#Air Force Museum of NZ

[humanspaceflightday]

NEW ZEALAND - Yuri’s Night 2024 International Space Event at the Air Force Museum.

Yuri’s Night 2024 at the Air Force Museum of NZ, an International Space Celebration; Come along and see Canterbury’s Aerospace on display, completely free; Turn up any time throughout the day (below for some workshop times)

– Planetarium tours – Mars Rover display – Build-Your-Own-Rocket workshops – Static Rocket displays – Giveaways (from stickers to aerospace collectibles) – Astronomical displays – Wind Tunnel exhibit – Build a Shuttle – Send a postcard to space (Really!) – watch a rocket launch (weather dependant) – Touch a piece of rocket that’s returned from Space! – Spot Prizes of cool aerospace swag! – and so much more!

Yuri Gagarin became the first human in Space on April 12th 1961. Fast forward 40 years and “Yuri’s Night” was created as an international space party, celebrating everything aerospace!

– Rocket Workshops at 10am and 2pm (spaces limited) – Rocket Launch at 1pm weather dependant – Planetarium tour numbers subject to space constraints

– Therese Angelo Wing of the Museum (hang a left and go past the cafe upon entering)

Proudly brought to you by the Christchurch Rocketeers, Royal Aeronautical Society of NZ, and the Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Event displays volunteered by: – Christchurch Rocketeers – Royal Aeronautical Society of NZ – Air Force Museum of NZ – Canterbury Astronomical Society – Aerospace New Zealand/ Aotearoa Aerospace Academy – House of Science – UC Aerospace Club – SpacewardBoundNZ – Canterbury Astronomical Society

Yuri’s Night 2024 International Space Event WHERE: 2024-Apr-13 @ 09:30 AM - 2024-Apr-13 @ 04:00 PM WHEN: Air Force Museum of New Zealand Harvard Avenue, Wigram, Christchurch, New Zealand

[polwarth]

Today I learned there is no combat section of the nz air force, steam trains are really stinky, and that I don’t have any idea how turbojets work at MOTAT (museum of transportation and technology).

[japandiary]

i’ve neglected this blog, i’m sorry. i want to do things because i truly want to, not because i’m forced to. it was getting to that point where i felt obligated to record my travels and thoughts, so i stopped blogging completely. 

even though i felt that way, i don’t want to forget the things i’ve done. as the name suggests, this is my own personal diary that i can showcase to the world. or, for those who are willing to see.

i still have yet to decide whether or not i want to continue and pick up where i’ve left off, but it seems like a lot to catch up on. so, here’s a list of exciting things (some milestones, too) i’ve done since the last time i’ve blogged:

２０１８年

８月：spent one week in taiwan with a couple friends, then spent 9 days in the philippines with some family members. ended the month staying in tokyo for work and visited the ghibli museum for the first time.

９月：started off september exploring tokyo a bit with friends since i stayed the weekend for work anyways. finally had my first experience at tsukiji market before its relocation to toyosu. tried dominique ansel bakery in harajuku and got to try their viral desserts (watermelon soft serve & a marshmallow s’more). also went to zauo, a fishing restaurant, for the first time. during week 2, went to yokohama to meet with a few friends. visited the cup noodle museum and the creepy, cyberpunk arcade called “your warehouse” in kawasaki. also hit up hawaiian town in yokohama for malasadas and ice cream.

１０月：purchased a brand new fujifilm x100f camera. stayed at “henna hotel” meaning “weird/strange hotel” with robots as front-desk staff. visited disneysea in time for their halloween theme: “villains world”. experienced halloween night in shibuya with some friends. had the day off the next day to recover. 

１１月：spent the day off visiting teamlab borderless for the first time with a friend. also stayed at 9 hours capsule hotel the night before. went to a curry festival in the town that i live in with a few other teachers. spent a day in tokyo shopping for clothing items to wear to my next event. used my pto at the end of the month to visit new zealand to see childish gambino’s “PHAROS”.  i went alone. had a layover in beijing. i got my second tattoo, met some new people off the donald glover subreddit, did some karaoke with them, and even met up for some brunch the next morning. visited hobbiton and toured the glow worm caves. had the best korean chicken in my life for dinner downtown. got to experience gambino live, 10 ft away, in a giant VR dome. felt like my life changed after that. arrived at the airport the following morning only to get fucked over by air china. had to stay in new zealand one more night with a stranger before throwing in the towel and booking an expensive one-way flight from NZ to Tokyo through fiji airlines. layover was nice and chill after going through hell with air china.

１２月：started off december taking the JLPT test in mito. spent week 2 at teamlab planets with an old friend. stayed at a book hostel and fell in love with it. mid-December: spent the holidays back home in las vegas and got another tattoo on my back. a spine tattoo - the only one that caused pain so far. got the chance to see a lot of places that opened up since i moved and caught up with family and friends.

２０１９年

１月：visited dallas to see my brother and cousins for 3 days. went to the dallas zoo and got tattoo #4. returned to work the second week of January. stayed at 9 hours capsule hotel again but in asakusa before meeting up with a friend to show them around for a day. January was full of pizza delivery orders because i was missing home a lot. however, i spent a lot of time and energy into decorating my apartment this month too, so i discovered my interest in home design.

２月：spent valentine’s day weekend in yamanashi prefecture at a friend’s place. we went skiing at a resort near mt fuji. we rented a car and i drove us around the whole weekend. this was a big accomplishment for me. we also explored the small town my friend lived in and went to a quaint forest village. i retook my driver’s license test and passed. now i have both an american and a  japanese driver’s license. i also renewed my visa and contract to stay in japan for a second year during this month.

３月：a new era in japan started - the “Reiwa” period of peace and harmony. the school year also starts and ends in March in time for the sakura blooming. i started March off near yokosuka for strawberry picking and meeting up with an old friend for dinner. i turned 25 midway through the month. then, a few friends visited and we went to disneysea and rented kimonos to try. i tried my second book hostel location, but favored the first one. i visited teamleab planets for the second time. i also cut off 7 inches of hair. then i ended march with my family members visiting me for a week.

４月：my family and i spent a majority of our spring break in tokyo, but we also visited kyoto and osaka. their visit marked my second time at teamlab borderless. we interacted with some deer at nara park. i took them to the ghibli museum. i treated my brother out to a day in akihabara while my parents adventured some small bars near our airbnb. then, we said our goodbyes at the airport during the first weekend of April. i started the new school year shortly afterward with a slight change in my role. i also had to say goodbye to a friend at her farewell party in April before she moved back to america.

５月：the last couple days of April and the first week of May embarked my golden week trip exploring japan yet again. a friend stayed at my apartment for a couple nights. we visited hitachi seaside park for the second time together, went to wanwanland (dog amusement park) in tsukuba, and spent some time in my town before spending a few days in tokyo. we also went to a flower festival near mt fuji very shortly, as traffic was a huge obstacle during this vacation week. we also explored saitama a little bit, since i was considering relocating there. i ended golden week exploring a studio ghibli exhibit at kanda myojin shrine. mid-May, an old friend visited, so we watched detective pikachu and i got to show him the capsule hotel experience as well. the week after, another group of friends visited so we went to teamlab borderless, marking my third time at that location and fifth time overall at a teamlab museum. i really need a stamp card or membership with them at this point.

６月：since i had done a lot of traveling and spent way too much money the past few months, i holed myself up in my apartment to save some money and try to do some self care. got into my own head a lot. experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. now that the rush of things were finally settling, i was and currently am coping with what i know and what i want.

７月：a lot of self-transformation took place recently. some unexpected things happened as well. things seemingly fell off course for a bit. but i’m working towards making a better version of myself this very moment.

[airmanisr]

1987 RNZAF Bristol Freighter NZ5913 (ex ZK-CLT) with the engines off NZ5903 at Wigram Museum 4 Jun 1987 by Gary Danvers Collection Via Flickr: Construction No: 13157 Registrations: G18-149, S4404, ZK-CLT, NZ5913, ZK-CLT, C-FTPA Constructed as a Freighter 31E. Allocated G18-149 to Bristol Aeroplane Company 22 Dec 1953 and was allotted to the Royal Pakistan Air Force as S4404 on 22 Dec 1953. Delivered to Royal Pakistan Air Force during 1954. S4404 was sold to SAFE, NZ 24 Aug 65 . Registered as ZK-CLT on 1 Jun 1965. Delivered to Auckland 24 Aug 1965. Entered service 17 Dec 1965 named 'Merchant Hauler'. Ownership was transferred to Safe Air Ltd. 31 Oct 1967. ZK-CLT was one of the Freighters that were fitted out for the passenger capsule flights to Chatham Islands. ZK-CLT and ZK-CRK were the only two SAFE AIR Freighters that retained their fuselage windows for that purpose. The Safe Air Freighters had a long history of flying out of Christchurch to the Chathams Islands with a mixture of passengers and cargo, a flight of approximately 3½ hours. 14 Jan 1981 SAFE Air Bristol Freighter ZK-CAM suffered an undercarriage failure on landing. The rear fuselage was later used in a rebuild of ZK-CLT. Withdrawn from service with Safe Air Ltd 23 Sep 1986 with 19,022 hours and 18,720 landings. Used in the Disney production, 'The Rescue' in 1986. www.flickr.com/photos/gcdnz/32523003374/in/album-72157680... It was then passed on to the RNZAF Museum and on 21 May 1987 flown to Wigram bearing the serial NZ5913. The aircraft could not fly as a civil aircraft unless the engines were overhauled - but it could under military registration. On arrival at Wigram, the engines were exchanged with the Museum's NZ5903. See next photo. A proposed swap with Canadian War Heritage Museum for a Bolingbroke did not eventuate and NZ5913 was then flown back to Woodbourne on 25 Jun 1988 for an overhaul at Safe Air prior to being placed back on the civil register as ZK-CLT on 25 Jul 1988. Jul 1988. Apparently negotiations to sell ZK-EPC (ex NZ5906) to Trans Provincial Airlines Ltd., Canada resulted in it being replaced by ZK-CLT. It left Auckland for Canada on 7 Oct 1989 and the registration was cancelled (for the second time) 12 Jan 1990. The departure of this aircraft marked the last B170 Freighter flight in NZ skies. On arrival in Canada the Freighter was registered as C-FTPA with Trans Provincial Airlines from 6 Jul 1990. It was re-engined with Hercules 265 engines. It operated from Prince Rupert on oil support operations with two other Freighters until the company ceased trading in 1993. Ownership moved to MRS 4000 Investments Ltd., a consortium of British Airways pilots in Vancouver, BC. It was refurbished by Hawkair at Terrace B.C., and leased to that company July 1994 and again used for mining support. Movie of this aircraft flying in Canada, 1992-1994... www.youtube.com/watch?v=iza0UrW2ca0 C-FTPA crashed at Bronson Creek 24 Apr 1997 after a flight from Wrangell Municipal Airport. On landing the aircraft ground looped, the starboard undercarriage failed and the aircraft ran off the runway into a ditch. Failure of bolts or a weld on the starboard undercarriage strut was suspected. It was stripped of usable parts and the fuselage left at Bronson Creek. Map of Bronson Creek: aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=YBM Sources: Australian Defence Force Serials www.adf-serials.com.au/nz-serials/nzbristolfreighter.htm Kiwi Aircraft Images www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/b170list.html Aviation Safety aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19970424-0 NZ Civil Aircraft nzcivair.blogspot.com/2011/06/pics-from-gisborne-3.html Click here to email Gary if you have details to add to this photo.

[tirsaroundtheworld]

Hawaii

After a 3-movies-and-a-far-too-short-nap flight, we arrived in Honolulu. The change of scenery could not have been more different; jackets changed to boardshorts, scarfs and hats to sarongs and snorkel sets, hot tea to icetea, pinetrees to palmtrees and 10 degrees to 25. Yet, on first sight, we also found quite some similarities between New Zealand and Hawaii. The ancient Hawaiians share their Polynesian descent with the Maori and different aspects of their initial culture are still visible in both countries, though evolved differently over time. Both the Hawaiians and the Maori make use of a ‘tiki’ as a symbol for strength, their languages are similarly phonetic, they brought the same types of produce, have similar tattoos and generally have a similar look. Just as in New Zealand, the population now merely consist of transplants and people with partial Hawaiian descend, but the culture is still alive.

We arrived in Oahu, the 3rd largest island that, as we later learned, is referred to as ‘the city’. It also seems to be the least favourite island, which could explain the fact that we were slightly dissapointed. With the presence of the state’s busy capital city, its many highways filled with pressing traffic, its neverending supply of airconditioned superstores, its skyhigh pricetags and its honestly not that impressive scenery, Oahu came nowhere near our experiences in New Zealand (which, as must be said, had set the bar incredibly high 😂). After backpacking in cheap Asia and basic campinglife in New Zealand, we were now forced into a very American lifestyle, complete with a decadent rental car to get around, crazy supersize food portions, an instant cold due to the strong airco and staying in pricey accommodation, which asked for quite some getting used to. Luckily we stayed with a very nice couple in a centrally located airbnb, the mega cheap car rental deal that we had found turned out not to be a scam and got us rolling around in nothing less than a bright red Volkswagen Beetle convertable and we quickly got the hang of finding the most local spots to get a better feel of the island. We spent 5 days cruising all around the island and these where the highlights of our adventures:

# One thing one can absolutely not miss when on Oahu is Pearl Harbour. We rewatched the movie for the occasion and spent hours exploring the memorial ground and museums to learn more about the painful events that happened almost 70 years ago. An interesting experience!

# One of the downsides of traveling with a rental car is the need for parking space. Probably 99% of Hawaii has plenty of that, but we happened to stay in that 1% where finding a spot is a true struggle. Needless to say we were surprised to find a free spot, almost too conveniently close to home! A few hours later a nice and shiny fine on the windshield explained why no-one had parked there (and that the car’s rego was overdue).. Note to self: do not park within 10 feet of a fire hydrant or it will cost you. 😂 Gotta learn the hard way I guess, at least we managed to remain fine-free from there. 💪

# Oahu is Hawaii’s hikers’ paradise and we tried a selection of tracks, with the memory of our 3728272 breathtaking hikes in NZ still fresh in our minds and muscles. From all the hilltop views, emerald waters and dramatic coastlines we mostly enjoyed the hike to deserted Makapu’u Point with its beautiful views, from where we spotted two great whales jumping up and showing us their mighty tails. Awesomeee! 🐋

# Speaking of spotting sea life; we spotted our very first wild sea turtle while snorkeling in the beautiful and preserved Hanauma Bay. The very pretty and gracious fellow gave us quite a show too; for what seemed like hours he swam peacefully around the reef, going up to get air, going down to nibble on some tasty-looking algae (not) and getting up very close, seemingly interested in us too. And as if all that wasn’t enough, we shared this wonderful experience with another tourist who happened to be holding a HUGE super pro underwater camera. A big thanks to Richard for the photo-proof of this magical encounter! 🐢💖

# To end our time on Oahu in style, we went to watch the sunset at the famous and overcrowded but beautiful Waikiki Beach with our nice Airbnb hosts. The plan was to watch the weekly fireworks from the terrace where we had dinner, but it turned out that we were on the wrong side of the beach for that so the many tall buildings along the coast blocked our view.. The fireworks sounded beautiful though! We ended the night with a few drinks and dances in a very happy Hula bar, of which we never realized that it was a gay bar until we left. 😂 Time flies when you’re having fun!

In under half an hour we flew from Oahu to Kauai, ‘the garden island’. This beautiful island, the 4th in size and 2nd in highest prices, offers some of the most eye-popping scenery and is a lot less American and commercialized than Oahu. Forced by our last-minuteness, we booked the most expensive accommodation we had stayed at all year (and probably even EVER) but spent the next 7 days sleeping like royals. And this is what we did:

# One of the island’s main tourist attractions is the Wailua waterfall. With reason; the falls are truly beautiful and you can drive up all the way to the lookout platform for a magnificent view. Less touristy is the climb down to the actual bottom of the falls, which follows a muddy and steep drop down through thick jungle after you made your way over the fence that’s there to keep you from going there. Once we reached the pool at the bottom we were all alone (apart from some 38393738373 asshole mosquitos) and enjoyed a refreshing swim around the falls and its magical rainbows in the sunlight. 🌈💦

# As if celebrating your birthday with your bum on a stunning beach, dipping in crystal blue seas, staring at palmtrees and sipping from a cooled fresh coconut isn’t enough of a present, we treated each other to one of the most adrenaline rushing experiences we ever had: a skydive! After a first attempt was canceled due to the strong wind, we got up super early, drove to the tiny airport in pretty Port Allen, signed the piles of papers preventing us to have any possible reason to sue the company, got on board of the plane, enjoyed a short scenic flight over the Southern coast of Kauai, jumped and 3 minutes later gently landed back safely on the ground. Doesn’t sound like much, but WOW, what an experience!! I wish that moment of free falling had lasted forever, tumbling down and piercing through clouds, rain and even rainbows before the most amazing sights of the ground below open up in front of you. I was lucky enough to be given some control of the parachute by my ‘buddy’ who I was with in this tandem jump, so I could make turns and see all around while we slowly descended and the harness’s wedgy started to be increasingly more uncomfortable. Quite an exciting start of our 28th and 30th years on this beautiful earth! ���

# Along the line of extremities, hidden in the middle of Kauai is the extremely beautiful Waimea canyon - one of the most unexpected sights we found on this trip. Perfectly American we followed the stunning Waimea Canyon Drive all the way up to the step of the central lookout. Just before a stream of tourist busses arrived we took our time to soak in the breathtaking sight of steep cracks of land descending into a deep and colourful valley with beautiful waterfalls and perfectly snaky rivers as silver lining. For the first time Hawaii came close to some of New Zealand’s spectacular sights! We tried to lose the better parts of the crowds by hiking deeper into the valley, passing dense forests, exposed ridges, rocky slopes and countless sick views. We chased waterfalls, balanced on fallen trees and got off the beaten track; what a good day! 💖

# It took some time, but we finally accepted that Hawaii is much more of a place for a holiday than to travel around in. And as soon as we switched to holiday mode, we started to appreciate the comfort we found ourselves in rather than bothering the high pricetags while we could do with so much less. We adapted a slower pace and lined up right next to the seals to chill on Kauai’s stunning Tunnels Beach, found the most beautiful Secret Beach and snorkeled its amazing reef filled with bright fish and turtles, indulged in typical koi burgers and poke bowls, visited farmers markets and hung out in in our lovely Airbnb.

# Any visit to Kauai is incomplete without an encounter with the most amazing and historically important Na Pali Coast, famous for its sheer cliffs and lush green valleys. We found ourselves in the middle of the crowds marching along the muddy Kalalau track that goes rights through the Na Pali Coast state park, until we reached the beautiful Hanakapi’ai Beach, 4 miles into the track. Unfortunately, the views along the track were not as breathtaking as we had hoped and expected, and the crowded beach wasn’t a peaceful oasis to experiece the serene beauty of this special place at all. Nonetheless it was a stunning walk, but we realized that it is hard to experience a majestic place like this from right in the middle; it can better be enjoyed from a helicopter or by boat to see it as a whole. Oh well, at least we saved hundreds of Dollars by just exploring the area by foot. 👍

Warming up to Hawaii more and more we flew to The Big Island, obviously largest in size - it is as large as the size of all other islands combined - but also the youngest of them all. 8 of the world’s 13 climate zones exist on this island, and to us it seemed to be the most ‘Hawaiian’ with less tourists and commercial areas, more ancient Hawaiian sights and a lower pace of life. Upon arrival in Kona we were surrounded by black, solidified lava, which doesn’t look too paradise-y, but we ended up extending and extending our stay as there is so much more around and the highlights kept on coming:

# Going to Hawaii is equal to going surfing, so we had to hit the surf at least once. We were lucky enough to stay with a nice, retired local on Airbnb who took us and his surfboards to his favorite beach where we spent all morning being thrown around by the waves. Right away we were done with surfing, so instead of cruising the island in search of the best surf we got under the waves in search of the best snorkeling spots. Just for the record; the beautiful and insanely colourful reefs and fishes at Two Step won!

# Aiming for a slow afternoon, we went to Kiholo Bay. This peaceful bay is to be found at the end of a not so slow hike along the coast, passing several beaches, a beautiful Balinese house, some private mansions and a field of lava. But once there, it was all worth it; we found a stunning black sand nook and crannie that we shared with just sea turtles (many of them though 😍) to soak in some sun and test our new GoPro. All afternoon we didn’t see another human soul, which felt like a true miracle on Hawaii!

# The first few nights we stayed in Kona with the surfer host, who had ensured us that it barely ever rained on that side of the island. Ironically, we woke up the third morning (and actually already a few times during the night) in the middle of terrible rain and storm. We decided to move to the ‘Hilo side’ of the island, all the way to the east, where the weather is usually a lot wetter but the Airbnb’s a lot cheaper. We ended up in a perfect place on a hill just outside hippy-town Pahoa with the nicest hosts, who we ended up staying with for 12 days. They shared the best places to go and see, where to eat, what to do and what not to do and they took us to the local weekly food festival where we enjoyed local and nonlocal foods, live music and hula dancers. Spending some more time in one place allowed us to find our own favourite supermarkets, beaches, cafes and bars, plus get the hang of the directions! All the right ingredients to blend in and experience a more authentic side of Hawaii; we loved it!

# One of the most interesting and varied national parks of all of the USA is Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. We spent a day exploring this widespread wonderland of craters, lava tubes, thermic activity, ancient petroglyphs, rainforests and spectacular coastal formations and special it was for sure! Especially our drive down to the Southern coast, when the sky cleared, the sun started setting and reflecting on te solidified lava and we could see as far as the end of the coast, was one to remember. And as if we hadn’t seen enough beauty, the park completely changed in the dark! We went back to the star feature of the park, the massive Halema’uma’u crater, the home of Pele, goddess of fire, that seemed all peaceful and quiet during the day but was now spurting burning, bright red lava!! Now that’s a seriously unusual sight for us Dutchies, wow!! 🔥

# Another unusual thing that we went to see is the summit of Mauna Kea, the world’s tallest mountain. What struck us as most unusual about it is the fact that you can just drive up to the summit, at 4.200 meters! Half way up the drive we made an half hour stop at the visitor center, to acclimatize to the altitude and to make a short walk up one of the cones. From there it took us under half an hour to reach the summit, where we got an out of this world panoramic view over the slopes of the mountain, the beautiful surroundings and over the incoming clouds. Unfortunately, it wasn’t clear enough to see any of the other islands - but hey, we were expecting less visibility after recent persistant bad weather! Being that high feels a bit weird, so we didn’t stay for too long before we returned - right in time to avoid the crowds that were coming in to settle for some star gazing. Sometimes you spend the afternoon in the supermarket, sometimes on top of the world’s tallest mountain! A ma zing! 🗻

# Another special place on The Big Island is Waipi’o Valley, which can only be reached by a steep road leading into the valley. One option to go down is by shuttle (a 15 min ride at max), which would cost us nothing less than 60$ a person, so we decided to ‘just’ walk down. Once we reached the valley floor, we found ourselves right in the middle of a blooming green oasis, the most fertile grounds, an abundancy of fresh fruits growing from the trees in and around the gardens of the hippy locals - who aren’t that approving of them curious tourists -, lushy cliffs all around, the smell of weed and free roaming ponies. No wonder the locals are really pressuring the governments to keep their policies out of this valley; time stops here. We continued to walk deeper into the valley, aiming to find a huge waterfall, but a few miles of walking, millions of mosquito bites (on my side) and a slip and fall in the river we had to cross later we learned that we had gone the wrong way and had to turn right back around… In the end we never found the waterfall, but we did end up at a beautiful beach where we enjoyed a picnic on the black sand before we struggled our way up the steep road out of the valley. An adventurous way to keep our summer bodies in shape! 💪

# We ended our stay on the lovely Big Island with a night trip to see Puna’s lava stream. Here, lava from the Kilauea volcano flows down into the ocean, which should be a spectacular sight. To get to the flow, we rented mountainbikes to bike 6 km into the volcanoes national park, from where we continued by foot. The flow was not strong enough to reach the ocean, so we started walking landward as we could see smoldering lava in the dark distance. We walked and walked and walked over the sharp and crunching solidified lava from previous streams, which must be the most deceptive surface in the world as we just did not seem to get any closer. Finally, after an 1,5 hours walk, we literally felt heat under our feet and started to see burning lava through the cracks of the lava we were walking on. Scary!! And just when it all started to feel slightly too dangerous for our taste, we bumped into the actual flow of burning, glowing lava! Wow, that truly was one of the most special things we have seen!! And very very hot, so after we took a really good look and some underlit pictures we decided to start making our way back. It took forever before we finally got back home, but whát an experience! 😱

Sort of sad to move on but ready for new adventures at the same time, we made our way to the airport. The rental shuttle dropped us at the smallest airstrip at the side the airport, where it turned out that we had booked two seats on a tiny 7 seat plane! Though the windy weather made the short flight significantly less comfortable, the stunning views we got while flying over the Big Island’s extraordinary landscape to and over Maui completely made up for it. We had heard a lot of good things about Maui and we had saved our last week on Hawaii to find out for ourselves:

# We were off to a great start when we checked in to a conveniently located Airbnb where our hosts happened to be a very fun couple of our age with who we really clicked! Even though they had adapted the ‘Maui midnight’ routine, which meant that they would go to bed at 8 pm and wake up at 4 am, we managed to spend some time together and really became friends. They had a reaaally cool dog too, awesome!

# One of the main attractions on Maui is ‘the road to Hana’. This road leads from the ‘commercial’ centre around Kahului to Hana in the rather remote and natural side of the island, passing beautiful, thick rainforest dotted with countless waterfalls, rainbow eucalyptus, lushy cliffs, stunning coastal views and food-trucks with local treats. After the ‘secret’ Bamboo Forest that we heard about, to be reached by climbing through the fence around the 6,5 miles marker along the road, turned out not to be the ‘hidden oasis’ that we expected to find, we continued to Hana with just a single stop for some fabulous banana bread, straight from the oven; a treat that cannot be missed on this road! Though honestly beautiful at times, the road was just dreadfully crowded with countless tourists including reckless Asian drivers. Hana itself is a tiny, sleepy place, where we just stopped for some chili dog before we continued our roadtrip along the coast. Even though it is a lot longer in miles, we decided to continue driving around the island, rather than driving back the way we came, and that was the best choice we could have made! Even though ‘the road to Hana’ is supposed to be the main attraction, we were blown away by the beauty of the road on the other side of the island! It took us along the most stunning coastal views - from where we could actually see almost all other Hawaiian islands! -, around a range of stunning, lushy cliffs and beautiful rivers floating through while the sun was setting and the sky turned fifty shades of pink. Where we drove the road to Hana almost in one go, here we literally stopped around every corner! Wow! 💖

# One of our absolute highlights on Maui was catching the sunset at the beautiful crater rim of Haleakalã. On the way to the top we enjoyed some seriously beautiful views, though they weren’t as impressive as Mauna Kea. We settled down on the West side of the of the crater rim, from where we watched the sun going down, through the crowds into the ocean behind the hills, completed by the sky’s brightly changing colours. Will sunsets ever get boring?

# All the way at the Eastern end of the Haleakalã National Park we went for a walk along the Pipiway Trail, which led us through thick forest, past a gigantic tree that looked all magical with the sun roaming through its many branches and into the most amazing Bamboo Forest that not even the ones in Japan could compare to. We kept following the path that got more and more narrow as we continued, with tons of branches of bamboo bending over us and closing us in. At the end we reached an opening with a waterfall and millions of mosquitos, so we quickly made our way back into the jungle. Hawaiian jungle must be the most beautiful we’ve seen!

# Maui seems to have it all; there is a commercial center with resorts and high-end shops, there is a quiet and natural side with countless waterfalls and thick jungle, there are beaches of all sorts and densities and there are many small and rather authentic villages as Kihei, Paia and Lahaina. We loved to spend our time roaming the tiny streets with cute shops, artist markets and peaceful parks, visiting museums to learn more about Maui’s whaling and settlers history and feel the vibes, while indulging in fresh smoothies, açai bowls and shave ice. We did save one of the bests for last!

# Our favorite beach on Maui was Big Beach, where we were lucky enough to meet some nice people to play beach volleyball with. We came back for the weekly beach volley ‘competitions’, which is a gathering of people who spend all day playing volleyball, chatting, swimming and drinking. Gotta love islandlife! 🤙

# As recommended by our new Airbnb friends, we made a beautiful hike along the Waihe’e Ridge. In under two hours, we climbed higher and higher, following the ridge and enjoying the most beautiful views over the ‘Iao Valey, the coast and the other side of the island. How I wish we would live in a place like this and could do this as our daily exersize! 💫

# We had our first couchsurfing experience! It took us a year, but we finally signed up and were accepted to be hosted by a lovely couple on the island. Other than with Airbnb, these people really invested in getting to know us a little bit, we had dinner together and we shared travel experiences. It is really interested to see how an experience changes when the influence of money is taken from the equation! Our stay really added to a genuine and authentic experience of Hawaiian life on Maui, and we hope to be able to return the favor one day as our lovely hosts come to visit us in NL!

And then, all of a sudden, those 5 weeks that seemed so long at the start had flown over and our date of departure arrived. Still sandy from our last day at the beach, we changed into our warm winter clothes on the airport and checked in. Bye bye summer, beachbums, palmtrees and coconuts; time to get used to some winter temperatures in Chicago! ❄️🇱🇷

[i-only-want-coffee-blog]

With the camper in New Zealand: tips and experiences

In this form, you select the desired takeover time and are also asked for all the information that the landlord needs in advance to create your rental agreement. Please make sure to carry out the self-check-in process so that the lessor can provide the vehicle on time. You only have to transfer the form to Britz online in good time. If you cannot fill out the form, the takeover time is automatically set to 10:00 a.m. If you do not take advantage of this takeover time and do not reserve any other time, you may have to. for which the most offers can be found, you are usually only given 5 days. In planning, you should take into account that a day alone is needed for the translation by ferry from Picton to Wellington and on New Zealand roads you do not progress as quickly as in Germany. A distance of 1070km can be very long and 5 days can be very short.

Spectacular campgrounds

To better protect our customers, camperboerse has taken out additional liability insurance, which increases the coverage to € 2 million. It is now our responsibility to protect New Zealand - and also the responsibility of all tourists. In contrast, summer - especially on the North Island - is all about swimming fun. It is also not too hot for hiking tours on most days. Unfortunately, you have to put up with the fact that typical sights can be overcrowded and that prices rise noticeably compared to the rest of the year. All stations are open all year round from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The vehicles may only be driven on paved roads.

Try mainly cafes and restaurants.

If you want to grill, you can do it with a gas grill, coal grills are rare in New Zealand and only rarely allowed.

For example, the Canterbury Museum, the Christchurch Art Gallery or the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Because you will often find discount codes there.

The discount is only granted if the rents are booked together and take place within 3 months. If a further campervan hire NZ booking is made afterwards, the previous booking will only be reduced if the trip has not yet started. In New Zealand, all vehicles weighing over 3.5 tons are limited to a speed of 90 km / h. In addition, longer vehicles are more difficult to drive on the many narrow streets and parking is also more difficult. Insured losses are covered 100%. You decide when, where and how long you want to stay in one place. Either you follow an exact travel plan or you just let yourself go and you are spontaneous. You will usually find the most beautiful places along your route without even knowing about it beforehand. Many of us have the best memories of New Zealand right there. 10 days for one-way rentals of all vehicles from the North Island to the South Island with vehicle pickup from 01.10. - 31.03. The landlord Britz belongs to the THL group, the largest tourism company in New Zealand. Due to the large number of vehicles, Britz can often confirm vehicles at short notice and cheaply in high season. Driving in the twilight hours and at night is strongly discouraged due to the higher risk of accidents.

New Zealand RV Rentals

Winter In winter, from around June to August, you can whiz down the wonderful snow slopes or experience a snow hike. While it is around 15 ° C in June and August, July is the coldest month in New Zealand. The temperatures then drop below 10 ° C.

[grantmkemp]

The "Garbo of the skies" 1930′s

Born 110 years ago today, 15th September 1910, Jean Gardner Batten was a New Zealand aviatrix. Born in Rotorua, she became the best-known New Zealander of the 1930s, internationally, by making a number of record-breaking solo flights across the world. She made the first-ever solo flight from England to New Zealand in 1936. In 1924 Batten was enrolled into a girls' boarding college in Remuera in Auckland where she studied ballet and piano. Though she was a gifted pianist, at age 18 she determined to become a pilot after the Australian pilot Charles Kingsford Smith took her for a flight in his Southern Cross airplane.

In 1929, she and her mother moved to England, to join the London Aeroplane Club. She took her first solo flight in 1930 and gained private and commercial licences by 1932, borrowing £500 from Fred Truman, a New Zealand pilot serving in the Royal Air Force who wanted to marry her, to fund the 100 hours flying time required. After completing her "B" license in December 1932, she left Truman and turned to Victor Dorée, who borrowed £400 from his mother to buy Batten a Gipsy Moth biplane. According to NZ History Online, "Raising money by taking advantage of her relationships with men was a theme that continued throughout her flying career. In May 1934, Batten successfully flew solo from England to Australia in the Gipsy Moth. Her trip of 14 days and 22 hours beat the existing England-to-Australia record of English aviatrix Amy Johnson by over four days. For this achievement and for subsequent record-breaking flights, she was awarded the Harmon Trophy three times (1935, 1936, 1937).

After her first Australia flight Batten bought a Percival Gull Six monoplane, G-ADPR, which was named Jean. In 1935 she set a world record flying from England to Brazil in the Percival Gull, for which she was presented the Order of the Southern Cross, the first person other than Royalty to be so honoured. In 1936 she set another world record with a solo flight from England to New Zealand. At her birthplace of Rotorua she was honored by local Māori, as she had been after the 1934 journey. She was given a chief’s feather cloak and given the title Hine-o-te-Rangi – "Daughter of the Skies". Batten was created Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1936, and she was also given the Cross of Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour that year. Also in 1936, for the second successive year, Batten was again awarded the Royal Aero Club's Britannia Trophy for most meritorious performance in aviation during the previous year. In 1937 she received the Gold Medal of the Royal Aero Club

World War II ended Batten's flying adventures. Her Gull was commissioned to active service and Batten was not permitted to fly it. During the war she was involved in campaigns giving lectures in England to raise money for guns and aeroplanes, but her flying days were over. After the war she retired from public life except for a few anniversary appearances. Batten became a recluse and lived in several places around the world with her mother until her mother's death in 1965. In 1977 she was guest of honour at the opening of the Aviation Pioneers Pavilion at Auckland's Museum of Transport and Technology, after which she returned to her home in Spain. In 1982 she was bitten by a dog on the island of Majorca. She refused treatment and the wound became infected. She died alone in a hotel on Majorca, from complications from the dog bite, and was buried on 22 January 1983.

These are my colourised versions of: Jean alongside her aeroplane, circa 1934, and a half-plate glass negative by Bassano Ltd, 29th November 1937

Restoring Your Past  … Website Restoring Your Past … on Facebook

[topfygad]

15 Unmissable Experiences for your New Zealand Bucket List

The following post was sponsored by WeXchange.

A New Zealand Bucket List

You might have recently noticed a swathe of bucket list posts here on Aussie on the Road.

My China bucket list, South Korea bucket list, and Australia bucket list (in addition to my 1,000 item bucket list) are among the most popular posts on the site and they’re also some of my favourite posts to write.

While I’d love to someday sit down and write an Ultimate New Zealand Bucket List, for now, I thought I’d highlight fifteen amazing experiences in New Zealand that I think should be added to any New Zealand itinerary.

Image courtesy of Christopher Chan.

Hike Franz Josef Glacier

Hands down one of the best experiences I’ve had in all of my travels, standing atop Franz Josef Glacier in 2010 was an utterly surreal experience.

While it is far from the only place on earth where you can hike on these slow-moving mountains of ice, New Zealand’s Franz Josef Glacier has the distinction of being one of only two glaciers on earth where you can experience it in a temperate climate.

The glacier literally comes to a halt a short hike from a steamy section of forest – an unbreaking wave of solid ice that defies expectation.

While it’s no longer to possible to hike up onto the glacier from the ground as I did in 2010, heli-hikes still allow you to experience the thrill of standing atop of a fading force of nature.

Franz Josef village itself is a gorgeous, but remote location. Make sure you bring some cash, as I didn’t spot any ATMs when I was there.

Curious? Read more about my experience climbing Franz Josef Glacier.

Image courtesy of Bernard Spragg.

Cruise on Milford Sound

Sometimes described as the Eighth Wonder of the World (but what isn’t?), Milford Sound is one of the most surreal and beautiful landscapes you’ll ever come across in your travels.

Technically not a sound (it’s a fjord), this portion of the Fjordlands National Park is all deep, dark waters, towering cliffs, and dew-bejeweled plants.

The experience of cruising Milford Sound is one of utter serenity, with playful seals and inquisitive dolphins doing little to detract from the overall air of quiet reverence that blankets the space.

It’s a truly remarkable experience.

Image courtesy of NZ Department of Conservation.

Kayak in Abel Tasman National Park

One that I wasn’t fortunate enough to tackle myself in 2010, kayaking through picturesque Abel Tasman National Park is one experience I am dying to check off my New Zealand bucket list.

Whether it’s a cruisy half-day tour or a multiple day exploration, the experience of taking your time with one of New Zealand’s most beautiful parks is one every traveler should seek out.

For me, the five-day tour sounds like the best way to see it all without feeling rushed. One for my next trip!

Image courtesy of Traveling Otter.

Go bungee jumping or canyon swinging in Queenstown

Beautiful Queenstown won my heart when I visited in 2010, but I wasn’t lucky enough to include any of the extreme sports for which the mountain town is famous.

While bungee jumping is an iconic New Zealand activity, the canyon swing is something more my speed. There’s just something counter-intuitive about going towards the earth head first. Call me crazy.

While bungee jumping and other adrenaline inducing pursuits are available across the world, you’ll find few safer (or more beautiful) spots than New Zealand.

Image courtesy of Bernard Spragg (again!)

Fall in love with Christchurch

It’s hard to put a finger on what it is that makes Christchurch such a beautiful city.

The city’s resilience in the face of multiple disastrous earthquakes is obviously a huge part of its charm, but there’s just an aura about the town that makes it feel immediately like a home away from home.

It’s a green, breezy city with a relaxed vibe that just begs you to put up your feet and relax for a few days. There’s a reason Christchurch is one of my favourite cities.

Image courtesy of Ben.

Witness the Aurora Australis

The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are obviously more famous, but the Southern Lights are no less spectacular.

Visible from both southern Australia and southern New Zealand, there ae a nuber of notable places to view the Southern Lights in New Zealand.

It’s not really something you can plan your trip around, but if you’ve got the time, why not set up camp somewhere in the south and see what you can see?

Image courtesy of Chris Gin.

Eat and cycle the Tasman Great Taste Trail in Nelson

Nelson featured on my 10-day New Zealand itinerary, but it was just a stopover between Franz Josef Glacier and flying to Rotorua the following morning.

Even so, I have fond memories of attending the Nelson Carols by Candlelight and playing Phase 10 into the wee hours with another backpacking couple.

In researching for this post I came across the Great Taste Trail, a delicious (pun intended) combination of cycling, delicious food, breweries, and vineyards.

The 174km loop might seem a bit daunting to some, but I love the idea of getting out and stretching my legs (and my stomach) in such a gorgeous corner of the world.

Image courtesy of Wired for Lego.

Blackwater Rafting at Waitomo

Another highlight of my 2010 trip, seeing Waitomo’s famous glow worms while also enjoying the thrill of some pitch black tubing was a thrill I cherish to this day.

Waitomo is famous for its caves full of glittering glow worms, but blackwater rafting in Waitomo combines the experience with the thrill of navigating pitch black caves and tunnels full of icy water and precarious drops.

It’s a thoroughly exhilarating experience!

Image courtesy of Tom Hall.

Visit Hobbiton

Nerd that I am, I grew up reading JRR Tolkien’s seminal work of fiction.

My teen years and early twenties were spent obsessing over Peter Jackson’s faithful translation of the book to the big screen.

For this reason, paying a visit to quaint Hobbiton on New Zealand’s North Island is something I was gutted to miss out on doing in 2010.

If seeing this tiny corner of The Shire isn’t enough for you, there are entire Lord of the Rings tours that take you to other iconic filming locations such as Weathertop, Edoras, and even Mount Doom.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Attend an All Blacks game

Whether or not you’re a fan of the fifteen a side game is irrelevant – there are few more iconic New Zealand experiences that witnessing the haka before the All Blacks inevitably dismantle whichever unfortunate team has paid them a visit.

Rugby is a religion in New Zealand, and the national team are one of the powerhouses of the sport.

Attending a game, even if you don’t really understand it, is an experience in cultural immersion that I recommend in any country I visit.

Image courtesy of almassengale.

Trek in Fjordlands National Park

The Fjordlands National Park is home to more than ‘just’ the utterly transfixing Milford Sound, with a network of breathtaking hiking trails crisscrossing the entire park.

Whether you opt for a guided tour or you want to tackle the wilderness yourself on a multi-day hike, Fjordlands offers up unbelievable landscapes with a healthy serving of ice cold rain and wind.

It’s definitely not for the faint of heart!

Image courtesy of Anuradha Dissanyake.

Explore Auckland

While not the nation’s capital, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and a logical starting and/or finishing point when visiting the Land of the Long White Cloud.

The city itself is home to a number of attractions including the Auckland Museum and the jaw-dropping Sky Tower, but it is as a base from which to explore nearby attractions such as the Bay of Islands, Waitomo (see above), or taking a cruise out on the Tasman Sea.

Image courtesy of Prayitno

Skydive the Bay of Islands

Speaking of the Bay of Islands, it is one of the most sought after skydive destinations in the southern hemisphere.

What better way to take in the spectacular chain of islands than from 16,000 feet?

If throwing yourself out of a plane isn’t your cup of tea, the Bay of Islands is a subtropical slice of paradise perfect for beach escapes, scuba diving, whale-watching, kayaking, camping, and much more.

It’s another one I’m dying to check off my to-do list.

Image courtesy of Sarah Stewart.

Experience a Maori hangi

Maori culture is a fascinating part of New Zealand’s cultural tapestry, and getting a taste of that (pun intended) at a Maori hangi is a fantastic way to sate both your curiousity and your appetite.

A hangi is a traditional BBQ in which heated rocks are buried alongside food in a pit oven. Dishes include chicken, fish, root vegetables, cabbage, and a variety of other flavours.

There are a number of places around New Zealand to attend a hangi or a Maori cultural village, so why not add it to your own bucket list?

Go zorbing in Rotorua

If tumbling down a hill inside a gigantic hamster ball isn’t your idea of a good time, I don’t think I want to know you.

While the instantly recognisable inflatable ball can now be found all over the world, the original Zorb is native to New Zealand and is at its best in Rotorua.

Open year round, Zorbing New Zealand lets visitors experience either a wet or dry Zorb journey, and is a great half day activity in the geothermally active corner of the country.

 Traveling to New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the safest and most accessible countries in the world.

It’s a frighteningly easy country to navigate that boasts a little of everything, English is the lingua franca, and it is a developed country in every respect.

With that being said, here are a few handy tips to make sure you’re ready.

Don’t forget to buy NZ dollars ahead of your trip, as you may not have access to credit card or ATM facilities everywhere you go. Rural areas of the country are very much off the beaten track, so it pays to have some cash on hand.

If you’re ticking off any of the above adrenaline fueled activities, there’s always the chance that disaster may strike. Don’t be like me when I broke my arm in Indonesia! Buy travel insurance!

3. Book your accommodation

While you certainly can wing it and just breeze into town without a hostel lined up, it always pays to plan ahead in a tourist haven like New Zealand.

Whether it’s hostels or B&Bs or upscale hotels, my preference is Booking.com due to the free cancellation option. It’s always good to keep things flexible until you’re ready to hit the road, right?

Seriously. They’re manna from heaven.

Just getting started

I’ve barely scratched the surface of what New Zealand has to offer.

While the country might be small, it’s one of the most geographically diverse and fascinating nations I’ve had the pleasure of visiting.

I’ll be compiling a 50 item Ultimate New Zealand bucket list in time, so I’d love your recommendations to help me populate it!

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[themartinsguide]

Cappadocia, Turkey

26 - 29 April 2017 We arrived in Goreme at approximately 6pm on 26 April. For what was an hour and thirty minute flight is took us almost a full day to make it from Istanbul. First there was a metro ride with two changes, a taxi to the airport, a taxi to the bus exchange (a purely privately run bus service made this experience very unique), a bus ride, and then another taxi. We always forget how much time and effort traveling between two places actually takes. Still, we forgot all of that hassle the minute we were we shown to our cozy cave room hotel! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the landscape of Cappadocia, it is basically a town formed completely by erosion. The valley in which the town of Goreme is situated was formed by an ancient waterway eroding away the limestone cliffs and what is left has to be seen to be believed. In a bizarre form of beauty the natural structures which decorate the town, referred to as fairy chimneys, and the numerous valleys which surround it (Rose Valley for example) do not seem real when you first arrive. Getting up close and personal (sleeping in a comfortable cave is a good way to immerse yourself) is the best way to experience this place. So, at 7pm we walked the short distance to sunset point and watched the sun set over Goreme to get a better understanding of our surroundings. As the sun went down so did the temperature so we walked briskly back to our hotel (UFuk Penison which, by the way, is described UFook... whoops) and were rewarded with a delicious dinner of lentil soup and a claypot kebab. As we may have mentioned earlier, the food in this country never fails to disappoint and this particular dish required a strong arm and a hammer for us to fill our bellies... foodies should add that one to their bucket list. The next morning we woke early (4.30am to be precise) and excited. After putting on every piece of clothing we owned (NZ in winter is going to be a real shock) we were picked up by a minivan at 4.50am which was only the start of the activity for which we had primarily travelled all this way inland. The next few hours were a blur of absolute joy and excitement. From the complimentary breakfast while we waited for civil aviation to give the company (Voyager Balloons) the green light, the detailed instructions on how hot air ballooning actually works, the traditional celebratory bubbly served at the end of our flight, and everything in between, it was one of the most incredible experiences of our lives (and that's saying a lot given the last three or so months). Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia is a must do and we can't thank Rachael enough for the opportunity. As was explained to us by our knowledgeable and charismatic pilot, ballooning started in Cappadocia in the late 90s but boomed in 2007/2007 with the influence of social media. This forced the Turkish CAA to place a cap on the number of balloons flying each morning (the limit is 100). While some tourist activities become less enjoyable with increased numbers, this is not one of them. The beauty of the balloons clouding the sky only adds to the experience. Especially as the rising sun bounces off the envelopes (the technical name for the actual balloon) and across the valley. That, coupled with the unique landscape, makes Cappadocia the best place (not just in our opinion) for one to take flight. Luckily for the companies who have certification to fly, Turkey is also unique in that it's climate allows flights to take place almost every day of the year. You would be very unlucky to have your flight rescheduled for weather related reasons. Our flight lasted for approximately 50 minutes. At the beginning we floated about 350m above the ground, gliding through the valleys past caves and limestone pillars and admiring the other balloons covering the horizon. After explaining that he had no control over our direction and only our height about the ground, the pilot eventually shot us skyward and within seconds we were 850m above the ground (which meant we were 2000m above average sea level). Incredible. After a very skilled descent and a landing which put us directly on top of the trailer, which was rewarded with a well deserved round of applause, we were being poured a glass of bubbles (a tradition set by the French president following the first ever hot air balloon flight - although we expect that was probably French champagne) and presented with certificates of attendance. In the final act of what was a very slick service we were dropped off at our cave and were having breakfast in the sun on the terrace by 8am. It was truly the most wonderful morning. Not ones for letting an early start put a dampener on our plans (it probably won't surprise you to know that each day is still meticulously planned, even the "weekend" days) we headed off after breakfast to hire mountain bikes. We thought this would be the best way to explore the surrounding area and see a bit more of Cappadocia (and the other option was a four wheeled motorbike which isn't covered by our travel insurance). Unfortunately, we had underestimated how much of an effect the hills and altitude would have on our already tired legs and we were forced, for the sake of our marriage, to turn around 15km in to the the 25km journey to the underground city. Luckily there were numerous wineries for us to stop at for a tipple on the way back to Goreme which made for a very fun and very quick return journey (as Hannah's fear of riding downhill had diminished somewhat). We blame the incredibly cheap prices. After a spot of lunch (and a sneaky nap - the coziness of the cave was impossible to resist) we headed up to the Goreme Open Air Museum. The Open Air Museum is well worth a visit as it is one of Turkey's Unesco World Heritage Sites. First an important Byzantine monastic settlement that housed some 20 monks, then a pilgrimage site from the 17th century, this splendid cluster of monastic Byzantine artistry with its rock-cut churches, chapels and monasteries is 1km uphill from Göreme's centre (a big thanks to the Lonely Planet for that succinct description). Having worked up a ferocious appetite we decided on a relatively early dinner and we stumbled across a popular looking restaurant in the center of the town. And we went to town alright. Starting with a selection of dips, cheeses, and Turkish bread served with olive oil, we followed up with a few protein (i.e. meat) filled local dishes, and grilled vegetable served with yoghurt. The portion sizes were enough to put us into a food coma which is where we stayed until the next morning. Our final full day in Cappadocia, and Turkey, seemed like the perfect day on which to complete our monthly half marathon. We were excited about running in a cooler temperature and not having to get up at the crack of dawn to avoid the sun. We should have thought it through a bit more however. While the cooler temperature was a nice change, we both agreed that we would have taken the heat over the gradual but noticeable incline which we were forced to endure for the final 11km, and the nasty effect the altitude had on us. Still, a time of 1 hour and 45 mins is not to be sniffed at given the conditions. The rest of the day was spent relaxing, exploring the center, and doing a bit of souvenir shopping before heading back to the same restaurant for dinner. We felt we had earned another feast. Three nights in Goreme is the perfect amount of time. On the morning of 29 April we jumped in an airport shuttle bus sad to be leaving Turkey, making a mental note of the things we would do when we return (a visit to Cappadocia's underground city is on that list), and excited for our next stop... stay tuned!

[airmanisr]

Supermarine Spitfire LF.IXe ‘MH350 / FN-T’ by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: c/n CBAF.IX490 Built 1943 for RAF service. Active with 332 (Norwegian) sqn from Spring 1945, she was fully transferred to Royal Norwegian Air Force in November 1945. Last flew 15th November 1951 and retired for preservation. Although she is a genuine 331sqn aircraft, she actually flew with the unit as FN-M and was only repainted as FN-T after retirement. Unusually, she has underwing bomb racks. I can’t remember seeing any other preserved Spitfire fitted with them. On display in the Military Aircraft Hall of the Norsk Luftfartsmuseum (Norwegian Aviation Museum). Bodø, Northern Norway 24th May 2019 The following information is from the Museum website:- “Two Norwegian fighter squadrons, 331 and 332 Squadrons, were established in England during the Second World War and from 1942 they comprised No. 132 (Norwegian) Wing. The squadrons flew several different variants of the Spitfire, namely models IIa, Va, Vb and IXe. Altogether the Norwegian squadrons operated 528 Spitfires between 1942 and 1945 with good results. After the war the RNoAF received a further 35 Spitfires. The Photographic Flight was the last RNoAF unit to use this type of aircraft, which remained in service until 1954. The Royal Norwegian Air Force Museum’s Spitfire LF. Mk. IXe has works number MH350 and was allocated to 485(NZ) Squadron in 1943 with the squadron code OU. One year later the aircraft suffered an accident and after repairs it was transferred in the spring of 1945 to 332 Norwegian Squadron and given the code letters AH-V. On 22 May 1945 AH-V was one of the 36 Spitfires that flew home to Norway after the end of the war. In 1947 the aircraft became Norwegian property and was transferred from the RAF to the RNoAF. In Norway, 331 Squadron took over the aircraft in 1949 and gave it the code letters FN-M. After the end of the Spitfire era in the RNoAF, FN-M was put into storage for future conservation. As an exhibition aircraft for 331 Squadron it was re-painted in the early 1960s and given the registration letters FN-T.”

[botanistseries]

Salt Lake City Pipes

Most of us are conversant with plumbers who come to their house to unclog a drain or install an appliance. Level 2 will suit you if you have some useful pipes and heat wisdom and abilities, normally from a role where you have been supervised. Authorized plumbers are additionally expected to keep minimum training conditions that were applicable to keep their plumbing licence. We’re are on hand 24/7 to take care of your indoor jobs outside or., and plumbing specialists Has to be ready to attend two nights each week in associated training courses (school) during school terms. Tradesperson’s licence (drainage plumbing) is for applicants who have completed training and have qualifications in drainage plumbing and mean to work as a drainage plumber under the overall direction of a plumbing contractor.

To be able to obtain an EZ Plumbing Permit an application must be finished and sealed by a registered master plumber together with a copy of insurance certifications and current tax clearance. Under an unfair amount of pressure, drains and pipes may be made due to additional guests in the home and overeating. C. Describe the safety precautions you must take when making home plumbing repairs.

Setup and Repairing plumbing and drainage lines, sewage mains, water piping and gas lines. The Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) has been adopted under the Building Act 2016 as the standard for pipes work, plumbing installations and plumbing products in Tasmania.

The museum is dedicated to the tradition of the plumbing business and Is driven by its mission to prepare generations old and young, about work in the trades. A quick call to John Moore will get any pipes repair need corrected to your satisfaction and diagnosed quickly by our team of fully licensed even offer a $0 down financing choice so you can get your repairs done immediately. Since 1979, The Plumbing Museum has attracted inquisitive visitors, tradesmen, and plumbers from all walks of life.

Locate companies that offer pipes, fittings, filtration apparatus, heating equipment, professional services and more! A. Describe how a properly working plumbing system protects our family’s health and safety. Our warming experts will make sure your furnace or boiler is functioning correctly offering alternatives that satisfy your requirements. When you do plumbing emergencies do not sleep. That is why Benjamin Franklin Plumbing offers 24 hour emergency plumbing services 7 days per week. TLC is proud to service Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Socorro and all of New Mexico with professional HVAC services. Gas setup means a pipe or system of conduits, and associated gear and fittings, that is made to carry or control gas that is certainly downstream from the gas supply point, but does not include anything beyond the petrol installation end point.

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We believe so. Actually, we think you should expect nothing less from Houston’s plumbing repair leader since 1965. In just 28 weeks, learn the most current practices in the plumbing trade while earning a credential that employers will honor. A plumbing contractor’s licence authorises a plumber to work on sanitary plumbing, water supply pipes and drainage plumbing, unless the licence has restricting conditions put by the Board. Reviews are conducted in stages, beginning with the roughed-in plumbing to the finished inspection at which time a Certificate of Final Inspection” is issued. You can hire a plumber for any plumbing repair, installation, or replacement project including basement, bathroom, laundry room, your kitchen, sewer or septic system.

Whether you’ve found our trucks around Albuquerque or heard about our excellent service from a friend, we’re happy you are here to explore what TLC Plumbing can do for you. A licensed plumber can help you out with your plumbing repair needs when you have any doubt that your drains, conduits, or septic system aren’t operating as they should. In case you have plumbing needs that go beyond the array of pre packaged indoor, outside, or sewer plumbing services we have available, you can nevertheless locate a local, handpicked plumber who can assist you to get the job finished. When you locate a plumber you trust, you have the reassurance knowing that your plumbing is in good hands. Amazon Home Services is your go to provider for a local plumber prepared to do any house plumbing repair or installation project, whether preventative, diagnostic, or beyond. TLC Plumbing & Utility is constantly searching for experienced individuals to join our team.

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[airmanisr]

Supermarine Spitfire LF.IXe ‘MH350 / FN-T’ by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: c/n CBAF.IX490 Built 1943 for RAF service. Active with 332 (Norwegian) sqn from Spring 1945, she was fully transferred to Royal Norwegian Air Force in November 1945. Last flew 15th November 1951 and retired for preservation. Although she is a genuine 331sqn aircraft, she actually flew with the unit as FN-M and was only repainted as FN-T after retirement. Unusually, she has underwing bomb racks. I can’t remember seeing any other preserved Spitfire fitted with them. On display in the Military Aircraft Hall of the Norsk Luftfartsmuseum (Norwegian Aviation Museum). Bodø, Northern Norway 24th May 2019 The following information is from the Museum website:- “Two Norwegian fighter squadrons, 331 and 332 Squadrons, were established in England during the Second World War and from 1942 they comprised No. 132 (Norwegian) Wing. The squadrons flew several different variants of the Spitfire, namely models IIa, Va, Vb and IXe. Altogether the Norwegian squadrons operated 528 Spitfires between 1942 and 1945 with good results. After the war the RNoAF received a further 35 Spitfires. The Photographic Flight was the last RNoAF unit to use this type of aircraft, which remained in service until 1954. The Royal Norwegian Air Force Museum’s Spitfire LF. Mk. IXe has works number MH350 and was allocated to 485(NZ) Squadron in 1943 with the squadron code OU. One year later the aircraft suffered an accident and after repairs it was transferred in the spring of 1945 to 332 Norwegian Squadron and given the code letters AH-V. On 22 May 1945 AH-V was one of the 36 Spitfires that flew home to Norway after the end of the war. In 1947 the aircraft became Norwegian property and was transferred from the RAF to the RNoAF. In Norway, 331 Squadron took over the aircraft in 1949 and gave it the code letters FN-M. After the end of the Spitfire era in the RNoAF, FN-M was put into storage for future conservation. As an exhibition aircraft for 331 Squadron it was re-painted in the early 1960s and given the registration letters FN-T.”

[topfygad]

15 Unmissable Experiences for your New Zealand Bucket List

The following post was sponsored by WeXchange.

A New Zealand Bucket List

You might have recently noticed a swathe of bucket list posts here on Aussie on the Road.

My China bucket list, South Korea bucket list, and Australia bucket list (in addition to my 1,000 item bucket list) are among the most popular posts on the site and they’re also some of my favourite posts to write.

While I’d love to someday sit down and write an Ultimate New Zealand Bucket List, for now, I thought I’d highlight fifteen amazing experiences in New Zealand that I think should be added to any New Zealand itinerary.

Image courtesy of Christopher Chan.

Hike Franz Josef Glacier

Hands down one of the best experiences I’ve had in all of my travels, standing atop Franz Josef Glacier in 2010 was an utterly surreal experience.

While it is far from the only place on earth where you can hike on these slow-moving mountains of ice, New Zealand’s Franz Josef Glacier has the distinction of being one of only two glaciers on earth where you can experience it in a temperate climate.

The glacier literally comes to a halt a short hike from a steamy section of forest – an unbreaking wave of solid ice that defies expectation.

While it’s no longer to possible to hike up onto the glacier from the ground as I did in 2010, heli-hikes still allow you to experience the thrill of standing atop of a fading force of nature.

Franz Josef village itself is a gorgeous, but remote location. Make sure you bring some cash, as I didn’t spot any ATMs when I was there.

Curious? Read more about my experience climbing Franz Josef Glacier.

Image courtesy of Bernard Spragg.

Cruise on Milford Sound

Sometimes described as the Eighth Wonder of the World (but what isn’t?), Milford Sound is one of the most surreal and beautiful landscapes you’ll ever come across in your travels.

Technically not a sound (it’s a fjord), this portion of the Fjordlands National Park is all deep, dark waters, towering cliffs, and dew-bejeweled plants.

The experience of cruising Milford Sound is one of utter serenity, with playful seals and inquisitive dolphins doing little to detract from the overall air of quiet reverence that blankets the space.

It’s a truly remarkable experience.

Image courtesy of NZ Department of Conservation.

Kayak in Abel Tasman National Park

One that I wasn’t fortunate enough to tackle myself in 2010, kayaking through picturesque Abel Tasman National Park is one experience I am dying to check off my New Zealand bucket list.

Whether it’s a cruisy half-day tour or a multiple day exploration, the experience of taking your time with one of New Zealand’s most beautiful parks is one every traveler should seek out.

For me, the five-day tour sounds like the best way to see it all without feeling rushed. One for my next trip!

Image courtesy of Traveling Otter.

Go bungee jumping or canyon swinging in Queenstown

Beautiful Queenstown won my heart when I visited in 2010, but I wasn’t lucky enough to include any of the extreme sports for which the mountain town is famous.

While bungee jumping is an iconic New Zealand activity, the canyon swing is something more my speed. There’s just something counter-intuitive about going towards the earth head first. Call me crazy.

While bungee jumping and other adrenaline inducing pursuits are available across the world, you’ll find few safer (or more beautiful) spots than New Zealand.

Image courtesy of Bernard Spragg (again!)

Fall in love with Christchurch

It’s hard to put a finger on what it is that makes Christchurch such a beautiful city.

The city’s resilience in the face of multiple disastrous earthquakes is obviously a huge part of its charm, but there’s just an aura about the town that makes it feel immediately like a home away from home.

It’s a green, breezy city with a relaxed vibe that just begs you to put up your feet and relax for a few days. There’s a reason Christchurch is one of my favourite cities.

Image courtesy of Ben.

Witness the Aurora Australis

The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are obviously more famous, but the Southern Lights are no less spectacular.

Visible from both southern Australia and southern New Zealand, there ae a nuber of notable places to view the Southern Lights in New Zealand.

It’s not really something you can plan your trip around, but if you’ve got the time, why not set up camp somewhere in the south and see what you can see?

Image courtesy of Chris Gin.

Eat and cycle the Tasman Great Taste Trail in Nelson

Nelson featured on my 10-day New Zealand itinerary, but it was just a stopover between Franz Josef Glacier and flying to Rotorua the following morning.

Even so, I have fond memories of attending the Nelson Carols by Candlelight and playing Phase 10 into the wee hours with another backpacking couple.

In researching for this post I came across the Great Taste Trail, a delicious (pun intended) combination of cycling, delicious food, breweries, and vineyards.

The 174km loop might seem a bit daunting to some, but I love the idea of getting out and stretching my legs (and my stomach) in such a gorgeous corner of the world.

Image courtesy of Wired for Lego.

Blackwater Rafting at Waitomo

Another highlight of my 2010 trip, seeing Waitomo’s famous glow worms while also enjoying the thrill of some pitch black tubing was a thrill I cherish to this day.

Waitomo is famous for its caves full of glittering glow worms, but blackwater rafting in Waitomo combines the experience with the thrill of navigating pitch black caves and tunnels full of icy water and precarious drops.

It’s a thoroughly exhilarating experience!

Image courtesy of Tom Hall.

Visit Hobbiton

Nerd that I am, I grew up reading JRR Tolkien’s seminal work of fiction.

My teen years and early twenties were spent obsessing over Peter Jackson’s faithful translation of the book to the big screen.

For this reason, paying a visit to quaint Hobbiton on New Zealand’s North Island is something I was gutted to miss out on doing in 2010.

If seeing this tiny corner of The Shire isn’t enough for you, there are entire Lord of the Rings tours that take you to other iconic filming locations such as Weathertop, Edoras, and even Mount Doom.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Attend an All Blacks game

Whether or not you’re a fan of the fifteen a side game is irrelevant – there are few more iconic New Zealand experiences that witnessing the haka before the All Blacks inevitably dismantle whichever unfortunate team has paid them a visit.

Rugby is a religion in New Zealand, and the national team are one of the powerhouses of the sport.

Attending a game, even if you don’t really understand it, is an experience in cultural immersion that I recommend in any country I visit.

Image courtesy of almassengale.

Trek in Fjordlands National Park

The Fjordlands National Park is home to more than ‘just’ the utterly transfixing Milford Sound, with a network of breathtaking hiking trails crisscrossing the entire park.

Whether you opt for a guided tour or you want to tackle the wilderness yourself on a multi-day hike, Fjordlands offers up unbelievable landscapes with a healthy serving of ice cold rain and wind.

It’s definitely not for the faint of heart!

Image courtesy of Anuradha Dissanyake.

Explore Auckland

While not the nation’s capital, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and a logical starting and/or finishing point when visiting the Land of the Long White Cloud.

The city itself is home to a number of attractions including the Auckland Museum and the jaw-dropping Sky Tower, but it is as a base from which to explore nearby attractions such as the Bay of Islands, Waitomo (see above), or taking a cruise out on the Tasman Sea.

Image courtesy of Prayitno

Skydive the Bay of Islands

Speaking of the Bay of Islands, it is one of the most sought after skydive destinations in the southern hemisphere.

What better way to take in the spectacular chain of islands than from 16,000 feet?

If throwing yourself out of a plane isn’t your cup of tea, the Bay of Islands is a subtropical slice of paradise perfect for beach escapes, scuba diving, whale-watching, kayaking, camping, and much more.

It’s another one I’m dying to check off my to-do list.

Image courtesy of Sarah Stewart.

Experience a Maori hangi

Maori culture is a fascinating part of New Zealand’s cultural tapestry, and getting a taste of that (pun intended) at a Maori hangi is a fantastic way to sate both your curiousity and your appetite.

A hangi is a traditional BBQ in which heated rocks are buried alongside food in a pit oven. Dishes include chicken, fish, root vegetables, cabbage, and a variety of other flavours.

There are a number of places around New Zealand to attend a hangi or a Maori cultural village, so why not add it to your own bucket list?

Go zorbing in Rotorua

If tumbling down a hill inside a gigantic hamster ball isn’t your idea of a good time, I don’t think I want to know you.

While the instantly recognisable inflatable ball can now be found all over the world, the original Zorb is native to New Zealand and is at its best in Rotorua.

Open year round, Zorbing New Zealand lets visitors experience either a wet or dry Zorb journey, and is a great half day activity in the geothermally active corner of the country.

 Traveling to New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the safest and most accessible countries in the world.

It’s a frighteningly easy country to navigate that boasts a little of everything, English is the lingua franca, and it is a developed country in every respect.

With that being said, here are a few handy tips to make sure you’re ready.

Don’t forget to buy NZ dollars ahead of your trip, as you may not have access to credit card or ATM facilities everywhere you go. Rural areas of the country are very much off the beaten track, so it pays to have some cash on hand.

If you’re ticking off any of the above adrenaline fueled activities, there’s always the chance that disaster may strike. Don’t be like me when I broke my arm in Indonesia! Buy travel insurance!

3. Book your accommodation

While you certainly can wing it and just breeze into town without a hostel lined up, it always pays to plan ahead in a tourist haven like New Zealand.

Whether it’s hostels or B&Bs or upscale hotels, my preference is Booking.com due to the free cancellation option. It’s always good to keep things flexible until you’re ready to hit the road, right?

Seriously. They’re manna from heaven.

Just getting started

I’ve barely scratched the surface of what New Zealand has to offer.

While the country might be small, it’s one of the most geographically diverse and fascinating nations I’ve had the pleasure of visiting.

I’ll be compiling a 50 item Ultimate New Zealand bucket list in time, so I’d love your recommendations to help me populate it!

Want an Aussie in your inbox?

Cheers! Now you’ve just got to confirm your subscription.

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source http://cheaprtravels.com/15-unmissable-experiences-for-your-new-zealand-bucket-list/

[topfygad]

15 Unmissable Experiences for your New Zealand Bucket List

The following post was sponsored by WeXchange.

A New Zealand Bucket List

You might have recently noticed a swathe of bucket list posts here on Aussie on the Road.

My China bucket list, South Korea bucket list, and Australia bucket list (in addition to my 1,000 item bucket list) are among the most popular posts on the site and they’re also some of my favourite posts to write.

While I’d love to someday sit down and write an Ultimate New Zealand Bucket List, for now, I thought I’d highlight fifteen amazing experiences in New Zealand that I think should be added to any New Zealand itinerary.

Image courtesy of Christopher Chan.

Hike Franz Josef Glacier

Hands down one of the best experiences I’ve had in all of my travels, standing atop Franz Josef Glacier in 2010 was an utterly surreal experience.

While it is far from the only place on earth where you can hike on these slow-moving mountains of ice, New Zealand’s Franz Josef Glacier has the distinction of being one of only two glaciers on earth where you can experience it in a temperate climate.

The glacier literally comes to a halt a short hike from a steamy section of forest – an unbreaking wave of solid ice that defies expectation.

While it’s no longer to possible to hike up onto the glacier from the ground as I did in 2010, heli-hikes still allow you to experience the thrill of standing atop of a fading force of nature.

Franz Josef village itself is a gorgeous, but remote location. Make sure you bring some cash, as I didn’t spot any ATMs when I was there.

Curious? Read more about my experience climbing Franz Josef Glacier.

Image courtesy of Bernard Spragg.

Cruise on Milford Sound

Sometimes described as the Eighth Wonder of the World (but what isn’t?), Milford Sound is one of the most surreal and beautiful landscapes you’ll ever come across in your travels.

Technically not a sound (it’s a fjord), this portion of the Fjordlands National Park is all deep, dark waters, towering cliffs, and dew-bejeweled plants.

The experience of cruising Milford Sound is one of utter serenity, with playful seals and inquisitive dolphins doing little to detract from the overall air of quiet reverence that blankets the space.

It’s a truly remarkable experience.

Image courtesy of NZ Department of Conservation.

Kayak in Abel Tasman National Park

One that I wasn’t fortunate enough to tackle myself in 2010, kayaking through picturesque Abel Tasman National Park is one experience I am dying to check off my New Zealand bucket list.

Whether it’s a cruisy half-day tour or a multiple day exploration, the experience of taking your time with one of New Zealand’s most beautiful parks is one every traveler should seek out.

For me, the five-day tour sounds like the best way to see it all without feeling rushed. One for my next trip!

Image courtesy of Traveling Otter.

Go bungee jumping or canyon swinging in Queenstown

Beautiful Queenstown won my heart when I visited in 2010, but I wasn’t lucky enough to include any of the extreme sports for which the mountain town is famous.

While bungee jumping is an iconic New Zealand activity, the canyon swing is something more my speed. There’s just something counter-intuitive about going towards the earth head first. Call me crazy.

While bungee jumping and other adrenaline inducing pursuits are available across the world, you’ll find few safer (or more beautiful) spots than New Zealand.

Image courtesy of Bernard Spragg (again!)

Fall in love with Christchurch

It’s hard to put a finger on what it is that makes Christchurch such a beautiful city.

The city’s resilience in the face of multiple disastrous earthquakes is obviously a huge part of its charm, but there’s just an aura about the town that makes it feel immediately like a home away from home.

It’s a green, breezy city with a relaxed vibe that just begs you to put up your feet and relax for a few days. There’s a reason Christchurch is one of my favourite cities.

Image courtesy of Ben.

Witness the Aurora Australis

The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are obviously more famous, but the Southern Lights are no less spectacular.

Visible from both southern Australia and southern New Zealand, there ae a nuber of notable places to view the Southern Lights in New Zealand.

It’s not really something you can plan your trip around, but if you’ve got the time, why not set up camp somewhere in the south and see what you can see?

Image courtesy of Chris Gin.

Eat and cycle the Tasman Great Taste Trail in Nelson

Nelson featured on my 10-day New Zealand itinerary, but it was just a stopover between Franz Josef Glacier and flying to Rotorua the following morning.

Even so, I have fond memories of attending the Nelson Carols by Candlelight and playing Phase 10 into the wee hours with another backpacking couple.

In researching for this post I came across the Great Taste Trail, a delicious (pun intended) combination of cycling, delicious food, breweries, and vineyards.

The 174km loop might seem a bit daunting to some, but I love the idea of getting out and stretching my legs (and my stomach) in such a gorgeous corner of the world.

Image courtesy of Wired for Lego.

Blackwater Rafting at Waitomo

Another highlight of my 2010 trip, seeing Waitomo’s famous glow worms while also enjoying the thrill of some pitch black tubing was a thrill I cherish to this day.

Waitomo is famous for its caves full of glittering glow worms, but blackwater rafting in Waitomo combines the experience with the thrill of navigating pitch black caves and tunnels full of icy water and precarious drops.

It’s a thoroughly exhilarating experience!

Image courtesy of Tom Hall.

Visit Hobbiton

Nerd that I am, I grew up reading JRR Tolkien’s seminal work of fiction.

My teen years and early twenties were spent obsessing over Peter Jackson’s faithful translation of the book to the big screen.

For this reason, paying a visit to quaint Hobbiton on New Zealand’s North Island is something I was gutted to miss out on doing in 2010.

If seeing this tiny corner of The Shire isn’t enough for you, there are entire Lord of the Rings tours that take you to other iconic filming locations such as Weathertop, Edoras, and even Mount Doom.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Attend an All Blacks game

Whether or not you’re a fan of the fifteen a side game is irrelevant – there are few more iconic New Zealand experiences that witnessing the haka before the All Blacks inevitably dismantle whichever unfortunate team has paid them a visit.

Rugby is a religion in New Zealand, and the national team are one of the powerhouses of the sport.

Attending a game, even if you don’t really understand it, is an experience in cultural immersion that I recommend in any country I visit.

Image courtesy of almassengale.

Trek in Fjordlands National Park

The Fjordlands National Park is home to more than ‘just’ the utterly transfixing Milford Sound, with a network of breathtaking hiking trails crisscrossing the entire park.

Whether you opt for a guided tour or you want to tackle the wilderness yourself on a multi-day hike, Fjordlands offers up unbelievable landscapes with a healthy serving of ice cold rain and wind.

It’s definitely not for the faint of heart!

Image courtesy of Anuradha Dissanyake.

Explore Auckland

While not the nation’s capital, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and a logical starting and/or finishing point when visiting the Land of the Long White Cloud.

The city itself is home to a number of attractions including the Auckland Museum and the jaw-dropping Sky Tower, but it is as a base from which to explore nearby attractions such as the Bay of Islands, Waitomo (see above), or taking a cruise out on the Tasman Sea.

Image courtesy of Prayitno

Skydive the Bay of Islands

Speaking of the Bay of Islands, it is one of the most sought after skydive destinations in the southern hemisphere.

What better way to take in the spectacular chain of islands than from 16,000 feet?

If throwing yourself out of a plane isn’t your cup of tea, the Bay of Islands is a subtropical slice of paradise perfect for beach escapes, scuba diving, whale-watching, kayaking, camping, and much more.

It’s another one I’m dying to check off my to-do list.

Image courtesy of Sarah Stewart.

Experience a Maori hangi

Maori culture is a fascinating part of New Zealand’s cultural tapestry, and getting a taste of that (pun intended) at a Maori hangi is a fantastic way to sate both your curiousity and your appetite.

A hangi is a traditional BBQ in which heated rocks are buried alongside food in a pit oven. Dishes include chicken, fish, root vegetables, cabbage, and a variety of other flavours.

There are a number of places around New Zealand to attend a hangi or a Maori cultural village, so why not add it to your own bucket list?

Go zorbing in Rotorua

If tumbling down a hill inside a gigantic hamster ball isn’t your idea of a good time, I don’t think I want to know you.

While the instantly recognisable inflatable ball can now be found all over the world, the original Zorb is native to New Zealand and is at its best in Rotorua.

Open year round, Zorbing New Zealand lets visitors experience either a wet or dry Zorb journey, and is a great half day activity in the geothermally active corner of the country.

 Traveling to New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the safest and most accessible countries in the world.

It’s a frighteningly easy country to navigate that boasts a little of everything, English is the lingua franca, and it is a developed country in every respect.

With that being said, here are a few handy tips to make sure you’re ready.

Don’t forget to buy NZ dollars ahead of your trip, as you may not have access to credit card or ATM facilities everywhere you go. Rural areas of the country are very much off the beaten track, so it pays to have some cash on hand.

If you’re ticking off any of the above adrenaline fueled activities, there’s always the chance that disaster may strike. Don’t be like me when I broke my arm in Indonesia! Buy travel insurance!

3. Book your accommodation

While you certainly can wing it and just breeze into town without a hostel lined up, it always pays to plan ahead in a tourist haven like New Zealand.

Whether it’s hostels or B&Bs or upscale hotels, my preference is Booking.com due to the free cancellation option. It’s always good to keep things flexible until you’re ready to hit the road, right?

Seriously. They’re manna from heaven.

Just getting started

I’ve barely scratched the surface of what New Zealand has to offer.

While the country might be small, it’s one of the most geographically diverse and fascinating nations I’ve had the pleasure of visiting.

I’ll be compiling a 50 item Ultimate New Zealand bucket list in time, so I’d love your recommendations to help me populate it!

Want an Aussie in your inbox?

Cheers! Now you’ve just got to confirm your subscription.

Like this:

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From Facebook

from Cheapr Travels http://cheaprtravels.com/15-unmissable-experiences-for-your-new-zealand-bucket-list/ via http://cheaprtravels.com