We have checked in and are now at gate 31 awaiting departure in about 1 1/2 hours. Hurley drove us to the airport and Tory is house-sitting for us. We're looking forward to this get-away and hope the weather isn't too miserable. Time to Auckland (with a stop in Nadi) 10+50.

8/7/01 (all times/dates from here on - New Zealand)

Finally arrived in Auckland after a 1 hour layover at Nadi. Flight was smooth but long.

Headed north in our Avis rental up highway 1 and eventually up highway 12. Stopped at excellent museum in (???) and then continued to Dargaville and checked into the Parkview Motel. Had a roast dinner at (???) and are now settling in for a very needed night's rest.

Motel 1 - S35º 56.020' E173º 52.471.

Wed, 8/8/01

We left Dargaville this morning and headed north into the National Forest. There we saw the HUGE Kauri trees and ate lunch at a roadside vender (Sheena - her kids guard cars). Then we pressed on to Paihia where we are spending the night at the Aloha Motel!! After checking in, we drove to Haururu Falls (a disappointment) and then back into the coastal shops. We are there now getting ready for dinner (they open at 6pm). Tomorrow we will look around a bit and then turn south. We discussed our time/distance functions and it looks as if we better not linger here. Lots of distance to cover in the remaining time.

Dinner was good, but far more food than we could eat. Steak tastes very different. Found a snail climbing the wall in the motel.

Motel 2 - S35º 17.501' E174º 05.732'

8/9/01

Drove south this morning - stopped at Waipu Cove and Lang's Beach. Walked up trail at "The Dome" but quit when the going got steep. Stopped at Auckland and went to Breen's. It was not in the old place and we finally found it downtown in a high rent area. It was smaller and more expensive and we didn't buy anything. Stopped at a roadside sheepskin store south of Auckland and I bought a very small skin - $25NZ. Drove through Hamilton (took forever!) and then on to Cambridge where we are spending the night. Walked a few blocks to the stores this evening and ate pizza - very good. We see what we think is the southern cross high in the sky, but cannot be sure.

Motel 3 - S37º 53.398 E175º 27.816

8/10/01

Tonight we're at the Midway Motel in Rotorua ($95NZ). The room has a naturally fed hot tub that Teddie is getting ready to try. Today we went to the Agrodome and then came into town. Dinner tonight was at Sizzler's and was good. We went to the Mauri Museum today and it was interesting - especially all the hot thermal areas behind it.

Teddie seemed to be having some kind of allergic reaction last night (red face) and thinks it was due to mushrooms in the pizza. Today she is ok. We walked all around downtown today and bought a few souvenirs. Lots of shops in this town!! Now we need to plan our day for tomorrow.

Motel 4 - S38º 08.917 /E176º 15.201

8/11/01

Had breakfast at McDonald's in Rotorua and then headed south. Went by (???) Park where we toured the thermal area and then watch the geyser which was prompted by a bag of soap! Then it was on to Taupo where we rode the Huka Jet Boat - lots of fun! Went by the bungy place but no one was jumping so we went in to town and ate lunch (meat ravioli) and shopped around. Later we went back to the bungy place and watched a few people jump. The sign said 120,100 jumps since 1991. Now we are checked into the Tudor Park Motel ($75NZ) for the night. Very nice little place with 2 bedrooms and a little kitchen. McDonald's in Taupo has a DC-3 (airplane) for seating.

Teddie bought gloves, hat, and sweater made of possum hair. I bought "gaitors" for hiking. Dinner tonight was at the Mole & Chicken and was very tasty. Plus, ice cream desert - good!!

After dinner we went to Woolworth's grocery store and looked around. Now (7:45pm) we're back in the room for the night and need to think about tomorrow's plan.

Motel 5 - S38º 41.384 E176º 04.633

8/12/01

Long day on the road today! We left Taupo and drove around the SE edge of the lake and then headed down highways 1/49/4 to Wanganui. From there it was highways 3/1 to Wellington where we are tonight. We are checked into the Portland Towers ($95NZ) and are reserved on the 9:30am ferry to Picton in the morning. We drove to the ferry area so we could get familiar with the layout and now feel ready to tackle the mission in the morning. We had dinner at the hotel restaurant and now have clothes in the laundry. Tomorrow - off to the South Island!!

Motel 6 - S41º 16.493 E174º 46.569

8/13/01

Drove to ferry and turned car in. Ferry ride to Picton was 3 hours and very pleasant. The last hour was VERY scenic. Picked up a new car at Picton from AVIS (easy) and drove over Queen Charlotte Drive - windy, but scenic. Now checked into the Garden Motel in Havelock ($55NZ). Fern room. Ducks in front, set well back from the road. Walked around the dock area - much construction. Picton was very scenic - took several pictures. Weather today is perfect - crystal clear and cool. Walked to the top of lookout hill on the way here.

Motel 7 - S41º 16.739 E173º 45.956

8/14/01

Left Havelock and drove west on Highway 6 through Nelson and on to Westport. Then drove to Cape Foulwind (very windy - good name) where we walked to the lighthouse. Then drove a short distance to a beach and a walk to see the seal pups (about 40-50 of them). Continued down the coast to Punakaiki where we checked into the Punakaiki Cottage Motel ($80NZ). Very nice room with natural wood floors, new appliances, very clean bath. We will drive 400m north for dinner shortly and then I may go and explore the caverns for a while.

Blowhole park - 100m south - *very* impressive - lots of waves, rocks, etc. Many photo opportunities.

Dinner at local pub. I had the battered fish and Teddie the Caesar Salad. Also, tried local dark beer (good). Explored cave after dark - very interesting. Goes about 60m to the right and 80m to the left. Fell and got muddy at one point, but no problems otherwise.

Motel 8 - S42º 06.606 E171º 20.047

8/15/01

Finally left the motel around 9am and headed south. Drove through Greymouth and Horitika (met some folks from a tour but as a tourist stop) and got a room at Franz Josef (Punga Grove Motor Lodge - $85NZ). Room is very nice. Had lunch in town and then drove to the glacier. Sign at end of path said difficult and dangerous hike ahead, but we took it and it wasn't bad at all. Stopped about 50' from glacier. Then drove to Fox Glacier (windy road - Teddie scared) and took a few pictures. Returned to FJ and had dinner (Teddie had the soup and I ate pizza) and are now in room for the night. Very cold outside (30's - 40's??). Tomorrow we'll head for Arthur's Pass.

Motel 9 - S43º 23.182 E170º 11.004

8/16/01

Left Franz Josef and went north on Highway 6 to Kumara and then east on 73 and over Arthur's Pass - roads were clear, but some snow on fields and mountains. At Sheffied went east on 72 to Woodend. Went north on Highway 1 to Waipara (looked for motel at Leighfield Beach and at Amberley, but nothing there). Turned back south on Highway 1 and joined highway 74. Continued south to Redwood area and checked into the Avon City Motel ($68NZ). Room is small, but very clean. Much larger room was available for $75, but we didn't need that much space.

Lunch today - sandwich at Arthur's Pass. Many hours on the road today! Dinner at the "all you can eat" down the street - we're stuffed!! We still have 3 days to go, but are unsure of what we'd like to do. We plan to tour Banks Peninsula tomorrow and play it by ear from there. Not enough time to go somewhere like Milford sound (unless we fly - expensive!).

Motel 10 - S43º 28.377 E172º 37.051

8/17/01

Left Christchurch and went by the Canterberry Aero Club airport (one Cherokee doing T/G's). Had breakfast at Robbie's Pub (very nice). Then drove to Akaroa and checked into the La Rive Motel ($65NZ) run by Dave and Gabrielle. Toured shops, sent email, ate big lunch at Dolphin Bar and Grill. Later tried to drive to the lighthouse up a very steep hill, but had to turn back when road turned to gravel.

Motel 11 S43º 48.014'- E172º 58.250'

8/18/01

Left Akaroa around 8am and headed towards Geraldine via highway 75, left turn at Taitapu, and on to Burnham. then down highway 1 to Raugitata, 79 to Orari Bridge, and north on highway 72. Took side trip to Peel forest and Mt. Peel (disappointing) then on the Mt. Hutt turnoff. Drove to ski area (actually, just short of) up steep, winding gravel road. Lots of snow at the top, but road was clear. Lunch at Mt. Hutt Lodge. Then back over 72 to 77 then 73. Stopped at Tea Room along the way and wound up buying a couple of wool sweaters ($60NZ each). Eventually joined highway 1 and went past airport, turned south on 74 and stopped at the Northlands Motel ($76NZ). tomorrow we will tour downtown Christchurch and will have to check into another motel as this one has no vacancies then. Motel clerk (David) very helpful and talkative.

Motel 12 - S43º 28.294' E172º 37.018'

8/19/01

checked out of motel this morning and headed for downtown. Breakfast at McDonald's (Kiwi Big Breakfast). Went to the Art Center and spent several hours looking at all the stuff - the complex is presently full of small shops. Had lunch there - I had the Lebanese chicken Kabob in a pita roll - and then went for a scenic drive up to an overlook, and then down along the north side of Littleton Harbor. Then went through downtown and back up highway 74 and checked into the Garden City Motel ($75NZ). After checkin we walked the owner's dogs (border collies) around the block and then settled in for a while. Dinner at Valentine's (all you can eat) and then back to the motel to finish packing.

Motel 13 - S43º 28.842 E172º 37.024

8/20/01