New Zealand - The North Island - Part 2

On Wednesday morning we left Thames and drove down to the Karangahake Gorge. This was the site of a gold rush in 1875. Apart from the swing bridges and river walk, the main highlight was walking a VERY dimly lit 1km tunnel...

We then drove down to Rotorua and visited the Whakarewarewa Forest containing magnificent, towering Californian Coastal Redwoods...

We then visited the Buried Village. Mount Tarawera erupted in June 1886 burying an entire village in mud, rock and lava. Excavations have since revealed a number of the wood and stone buildings preserved in the mud... 

We then went into Rotorua and walked around a Maori village including the meeting hall...

In the evening we rode the Rotorua Skyline...

We had a buffet dinner watching the sun set over Lake Rotorua...

The full moon lights up Lake Rotorua, formed from the crater of a large volcano...

On Thursday we visited the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. We followed the crater walkways throuhgh Waimangu's steaming landscape and many geothermal features... I'm not going to try and explain the features so you can look at the pictures and read more here... http://www.waimangu.co.nz/  

One more for the album...

Part 3 will include Wai-o-tapu, Taupo and Waitomo.

New Zealand - The North Island - Part 1

On Saturday morning we flew to New Zealand and drove up to Whangarei, 2 hours north of Auckland. On Sunday morning we visited the Whangarei Falls and then Ruapekapeka Pa Track (the site of the the last battle of the Northern Wars, fought between British colonial forces and northern Maori).

Then we drove up to Paihia in the Bay of Islands. We went on a boat trip through the Bay of Islands. We saw dolphins playing in the water...

More dolphins...

When we left the pod, some of them followed the boat...

The boat moored at Urapukapuka Island Reserve and I climbed the hill for a great view of the Bay...

On Monday (Waitangi Day - a public holiday held on 6 February every year to commemorate the signing of New Zealand's founding document - the Treaty of Waitangi) we drove down to Auckland going over the Auckland Harbour Bridge...

We then went up the Sky Tower for views over eastern Auckland including the Auckland Museum and Parnell district where we spent the night.

and a view out across the harbour toward Rangitoto Island...

No trip to Middle Earth would be complete without My Precious at the Weta display inside the Sky Tower complex...

A walk around Auckland Harbour....

On Tuesday morning the sun came out and we climbed to the top of One Tree Hill, one of the numerous extinct volcanoes circling Auckland...

A view of Auckland from Mount Eden, the huge crater and extinct volcano...

We then drove out to Thames in the Coromandel Area. We drove up into the Kauaeranga valley where Sarah had time for a swim...

and we climbed up to 'Lookout 76' for a stunning view...

More to follow in Part 2 including Rotorua, Taupo and Waitomo.

Marvellous Melbourne...

http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/marvellous-melbourne-rises-in-visitor-appeal-20120212-1szpd.html

"Melbourne has become a magnet for overseas visitors, accounting for almost half the entire growth in visitors to Australia over the past decade."

"Surveys by Tourism Victoria show that Melbourne is the biggest attraction: 80% of foreign visitors to the state never spend a night outside the capital. Fewer than one in 10 even visited the Great Ocean Road"

Australia Day!

We started our Australia Day at Government House. This is the house the Queen dined and stayed in when she visited Melbourne last year. The house is only open to the public on Australia Day...

http://www.governor.vic.gov.au/welcome.htm

Can you please pass the salt... the table set for 54 guests...

The Governor's (Alex Chernov) State Chair in the State Ballroom. It is only ever used by the Governor or the ruling monarch - the Queen.

The RACV (Royal Automobile Club of Melbourne) held an event in the Kings Domain gardens including a collection of 500+ classic cars. This has to be my favourite...

We then walked up to the Shrine of Remembrance for the midday 21-gun salute... 

The military band then played and sang 'Advance Australia Fair'...

We then climbed to the balcony of the Shrine to see the view over Melbourne...

http://www.shrine.org.au/Home

Happy Australia Day!

Australian Open - Day 6

We got 'ground passes' to middle Saturday of the Australian Open in Melbourne. We headed straight to Number 2 court.

Errani of Italy beats Cirstea (below) of Romania 6-7 6-0 6-2 in the 3rd round of the women's singles...

Next up in men's singles 3rd round is 5th seed David Ferrer of Spain vs Chela of Argentina (27th seed). Ferrer won in straight sets 7-5, 6-2, 6-1.

Next up was a mixed doubles match featuring an Aussie pairing of Barty and Mitchell vs Bernard Tomic and former world number 1, Jelena Jankovic of Serbia. Tomic, also Australia, beat Verdasco, Querrey and Dolgopolov on the way to a 4th round match with a certain Roger Federer.

Jankovic serves on the way to their straight sets win...

Tomic was the fans favourite and was cheered on by a group of Aussie fans to chants such as "Didn't you wear that shirt yesterday", "Where's your headband" and "Where's your girlfriend". He thanked the fans on his way off court.

Another one for the album...

And then a trip over to the practice courts to see some guy from Scotland Britain warming up before his match on the Hisense vs Llodra... Andy Murray!!!!

The practice paid off as Murray cruised into the last 16 with a straight sets win.

Time of a bit of sightseeing - the Rod Laver statue outside the appropriately named Rod Laver Arena.

The Gold Coast - Surfers Paradise & Broadbeach

We flew up to the Gold Coast on New Years Day for a bit of R&R...

The famous Surfers Paradise sign.

70km of golden beaches make up the Gold Coast, the 6th largest 'city' in Australia. The Q1 'Skypoint' Tower dominates the skyline.

A view from the top of the tower looking north, past Surfers Paradise and Southport towards Brisbane.

A view from the top of the tower looking south, past Broadbeach towards Coolangatta.

We went on a BBQ Cruise around the waterways of the Gold Coast. There are 9 times as many waterways than in Venice! Where's Wally (Nick & Sarah) competition for those with a keen eye...

One for the photo album...

Many of the houses on the waterways cost in excess of $5m. Owners include Jackie Chan, Kylie Minogue, Ian Thorpe and a guy who designed a computer program and was paid $300m for it. He decided to buy a waterside house complete with a helicopter. Nice.

On Friday night our hotel held a seafood buffet dinner including spinner crab, smoked salmon, smoked mackrel, prawns, oysters and Moreton Bay bugs (like lobster).

The famous Gold Coast 'Meter Maids' collect donations and check car-parking tickets to prevent holidaymakers getting tickets by adding extra time to the meter. Definitely think Boris could do with introducing this in London - you can bet he's suggested it!!

The sun sets on Broadbeach and the moon shines brightly...

New Year's Eve in Melbourne

The sun sets in Melbourne for the last time in 2011 and the crowds start to gather at Birrarung Marr.

The 'pre' fireworks get under way at Yarra Park, next to the MCG...

At 11pm the 'great balls of fire' from Crown Casino are set off...

We find a seat on the banks of the Yarra to watch the show...

Midnight... Fireworks are set off from 16 different sites across the city-scape...

10 tonnes of fireworks were ignited (3 tonnes more than Sydney)...

The Arts Centre tower is the focal point of the finale...

"The Harbour Bridge is beautiful, but when you see the gold that is the Melbourne moment this year, it will be absolutely spectacular," - Melbourne Lord Mayor.

Happy New Year!!