Distant Horizons - Photos

New Zealand October 2013 - Part 1: North Island

approaching New Zealand

with our Couchsurfing-Hosts in Auckland

after some searching we found the well hidden Geocache :-)

we got very mixed up with the seasons… while we received some autumn pictures from Europe the cherries were blossoming in NZ

we had chinese dumplings for the first time - and it was delicious! :-)

our home for the next months :-)

with our Couchsurfing-Hosts and two other Couchsurfers at dinner

on the way to Coromandel Peninsula

view over Port Jackson Bay, Coromandel

Coromandel Peninsula - the less traveled northern part

sunrise at Cathedral Cove beach

sunrise at Cathedral Cove

view from Cathedral Cove

we found this fish on the beach - unluckily all help was too late...

digging pools at Hot Water Beach

digging a pool at Hot Water Beach

enjoying the hot-pool at Hot Water Beach

many campgrounds have free gas barbecues - we used & enjoyed this one :-)

the view from our camp spot at Mc Laren Campground

one of our better dinners :-)

Springtime

luckily we got up for this sunrise

curious cows :-)

Wai-o-Tapu geothermal fields - the algae benefit from the hot water

Champagne Pool at Wai-o-Tapu geothermal fields

Champagne Pool at Wai-o-Tapu geothermal fields

pool at Wai-o-Tapu geothermal fields

pool at Wai-o-Tapu geothermal fields

Champagne Pool at Wai-o-Tapu geothermal fields

mud bubbling / exploding

mud bubbles

mud bubbles

how often can you swim in a 35°C hot river right next to a waterfall?

one of the usual basic campground toilets

driving along the ocean road at the East Cape

sunrise at the East Cape - New Zealand's most eastern point

sunrise at the East Cape - New Zealand's most eastern point

finally electricity after staying on basic campgrounds for many nights

we are not sure this claim is correct - we doubt Fiji has no cinemas...

rolling hills at the lonely East Cape

rolling hills at the lonely East Cape

Maori artwork

Maori artwork

Edgar making some new friends ;-)

Napier

Napier

Napier

green and golden Kiwi

sorting out some images during a coffee break

river cold cider :-)

our kitchen

not hard to imagine Hobbiton is located in NZ ;-)

Huka Falls - this waterfall could fill 5 olympic swimming pools per minute

survey mark on top of Mt Tauhara

a part of New Zealand's surface is used for logging (German: Holzabbau)

Springtime in NZ

on the coldest morning we had 2°C

Hug a tree - spread the love!

tree-face

geothermal activity - the water is almost boiling

the start of the Tongariro crossing (with a certain Mordor-feeling to it)

view from the Tongariro crossing westwards

it had snowed the night before

Mt Ngauruhoe (or as most people will know it: Mt Doom from Lord of the Rings) hiding in the clouds

Tongariro Crossing - Red Crater

Tongariro Crossing - view over the Emerald Lakes

Emerald Lakes

yes it was pretty cold and windy that day…

one of New Zealand's many active volcanos - the last eruption of this one was one year ago

Mt Ngauruhoe in the evening - here the cone shape is visible quite well

Wakapapa Village and Mt Ruapehu in the distance

rolling hills on the way from Taupo to the south

shoe-art New Zealand style

rolling hills on the way from Taupo to the south

Wanganui

:-)

a beach near Wanganui

finally power again… ;-) our mobile office

a huge, delicious portion of fish and chips

:-)

the cliché shot you just have to take while in Wellington...

delicious Pie (Mince and Cheese)

our massive wooden ferry tickets