within 20 minutes Christmas day and changed the tire without any problem. I was also sick then for a few days.
The gorgeous Museum of the Land – Te Papa got me very interested in the history of the Maori culture.
Moving on to the South Island, which I liked a lot, I took a boat ride to Picton. A new rental car (It doesn’t pay to take the car on the 4.5 hours ferry ride). Beautiful drive to Nelson and the West Coast.
Visit to the abandoned gold digging post of Lyell.
Pancakes & blowholes in Punakaiki.
Jade carving (and pebble-stone painting) in Hokitika.
Took a Hughes 500c helicopter–ride to the Fox & Franz Josef glaciers. This is a very tiny (and shaky) aircraft! The water among the crevices of the glacier is surrealistically turquoise blue.
Stayed the night in my first Bed & Breakfast outside of Haase, with Marian & Derek Beynon.
There I met a Canadian/Scottish couple, Eric & Claire, who invited me to join them on a wine-tasting tour of Cromwell. Eric is a wine seller in London and we tasted about 25 varieties in 5 wineries. Best bottle: 2004 Pinot Noir Mt. Difficulty.
Wine is a big new kiwi industry. Apparently, there are over 60 new small wineries that open their doors every year there, and the local prices are usually too high.
There were beautiful locations that I saw, but one place struck me as true paradise. Coming south toward a valley called Makarora, (pop. 40) it became instantly obvious to me that this was the most beautiful spot I’ve seen on this trip. (Also, click on the little photo on top of this posting). So, if I can choose to be anywhere I want, it will be somewhere on the road leading to Lakes Wanake & Hawea. The question is what can I do there? Wind farming ? A Japanese-style Tranquility Center?
Central Otago has the lowest population density of any region in the country: about 14,500 people spread over 11,000 square kilometres. Alexandra, the largest town has only 4,400 people followed by Cromwell with 2,670. There are no traffic lights or metered parking anywhere in Central Otago. (And air pollution is not an issue)
Later on I heard that Shania Twain bought Motutapu Station not far from Makarora, a 170 km2 sheep station, which caused some local oposition.
Spent New Year’s day in Wanaka (A happening place!) and the night at The Lime Tree Lodge - Highly recommended.
On the way to Queenstown drove past the Bra Fence of Cardona, and back to Cromwell past AJ Hackett Bungee (First in the world), but had no time to do it, instead I went skydiving, and later drove all afternoon so that I can reach the Grandview B&B in Dunedin for New Years. (Hello Steve & Ann!)
Dunedin reminded my of the dark & gloomy northern town of Riohacha, as described in “One Hundred Years of Solitude”, but I did visit Baldwin Street, the Steepest street in the world and David Theomin’s Olveston estate.
The last few days I spent around Christchurch and the eastern bay, which I liked a lot. In Akaroa, I had a great visit with Ian Robertson, an incredibly talented and prolific artist. With him I had best dinner overall in NZ – at Akaroa's Harbor 71.
In Kaikoura, I stayed the night in a lovely Irish B&B, Carrickfin Lodge (Hi Roger!). There I met Dr. Michael Aaron, a holistic Californian chiropractor who, like me, came to New Zealand for 3 weeks of searching for his next big move, and we did our own version of meeting with remarkable men.
Finally, I took in the Hot springs and mineral pools in the alpine village of Hanmer Springs, a beautiful place, and cleansed my soul in 4 hours of hot healing.
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Other travelogues in New Zealand and threads of moving there.
More later -
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