Arenal Volcano

We were blessed with a full view of the usually cloudy Arenal Volcano on the way into its closest town, La Fortuna.  A few clouds had formed by the time we took a late afternoon hike in the area of the 1968 lava flow area.  It was in this year the people who lived here [...]

Pucón

In Pucon we had definitely arrived in another tourist-centric town, but a lovely one.  Its lakeside setting with black sand beach and the backdrop of Villarrica Volcano is gorgeous, and there are tons of outdoor activities and adventures, relaxing thermal pools nearby and a heady mix of restaurants and bars for after a long day [...]

Rotorua

Population-wise Rotorua is a big city (over 70,000 or so).  We were advised it might seem overly commercial for our liking, but we wanted to experience the often talked about geothermal area that’s still bubbling, spouting and boiling away.  The area is also very special in Maori history, and today there are lots of cultural [...]

Taupo

After our Alpine Crossing we needed a day of taking it easy, so we head to the thermal pools near Taupo.  I had a very relaxing mud wrap and massage while Donny tried to catch me in the book we’re trying to finish, The Penguin History of New Zealand by Michael King.  It’s a great, [...]

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

From a base in Ohakune (carrot capital of NZ, and a huge ski and snoboarding center in winter), we did an amazing 19.4k walk called the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, in Tongariro National Park.  The full trek is multi-day, but this full-day hike was plenty for us, with some steep terrain heading up and an even [...]

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 [...]