TravelStream™ news feed for member mikebron on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/mikebron en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:01:19 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mikebron/1/1253182486/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mikebron/1/1253182486/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mikebron/1/1253182486/tpod.html Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:01:19 -0400 mikebron's break away

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Coromandel, North Island, New Zealand

Coromandel Peninsula

We left Mt Maunganui Friday morning and traveled via Bethlehem, Katikati, Thames to Coromandel Peninsula. On the way into Coro we visited Waiau Waterworks.
A great place for families to enjoy contraptions and games in a garden setting with a stream flowing through. Brilliant on a summers day.

Waiau Waterworks

Driving Creek Narrow guage mountain railway
A very dull day that turned to rain. Driving Creek railway is a hand built switchback railway that climbs a steep mountain nvia tunnels and viaducts.

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Mount Maunganui, North Island, New Zealand

This has been a relaxing and enjoyable time with our dear friends.
We found time for some very interesting visits and day trips as well as weekend away at the Coromandel Peninsula.
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Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

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Day 61 Thursday 3nd September Rotorua
This morning we spent travelling around at the lakes area of Rotorua. Buried village and Mount Tarawera area are interesting places we have seen in previous visits.
Too late for a birthday breakfast so made do with coffee and muffuns.
Last chance for Bron to look for souvenirs to take home.
After lunch we headed north to Mount Maunganui through the kiwifruit growing area of Te Puke.


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Taupo, North Island, New Zealand

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Day 60 Wednesday 2nd September Taupo
This morning we spent an hour or so enjoying the thermal pools at de Bretts. A well presented spa with private pools, several lrge public spools and spas and a chlorinted water slide pool.

We then had a look around the town and along the Waikato River including some time watching a very high bungy jump.
Great drive out past Wairakei Thermal Steam Field where bores tap steam for a power station then on to Huka Falls where the Waikato which drains Lake Taupo passes through a very narrow section of rock and over the falls.
Journeying north we were seeking a thermal reserve where we could see boiling mud without paying exorbitant entry fees. No luck there so we will have to rely on memeory of times past.

Arrived in Rotorua rather late in the day so set up camp at Rotorua's Blue Lake in the dark.
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Wellington, North Island, New Zealand

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Day 50 Monday 24th August Wellington

Morning spent negotiating a cheap rental car for the week. Morning tea in the van at the end of Airport rinway. Great memories.
Visited St. Patricks College where Russell Maxwell teaches technology and outdoor ed.
A traditional private school, very well presented.
Handed back the camper van and looked around our old stamping grounds
Arrived at Sandras early evening as she returned from work. Pleasant evening catching up on news and changes.

Day 51 Tuesday 25th August Johnsonville and Newlands

A day of looking around our old suburb and especially our street. The house we lived in now has a 2 story house on its front lawn. Very tight use of land in these suburbs.
Took a trip through Ohariu Valley to Makara Beach overlooking the South Island. Very winding roads as we returned via the back edge of the city, Karori to Johnsonville.
Visited Newlands College and received a comprehensive tour from Morris Barling. He is the only staff member remaining from my time at Newlands and is the Student Counsellor. College is growing and many significant building and curriculum developments.
Evening meal with Russell and Jocelyn at their home. Some talking shop!!

Day 52 Wednesday 26th August Wellington City

A trip into the city looking at the shopping centre and reminiscing about our early days here before we had settled in and made friends.
Afternoon tea overlooking the harbour at John and Dawn Hoares. John was my Head of Department at Newlands. They visited us in Mt Gambier three years ago.

Day 53 Thursday 27th August Wellington

Sunny day but very windy. We had a tour of Parliament in the morning and then spent the rest of the day at Te Papa the national museum of New Zealand. It is impressive and interesting and we fille 6 hours quite easily. Special exhibition of Grand Prix cars over time. Most from London Design Centre some local ones included to recognise Kiwi 's Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon and Denny Hulme.
Evening meal with Donna Marie and Lance Dawber-Ashley. Our neighbours in Johnsonville now living on the edge of a hill in Wadestown. Great views, steep walk up and no off street parking. Like much of Wellingtons hilly suburbs.
Great time sharing family news and sporting and political rivalry.

Day 54 Friday 28th August Wellington

EARTHQUAKE Wow what a rude awakening about 2:00am we were woken by bthe rumble then the shake of a Richter 5.2 Earthquake based about 20 km away in Cook Strait. Fortunately it was 32 km deep so the effects were minimal. Much less concerning for us than brother Peter's 7.0 experience in Jakarta last week.
Sandra organised a day free of work and we were able to spend time travelling into the city and visiting Old St Pauls church a historic wooden church the citys first Anglican Cathedral. A couple of days earlier it had hosted the investiture of Knights a process that New Zealand has returned to with the new National govt. We then visited the new St Pauls a very different structure.
A ride on the Cable Car.

Day 55 Saturday 29th August Wellington

A quiet start to the day and a pleasant afternoon catching up with friends from J-ville church (see pics.)
Dunlops and Helen Hay visited for afternoon tea.
A pleasant evening at home with Sandra.
Tomorrow we travel 40 km north to Paraparaumu.

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The link below takes you to our calendar

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=mjhern%40gmail.com&ctz=Australia/Adelaide

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Paraparaumu, New Zealand



Day 55 Sunday 30th August Wellington to Paraparam.
Going back to church at J-ville Union was a good time to remember our time as members here and to chat with many people we had not seen for 25 years. Many changes but also many friends still worship here.
We left Sandra and travelled to Paraparaumu for a few days with Sheila Gaelic.
She had kindly invited some Wellington friends who now live at Paraparam/Waikanai for a very pleasant dinner.

Day 56 Monday 31st August Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast
We woke to a sunny day after heavy brain yesterday.
Went for a drive around the district with much development evident. This area has become the retirement haven for Wellingtonians.
Visited some interesting stores at Lindale lunch in the sun looking out to Kapiti Island, and an hour to look over Southward Car Museum.
This private collection has some outstanding models from all era's and nationality.
Dinner at a local restaurant with Sheila and her friend Cec.

Day 56 Tuesday 1st September Kapiti Coast to Taupo
A very windy day to be driving a Camper Van but we managed to keep moving north via Taihape, Waiouru, Desert Road and Turangi to Taupo. It was dark by the time we arrived.
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Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand

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Day 39 Thursday 13th August Queenstown.
The day began grey but cloud lifted and we found ourselves surrounded by wonderful snow capped peaks and a picturesque lake view from the front window (Lake Wakatipu)
Geoff and Marilyn were both working but lent us a car to get around so we spent the day having a look around Queenstown. Visited the Ivan Clarke art gallery. This was interesting and introduced us to his creation the "Lonely Dog". We are informed that this name will soon become very well known in the world of movies. You heard it here first!
Bumped into a former Mt Gambier high student Abby Chapman in a Queenstown shop today. She was on holiday enjoying her time. Small world!!

Day 40 Friday 14th August Queenstown. Glenorchy
Geoff had a day off and drove us along the northern lake to Glenorchy.
Unbelievable scenery and steamer Earnslaw plying the lake to morning tea at Walter Peak Station. Weather was ordinary but such beautiful and inspiring mountain country.

Day 41 Saturday 15th August Queenstown. Arrowtown

Cold day but clear skies and sunshine was wonderful. We travelled to Arrowtown a short drive from Queenstown. Interesting historic gold mining town with protected heritage buildings. Interesting museum and also a McKillop school house. Apparently sister Mary got around a lot more than we realised. She spent time in this district establishing catholic education.
We convinced Geoff that a drive up Coronet Peak was the one chance we had to get into snow and that was achieved.
Dinner at the Skyline Restaurant was great and inviolved a steep gondola ride to get there.
Bron enjoyed the meal but not the ride.

Day 42 Sunday 16th August Queenstown.

Church at St Andrews Queenstown was warm and we appreciated music and a message about connecting effectively through relationships. Geoff had the day off and appreciated the opportunity to experience worship from the congregation instead of being the minister.
Visited some of the Ellery's friends who have hand built a very interesting log home with views and bushland that provide a wonderful place in a classic New Zealand (South Island ) setting.

Day 43 Monday 17th August Queenstown.

The day was spent looking around Frankton, Kelvin Heights and Jack's Point, areas that are being developed for the wealthy to live in outstanding scenery and quality of lifestyle.
Time spent online in a lakeside cafe booking travel to Christchurch by bus tomorrow and planning for a Trans Alpine train journey Wednesday or Thursday. (depending upon weather forecasts)

Day 44 Tuesday 18th August Queenstown to Christchurch

An early start to catch the Inter-city bus from Queenstown to Christchurch. We really appreciated the time spent with Ellery's. They were great hosts and made us feel so very welcome. The day was grey to begin and the weather deteriorated as the journey progressed to Christchurch. We arrived in steady rain having needed to use our memories to picture Mount Cook as we passed by the end of Lake Pukaki. It was nice to remember the pleasant times spent on our last family holiday in these parts about 14 years ago.
Tonights weather forcast has determined we will travel on the Tranz Alpine train on Thursday.

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The link below takes you to our calendar

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=mjhern%40gmail.com&ctz=Australia/Adelaide

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Picton, South Island, New Zealand

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Day 47 Friday 21st August Christchurch to Picton
Collected the camper van from the Britz depot at Christchurch Airport. Collected Bron and our gear at the hotel and headed out of Christchurch north to Picton. Kaikouras had a covering of snow and we enjoyed the coastal journey with tunnels and railway following the narrow flat between mountains and the sea. Arrived in Picton after dark and spent the night in a camping ground.

Day 48 Saturday 22nd August Picton to Wellington

A clear fine day weather wise and a brilliant crossing on the Ferry.
Marlborough Sounds were beautiful and even Cook Staright was fairly calm.
As soon as we left the ferry we headed for a drive "around the bays" a tradition of Sundays during our time in Wellington. The city was out either walking or riding soaking up the first sunny day since winter began.
Travelled to Johnsonville to check out our old home and looked around "the village".
We then headed to Upper Hutt and had our evening meal with Geoff and Betty Benjamin, (Dawns parents and also fellow students with my Uncle Bob at Sydney YMCA traing school in the late 40's)

Day 49 Sunday 23rd August Hutt Valley

Morning spent at Upper Hutt Church of Christ with Geoff and Betty Benjamin, After sharing lunch we travelled to Lower Hutt looking around and did a bit of shopping. Interested to see all major banks were open on a Sunday in the mall.
Overnight at Lower Hutt Caravan Park.

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The link below takes you to our calendar

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Greymouth, South Island, New Zealand

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A quick update . . . . . pics are now included

Day 45 Wednesday 19th August Christchurch
Christchurch today looking around the town.
There is a well developed cultural precinct here with a range of arts education and historic buildings.
Bron was especially interested in the Dyslexia sculpture court which was most informative.
The Canterbury Museum had a diverse collection from Native animals and birds to Antarctica and its exploration and a superb examination of kiwi icons and the Fred and Myrtles Paua Shell House
This is a recreation of the personal effort of a couple from Bluff south of Invercargill who collected, polished and displayed paua shells in their own home and opened their home to the public each day. A great display with historic film included.

Day 46 Thursday 20th August Trans Alpine Train Journey
A clear fine day weather wise and an early start to catch the train to Greymouth via Arthurs Pass.
Aclaimed as one of the great train journeys of the world we certainly can say it has been a great experience.
Climbing through snowcapped mountains across high viaducts and through a 9 km long tunnel were aspects that made the trip most enjoyable. After a 1 hour wander around Greymouth on the west coast we headed back and enjoyed the journey again from a different direction. We saw the same countryside but from a different perspective.

We were delighted to share an evening meal with Max and Elspeth Grey our friends from Johnsonville who now live and work in Christchurch. It was good to share news of families and remember our experiences from the early 80's.

Tomorrow (Friday) we collect a camper van for the trip north to Wellington.

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The link below takes you to our calendar

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Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia

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The term is now finally over and we will be on our way tomorrow on a wonderful holiday.

What a great surprise to receive a special farewell at Cluster group tonight.
We had a farewell poster, cake and Bones prepared a travelers
survival pack of special gifts including a flag, pack of cards, Blue
lake water, cable ties and luggage tags to mention just a few.
It was a very warm response to our leaving and a great message from
Matt Robinson about observing the "signs" on our journey. Thankyou to all at cluster.

Thanks Meghan for the photos.

Click this link to view a calendar of our coming months:

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=mjhern%40gmail.com&ctz=Australia/Adelaide


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