Halloween in Eden

After checking out the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where local Maori and British signed their famous and much contested agreement in 1840. Back in Auckland, we stopped at Mt. Eden, highest of the 48 volcanic craters found around the city. It’s 196 m high and from the top you can see down about 50 [...]

Sweet Penguin

We woke up in the Bay of Islands. There are 144 of them or so total, and they make up an amazing aquatic playground with opportunities for sailing, swimming, diving (a bit too chilly still for us), dolphin spotting, etc. Yesterday we stumbled upon a great self-contained apartment available for a couple of [...]

The End of the Earth

In the am we head poast the 90-mile dunes to the place where, according to Maori legend, the spirits of the dead head to begin their journey to the afterlife. They slip down the Pohutukawa tree that is apparently still visible nearby. At Cape Reinga, the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. [...]

Kauri Forests

In the Maori tradition, Northland is said to be the tail of the fish Maui caught when he went to sea to prove to his brothers he was a great fisherman. The whole north island is this fish, and the South Island is the canoe he was fishing from. The whole area is [...]

Auckland

It seemed almost strange to have to take out our passports again, but yes, we have crossed another border.  Our flight into New Zealand provided spectacular views of rolling hills, turquoise water and a first glimpse at New Zealand’s biggest city.
We spent our first days orienting ourselves, catching the blog up after our whirlwind Sydney [...]

Bondi

Today was the day I met Pete for the second time.  The first time had been 22 years ago, as exchange students in Japan.  Though we were just teens then, I guess we were pretty good judges of character, since the four of us (Donny and Pete’s partner Kate included) had a wonderful day exploring, walking, chatting [...]

A Manly Walk

The weather made a complete turnaround, and Friday was beautiful.  A ferry ride from Circular Quay offered great views of the Harbour and deposited us at Manly Wharf on the other side.  We gawked enviously at the waterfront homes along the bay as we began the 9 kilometer Manly Scenic Walk.  We passed picturesque Fairlight [...]

Walking in the Rain

The weather hadn’t improved much, but we had to make the most of our limited time, so we head out on another journey on foot.  At the end of Victoria Street were the McElhone Stairs, over a hundred of them, leading down to Cowper Wharf Road, which runs along Wooloomooloo Bay. Not too far from there [...]

Meet Sydney

Today was the coldest October day in 30 years, according to the pilot on arrival to Sydney airport.  We’re staying at Eva’s Backpackers in King’s Cross, a neighborhood with a saucy reputation.  You know you’re there when you pass the huge Coca Cola sign.  Donny felt right at home.  It was an experience to be [...]

Open Water

Diving the Great Barrier Reef was near the top of our not-to-be-missed list.   The amount of information available to tourists in Cairns is absolutely overwhelming, and we did quite a bit of research on possible ways to get there.  Carmen, from Experience Cairns wasn’t the first agent we chatted with, but she was the only [...]