Minuses: none really. It’s expensive, from getting here to being here, but it’s also worth every penny. If renting a car or a camper van, be careful on the roads, they are narrow and winding, especially if you are not used to driving on the left side, and also take the long distances into the … More 85 – New Zealand (conclusion)
Feb 21 I finally make it to Invercargill, as the wind strength gets to a normal level. Normal for New Zealand, so the flight is still pretty bumpy. My host Trev is the nicest, most genuine guy I’ve yet met. We have another Kiwi style dinner, eating fish and chips in the car as he … More 84 – The South
Feb 17 – 18 Jan and Ben are going for a short holiday around New Zealand and I join them for a couple of days, after which I continue south to Steward Island, as I managed to reserve an overnight accommodation in the huts along the Raikura trail. We leave saturday morning roughly in the … More 83 – The Cruise
Feb 11- 13 On my own again, I exploit Jan’s kindness and crash at his place for a few days to get organized and decide where next and how. See, the problem is, when one wants to travel around New Zealand in the busiest month of the season without planning at least a month aforehand, … More 82 – Auckland & Waiheke Island
Feb 8 – 11 We leave Eva at the airport in Auckland ( 😦 ) and continue north towards Whangarei, supposedly 2 hours away, if it wasn’t for the fact that we took a wrong turn and ended up going a longer, albeit more scenic, way. We have two full days to spend in Northland, … More 81 – The North
February 3: Napier to Rotorua (via Taupo) Thermal Explorer Highway honours it’s pompous name. As you approach Rotorua, you start seeing fumes and vapour randomly rising from the forest, and you start smelling it, too. There are plenty of things you can see around Rotorua, but the best of it is definitely a walk around … More 80 – Hell and Paradise
January 30: Wellington to New Plymouth The road trip begins. We pick up the car at Wellington airport and head north along the coast. I am the only person from the group who is comfortable with driving on the other side of the road, so I do most of the driving, at least in … More 79 – The road trip begins
Finally, New Zealand. The visit was long time overdue. January 24-26 Although Malaysia and New Zealand are only 4 hours time difference, I manage to cause myself a spectacular jet lag nonetheless by firstly spending the night wide awake in Kuala Lumpur airport, then watching stupid films during the 12 hours flight, and then waiting … More 78 – Kia Ora, Aotearoa!
