MI Travelers: New Zealand

Kia Ora. Ok, I am going to do this blog a little differently. Instead of writing the blog as I usually do and adding the photos, I have downloaded a bunch of photos and will write a caption for each. They are not in any specific order so if you want to try to make sense of them you will need to grab a map of New Zealand. Otherwise just enjoy the beauty of this fabulous country. Cheers!

This is NZ or is it??

Wellington Botanical Garden

Colossal Squid's eye--it is at least 14 feet! The largest invertebrate in the world. It is housed at Te Papa Museum, a world class museum.

Bay of Islands--Magnificient isn't it!!

View from Urupakapaka in the Bay of Islands

Sheep, of course

Ferry in the Bay of Islands

Look on the Oyster globe. Where is New Zealand?

Many New Zealanders we talked to would apologize for New Zealand's size and its international insignificance. I disagree. New Zealand has nothing to be ashamed of---it is a magically majestic place and its size and distance from the rest of the world make it even more enchanting.

This is near the Redwood Forest outside Rotorua. The Redwoods come from California but grow twice as fast in NZ. I'm not sure why they grow so fast here. Check out the heron that is posing.

The Kiwi--NZ's national symbol. We went to Rainbow Springs Park near Rotorua. While we were visiting the nocturnal Kiwi area, an injured Kiwi was brought into the park. We had the opportunity to see a Kiwi up close and even to pet it. The feathers are rough on the outside but the feathers underneath are soft and down-like. It was truly amazing.

Blue spring: Water is 100 meters deep

Blue spring overflow near Rotorua

A Kea. These are amazing birds and unlike the Kiwi's that don't fly, they do. The Kea are very social birds. We watched two of them having a conversation of sorts. Actually the younger Kea who was 17 years old was harassing the older 41 year old Kea who had cataracts in one eye.

Bay of Islands. I just couldn't get enough photos.

The Tongariro Crossing. The winds gusted to 60 mph.

I guess we should have really read this sign before we chose to do the crossing. But despite the winds and limited views, the 7 hour hike was worth it.

On the Tongariro Crossing: Two more photos on the Crossing are below.

The Emerald Like

What the world must have looked like in the beginning

A koot in Rotorua

Amazing topography near Te Mata outside Napier

More Rotorua geothermal activity--yes, it's beautiful but smells like rotten eggs!

Bubbling mud pools in Rotorua

Mark on Urupukapuka Island

Another vista from Urupukapuka Island

Yet another view from Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands

Urupukapuka Island: Pictures don't justify its beauty!

Auckland

Joan and Brian Hepburn. Our FABULOUS hosts in the Bay of Islands. Thank you for making our visit so special!

View of Auckland from Mt. Eden

A lamb running after her mom

Lana and Benjamin. Lana was my boss at City University. She and her family have relocated to Wellington. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting her son Benjamin and exploring Carter Planetarium and the Botanical Garden.

Wellington from the Botanical Garden

Chocolate Mocha flower from the Wellington Botanical Garden. New Zealand has BEAUTIFUL gardens!

The wildest antherium I have ever seen!

Joan, on one of our walks in the Bay of Islands

With Lorna, Suzanne Travis' mom. Lorna was the consummate hostess and made our stay in Wellington extra special. Her love of life is contagious. Lorna thank you for taking such good care of us!