South Island photos | North Island Photos
March - April 2007
New Zealand Trip Part I - The South Island
March 16 - Fly to NZ
We flew from SFO to Auckland on and overnight flight and crossed the International Dateline. Emily did great on the flight and slept most of the 12 hours we were in the air.
March 18 - Christchurch
We arrived in Christchurch to find that only 1 of the 4 suitcases we checked at SFO arrived with us. We filled out a claim, picked up our campervan and went to visit our friend, Jo Chang, whom we stayed with for 2 nights. We met Jo a few years ago through SF Kiwis when she lived in the Bay Area. Our luggage arrived later in the day.
March 19 - Christchurch
We stocked up our campervan pantry and did some sightseeing in Christchurch including visits to: The Riccarton Bush historic homestead, Museum of Canterbury and Christchurch Art Gallery. In the evening we met up with another SF Kiwi and Bay Area resident, Lester McKee.
Sightseeing at Riccarton Bush
March 20 - Kaikoura, Blenheim
Headed north from Christchurch and visited the coastal town of Kaikoura. During a walk through town we met local residents Ivan and Marlene, a very friendly couple who run a hunting adventure tour company.
Later we caught up with Aussie friends Anthony and Jane who live in and work in Blenheim and who are expecting their first baby this summer! Congrats!
March 21 - Blenheim, Nelson, Mapua
Toured Wither Hills Winery in Blenheim and then headed toward Abel Tasman National Park, stopping at Havelock, the green "mussel capital of the world" and Nelson along the way. We camped close to the beach in Mapua near Abel Tasman and enjoyed our first dinner in our campervan.
March 22 - Kaiteriteri, Abel Tasman
Visited the coastal town of Kaiteriteri where we Emily enjoyed her first beach visit and boat ride. We took an "aqua taxi" which dropped us off at a little cove in Abel Tasman National Park. From there we did a short hike to Anchorage where the water taxi picked us up and brought us back to the town.
Later that day we saw a hops farm and went on a tour of a hops processing plant in the Owens Valley.
This water is too cold, Mom!!
March 23 - West Coast, Punakaiki
On the South Island's west coast we visited Punakaiki, known for its amazing Pancake Rocks and blowholes. Saw gorgeous views of the rugged coast, lush vegetation and huge waves crashing on the limestone pancake rocks.
March 24 - Okarito, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers
Today Emily turned 4 months old!
We did a short side trip to the tiny coastal town of Okarito, home of Keri Hulme (author of The Bone People) and photographer Andris Apse. Kayak tours are the town's main attraction but the kayaks that would accommdate a family with a baby were not available that day.
Later we visited two of the West Coast's most spectacular attractions: The Franz Josef (pictured) and Fox Glaciers. Since an adventure sightseeing tour was not possible with Emily, we enjoyed an easy, scenic walk to the view points.
March 25 - Haast Pass, Wanaka, Cromwell
We had a big driving day - took Haast Pass in the Southern Alps and saw the lush, green vegetation and waterfalls. On the other side of the alps, the landscape changed, becoming more dry with less vegetation. 
We saw Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea (above) and had a picnic lunch in the campervan. In Wanaka we visited Puzzling World and in Cromwell saw the towns relocated and restored historic buildings.
March 26 - Otago Rail Trail, Dunedin
On our way to Dunedin we stopped at Hyde, a small town which provides services to cyclists who ride the 150 km Otago Rail Trail. This former rail line was converted to a mountain bike trail in 2000 and is very popular with individual cyclists and groups.
In Dunedin we visited with Alejandro (a childhood friend of our Bay Area friend Eduardo) and his family. Then we saw yellow-eyed penguins up close at Penguin Place on the Otago Peninsula. We watched from camouflaged viewing huts where the penguins could not see us.
March 27 Dunedin, Moeraki Boulders
Richard gave us a brief tour of his alma mater, the University of Otago and the places where he lived during his university days.
In Moeraki we saw the Moeraki Boulders - a fascinating cluster of enormous, spherical boulders on a beach. They look like gigantic marbles that were dropped on shore but actually they were created by the cementation of mudstone and have been exhumed by erosion.
March 28 - Timaru, Christchurch, Auckland
In Timaru we visited the Canterbury Museum which features an exhibit on Richard Pearce who may have been the first person to fly a plane - 8 months before the Wright brothers achieved flight at Kitty Hawk, NC. Pearce's efforts were not as well documented at the Wright brothers which is why he has not gotten worldwide credit for his achievement.
Back in Christchurch that afternoon, we returned our campervan and then flew to Auckland.
South Island photos | North Island Photos
New Zealand Trip Part II - The North Island
March 29 - Remuera (Auckland)
We spent the day at the home of our friend Janet where we washed clothes and made plans for our next few days.
March 30 - April 1 - Ruakaka Beach
We drove north of Auckland to stay at the vacation beach house of Mark, a longtime friend of Richard's. Mark and his son, Will, met us there to spend the weekend with us.
From the beach house we did a day trip to Paihia and the Bay of Islands where Emily and I did a short bay cruise and saw dolphins and gorgeous scenery. Later we visited the nearby Waitangi Treaty Grounds where sights included the Treaty House where the Waitangi Treaty was signed in 1840.
April 2 - Matahoke, Auckland
On the way back to Auckland we visited the Kauri Museum in Matahoke where we learned how the New Zealand settlers logged and used Kauri timber and gum. Exhibits included sawmill replica, antique kauri furniture, restored machinery and the largest collection of kauri gum in the world.
Kiwi bird sculpture made from Kauri gum
April 3 - 5 - Auckland
Richard spent the days with Alex while Emily and I hung out with Lee and Joshua, who, at 7 months, was doing an excellent commando crawl! Emily practiced being on her belly and started to like it more.
April 6 - Auckland
After my parents arrived early Friday morning we did some Auckland sightseeing with visits to Sky Tower and One Tree Hill. Later we took a ferry to Waiheke Island to enjoy the great views.
April 7 - Auckland, Tahuna, Rerewhakaaitu
After a visit to the Auckland Museum and Viaduct Quay, we drove to Tahuna where we stopped in to see Richard's brother James and his family. Stanly was very excited to show off his new motorbike and Molly was fascinated by Emily. After dinner with them we drove to Mary and Barry's farm in Rerewhakaaitu.
April 8 - 10 - Rerewhakaaitu, Rotorua
At the farm, Barry gave my parents a tour of the woolshed and paddocks and they looked on while he did sheep farm chores like shifting and sorting sheep.
In nearby Rotorua I took my parents to see some of the local sites such as Whaka Thermal Village and Lake Rotorua. On Monday evening Mary treated all of us to an evening at Mitai Maori Village where we saw a Maori performance, enjoyed a hangi dinner and a guided bush walk. We had a great time in spite of Emily's badly timed meltdown.
April 11 - Taupo, Napier
We took my parents on a North Island driving tour beginning with stops at more thermal areas, Huka Falls and Lake Taupo. After lunch we drove to Napier, a popular tourist town in Hawke's Bay on the east coast. Napier is notable because the town center was destoyed by an earthquake and fire in 1931. The city was rebuilt in the popular Art Deco style and is now considered, along with Miami, to be one of the best preserved Art Deco cities. We stayed one night at the Masonic Hotel, a great example of Art Deco architecture.
April 12 - 13 - Carterton, Greytown
The next stop on our little tour was a 2-night stay with Richard's sister Liz and her family. Unfortunately, the weather was cold and rainy during our visit but it was still great to catch up with them. My parents especially seemed to enjoy discussing building and renovations with them as they have all recently been through the lengthy process of building new homes.
April 14 - Wellington, New Plymouth
In Wellington, NZ's capital city, we had great weather and views from Mt. Victoria. After taking in the scenery we visited Te Papa - The Museum of New Zealand. It's a great museum but we kept the visit short to allow plenty of time for the 5 hour drive to New Plymouth, our next stop.
On our way to New Plymouth we finally learned why Emily had been so fussy all week - we discovered her first tooth was pushing its way through!
April 15 - New Plymouth
In New Plymouth we stayed with Karen, a friend from the Bay Area who moved back to NZ a couple years ago to open an inn. The Richmond Farm Lodge is now open for business and it looks great! It was by far the most luxurious place we stayed during our entire trip.
It rained on and off which kept us from seeing Mt. Taranaki but it cleared up enough to visit Pukekura Park where we saw lakes, fountains and a beautiful fernery.
Emily approves of the Richmond Farm Lodge's luxury rooms.
April 16 - Waitomo
Our next notable stop was Waitomo where we visited the Waitomo Caves by foot and by boat. In the dark it was easy to see hundreds of glow worms on the cave ceiling - it was like seeing lots of stars on a clear night.
April 17 - Otorohanga, Cambridge
Wrapping up our North Island loop, we visited Otorohanga's Kiwi House and Native Bird Park where we saw Kiwi birds as well as other native birds and reptiles. After a short visit to Cambridge we drove back to the Mary and Barry's farm.
April 18 - Rotorua
The girls spent the afternoon in Rotorua having lunch and doing a bit of shopping while the guys stayed home. In the evening, the girls stayed in while the guys headed to the movies to see "Black Sheep".
April 19 - Mt. Maunganui
Our nephew Luke joined us for a day trip to Kiwi 360 (formerly known as Kiwi Fruit Country) where we took a tour of a kiwi fruit farm and packing plant. Later we visited Mt. Maunganui, a popular vacation destination known for its sandy surf beach on the ocean side and its sheltered swimming beach on the harbor side.
April 20 - Rotorua Luge
The whole family met up in Rotorua for a ride up the gondola and 5 trips each down the luge. It was a fun activity for almost everyone in the family. Emily was too young to ride but was content to wait it out with her Nan.
April 21 - Happy 70th Birthday Barry!
We wrapped up our vacation with Barry's 70th birthday party at the farm. It was a very successful event attended by most of the family and lots of friends. It was great to see everyone one last time before heading back to the U.S.
April 22 - Back to San Francisco
Our 5 week trip finally came to and end and we had to say our good byes and fly back home. We had a wonderful time but we were ready to go home to our own home, cars, beds and transition back to our real lives! A big thank you to all those who showed us hospitality along the way. Thanks for everything!