#auckland overnight cruise

[sailsunnkiss307]

Experience the breathtaking beauty of Auckland's stunning coastline with our boat cruises! Discover the city's iconic landmarks, pristine islands, and hidden coves aboard our luxurious vessels. Relax and soak in the scenic views while our experienced crew ensures an unforgettable journey. Book now for an unforgettable aquatic adventure!

[elisstylesstuffs]

New Zealand Winter Trip

13/6/2022-24/6/2022

North and South Island

***long post***

1.Preparation to enter NZ

2.Flights /cars and budget

3. Lists of activities and price, attractions

4.Hotels/homestays and price

5. Routes

6. Itinerary by date and time 😂

***harga sudah dibundarkan ke perpuluhan terdekat 😂

Preparation to enter NZ

1.NZETA: rm130( traveller pass to NZ) -apply online, ada apps NZETA

2.Health Declaration form - to fill before check in

3.Rtk 24h before fly/ PCR 48h before fly

4.Passport

5.Travel Insurance - rm544/2pax(for spouse) - etiqa ( price depends on which company, what activites covered/covid coverage)

6.international driving permit-online (rm200++)

Flight

-Malaysia Airlines - price depends on your date of puchasing

-JetStar ( auckland to queenstown, queenstown to auckland) ours ~rm500 per pax including baggage allowance 20kg

Car Rental

-auckland: discover car - rm 650 for 2days ( suzuki swift 4 seaters)

-christchursh to Queenstown - economycarrental.com (moto car rental) rm 1400 for 8 days (mitsubishi suv)

**price is cheaper if pickup and return at the same place. Ours is different location of pickup and drop off. Pick up at christchurch, drop off at queenstown.

Gas: full tank around rm400-550 per car. Depends on gas station

**fill in full tank before drop off ur car, or u will be fined 🥹

Parking: please google, i still x faham until today. Certain place has free parkings, certain place need to pay.

Activities/ tourist spot

-skydiving : to choose height: 9000/12000/15000 ft. Refer NZONE for full price. Boleh book from klook/bookme/ viator/ nzone.com. Boleh pilih location mana mau skydive. Ours is in Queenstown, price ~rm1800 per head for 15000 ft plus pictures and videos.

—skiing lesson at cardrona. Rm 850 perpax. Whole day skiing including gondola rides/ equipments rentals.

-gondola and luge rides: may choose place and how many rides. Ours is in Queenstown, 3 rides. Price ~Rm 199.

*book from klook/bookme . May get cheaper price if u book earlier!

-shotover jet at queenstown. Rm 370 per head

-puzzling world at wanaka rm70 per head.

-easy hike at hooker valley track. Free.

-stargazing at Lake Tekapo. Free.

-Cruise at Milford sound. RM185. Book from bookme.

-hobbiton tour rm285. Book from klook/bookme.

-hiking mount eden at Auckland. Free

-tour at Manukau light house. Free

- Putaruru blue lake. Free

- Mirror Lake Te Anau

- Peter’s Lookout

Others to consider (google please)

-helicopter ride at franz joseph glacier

-hot balloon

-snowboarding

-glowworm cave

-grand canyon swing (please do!)

Depends on ur budget and your wishlist! 😁

Homestays: ( price per night- for 3 person)

Auckland:

13/6: airbnb (peter’s house ) rm72 *cheapest and central location.

14/6: SO/ hotel rm 1000++(5star hotel)-from accorhotel membership* (cons no free parking/ parking lot 🥲)

15/6: choice backpacker ( backpackers hotel- sharedtoilet,4bed room rm300)-booking.com

Lake Tekapo

16/6: Snowpine Apartment rm660 ( 3 bedrooms)(booking.com)

Wanaka

17/6: Fairway motel and apartment rm 360 (booking.com)

Queenstown

18/6: Breakfast at Tiffany’s rm395 (booking.com)- at the hillside in queesntown, nice view, nice breakfast area u are so gonna love it! 😁

19/6: Breakfast at Tiffany (rm395)

20/6: Holiday inn rm340 (agoda) - near queenstown central and airport

22/6: Melbourne Lodge rm535 ( 2 bedrooms, can accomodate 5 people)

Te Anau

21/9:Lakeview kiwi holiday park- rm319 booking.com ( just near Te Anau lake and Jetty)

Route

Auckland-manukau light house-hobbiton-putaruru-Auckland

Auckland —christchurch ( by flight)

Christchurch to Lake Tekapo (via scenery road)

Lake tekapo to mount cook ( hooker valley track ) to Wanaka

Wanaka to Queesntown

Queenstown to Te Anau to Milford sound to Queenstown

Itinerary summary

12/6:

-flight twu to kl (MAS 5pm-730pm)

-overnight at Sri Langit KLIA

13/6

-5am: checkout to KLIA

-flight kl- auckland depart 830am

11pm arrived in auckland airport

Buy simcard at airport ( we bought vodafone, with free insta/fb/ whatsapp - price 43NZD)

shuttle bus to take car rental - paid another 280NZ for bond

Check in at airbnb (peter’s)

14/6

9am-checkout and breakfast + sightseeing at Auckland CBD - to viaduct harbour/Winyard Quarter

11am- shopping and lunch at Queen street.(evan’s FISH kebab is amazing 😁)

4pm- check in at SO/ hotel

5pm- evening walk around CBD

6pm- hiking mount eden ( free - dont do this! 😂 consider to go in the morning or earlier before dark)

9pm- dinner and rest

15/6

8am- drive to manukau light house (2hrs plus from Auckland. Then to Hobbiton (2hrs plus drive)

3pm- hobbiton tour

5pm- drive to putaruru, but already dark. Unable to take pictures 🥲

**consider to go earlier or abandon manukau 😁

7pm- dinner otw back to auckland- halal nandos at cambridge

10pm:self- check in at backpacker’s choice hostel

16/6

730am: self-checkout, to Auckland Airport, drop off car, (dont forget to fill ur tank)

930am: flight to christchurch by jetstar

1055: arrived at christchurch, shuttle bus to pick up car. (Moto car rental)

12pm- tour around christchurch by car

( city centre, shopping and groceries- consider christChurch tram)

4pm- drive to Tekapo. (Go earlier as the route is sooo cantik rugi klu dah gelap 😂)

8pm- check in snowpine apartment

9pm- take night pictures at church of good sheperd. Consider stargazing if weather permissible. Dinner and rest.

17/6

830am: check out. Drive to mount cook.

10am: hiking at hooker valley track ( 10km return track)

3pm: driving to Wanaka.

5pm : check in Fairway motel. Small tour by car around wanaka city.

Dinner and rest.

18/6

9am: supposedly skydive at wanaka. But it was cancelled d/t low cloud. (Given new date on 20/6)

Tour around wanaka lake/ glendhu bay/ puzzle world. Snacking at Charlie’s brown. ( their crepe is soo gooood )

1pm- drive to queenstown. Stop by any scenery lookout. ( sepanjang jalan cantik, so do stop anywhere permissible!)

3pm: arrived at queenstown, to gondola skyline and luge rides.

7pm: check in homestay ( tiffany’s breakfast). Dinner at Fergburger (must try!)

Explore queenstown nightlife and rest.

19/6

7am: go to cardrona for skiing lesson. (10am-4pm)- 1hr+ drive from queenstown, snowy road up to the mountain.

4pm: go back to queenstown. Dinner and city tour. ( try patagonia- ice cream and churroz, cookietime- hot cookies sedap, erik’s fish and chips, go for any cafe tour! 😁/ buy souvenirs. )

*shops mostly close after 7-8pm in queenstown, but not their cafe/ restaurants.

20/6

830am: go to city centre (nzone)for skydiving. Check in our details, and they will bring us to skydive point- near queenstown airport.

10am-12pm: skydiving!

1pm: lunch and mini shopping . ( kindly do more activities! 😅) in winter all activities close at 4pm. Planned for bungee jumping/ canyon swing but no slots available. *arrange and plan ur trip properly 😅

3pm: check in at holiday inn.

Dinner and rest.

21/6

9am- drive to te anau. te anau tour. Cooking and picnic ( we planned to milford, but didnt make it. Last cruise at 1pm) so we stay at te anau the whole day. Rest day for us 😂

Check in at lake kiwi holiday park. Groceries and take pictures. Stargazing at night. Take picture at Te Anau Jetty! Consider to go to the Divide, 30mins away from Te Anau.

22/6

7am: drive to Milford Sound around 2 hours. View is amazing.

930am-1130: cruise at milford. )Bring ur lunchpack!)

12: drive back to queenstown. Stop by at Te anau for lunch. Also stop by at mirror lake for pictures.

6pm: arrived in queenstown. Shopping and shopping and eat! 😂

Check in at Melbourne lodge. (Consider gondola ride at night! Good place for stargazing!)

Rest and packing to go back.

23/6

10am: checkout

Plan for shotover jet. Available at 1pm.

Tour at arrowtown-15mins from queesntown. It’s a small Oldtown. (Like a cowboy town 😁)

1230: to shotover jet.

130pm: headback to queenstown. lunch at fergburger again 😂

3pm: drop off luggages at airport. Drop off car.

5pm: flight back to auckland:

630pm: arrived at auckland.

Go to international airport by shuttle bus.

24/6

1230am: flight back to kuala lumpur.

10am: arrived at kl

1230pm: flight back to tawau.

Plan earlier.

Suggested route for u all

North island:::

Auckland - hobbiton, putaruru, taupo, huka falls, rotovegas( i want this tapi drg turup selasa rabu, so sad. Plan baik2, pegi main game dekat rotovegas. Cheap and nice!)

South Island:

Christchurch - stay one day, then early morning drive to lake tekapo.

Lake tekapo and mount cook. If nasib baik, please bergambar at mount cook road yg background nmpk mount cook. ( kitorang x nmpk sebab foggy 🥹)

Go to franz glacier by heli! - save more money please 😁

Wanaka skydive!

Queenstown/ glenorchy/ dunedin/ te anau/ milford

-go to cardrona, but no need skiing lesson. Go take pictures and all the gondola rides 😂. Unless mmg suka skiing or snowboarding, go for it! (We need to experience them once in a lifetime kan 😂)

Kurangkn shopping. Penuhkan activity jln. I had less time to travel, thats why banyak shopping and city tour! Tempat jln d nz jauh2, need 3- 5 hrs drive(one way 🥹). So,plan properly!

**mcm best tgok caravan. But i personally x mau, homestays look good and reasonable too. Also x susah mau park at cities. Mau cari tempat charge lagi. 😅 unless mmg mau activities picnic sentiasa, go for it! Boleh dpt harga murah klu plan awal.

***jgn lupa, minyak diorang mahal amettt 😂

For more tips, do ask! 😗😆

[gumnut-logic]

We’ll Be Home For Christmas 1.1

Title: We’ll be home for Christmas

Day One – A Tale of a Fateful Trip – Part 1 (Prologue)

Author: Gumnut

8 Dec 2019

Fandom: Thunderbirds Are Go 2015/ Thunderbirds TOS

Rating: Teen

Summary: The boys can’t fly home for Christmas, so they have to find another way.

Word count: 3490

Spoilers & warnings: language and so, so much fluff. Science!Gordon. Minor various ships, mostly background.

Timeline: Christmas Season 3, I have also kinda ignored the main storyline of Season 3. The boys needed a break, so I gave them one. Post season 3B, before Season 3C cos we haven’t seen it yet.

Author’s note: For @scattergraph

This is my 2019 TAG Secret Santa fic and it is a big one ::headdesk:: I hope you enjoy it. I know I have thoroughly enjoyed researching a gorgeous corner of this planet.

Many thanks to @vegetacide and @scribbles97 for cheering me on and their wonderful support through this craziness. And to @onereyofstarlight for geeking out with me over the setting.

And as always, thank you all for creating such a fantastic fandom. Thundernerds rock! I hope you all have a wonderful festive season. Thank you all so much for everything.

Disclaimer: Mine? You’ve got to be kidding. Money? Don’t have any, don’t bother.

-o-o-o-

 Day One: A Tale of a Fateful Trip

Virgil was miserable.

Pain was minimal as long as he didn’t move too much. He didn’t really even need any of the painkillers that he was given to take with him at the hospital. It was just that he knew his brothers were tired, and despite the attractions of the beautiful city of Auckland, all they really wanted to do was go home.

His brothers could quite easily do just that. The ‘birds were at the local GDF base, it would be a matter of minutes and they would be home. But Virgil wasn’t allowed off the ground, they wouldn’t risk him and they wouldn’t leave him behind, no matter how many times he told them to do just that.

The glare Scott raked him with the last time he suggested it had been scathing.

Didn’t make him feel any better.

Grandma, of course, sensed his sadness and was known to slip up behind the couch he was chained to and wrap her arms around him. She kissed his hair and mumbled reassuring words in his ear.

He was ever so grateful, but he was still miserable.

Balled up cartridge paper lay about his feet. His pencil just wouldn’t create anything of value. Creating gave him a boost, and he desperately wanted to feel something positive, so he persisted, but the pile of balled up paper at his feet just got bigger and in the end he threw the pad and pencil aside, wincing when the pencil hit the table and likely destroyed the lead inside.

With a groan he levered his feet onto the couch and curled up into a flinching ball of misery.

His brain conveniently listed off all the positives about his life, everything he should be thankful for and all the reasons he shouldn’t be feeling sorry for himself. That just made him angry and annoyed that he was so pathetic.

God, he hated this.

He wasn’t really that ill. Just had some small difficulty moving and couldn’t fly to go home.

His family was suffering and it was all his damn fault.

“Hey, Virg?” The voice was soft, but it was definitely Scott testing to see if he was awake.

“What?” So he was grumpy, big deal.

“You’re awake.”

Well, yeah. He didn’t answer that.

Scott edged into his line of sight. Maybe his brother sensed his foul mood.

Of course, that thought just made him feel worse. The word ‘burden’ came to mind.

He closed his eyes, took a second, and then forced himself once again upright. Familiar hands reached into help, gently holding his shoulders until he was steady. “I’m fine.”

Scott shifted the detritus over on the coffee table and sat down in front of Virgil, his long frame folding neatly and a lot smoother than Virgil had any hope of achieving at the moment. “How would you like to go home?”

Virgil looked up at him. “How? I can’t fly.”

“Flight is only one way to get to Tracy Island.” He smiled. “We have a very versatile aquanaut on our team.”

Virgil stared at him. “Thunderbird Four? It’s just as pressurised as Two. Carries the same risks.”

The smile softened. “No, Virgil, Gordon can pilot more than a submarine. He’s bought us a boat.”

“A boat?”

“Actually, technically it is a yacht and a luxury one at that.” Gordon’s grin was broad and eager as he entered the room. “All aboard for Tracy Island, bro. She’s got all the perks and enough under the hood to get us there in time for Christmas.”

Virgil stared at him. Then stared at Scott. “Really?”

Scott’s smile was a sight. “I really don’t know why we didn’t think of it earlier.”

“Because all you pilot types live in the clouds.” Gordon strode up to his eldest brother and dug him one in the ribs before turning to Virgil. “So, what do you say, Virg? Up for a little cruise? Should take us about three days. Kayo and Grandma have gone Christmas shopping and will likely haul half of New Zealand’s food supply back in Two. Scott’s already stashed One and Tracy Two can stay until we need to pick her up.” Gordon had obviously worked out all the details. His brother was literally bouncing where he stood. But then it wasn’t often the aquanaut got to ferry his family around.

Virgil stared at his brothers. “Us three?”

Scott’s smile became a grin. “No, us five. All of us.”

“Five bachelors cruising on the open sea.” Gordon waved his hand across the room as if peering into a far horizon.

Virgil arched an eyebrow at him. All of them. All five brothers. Together. On a boat. For three days. His gaze turned to Scott. “You sure you want to do this?”

There was something in his brother’s blue eyes. “I’m sure.”

Virgil straightened where he sat. Surprisingly, he felt lighter, more positive. Could be the energy radiating off Gordon. His brother was always a bucket of sunshine in the rain. “Okay. When do we leave?”

“Yes.” Gordon actually fist pumped the air. Virgil couldn’t help but grin. “Now, big bro, pack your bags, we are going now.”

Virgil’s eyes widened. “Now?” That explained why he had been alone all morning.

But Scott had already started moving, Virgil’s meagre pile of supplies being shoved into the overnight bag that had sufficed for his hospital stay. “Well, we want to be home for Christmas, so we have to get going.”

Virgil moved to stand up.

Gordon stepped in front of him. “Hey, no, you stay there. This is a full service operation, Virg. We’ve got this.”

Another arched eyebrow was an answer to that, but Gordon was as good as his word and before Virgil could think twice, he was in a car, luggage in the trunk and on his way to the docks.

-o-o-o-

Scott was tired. It had been a long...well, everything. International Rescue never stopped, Tracy Industries never stopped and apparently, his brothers never stopped.

Virgil had scared him.

Okay, so nowadays appendicitis was a mild inconvenience, but in the past it was a killer and a painful and sudden one at that. Perhaps it was because it was something innocuous, something not related to a rescue and so out of the blue that it knocked Scott around so badly. But what worried him more was that his brother had ignored the warning signs of serious illness in favour of International Rescue. It wasn’t the first time and he wasn’t the only one of the brothers to do such a thing. Hell, Scott himself had done it. Lives had been saved despite injury and illness many times. But perhaps this was a louder warning. Perhaps they should be taking better care of themselves.

Grandma’s scathing words had driven it home. The Tracys were taking this Christmas off. They were due the time, they were tired, Virgil was ill. Any of those three on their own were cause for concern. All three together forced their matriarch to lay down the law.

Scott knew his place.

And she was right.

But their dilemma was a frustrating one. None of his brothers, particularly John, could fully relax away from home. There were celebrity issues to begin with, and this forced idleness rankled badly.

So, when Gordon suggested they go home via sea, Scott jumped on the idea wondering why he hadn’t thought of it earlier. Three days on the ocean. They would still be idle, but they would be away from restrictions, out beneath the blue sky and they could be home for Christmas.

And how long had it been since all five of them had been together like that? Had it happened since they were children on one of Dad’s road trips?

Scott swallowed as the car with himself, Virgil and Gordon made its way down to the docks. The sight of the ocean lifted his spirits more than he would ever admit to his aquanaut brother.

The vehicle slipped through a security checkpoint and into a private area.

“Isn’t she a beauty?” Gordon was bouncing again, this time in his seat. The aquanaut was going to have the time of his life over this little trip. Scott couldn’t help but smile at his happiness.

And yes, the boat was a gorgeous craft, even to a flyboy like himself. She had clean lines and looked fast sitting still. White with a streak of yellow down her length...no doubt, very recently applied along with the name on her bow, A Little Lightning.

She was large, but not huge. Just big enough for five tired brothers to live in comfort and fly fast over the waves.

Gordon was spouting off her specs to a politely interested Virgil. Scott tilted his head to one side...no, that spark in his engineer brother’s eyes spoke of genuine curiosity. Scott smirked just a little. Might need to watch Virg for the first couple of days to keep him out of the engine. He could pull it apart and put it back together once they were home and he was better.

Scott lent his brother a hand to get out of the car. He was still walking slowly, careful of his incisions, but he was a touch straighter than a couple days ago and he was off medication - though that was no surprise. Getting him to take any medication at any time was a challenge.

“She’s beautiful, Gordon. How did you find her so fast?”

Their brother grinned. “I have friends, Virg. You know, those people you can share a drink with from time to time.”

Virgil’s flat eyed glare was more fond than exasperated. “How much money did you throw at these friends?”

A shrug was all the answer he gave. “It’s worth it.”

“Give me a number and I’ll throw it your way.” Virgil was sincerity itself.

“Forget it, bro. Not required.” The hand waved in Virgil’s direction was entirely dismissive. “Just have a look, Virg. This girl has speed!” And the discussion devolved into specs again as the two of them walked towards the pier.

Hmm, apparently, Scott was cabin boy today.

To be honest, he didn’t care.

Loading himself with luggage, he followed their slow progress onto the dock.

-o-o-o-

John wasn’t much of a sailor, but when Gordon suggested the trip, he jumped on it.

Out in the middle of the ocean he could see the stars unhindered, it would be quiet except for the wind, water and their boat and, to be honest, it would be good to just be with his brothers uninterrupted.

And besides, on Earth, the ocean was the closest he could get to the weightless freedom of space.

So the astronaut was happy to help prep the boat. Being a resident of Tracy Island required at least some marine knowledge for safety’s sake and it felt good to exercise it for a change.

Alan was a little less enthusiastic until John mentioned a new video game recently released in beta. He had meant to mention it to his littlest brother some weeks ago, but life got in the way. Years ago, the two of them used to tackle each other in various games and they hadn’t done so in ages. John had contributed to this game at the request of a couple of associates from college. It was a high level space simulator matched with an adventure storyline. It should have a good enough mix of reality and fantasy to keep the hi-octane teenager amused in those moments of too much quiet.

Gordon had already allocated some time to some extra-curricular activities around the Kermadec Island group south of Tracy Island, so there would be plenty of the softer sciences to go around somewhere in their second day of the voyage.

John smiled at Gordon’s reaction to the term ‘softer sciences’. He hadn’t known his younger brother actually knew the definition of the word he used. Then again usage didn’t always prove understanding. A few more words in Swedish at a later date should clarify that situation.

As he placed the last of their food supplies into refrigeration, he heard the first distant rumble of a familiar voice, followed by the excited chatter of his aquanaut brother.

His smile widened and he made his way out onto the deck. Virgil had an arm tight against his belly, but his expression was excited as Gordon rabbited on about the engine specifications of his new boat.

Well, John, Alan and Scott had contributed to the cost of the boat, but it really was Gordon’s regardless. None of them really cared about it other than it getting them and their brothers home safely. Gordon was the one who loved a good ocean-going vessel and this was definitely a brilliant contender.

John rolled his eyes at Virgil as he offered him a hand getting onboard and his brother grinned at him. A few solid steps and the engineer got his feet securely on the boat. His brown eyes caught John’s and he suddenly found himself caught in one of his bear hugs. Perhaps not as rigorous as usual, but just as warm.

John couldn’t help, but hug back.

“Hey, where’s mine? This was my idea, after all.”

Virgil laughed and wrapped his arms around Gordon. “Thanks, fishy.” It was brief, but all three men were grinning as the two brothers separated.

“Well, that’s sweet and all, but some of us have to work for a living.” John smirked as Scott arrived at the water’s edge draped in luggage. A quick leap onto the dock and he helped him shed bags and the odd suitcase and with Gordon’s help, lug them onto the yacht.

Virgil was hugging Alan, who had emerged from the cabin.

John nudged Scott. Under his breath, “He okay?”

“Seems happy enough about the boat.” A sigh. “Looked miserable enough to sink it before I told him.”

“Let’s hope it cheers him up.”

“Let’s hope it cheers us all up. It’s Christmas, for crying out loud.” Scott grabbed the bag with Virgil’s art equipment, which had been added to without the artist’s knowledge and clambered onto the boat and headed in the direction of the cabin assigned to Virgil.

Gordon had dragged Virgil up to what he called ‘The Bridge’, what Scott called ‘The Cockpit’ and what was blatantly and obviously the control centre of the yacht - it would be flyboys versus fish for the entire voyage, no doubt. Said fish could be heard still babbling excitedly to his engineer brother.

John made a note to rescue the invalid if necessary.

Between John and Scott, they unloaded the last pieces of luggage and sent the driver on his way with a generous tip. John ran the supplies list through his head. Gordon had managed all the permits and regulations an international voyage by sea required and there were quite a few. There was less red tape in space.

Of course, when your daughter is an AI, the red tape moves just that little faster. And yes, he did smile to himself. He couldn’t help it.

-o-o-o-

A Little Lightning left dock just after the tide turned midafternoon. It would have been better to leave early in the morning, but time was what it was and they set out when they could. It had been decided that between the autopilot and four out of five brothers and no, Virgil, you are not piloting this ship, so forget it, they could make up the time overnight.

“It’s a boat, Scott.”

“Semantics, Gordon.”

“Reality, Scott.”

Virgil rolled his eyes. “Are we going to hear this discussion the entire way?” He had stashed himself in a comfortable seat at the back of the ‘bridge’. He had a great view of Waitemata Harbour as they cruised slowly past the CBD of Auckland itself. The weather was fantastic and the sea calm as glass. The forecast said the same for the next three days and the only stormy hints were in his brothers’ eyes.

“Regardless of the type of craft, Virgil, you aren’t able to drive a car at the moment, much less pilot a boat.” Emphasis was put on the word ‘boat’ as his eldest brother glared like a petulant child at his aquanaut brother.

“Fine. I’ll be chauffeured.”

Gordon snorted as he directed the yacht between past an incoming liner. “Now you know how it feels.”

“Know what feels?”

“Not being allowed to drive.”

Virgil glared at his brother, but couldn’t think of an adequate retort.

Alan snickered.

“Shut up, Alan.” Okay, so perhaps Gordon had a point. “She’s my ‘bird, Gordon.”

“It’s okay, Virg. We understand, don’t we, guys.” Gordon grinned back at him. John smiled. Alan rolled his eyes.

Scott shrugged. “I don’t have a problem. Virgil doesn’t hesitate to let me fly Thunderbird Two.”

“You’re hardly ever on Two.”

“So? Virgil doesn’t have a problem with me flying Two, do you Virg?”

Four pairs of eyes stared at him in challenge, but not all from the same perspective.

“Er...”

“You think Scott is a better pilot that the rest of us?” Alan was always the direct one.

Virgil opened his mouth, but his eldest brother beat him to it. “I am a better pilot than all of you.”

“What?!” It was an offended scoff from the two youngest.

“Though I will admit that you each have your specialities with your ‘birds. Virgil is much better with Two than I am, for example.”

“And you are totally pathetic in Four, let me tell you.” Gordon was staring out across the bow, but there was still a smirk on his face.

“Excuse me?”

“Who buried my girl in sea sludge recently?”

“That was unavoidable.”

Gordon spun on the spot. “What?! You’re still claiming you had no choice? I gave you recommendations on comms, you ignored them and look what happened, oh mighty pilot. You may be the greatest in the air, but you suck underwater, Scott, face it.”

“And I can run rings around you in Three, trust me on that.” Alan folded his arms and stuck his nose in the air.

“Hey!” Virgil shouted and cut off the discussion. “What the hell? You’re all damn good and fine pilots, no matter the craft. So, I’m a control freak with my girl. You’re all the same. When was the last time I piloted any of your craft? I’m fully trained and fully capable as any of you are, but she is my ‘bird and while I’m alive and kicking, I will fly her. That is no reflection on your capability, only on mine. And for god’s sake, get over it.”

Okay, so he got a little angry. It wasn’t his best attempt at diffusing an argument, ever, but the dumb ass looks directed at him were at least silent ones.

“Now stop fighting and let us enjoy this trip.” He blinked. “And Gordon, you might want to avoid that oncoming container ship.”

The aquanaut jumped and the yacht swerved as he shifted her quickly to the left to give way to the massive cargo carrier bearing down on them. The sharp dirge of the ship’s horn emphasised her captain’s ire at their deviation into his vessel’s path.

“Sorry!”

It was a vain apologetic gesture of his little brother’s part. It did put an effective end to their argument nonetheless.

There were many islands at the mouth of Auckland’s main harbour and it was extremely scenic, particularly the volcanoes.

Virgil was intimately familiar with volcanic structures and had visited several as part of IR, he understood their power and had witnessed it first hand, but the artist in him never failed to be caught by their symmetry and their mystery. They still caught his imagination and stunned him.

As they accelerated around the islands and out into the bay proper, the sea opened out into a beautifully flat expanse of watery blue. They were still surrounded on all sides by distant patches of green. Another little volcanic island reared up and they cruised past. A couple of dolphins danced along in the wake at their bow. John helped Virgil climb up the stairs to the railing at the front of the boat. He twinged several times, but ignored it despite the frown of Scott following up behind him.

It was worth it to stand up the front, the wind in his hair, a brother either side of him. The last of the islands passed by and the ocean opened up in front of them.

Dolphins continued to keep them company.

Both Scott and John kept a grip on an arm each, wary of him stressing himself in any way. Virgil turned his face into the wind and closed his eyes, letting the sensations fill his mind.

“Better?” It was a whisper from Scott, barely heard above the rush of air over his ears.

Virgil smiled.

“Better.”

-o-o-o-

End Day One, Part One.

Day One, Part Two

[lindoig5]

Friday   Day 29    The Snares

Overnight, the ship transported us to The Snares: another of New Zealand’s wonderful Sub-Antarctic islands, but one on which it is forbidden to land.  It is now feral-free and the authorities are justifiably eager to keep it that way so no human pests are allowed to land.  This is to avoid the risk of us reintroducing any unwanted flora or fauna back onto the island.

Instead, we enjoyed a wonderful zodiac cruise.  We cruised along very close to the shoreline for a kilometre or so as more albatrosses (and other birds) wheeled around above us, then entered another long sea-cave – this one more likely not a lava-tube.  We puttered in quite a long way, getting darker and darker as we went, but then saw some light at the end of the tunnel.  Turning to port (left for you landlubbers) we cruised right out into bright sunlight further along the coast and around the corner from where we started our little journey.  The cave/tunnel itself was quite interesting with mainly green walls and ceiling but also reds and browns from different types of algae.

We followed along the coast, exploring several tiny inlets as we went, then rounded another corner into a colony of Snares Crested Penguins, accompanied by 20 or 30 Seals and Sea-lions, lazing around on the rocks and ogling the strange new species drifting past them on the water. A group of 3 Fur-seals seemed to be having some sort of violent altercation in the water near our zodiac. Maybe they were just playing, but they were splashing and leaping and diving and lunging at each other for several minutes before they resolved their differences – or took their fight further away from us.

Dan thought one of the most distant penguins looked a bit different from the others but eventually concluded that they were all the same.  But some of my photos subsequently proved him wrong.  A single bird on the extreme right of the colony was an Erect-crested Penguin, the only one anyone saw anywhere on the voyage.

We cruised further around the bay and saw some more great birds – Auckland Island Shags and Black-billed, Red-billed and White-fronted Terns, several lovely Tuis, numerous unique all-black Auckland Island Tomtits, a few Fernbirds and lots of Bellbirds.  Most of them let us get relatively (or very) close to them and then there were the Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses with their strange eye patterns – two Adults and two chicks, all together on a ledge not far out of our reach - but the surprising thing is that the adults were not the parents of the chicks.  They were a courting pair and it was wonderful to watch them dancing and bill-clacking before going off to do some formation flying that was great to watch.  They were joined by a third Sooty (apparently quite common) and it was like synchronised swimming in the air as they swooped and glided and wheeled  and soared as if joined by invisible threads.  The chicks were close to fledging and their parents were nowhere to be seen, but would presumably be back to feed the chicks after we left the area.  We saw a few more Seals and Sea-lions before returning to the ship across some challenging sea but it had been an exceptionally wonderful and educational couple of hours of nature study.  And to top it all off, there was the most spectacular rainbow over the ship as we returned for showers and lunch.

According to my notes, during the afternoon, they screened an interesting documentary, but unfortunately, I didn’t record what it was about.  I am pretty sure it was a nature doco, but beyond that……

And after dinner, the woman who ran the music quiz a couple of nights earlier did a similar one.  She apparently does these quite regularly at home so had another one all cued up on her PC and Heather and I went to this one.  There were four teams and the final scores were something like 120, 100, 99.5 and 99 with only half a point separating the non-winners. Both the female cops were in the winning team (as they had been for the previous quiz) and our team came third. One of the cops’ husband (interesting question as to where the apostrophe should be in cop’s’ – I am sure he was only married to one of them!) was on our team and shouted out the answers to several questions so everyone got them right – he is a very extroverted accountant and you just can’t trust accountants!

[ask-minikri-blog]

New Zealand Hiking Tour

milford sound boat tour with overnight stayFrom here the Gerturde Saddle Route starts, a very demanding 4 to 6 hour hike. The Mirror Lakes are located in the Eglinton Valley and are one of the most visited attractions of the Milford Road. However, when we stow our luggage in the car we realize that many of the other guests from the accommodation have already left.

Milford Sound Overnight Cruise - Fiordland Discovery (Cruise) (New Zealand) Offers

As usual in New Zealand, the popular and inexpensive accommodations are quickly booked out, so that a reservation is recommended. The question always comes up and I have done both in the past few days and just share my impressions with you, maybe it helps someone. Here you have high towering, densely forested and waterlogged mountains, deep blue water, dolphins and all the rest - minus the tourists. Nobody is there except you and your passengers. Based on your recommendations we went with 'Mitre Peak' the next day and were very satisfied. On the way back we went to the Underwater Observatory, which was quite nice, you can do that, but not bad if you don't. We decided to do a boat tour with overnight stay on the "Milford Sound Wanderer". On the one hand we wanted to escape the rush of the day tourists and on the other hand we wanted to experience the Milford Sound also in the evening and dawn. Read more about campervan hire New Zealand here.

Leader our advice was rather disappointing and we didn't know much more than before.

54 km long Milford Track is Glade Wharf, end point is the Sandfly Point.order to make our website as good as possible for you and to improve it continuously we use cookies.

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Above the timberline subalpine bushes and alpine herbs define the landscape.

>Today your 2-day hike starts on the Nydia Track, a jewel of the New Zealand bush walks.>>/ul> Finally we were taken to a field where we could see herding dogs rounding up sheep. The Milford Highway SH 94 is the only connection by car to Milford Sound.

Accommodation photos of "From Queenstown to Milford Sound"|Show availability Small print|Services (From Auckland/ to Christchurch or from Christchurch/ to Auckland)}

The ship sails further into the sound, past a seal rock where a few seals doze lazily in the sun. It is incredibly windy on deck, I can hardly hold on. But before we can move into our cabin, all passengers arrive in the dining room and the crew introduces itself briefly. We are also told what to expect on the cruise on Milford Sound and of course a safety briefing. I think it is very good that there is also a biologist on board. During the trip he will tell us interesting things about the sound and the animal world there.

[sky-loves-anime-blog1]

â–· New Zealand roundtrip

I honestly don't know why I waited 26 years to do this. Jumping out of a plane is really the best experience I have had in my life so far! When we jumped it was the perfect autumn day with blue sky, sunshine and a pleasant 20 degrees. The North Island is home to the most famous cities Auckland and Wellington and there are more beaches. The billiger-mietwagen.de editorial team combines the concentrated knowledge of online editors and travel experts from all areas of the company. These areas are often very scenic and can usually only be reached by car. With a rental car you are also particularly flexible in your travel planning. For example, take a leisurely cruise on the nostalgic steamer TSS Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu (from approx. NZD 65). Lake Wakatipu is the third largest lake in New Zealand. - Hostel accommodation - |} Read more about campervan hire New Zealand here.

>|}

If I would do the tour again, I would rent a big camper and stay overnight in it.

With about 400.000 inhabitants it is situated in a scenic location on different hills around one of the most beautiful natural harbours of the country.

You should definitely take enough time to discover this area of New Zealand!

You could also walk the first few kilometres of the Kepler Track or visit the firefly caves of Te Anau.

Day 1: Christchurch to Lake Ellesmere/ Te Waihora (45 km)

Even today, many buildings from the time of Queen Victoria give the city a Victorian atmosphere. You turn off the coast and through the area of Te Puke, the largest growing area for kiwi fruit in New Zealand, the tour continues south to Rotorua. You drive up to Mount Eden, one of the 48 extinct volcanoes in the Auckland city area. In our New Zealand travel guide you will find over 100 tips for the North and South Island including 5 suggested routes. You should plan at least half a day, whereby many people stay several days in the park and stay overnight. There are different places where the boats drop you off and you can walk different routes. Despite the devastating earthquake, Christchurch has a lot of places to stay. There are many motels in the city, but Christchurch also has some really nice boutique hotels. So it is only too understandable that the Coromandel Peninsula is very popular with the Aucklanders as a recreation area. Auckland was built on 48 extinct volcanoes, of which Mount Eden with 196 m is the highest mountain in the area. Our travel module leaves you free to choose when booking your flights. But of course we are also happy to help you with your flight booking. On the North Island you will visit the natural beauty of the Bay of Islands and the Coromandel Peninsula.

[bb8blue-blog1]

"Directly at the Milford Sound: Top accommodation without luxury" Milford Sound Lodge

For me the two days we spent in the Fjordland National Park will definitely be unforgettable. The tour through Fjordland National Park to Milford Sound including the cruise is rightly the biggest tourist attraction in New Zealand. Altogether we were on the road between Manapouri and Milford Sound and back in Te Anau for almost a week. We took our time and did a day hike to the Key Summit. Milford Sound enchants and impresses with its dramatic expanse. Already the journey to the summit is an unforgettable experience. When travelling I feel like a different person, because the greatest thing for me is to discover new interesting places and to get to know foreign cultures. I would like to share my experiences, tips and thoughts with you.

The Best of Milford Sound

From Te Anau you drive about 2 hours on a beautiful road with several view points and hiking trails to Milford Sound. Depending on the traffic and the number of stops it can also be 2.5 - 3 hours. Those who then plan an excursion at the Milford Sound have to plan the time for the return trip to Te Anau. Therefore, the night at the Milford Sound is simply recommendable. To drive with a boat through the Milford Sound is quite rightly on every top list of the travel guides.

26 days trekking and adventure trip on North and South Island

Following a connecting canal, one reaches the equally picturesque Lake Tekapo.

In some places it becomes up to 420 meters deep.

Overnight in a hotel in Auckland just a few minutes walk from the city centre and harbour.

Read more about campervan hire New Zealand here.

We guarantee that you can book all of our more than 200,000 experiences with us at the best price. Spend the morning with a leisurely drive back through Milford Sound to your starting point. The rooms are bright and comfortably furnished. That depends on how much you want to drive yourself. I can only take pictures by leaning safely against the railing. Since there is coffee and cake in the dining room meanwhile, I take the chance and sit down inside for a short break.

[luxurynewzealandtours-blog]

5 Itineraries Ideas For Luxury New Zealand Tours

New Zealand is a wonderful country blessed with so many things from nature to its culture. No wonder many tourists who want to take a break and breath are visiting. They can just lay low and relax, or have luxury New Zealand tours.

Staying lay low in the country is a very nice idea, but for those who want a little extra in their New Zealand tour because it cannot always happen, here are five itinerary ideas:

Milford Sound Overnight Cruise

The best way to see the wonders of Milford Sound is by boarding a cruise. Milford Sound is a fiord with so many daytime tourists. The best way to experience its beauty and peacefulness is cruising overnight.

Start your cruise in the late afternoon when you get to explore the mountain peaks, waterfalls, lush rainforest, and glacier-carved cliffs while having buffet dinner in the evening. In the morning, enjoy the spectacular views of Milford Sound before returning to the wharf. Add on, you can choose to self-drive a cruise or with a coach.

South Island Tour

Enjoy the pristine places in New Zealand and luxury New Zealand tours exploring the following:

Christchurch Aoraki Mount Cook World Heritage Park Dunedin’s Scottish Heritage Franz Josef Glacier TranzAlpine Fiordland National Park Queenstown

Jet Trip at Dart River

Experience breathtaking sceneries and most exhilarating activities into the heart of Mount Aspiring National Park where you can see and learn the following:

Greenstone trail Te Waipounamu World Heritage Area Maori legends Ancient beech tree forests from the “The Lord of the Rings” Shooting locations of Middle Earth, Narnia, The Hobbits, and other movies Untouched natural wonders

New Zealand Luxurious Food and Wine Tour

Aside from its scenic views and exhilarating adventures, New Zealand also offers luxury New Zealand tours of food and wine. Here, you can have a culinary adventure of New Zealand’s finest wineries, vineyards, and artisan food producers. You can start the tour in Auckland going to Waiheke Island by ferry where you can explore beautiful beaches and wineries. You can then take a helicopter back to Auckland from where you can visit other finest vineyards and top food producers.

North Island Tour

If there’s a South Island tour, there is also a North Island tour which is equally enticing as the latter. In this tour, you can visit the following places:

Agrodome Rotorua Auckland Sky Tower Gondola and Luge Rotorua Hawke’s Bay Express Napier Hole in the Rock and Dolphin Cruise Te Puia (Thermal Mud Pools and Geysers)

[travelpointholidays]

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[worldlifetimejourneys]

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[sailsunnkiss307]

Discover the magic of Auckland's waterways with Sail Sunkiss! Our overnight boat hire services offer the perfect way to experience the city's stunning waterfront and serene landscapes. Embark on an unforgettable adventure with us today

[roundtheworldrambles]

Queenstown and Glenorchy, New Zealand

Day 114 – Brisbane to Queenstown, New Zealand

Kia Ora, New Zealand!

I arrived at Brisbane’s airport in the morning, departing on a three and a half hour Virgin Australia flight over the Tasman Sea to Queenstown, New Zealand. After getting lots of feedback from friends, family and fellow travellers, I had decided to start my month-long stint in New Zealand on the scenic, mountainous South Island, before eventually making my way to the North Island and Auckland. Although I was arriving in New Zealand in mid January – the height of summer, we were surrounded by snowy capped peaks as we began our descent into Queenstown. 

The arrival into Queenstown’s airport was an event in and of itself. As we approached the airport, we gradually descended along the length of Lake Wakatipu, the mountains surrounding the lake quickly towering above us while we were still in flight. Without my feet having even touched the ground of New Zealand, I could already tell that I would love this country. The beauty of the Southern Alps was unmistakable, even through a tiny airplane window! I immediately was reminded of the feeling I would get when flying into Vancouver, and arriving in New Zealand, I already felt like I was coming “home”. (That or your mind starts playing tricks with you when you have been travelling for over 4 months!).   

Although Queenstown has a fairly small airport, it still took some time for me to make my way through passport control and Bisecurity NZ. Given its geographical isolation, New Zealand takes biosecurity seriously, aiming to prevent pests, predators and diseases from damaging the unique environment and biodiversity of the country. Incredibly, the native flora and fauna of New Zealand evolved free of any warm-blooded predators, and as a result, the country is home to several flightless birds, such as the kiwi and the kakapo parrot. Unfortunately, following colonialization of this country, smaller predators such as rats, possums and stoats were introduced to the country, and many of New Zealand’s unique species are currently endangered as a result. 

Finally grabbing my pack and passing through Biosecurity, I caught a taxi into town, arriving at my hostel for the night, Black Sheep Backpackers. Over the coming month, it was hard to believe I would only be staying at a hostel for the one night – as I was set to pick up my mini campervan the following day! I met a few of my fellow travellers at the hostel – from Scotland, Quebec , Zimbabwe and England, most of whom were either starting or finishing a campervan adventure of their own. It was terrific to chat with them and get tips for campsites, hikes, routes and excursions – as I was planning on mapping out my roadtrip over the next few days!

Lake Wakatipu

In the afternoon, I strolled down into the main area of town, wandering along the main street and the waterfront. It was clear that Queenstown lived up to its reputation as the ultimate destination for lovers of the outdoors! Lake Wakatipu is framed by yellow-green hills, set against jagged mountains in the distance known as the Remarkables – quite a fitting name! Along the streets, countless tour operators offer every imaginable activity and tour – from skydiving and bungee jumping, to white water rafting and kayaking – the options were quite overwhelming! Overhead, paragliders swooped through the air, having launched off Bob’s Peak, a mountain overlooking the town. I stopped by Queenstown’s famous bakeshop “The Cookie Muncher” for an ice cream sandwich before heading to the Department of Conservation (better know as the “DOC”) to gather more information on camping permits, bookings and campsites. Armed with a veritable mountain of flyers, pamphlets and maps, I returned to the hostel for an evening of research and planning for the month ahead!

Day 115 – Queenstown, New Zealand

In the morning, I headed out to Frankton, a Southeast suburb of Queenstown, to pick up my camper van for the following month. During my first full day in New Zealand, I was already amazing by the friendliness and helpfulness of the locals. Not only was I given a free bus pass by a passing couple, but a friendly transit worker named Peter gave me a lift in his car to the campervan pick-up, when realizing I had misread the bus timetable! I could quickly see why NZ is sometimes called the “friendliest place on earth”!

Wicked Campers Queenstown

As having a vehicle is essential when travelling around New Zealand, there were countless options for campervans, large and small, basic and boujee – for me to pick between! Trying to stretch my dollars as much as possible, I ended up going with the backpacker classic – a Wicked Campervan. By far the cheapest option, these vans are best known for their large, bright (and sometimes risqué!) graffiti. Unfortunately – what this also meant is that the first van they suggested for me was decorated with a topless woman and an octopus! I ended up going with an equally bizarre, but less provocatively decorated model – with a large graffitied picture of a dog and a red solo cup! Needless to say, I got many strange looks over the following weeks, when I rolled up to gas stations and campsites! However, more often than not my hilariously decorated van ended up being an excellent conversation starter!

Fortunately my time driving around Tasmania a few weeks earlier had helped me prepare for a long stint of driving on the left-side of the road, so it didn’t take me long to get used to my new wheels. I spent the rest of the day running errands around town to prepare for my roadtrip – groceries at PAK’nSAVE, gas top-ups, trips to Kathmandu (NZ’s answer to MEC) for camping gear, and laundering a second-hand set of pillows and a sleeping bag, donated from a previous traveller. In town, I also picked up extra layers of merino wool, blankets, and fairy lights – as I was determined to make my peculiar campervan as cosy as possible over the coming weeks!

In the evening, I met up with Oran, a Swiss traveller I had met at the hostel. We headed into town to join the lineup at Fergburger, the town’s famous burger joint! A compulsory stop in Queenstown, it is common to wait for up to an hour to get “the best burger in the world”. Oran and I didn’t mind the wait, as we took the time to swap travel tips and pick each other’s brains. As luck would have it, he was heading to Australia the following day, after spending a month in New Zealand – the reverse of what I had done.

I spent my first evening in my campervan that evening – parked in a designated parking lot on the outskirts of town. Although it was the height of summer, the evenings were very cold – and it got pretty brisk inside the van overnight! Before going to bed – I began my new evening routine for the following 4 weeks – reading Shantaram on my Ipad, complete with a glass of NZ wine. 

Day 116 – Glenorchy and Moke Lake 

Lake Wakatipu

In the morning, I headed out of Queenstown to Glenorchy, driving West along Lake Wakatipu. It was hard to keep my eyes on the road when driving – the scenery around me was so gorgeous. I stopped countless times along the way to take in the mountains surround the brilliantly blue lake. The historic steamship TSS Earnslaw cruised along the lake during my drive. Now used for sightseeing trips, this 100+ year old, coal-powered steamship was originally used to transport sheep, cattle and passengers to the high country stations in the hills surround Lake Wakatipu. Watching the steamship chug along the lake in the distance, I felt transported back to another time. 

Glenorchy

Glenorchy

I arrived at Glenorchy around lunchtime and cooked lunch in the back of my campervan, admiring the magnificent beech forest and towering mountains around me. I could easily see why this location had been scouted for many scenes from the Lord of the Rings – it truly felt as though I had arrived in Middle Earth. 

Lake Wakatipu

In the afternoon, I drove my campervan down to the shores of the Lake and wandered along the river’s edge, wading in the water. A row of partially submerged willow trees was growing just offshore, the rippling water reflecting the trees and distant mountains. With this incredible backdrop, I spent the afternoon by the water’s edge, relaxing with a book. For me, this was pretty close to a perfect day!

As I prepared to leave Glenorchy to head towards my campsite for the evening, I stopped by the Glenorchy Trading Post for a few snacks and a hot drink. Hopping into my camper, I began to retrace my route back towards Queenstown, the road hugging the lakeside. The afternoon light cast long shadows over Lake Wakatipu, while also highlighting the mountains on the far bank. I was in awe of all the scenery I saw this day – a feeling that would continue to follow me for the duration of my time in New Zealand!

Lake Wakatipu

My Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite for the night was at Moke Lake, a pretty lake off the beaten track, about 10 minutes outside of Queenstown. The road into this campsite was unsealed, and it took me a few minutes to get the hang of driving my camper over the bumps and gravel in the road. I passed my numerous farms and fields along the track, packed full of sheep and goats – stopping my can every few minutes while I waited for them to get out of the way! New Zealand is known for being one of the most populous sheep farming countries in the world, which was quickly apparent! I later learned that the number sheep of NZ outnumber people by 6 to 1! Around the campsite, you could see countless lines tracing along the distant hills – footpaths for thousands of freely grazing sheep. 

Setting up for the evening at Moke Lake, I cooked fajitas in my make-shift, campervan kitchen - consisting of little more than a cooler, a hand-pumped water sink, and a camping stove!  I spent my evening enjoying the peaceful scenery – with a few “baas” here and there – reading my book, and drinking a glass of wine. Thoughout my time in New Zealand, most of the campsites I stayed in were so remote that there was no cell service, a digital detox which I quite enjoyed!

Typical Campervan Evenings

[bangkokjacknews]

Tourists dead and injured as New Zealand volcano ERUPTS

Five people have been confirmed dead after the #volcano on New Zealand’s White Island erupted.

Up to two dozen people remain unaccounted for as unstable conditions, toxic gases and ash fall prevent rescue teams from searching the island. The country’s most active cone volcano erupted at 2.11pm on Monday, sending up a huge plume of ash that was visible from the east coast of the North Island. Police said about 50 people were on the island at the time, more than 20 of whom were Australian tourists. Twenty-three people have been rescued, and five have since died. All of those rescued had sustained injuries, mostly burns, police said, and seven people who were in a critical condition had been flown to hospitals in Tauranga and Auckland. The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, who was en route to the nearby coastal town of Whakatāne on Monday evening, said the situation was “significant and evolving”. John Tims, the deputy police commissioner of district operations, said at least two dozen people remained on the island, but he could not be sure of the exact number, nor when a rescue mission would be possible. The condition of the people was unknown, and Tims would not be drawn on whether police had made any contact with those left behind. A no-fly zone remained over the island, but police had got close “to the shore”, Tims said. “The physical environment is unsafe for us to return to the island.” Ardern said she was liaising closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and police confirmed that those missing on the island were New Zealanders and foreign nationals. The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, confirmed Australians had been “caught up” in the eruption and offered emergency support. Kevin O’Sullivan, the chief executive officer of the New Zealand Cruise Association, said a tour party of 30 to 38 people from the Ovation of the Seas was touring White Island when the eruption took place, and the party had not returned. Their names and nationalities were being given to the police, he said. The ship would remain in Tauranga port at least overnight. Royal Caribbean, which owns the Ovation of the Seas, asked for “prayers” to be said for all involved. Ardern said police were unable to land on the island due to the danger of another eruption and dangerous, unstable conditions on the ground. My god, White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted today for first time since 2001. My family and I had gotten off it 20 minutes before, were waiting at our boat about to leave when we saw it. Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable. #whiteisland pic.twitter.com/QJwWi12Tvt — Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019 Tims said that based on the fatalities and conditions on the island, the death toll would probably climb. “The island is currently covered in ash and volcanic material,” he said. “We are taking expert advice with regards to the safety of any rescue attempt.” Michael Schade, an American tourist, had just returned from the crater to a tour boat with his parents when the volcano erupted. When their boat returned to pick up survivors, some were in shock, and others burned “to different levels of severity”, he said. “We were all busy the entire time, just trying to stay out of the way of people who knew what they were doing and also just to help out wherever we could,” he said of the return trip. Passengers handed over jackets and shirts, eye drops and water, and a human chain was formed to refill bottles so the injured could pour it on their burns. Dr Ken Glairdhill, of GNS Science, said the volcano was unpredictable. “It was not a particularly big eruption,” he said. “It was almost like a throat-clearing eruption. “It showed increased activity for the last few weeks, so we raised the alert level.” A level four alert was issued for the volcano, also known by its Māori name Whakaari, indicating a “moderate volcanic eruption” was possible, according to the science agency GeoNet. The scale runs from zero to five – a major eruption. St John Ambulance treated at least 20 people who were injured, with ambulance officers travelling to the island with the coast guard and seven helicopters, which had been dispatched with paramedics on board. A spokeswoman initially said the service’s medical director would establish a triage unit on the island when he arrived, but this later proved to be impossible.

Tourists walking near the volcano’s crater on Monday. Photograph: GNS Science/AP A damaged helicopter shown in footage of the island belonged to Volcanic Air, a tour company based in Rotorua. The pilot and four passengers were unharmed and returned to the mainland via boat on Monday afternoon, a company spokesman said. “Volcanic Air has confirmed it had a helicopter on Whakaari/White Island at the time it erupted this afternoon,” a spokesman said. “Five people had flown to the island in the helicopter, but all are accounted for and have arrived back in Whakatane by boat.” Footage taken from the volcano’s crater camera appeared to show people in the area minutes before it erupted. About 10,000 people a year visit the volcano.

People injured in the White Island volcanic eruption are ferried into waiting ambulances in Whakatane Photograph: Katee Shanls/AP The civil defence authority warned that the situation was hazardous “in the immediate vicinity of the volcano”, which is 48km off the coast of the Bay of Plenty. After the eruption the police blocked streets close to the sea, and the MetService weather agency warned pilots to avoid the area. White Island last experienced a short-lived eruption in 2016, in which no one was hurt. Geological hazard trackers GeoNet had registered moderate volcanic unrest on the island for weeks before Monday’s eruption. – You can follow BangkokJack on Instagram, Twitter & Reddit. Or join the free mailing list (top right) Please help us continue to bring the REAL NEWS - PayPal Read the full article

[phoenixfridays]

Check out my cinemagraph here. This is a photo I took of Auckland New Zealand. While I was there I went on an overnight cruise. As we headed back to the land I snapped this picture of the beautifully diverse city on the other side of the world

[lindoig5]

Wednesday   Day 27  Beautiful Auckland Island

After a blissfully calm night, we started with a visit to Hardwicke in Erebus Cove in Ross Harbour.  A shot zodiac ride to an almost dry landing where there was a short boardwalk up to a small historical graveyard and then a ramble through the trees to the stump of the Victoria Tree.  (I almost expected a Hobbit to accost me along the way.)  This stump with its carved inscription is all that remains of a cache of supplies left there to assist ship-wrecked sailors cast away on Auckland Island.  Apparently a few such caches of basic essentials were set up, mostly during the 19th Century, on some of the remote islands, with signage along the coast to indicate to shipwrecked sealers and whalers (and others) which way to walk to find them.  En route to the tree, we encountered a few fur seals resting beside the track and posing for photos.  We also saw a few more small land birds, having only seen the Redpoll on ‘Macca’ since leaving Campbell Island 3 weeks ago.

We did a short zodiac cruise along the coast and then returned to the ship while it moved a little way from our overnight anchorage, but then reboarded the zodiacs to cruise around Ranui, another wonderful part of Ross Harbour.  Due to a weird mix-up, Heather and I ended up in different zodiacs so we probably saw a few things differently, but it was all a lot of fun.

It was pretty rough getting from the ship back into the lee of the island, but it was wonderful once we arrived.  We cruised into a little bay and through a sea-cut archway into the fantastic crater of an extinct (I think) volcano.  It was a unique experience going from some pretty rough and turbulent water into such a beautiful grotto a mere few metres away. The water was absolutely crystal-clear and we could see the several metres to the bottom with all its kelp and other sea-life – starfish, jellyfish and so on.  I even saw half a dozen little minnows a couple of centimetres long: the only other fish we saw on the entire voyage.  A big Sea-lion put on a display for us, repeatedly coming up to the zodiacs and diving under to surface again beside one of the other craft and back again.  It followed us around for at least half an hour and Heather tried to photograph it underwater with our GoPro, but it just wouldn’t cooperate.

We cruised deep into a nearby sea-cave (possibly an ancient lava-tube) where it was almost completely dark and we motored around in there, marvelling at the crazy textures and colourful patterns in the rocks above and around us.  A couple of torches helped us see a bit, but it was really too dark for photography.

Back on the ship I spent a surprisingly wonderful hour or so on the bow deck all alone.  The sun was shining and the sea was temporarily calm and although there were a few people on the Bridge, there were very few, and none in the bow where it was often quite crowded (if the weather allowed).  I was just communing with nature and watching the birds, mainly the wonderful albatrosses skimming the waves and wheeling back to do it all again. It was one of the most relaxing and peaceful hours of the whole trip for me – maybe just the chance to do my own thing with nobody else around.

In the afternoon, we landed on a beach called Sandy Bay on exotic Enderby Island (part of the Auckland Island group protecting the mouth of Ross Harbour) and had 4 whole hours to just wander and explore. Heather and I went off on our own, occasionally bumping into other explorers, but we just roamed the hillsides looking at the plants and birds, the Seals and Sea-lions, photographing the rare Yellow-eyed Penguins, lots of Giant Petrels and Albatrosses (mainly Royals and Light-mantled Sooties) as well as the tiny Tomtits that happily sat half a metre from the end of my lens, and lots of Bellbirds.  There was a lot of birdsong, but the Bellbirds were actually very hard to find even when they were only 2 or 3 metres away in the vegetation. There was a lot of long grass and even trees on Auckland Island: another thing we had not seen since Campbell Island.

A special bird I saw was the Auckland Island Flightless Teal: another rare bird that almost became extinct until New Zealand launched its excellent and highly successful pest eradication program.  I knew the teal were starting to recover so I was looking for them and saw one in quite a small sunken pond when the others were photographing penguins.  I got a few photos but when I told the others, they came to look too – and it had completely disappeared.  The pond was less than 50 square metres, but the banks were slightly overhung and the teal had obviously found cover somewhere very cleverly.  A few people did see teal later when one of our naturalists found two in a tiny inlet near the zodiac pick-up site.

We tramped around over quite a large area, managing to avoid a few big male Sea-lions that can become a bit dangerous.  They rest quite widely in the area, including in the trees, so when I was in there looking for birds, I had to be careful not to disturb them.  Eventually, Heather decided to take the zodiac ferry back to the ship, but I still had an hour before the last zodiac left.  Dan suggested I trek across the island on the boardwalk because he had just come back from photographing some Royal Albatrosses along the route.  I was a little concerned about timing – could I get there and back before the last zodiac?  Dan said that Agnes (the other main naturalist) and some others were on the other side of the island so I had plenty of time and would encounter them on their way back before I ran out of time anyway so off I went.  It was a wonderful trek through the trees, the lower scrub and then the grassland and I passed a couple of others from the ship but never saw Agnes.  I photographed some more Yellow-eyed Penguins close to the boardwalk and at least 20 Albatrosses sitting on the grass or cruising the breeze – they really are extraordinarily beautiful, not to mention graceful and so clever.  I got quite close to the cliffs on the opposite coast but couldn’t see anyone in front of me so turned back and eventually arrived back at the zodiac pick-up point – to see Agnes and the others returning from a completely different direction.  They had hiked up the coast and crossed back across the island a kilometre or more further north so I would never have seen them even if I had reached the cliffs. But I had thoroughly enjoyed my solo walk and the wonderful birds and plants I had seen along the way – so remote and tranquil.

All in all, it had been a wonderful day, probably almost equalling our day on Macquarie Island a couple of days earlier.

[parasholidays]

Top 25 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

New Zealand is formed by two islands offering a great diverse and beautiful natural setting. Remarkable for its glaciers and beaches, New Zealand is the ideal destination for adventure seekers and lovers of amazing outdoors. Interesting national parks, diverse and engaging cities, and refreshing weather make New Zealand an attraction that is necessary on everyone's travel list.

1. Queenstown

Queenstown is known as the most remarkable destinations in New Zealand for travelers. There are numerous outdoor activities can be tried in Queenstown that takes a vast space in every traveler's bucket list. Experience skydive or bungee jump, with picturesque  views of lakes, canyons, and mountains on the way down, or try whitewater rafting on the Shotover River. You can also watch some of the prime filming locations from the Lord of the Rings series on a guided tour of nearby Glenorchy.

2. Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park is situated on the South Island popular for its admirable sandy beaches and the amazing granite cliffs that rise up above them. The best day trip excursion is to the serene beaches, where try kayak, canoe, and sunbathe on a secluded stretch of sand, Abel Tasman National Park is also famous for its hiking trails. The best would still remain the Abel Tasman Coast Track, is nearly 40 miles long and takes an average of 3 to 5 days to complete, but you can try shorter 1 day trips also for thrilling adventures.

3. Aoraki - Mount Cook

The village of Mount Cook is located at the bottom of this huge mountain, which at 12,218 feet at its summit is the tallest mountain in entire New Zealand. The mountain lies within the boundaries of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, which is an incredibly beautiful place filled with rocky snow-capped peaks, blue glacial lakes, and some charming hiking trails. All the trails in the area give perfect scenic views and take almost 3 hours to complete.

4. Auckland

Auckland is one of the majors cities of New Zealand's North Island. It's a fancy city with mesmerizing nature right at its doorstep making ideal for stay in New Zealand. From here, it's easily accessible to visit some of the fascinating surrounding nature and for the adventure seekers - kayaking to a volcano or relaxing along the black sand beaches, also try endless restaurants, shops, nightlife, and accommodation when you're done.

5. Central Otago

Central Otago is in the heart of the South Island, in the Otago Region. In sunny Central Otago tourists will experience dry, hilly landscapes and some gorgeous heritage towns. Otago is in the gold rush in New Zealand, and few small towns there such as Bannockburn, Naseby, and Ophir showcases history with their old-school charm. The region is well known for wine growing and is home to many outstanding vineyards, that are especially popular for pinot noir and a must visit destination.

6. Chatham Islands

The Chatham Islands are known as the archipelago of about ten islands situated around 500 miles east of New Zealand's South Island. The Chatham Islands, with the rocky coastlines and rugged lush green wilderness, were the royal home of the Moriori people, a Polynesian tribe just like the Maori of New Zealand's prime islands. The islands are remarkable for mouthwatering, fresh seafood, which can be tried at any of the restaurants on the Chatham Islands. Here experience the wildlife, from the abundant colorful birds and animals to the fresh flowering plants in the archipelago.

7. Christchurch Canterbury

Christchurch is located on the South Island of New Zealand on the East Coast of the island and in the area of Canterbury. It's referred as the second-largest city in New Zealand and famous as the Garden City for its vibrant gardens and parks. The traditional English feel of Christchurch is carried throughout the New Zealand Tour Packages. There are various oceans, beaches, and mountains embracing city’s beauty. The region of Canterbury is special for its varied landscape, with snow-capped mountains, clear blue lakes, and lush plains.

8. Dunedin

Dunedin is also on the South Island established by Scottish immigrants. The gorgeous Edwardian and Victorian architecture, thrilling for hikers and bicyclists, and varied city life filled with yummy food, wild nightlife, art, and trendy shopping all combine to make Dunedin an adorable city. There are fantastic beaches, extraordinary food, and access to the Otago Peninsula, where tourists might witness an albatross or a yellow eyed penguin.

9. Fiordland

Fiordland is called for the fiords of Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound, that were carved by glaciers many years ago and placed within Fiordlands National Park. The clean blue waters covered by majestic mountains, are most dramatic landscapes in New Zealand. With mountain to sea, also forests and splashes of cooler, are picturesque, as are many aspects of this amazing destinations. For a complete extraordinary experience, tourists to Fiordland can try hiking, climbing, fishing, camping, or kayaking.

10. Kaikoura

Literally named for its food, kaikoura in the Maori language means "crayfish food." Most restaurants in Kaikoura serve this local specialty, caught right off the coast. Kaikoura is actually very well known for other marine life as well; there is an abundant population of seals, dolphins, and whales that live permanently in the ocean near the town. A whale watching tour taken from Kaikoura is almost always fruitful, with plenty of wildlife to observe, including a local population of fur seals that are pretty entertaining. Located just a few hours from Christchurch, Kaikoura is a great spot for a day trip.

11. Lake Tekapo

The town in the geographical heart of the South Island. Lake Tekapo is spectacular and colored an extraordinary cloudy blue due to the glacier-ground rock flour in its waters and the town, with huge mountain vistas rising from the lake, making it both ancient and friendly. Lake Tekapo might be charming during the day time but once the sun sets the whole view becomes unreal. It's listed as a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve that once night comes the skies turns lit up by a million number of stars.

12. Lake Wanaka

Lake Wanaka is recognized as the fourth-largest lake in New Zealand, placed inland on the South Island in the Otago Region. The clean waters of this fantasy lake make for some perfect insta worthy photos as well as the sunny inland weather gives more magical days spent out on the water. During the summer Lake Wanaka is ideal for sailing, fishing, and kayaking, and the mountains give an ideal setting for hiking, climbing and not to miss skydiving. During the winter months, the peaks around Lake Wanaka becomes destination for skiers racing down the slopes.

13. Marlborough

Marlborough is a region situated at the northernmost tip of the South Island. The region is celebrated for its sauvignon blanc, which is grown and produced at vineyards throughout the region. Other highlights for Marlborough are its fresh seafood from the coastal waters and also picture perfect landscapes. You can also try boating here.

14. Matamata

Matamata must be added in travel list for any Lord of the Rings fans visiting New Zealand. This little town on the North Island has a plethora of quirky cafes, and its location being the prime factor as the shadow of the Kaimai Mountain Range makes it worth visiting. But what draws the tourists here is the filming set and location for Hobbiton, the home of Frodo Baggins and his hobbit companions in The Lord of the Rings series.

15. Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a pretty vision for its Forged thousands of years ago by glaciers, its breathtaking waterfalls and flowing waters are framed by majestic mountains, which intersects their rocky fingers into the air. Boat cruises of the sound discovered both during the day and overnight the ideal way to feel with natural beauty. Get a chance at Milford Sound to watch the fiord from a sea kayak, from the air, or from a scuba dive.

16. Napier

Napier provides today as a great example of art deco architecture, with uniquely New Zealand feels like Maori patterns and aesthetic details. Mouthwatering vineyards that forms pinot gris and Syrah, farmers' markets, and annual cultural festivals to celebrate the town's heritage are just little of the other details that make Napier feel like a step back to a easier time. You must add this place in your list to enjoy its different history and know about how the city developed further.

17. Nelson Tasman

Nelson Tasman is the bright sunny region in all of New Zealand, and its scenery filled with golden sandy beaches, dense green forests, huge mountains, and freshwater springs showcases that sunny demeanor. On a sea kayak journey, tourists can watch penguins, seals, and also some dolphins, while on land they can head to Abel Tasman National Park. Nelson is a city known for its Nelson Bay scallops, and cafes along the coast offering a fine glass of local wine.

18. Northland

Northland is known as the northernmost region of New Zealand. Its climate is subtropical providing sunshine, warm temperatures, and refreshing days and the region encompasses not just the prime island but also the Bay of Islands and thick forests of kauri trees and numerous marine life. Snorkeling off the Poor Knights Islands witnessing dolphins from a boat tour, surfing through the Te Paki sand dunes, or having a drink at the Duke of Marlborough being the oldest liquor license in New Zealand are interesting adventures that await.

19. Rotorua

Rotorua is lucky to be in treasure of a veritable natural beauty with recreational options for everyone. Its lakes are great for fishing, boating as well as relaxing on the water. Maori culture is found in this area, and you should watch a performance of a traditional Maori song and dance in the beautiful Maori Village or at the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute.

20. Taupo

Lake Taupo is also located the North Island. It is a large and calm lake that was made in the caldera of a volcano with the same name. It is considered as the largest lake in New Zealand based on surface area, also the lake in its volcanic bowl, is an incredible place to go. You can soak in the warm, geothermal pools at Wairakei Terraces, try fish for trout in the lake, or cycle along the trail making it a lifetime experience. There are various other options for adrenaline sports including bungee jumping and skydiving and a strong presence of the friendly Maori people.

21. Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park is a World Heritage site including three active volcanoes such as Ngauruhoe, offering as Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings series. On the slopes of one volcano, skiers move down the sides, from one to another, with boiling pools of mud and clean lakes filled with volcanic gas. Hiking trails take you to the Red Crater, an active crater at the top of Mount Tongariro. At the base of the volcanoes, tourists can paddleboard, kayak, and be awestruck by the splendid lakes that lie peacefully at the bottom.

22. Waitaki

The Waitaki Region spreads through the center of the South Island with scenic coastlines as well the majestic mountains and lush plains of the island's inland regions. In the coastal city of Moeraki there are boulders strewn upon the beach around 65 million years old, and watch dolphins leaping into the air as they play. Further inland, the town of Oamaru and its white stone buildings are amazing stop on the way to the most celebrated Aoraki / Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand.

23. Waitomo Caves

Waitomo Township is known for its green and hilly beauty, however underneath the sunny, glassy regions gives something much darker and more intriguing: filled with caves and underground streams. People with a more adventurous heart can also try to explore the dark caves via a zipline or experience blackwater rafting by holding tight to a rubber tube as they navigate the thrilling twists and turns of the underground river.

24. Wellington

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand situated at the North Island. There's a vast art scene in this city, unique for its creative spirit. Tourists to Wellington will view many art museums and galleries, trips movie sets and locations, and all the shopping and food that the city provides. A quick ride on the celebrated Wellington Cable Car will give visitors with an awe inspiring view of the city and surrounding areas, and a short duration drive out of the city will provide tourists in some definitely pretty natural regions.

25. West Coast Glaciers

The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers is set on the West Coast of the South Island, are two large glaciers that flow near to sea level. Their lower altitude compared to most glaciers and the favorable climate making two glaciers easy to visit, and tourists will be thrilled by climbing among the ice having open tunnels like caves that visitors can discover. To head to the glaciers, you must book a helicopter or ski plane to the beginning point and take a guide to lead the trip onto the ice.

Source- https://www.parasholidays.in/blog/top-25-places-to-visit-in-new-zealand/