The meeting of the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific Ocean. It's a bit like John O'Groats as it isn't in fact the most northerly point in NZ - like at JO'G that lies further east and is not naturally enough called Dunnet Head, but for some reason, North Cape. 
posted by Fred 65 @ 3:26 AM
0 comments
Mnt Mania - to be climbed next week (the sticking up bit on the right hand side - ascended it 22 yrs ago with the whangarei tramping club)
posted by Fred 65 @ 3:13 AM
0 comments
Batch Freddy (NZRC holiday beach house for staff) looking just as we left it (21 years ago). The chimney hasn't changed much either.
posted by Fred 65 @ 3:03 AM
0 comments
Ben Lomond summit from the saddle. A bit further away and steeper than it looks - about one hour from here to the top. The path goes around the back and comes back towards this side, which is where the hard ice was.
posted by Fred 65 @ 2:59 AM
0 comments
Mnt Cook from the edge of the Hooker glacier. We decided that the path stopped here!! Hooker lake was replete with little ice bergs which had fallen off the glacier.
posted by Fred 65 @ 2:36 AM
0 comments
Did the jet boat trip on the Shotover today. Photos are said to be available on their web site but it is crashing - perhaps too many people. Tomorrow is to be Glenorchy - Lord of the Rings was apparently partially filmed at Paradise, a close by paddock which was transformed into Rivendell or similar (I don't have the brochure to hand). The Routeburn track starts here also so we have agreed to walk part of that. Monday we leave here to head north and I'm trying to book a heliwalk on the fox glacier on the way. We shall in any case visit 'one of the most famous panoramas in NZ' (Lonely Planet description) - the Lake Matheson viewpoint for Mnt Cook & Mnt Tassman. Mnt Cook shall be viewed from the west coast side this time as we strive to see it from all angles (except from above) on this trip.
If you have watched the All Blacks - Springboks international on tv from Dunedin you will have seen it is quite cold this evening - a cold front has moved in and clear blue skies are forecast for the next few days so ourluck is holding. More photos above....
posted by Fred 65 @ 2:12 AM
0 comments
View looking back down the path between the saddle and the top of Ben Lomond - the ground was frozen with only the surface beginning to thaw out in the sunshine - as was the snow further up.
posted by Fred 65 @ 2:51 AM
0 comments
Queenstown below with the Remarkables (mountain range) behind and lake Wakatipu - all from near the top of Ben Lomond this morning.
posted by Fred 65 @ 2:40 AM
0 comments
Friday 26th August 2005
In Queenstown since last night and today I climbed Ben Lomond (up and down in 4.5 hours against a recommended time 0f 6 to 8). Only met one other climber all day - he was coming up to the saddle as I was coming down to it. A lot of mountain to have to oneself. Quite steep and slippy with hard snow and ice on top - I could have done with an ice axe. Yesterday we visited Mount Cook and I jogged up to the end of the Tasman Glacier and back to get some closer up photos. It was quite busy there. Tomorrow and Sunday I'm doing things with Dylan (jet skiing/white water rafting and bungy jumping etc - he does it and I watch)and Monday we'll jointly visit the fox and franz joseph glaciers. Queenstown is very picturesque and a nice place to spend a few days after all the driving we have been doing. I might do a day trip on the Routeburn Track from Glenorchy on Sunday, but shall make a decision on that later. Tonight we ate sushi. The souvenier shops we visited this afternoon all seem to be run by Koreans with restaurants above the shops, so we might try Korean cuisine before leaving.
posted by Fred 65 @ 1:19 AM
0 comments
Whale hunting cancelled due to weather and whales being too far offshore. Headed for Mount Cook area instead and now established at Twizel. We'll visit Mnt Cook tomorrow and then carry onto Queenstown. Still no chance to load photos. maybe tomorrow. Ilona has her diving certificate so can now enjoy the barrier reef even more. More tomorrow....
posted by Fred 65 @ 11:48 PM
0 comments
Arrived in Rotorua, viewed the area and did the required geothermal park visit. The smell hasn't changed at all in 21 years. Rotorua stinks somewhat also, which I had forgotten. Dylan did a tandem parachute jump from Taupo - a lot cheaper than Rotorua. I said I would do it on my 60th birthday - less time to lose if the chute doesn't open. Travelled today to Wellington. It was raining quite steadily from Rotorua through Taupo but stopped before Turangi. The clouds cleared away at the start of the desert road and the Ruapehu massive was fully exposed with a good snow covering. Funny to see that the Tongariro and Ngauruhoe ascents with walk from the Ketetahi hut to the Mangatepopo hut which I did in the NZ summer of 1983/84 is now classified as 'the most exciting single day walk in New Zealand'. I didn't do it this time as a) I had no time and b) I've left my crampons and ice axe in Scotland - both are stated as necessary with the snow and ice covering at this time of year. Hopefully I'll get in a glacier walk with hired equipment (and guide) at Queenstown. Dylan is going bungy jumpimg there. I'll do that for my 70th. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we are crossing to Picton and driving to Kaikoura where I've booked a whale (sperm whales there so they say) watching trip for Wednesday morning. Then it's off through the mountains towards Queenstown where we arrive on Thursday and stay until Monday. Perhaps I'll be able to load some pictures there. Ilona still arrives in Auckland on Wednesday 31st (she advised yesterday by text that she is enjoying her diving course at Magnetic Island). So then it will be a quick visit to Whangarei for the three of us prior to Dylan and I returning to summertime in Europe. It was 16 celcius in our area today so ... perhaps we'll stay here. Over and out from the North Island.
posted by Fred 65 @ 1:36 AM
0 comments
Friday 19th August
Didn't mamage to get to the hole in the rock due to weather conditions. Did manage to see the islands and to get soaked. Also saw the original "yellow submarine". Now heading towards Rotorua. Weather again dry and nice and a bit breezy which is handy for drying out.
posted by Fred 65 @ 5:23 PM
0 comments
Thursday 18th August 2005
Now in Kaitaia, heading for Cape Reinga and then back down to the Bay of Islands (Paihia) tonight. Left Auckland on Tuesday 16th and spent the night in Whangarei - Marsden Point hasn't changed much and the Heads look as impressive as ever. Raumanga Heights Drive and Denby Crescent are also little changed. Yesterday was Dargaville, the Kauri forests and on to here. Photos later.
posted by Fred 65 @ 2:51 PM
0 comments
Left Byron Bay finally on Tuesday 09 August and headed to Hervey Bay in Queensland via Noosa Heads & Surfers Paradise. Hervey Bay was only a base from which to visit Fraser Island, which we did on a 2 day trip. We took a short flight there from the beach in a GA8 Airvan 7 seater + pilot. Have some excellent photos and film of the area, including aerial views of course. The next stop was Town of 1770 for a two night stop (1770 is when Cptn Cook first discovered the area). Ilona went surfing (last chance before the great barrier reef which dampens the waves somewhat) and I went to Rockhampton - Rod Lavers home town, amongst othger things. It signifies also the start of the great barrier reef area and the beaches on the coast were littered with signs warning of stone fish, dangerous jelly fish etc. Fraser Island is also a no get your feet wet in the sea zone due to the area being a major breeding location for tiger sharks. We saw sharks, giant rays, whales but no snakes - it also is home to the top 5 of the world's deadliest snakes. Town of 1770 has a good surfing beach. Tonight I am in Brisbane and about to go on a river cruise to relax. Ilona is by now (after a planned day of surfing) almost on the bus from Town of 1770 to the north where her next stop is the Whitsun Islands. I'm off to Auckland tomorrow morning. Dylan should be nearly in Kuala Lumpur at this moment. He'll be in Auckland a couple of hours before me. Might get time to load some photos in Auckland.
posted by Fred 65 @ 12:19 AM
0 comments
Views from up Mnt Warning, & Nimbin Hotel for if you can't make it home.
posted by Fred 65 @ 5:57 AM
0 comments
