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
pool at Wai-o-Tapu geothermal fields
mud bubbling / exploding
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
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
Maori artwork
Edgar making some new friends ;-)
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
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