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Neal's Photo Gallery

1. East Face... 2. Red Rocks 2011 3. Honeymoon... 4. Zermatt and... 5. The Minarets 6. Zermatt- 2008 7. Independenc... ... 43. Mt. Whitney
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Neal's Photo Gallery
Honeymoon in New Zealand and Fiji
Date: 02/10/2011
Size: 128 items
Views: 215
Christchurch Cathedral
Item Actions Christchurch Cathedral
Date: 01/30/2011
Views: 1
After who-knows-how-many hours of airports, airplanes, airport buses, and taxis we were in Christchurch. We spent our first night in New Zealand exploring the city. Cathedral Square is at the heart of the city center. 01/30/2011
UPDATE: Post-Earthquake
Item Actions UPDATE: Post-Earthquake
Date: 02/25/2011
Views: 1
Three weeks after the day we stood in cathedral square this is what it looked like! There was already a lot of earthquake damage there from the earthquake they had 6 months ago, but this one was just devastating. 02/25/2011
Dinner at Pomeroy's
Item Actions Dinner at Pomeroy's
Date: 01/30/2011
Views: 2
The lady at the hotel/campervan park recommended this pub just outside the city center for a good meal in a relaxed atmosphere. The Lamb and Potatoes were amazing, and the locally brewed beer was also quite good. 01/30/2011
Climbing in the Port Hills
Item Actions Climbing in the Port Hills
Date: 01/30/2011
Views: 4
The next day dawned rainy, which was to be a trend on this trip. But that didn't stop us, we headed out to the Port Hills, just south of Christchurch to a climbing area called "The Cave". 01/30/2011
The Cave
Item Actions The Cave
Date: 01/30/2011
Views: 4
"The Cave" is great for a rainy day, because it's dry. The only problem is that the easiest route there is about 5.12b (a 25 on their scale, or ridiculously impossible on the non-climber's scale). 01/30/2011
Terri starts up the easiest route at The Cave
Item Actions Terri starts up the easiest route at The Cave
Date: 01/30/2011
Views: 4
I managed to struggle up the easiest route, pulling on some gear and hanging at most of the bolts, then it was Terri's turn to try. 01/30/2011
Terri at Castle Rock
Item Actions Terri at Castle Rock
Date: 01/30/2011
Views: 3
After our one-route fiasco at "The Cave" the weather was clearing up, so we relocated to another crag in the Port Hills called "Castle Rock" where we got amazing views out to the Pacific Ocean. 01/30/2011
Castle Rock
Item Actions Castle Rock
Date: 01/30/2011
Views: 3
Terri took the first trad lead of the trip on a beautiful two pitch route to the top of Castle Rock. The climbing here was really fun, I wish had could have stayed longer but to see all of New Zealand in two weeks means you have to keep moving! 01/30/2011
Camping in the van
Item Actions Camping in the van
Date: 01/31/2011
Views: 3
We rented our campervan from Escape van rentals, who cleverly paint all of their vans with unique designs. Ours was called "Peacock". We headed south from Christchurch towards Dunedin and stopped at a campground by a river on the way. 01/31/2011
Moeraki Boulders
Item Actions Moeraki Boulders
Date: 01/31/2011
Views: 2
On the way to Dunedin we stopped to check out these funny round boulders. They formed naturally by some geological process that didn't make any sense to me. Very odd. 01/31/2011
Royal Albatross Colony
Item Actions Royal Albatross Colony
Date: 01/31/2011
Views: 2
In Dunedin we drove out the Ortago Peninsula in search of penguins and albatrosses. The penguins are out at sea all day and come back after dusk, so the Albatross Colony came first. We paid for a half hour viewing of the colony and were incredibly lucky to observe a "change-over", when one parent comes in from sea, feeds the chick, and takes over sitting on the chick while the other parent goes out to find food. There were only a few nesting pairs in view of the viewing hut, and they only change over once every 3 or 4 days- so to see this in our half hour was incredible luck. Here you can see the Albatross chick!! 01/31/2011
Albatross in flight
Item Actions Albatross in flight
Date: 01/31/2011
Views: 5
The average wingspan of an adult albatross is 15 feet! This one flew over our heads near the nesting site and I snapped a photo- looks like a seagull right? 01/31/2011
Albotross and Terri
Item Actions Albotross and Terri
Date: 01/31/2011
Views: 2
This is how big it would be if it was flying next to Terri! 01/31/2011
Pilots Beach
Item Actions Pilots Beach
Date: 02/01/2011
Views: 2
The lady at the Albatross Colony told us that this was the best spot to see Blue Penguins. They come in after dark, and it is forbidden to take flash photos of them or to shine bright lights on them, which may eventually make them stop nesting at this beach. 02/01/2011
Blue Penguin
Item Actions Blue Penguin
Date: 02/05/2011
Views: 2
We stood around for over an hour with no sign of Penguins- then suddenly in the dim light we could see them popping out of the water and waddling up the beach. For a long time they stood at the edge of the beach, not coming up to the area where we and the ten or so others were congregated. Finally a few brave ones came up and waddled right by us! Everybody else decided that was it and left, while Terri and I hung around for a while longer. Soon the rest of the penguins started heading up to their nests, and a group of 3 penguins walked literally inches from us with their little feet going pit-pat-pit-pat as they waddled! Finally we turned to leave and found a penguin struggling up the staircase in front of us! So cute! Penguins are not very good at climbing stairs. Suddenly some angry penguins in the bushes started squawking at us and we panicked- I think they were going to attack. We darted by our little penguin friend and made our way to safety. 02/05/2011
Penguin and Terri
Item Actions Penguin and Terri
Date: 02/05/2011
Views: 3
The average blue penguin is about 1 foot tall. This is a simulation of the penguins walking by us. (This is a photograph of a postcard, since we could not actually take any photos of the penguins in the dark). 02/05/2011
Cooking breakfast in the peacock
Item Actions Cooking breakfast in the peacock
Date: 02/01/2011
Views: 1
The van was not as roomy as some, but had everything we needed for comfortable living- bed, stove, sink, and storage. 02/01/2011
Driving on the left
Item Actions Driving on the left
Date: 02/01/2011
Views: 3
It took some time to get used to driving on the left side of the road. Terri had to remind me a few times when my instincts started to take over! 02/01/2011
Fresh Fruit
Item Actions Fresh Fruit
Date: 02/01/2011
Views: 1
New Zealand is pretty much composed of National Parks, Nature Reserves, and farm land, with a couple towns sprinkled in. Therefore, fresh fruit, meat, and eggs were readily available. Here we discovered Greengages (in my left hand)- which are small green plums that are much sweeter than regular plums. Delicious!!! Why can't I get these at Henry's? 02/01/2011
Lake Aspiring
Item Actions Lake Aspiring
Date: 02/01/2011
Views: 3
From Dunedin we drove across the South Island to the west coast, passing through Mount Aspiring National Park. 02/01/2011
Mount Aspiring National Park
Item Actions Mount Aspiring National Park
Date: 02/01/2011
Views: 4
We stopped at a few waterfalls and viewpoints on our way through the park. This is Fantail Falls (to my left, out of the picture). 02/01/2011
Thunder Creek Falls
Item Actions Thunder Creek Falls
Date: 02/01/2011
Views: 1
Another stop in Mount Aspiring National Park, is the terminus of Thunder Creek where it falls 90 feet into Haast Creek. 02/01/2011
Sunset at Haast Bridge
Item Actions Sunset at Haast Bridge
Date: 02/02/2011
Views: 2
The sun set as we reached the coast and drove north towards the trailhead of our planned 2-day backpack trip (or "tramp" as the kiwis would say) 02/02/2011
Giant Tree Fern
Item Actions Giant Tree Fern
Date: 02/02/2011
Views: 2
This part of the country is a temperate rain forest- meaning it rains a ton but isn't particularly hot. In the US we have one temperate rainforest, in the Olympics National Park. This was similar but with giant tree ferns everywhere! 02/02/2011
Copeland River
Item Actions Copeland River
Date: 02/02/2011
Views: 3
Our chosen route, the Copeland Track, followed the Copeland River from the sea up into the mountains. 02/02/2011
Rain in the Rainforest
Item Actions Rain in the Rainforest
Date: 02/02/2011
Views: 2
It ain't called a rainforest for nothing! Before long we were hiking in a downpour. 02/02/2011
Waterfall
Item Actions Waterfall
Date: 02/02/2011
Views: 2
Waterfalls like this one were everywhere. 02/02/2011
Suspension Bridge
Item Actions Suspension Bridge
Date: 02/02/2011
Views: 2
There were a couple of crazy suspension bridges like this one- this would end your trip if you're afraid of heights!!! Really it would be hard to fall off of it, but it bounced and swung enough to make you nervous. 02/02/2011
Campsite at Welcome Flat
Item Actions Campsite at Welcome Flat
Date: 02/03/2011
Views: 4
Our destination was Welcome Flat, where a natural hot spring is located. When we arrived we erected the tent in a downpour and had a lake inside by the time it was up. Terri did some rescue mopping and soon we were cozy inside and out of the rain! 02/03/2011
The Southern Alps
Item Actions The Southern Alps
Date: 02/03/2011
Views: 3
This small range of mountains leads up to Copeland Pass, over which lies Mount Cook, New Zealands highest mountain. We had in our minds to try and reach the pass, but Terri's ankles were not cooperating, and more rain was expected later in the day. 02/03/2011
Welcome Flat
Item Actions Welcome Flat
Date: 02/03/2011
Views: 3
The terrain was beautiful, a strange mixture of jungle and mountains. 02/03/2011
Hot Springs at Welcome Flat
Item Actions Hot Springs at Welcome Flat
Date: 02/03/2011
Views: 1
Around 11pm it finally stopped raining, and we took advantage of the moment and ran through the darkness in our skivvies to the hot springs for a soak underneath the stars. 02/03/2011
Devil's Darning-Needle
Item Actions Devil's Darning-Needle
Date: 02/03/2011
Views: 4
Hiking out from Welcome Flat we had blue skies and these dragon flies were out and about. 02/03/2011
Big Fern
Item Actions Big Fern
Date: 02/03/2011
Views: 2
We loved the giant ferns, they were everywhere. 02/03/2011
The Peacock and Mount Cook
Item Actions The Peacock and Mount Cook
Date: 02/04/2011
Views: 2
From our campsite that night we got our only glimpse of Mount Cook. We didn't realize that we were only 5 minutes from a panoramic viewpoint where we could have gotten amazing views of the mountains in the setting sun :( The next morning the rain returned and we could only see the decapitated bases of the impressive mountain peaks. 02/04/2011
Fox Glacier
Item Actions Fox Glacier
Date: 02/04/2011
Views: 6
One of several large glaciers coming down from the mountains. We spoke to the guides here and learned that despite all of the signs claiming guided groups only are allowed on the glacier, that anybody who knows what they're doing and has the equipment can climb on the glacier. 02/04/2011
Ice fall on Fox Glacier
Item Actions Ice fall on Fox Glacier
Date: 02/04/2011
Views: 2
We weaved our way through the broken ice and open crevasses until we were getting near to the ice fall, where blocks of ice routinely topple over as the ice slowly slithers down the valley. 02/04/2011
Neal straddles a small crevasse
Item Actions Neal straddles a small crevasse
Date: 02/04/2011
Views: 1
At this time of year (late summer), all of the snow has melted off the glacier, uncovering all of the crevasses, runnels, pits, and moats. This makes traveling on the glacier more difficult, but safer because there is no worry of the snow cover suddenly breaking through, dropping you into a huge void. 02/04/2011
Mount Tasman and Mount Cook in clouds
Item Actions Mount Tasman and Mount Cook in clouds
Date: 02/04/2011
Views: 2
At lake Matheson great views of the mountains can be had, unless it's cloudy and raining. 02/04/2011
Pukekos
Item Actions Pukekos
Date: 02/04/2011
Views: 1
We did see this colorful waterbird at lake Matheson, grazing with the cattle. 02/04/2011
Franz Joseph Glacier
Item Actions Franz Joseph Glacier
Date: 02/05/2011
Views: 3
Now it was really raining and we opted not to hike the rest of the way out to the snout of this glacier. 02/05/2011
Flowers and Tasman Sea
Item Actions Flowers and Tasman Sea
Date: 02/05/2011
Views: 2
A nice view from a rest stop on the west coast highway. 02/05/2011
Pancake Rocks
Item Actions Pancake Rocks
Date: 02/05/2011
Views: 3
Another interesting ocean-made rock formation, made by some other geological process that didn't make any sense to me. They look pretty cool though. 02/05/2011
Terri at Pancake Rocks
Item Actions Terri at Pancake Rocks
Date: 02/05/2011
Views: 2
We walked the short loop trail to see all of the rocks. 02/05/2011
New Zealand Pigeon
Item Actions New Zealand Pigeon
Date: 02/05/2011
Views: 2
Much prettier, and bigger, than our pigeon!! 02/05/2011
Weka
Item Actions Weka
Date: 02/05/2011
Views: 3
A flightless cousin of the reclusive Kiwi, the Weka is much friendlier!! 02/05/2011
Neal on a sea cliff
Item Actions Neal on a sea cliff
Date: 02/05/2011
Views: 1
Another stop on the drive up the west coast. 02/05/2011
Stonegrilled Vennison at the Denniston Dog
Item Actions Stonegrilled Vennison at the Denniston Dog
Date: 02/05/2011
Views: 3
We stopped for dinner in Westport, and this restaurant was recommended to us by the gas station attendant. Stonegrill is very popular in New Zealand, where they serve you raw meat on a super-heated stone slab. You cut up the meat and sear it to your desired doneness. I tried the vennison and it was delicious, my mouth is watering just writing about it. 02/05/2011
Charleston Sea Cliffs
Item Actions Charleston Sea Cliffs
Date: 02/06/2011
Views: 2
This is one of the best crags on the West Coast, supposedly. It was pouring rain so all we did was look around at stuff that looked fun to climb. 02/06/2011
Neal solos a 5.4
Item Actions Neal solos a 5.4
Date: 02/06/2011
Views: 3
I did get one route in, a 5.4 corner that was almost challenging in tennis shoes in the rain. The right slanting horizontal crack on the wall behind me is the area's premier route "Shark's Breakfast". 02/06/2011
Dinner in Nelson
Item Actions Dinner in Nelson
Date: 02/06/2011
Views: 3
We kept driving north to escape the rain, and eventually hit the north coast of the south island, and a nice medium sized town called Nelson. Here we sampled fresh Monkfish and local wine at Cafe Affair. Fantastic. I tried a Sauvignon Blanc, which is what the region is known for, and was quite impressed, although I'm not generally much of a white wine drinker. 02/06/2011
Giant Sequoia in Nelson, NZ
Item Actions Giant Sequoia in Nelson, NZ
Date: 02/06/2011
Views: 2
Around the towns central cathedral were planted "heritage trees", a collection of unusual trees from around the world planted in the late 1800's. The collection included some giant sequoias and a coastal redwood from California! 02/06/2011
Lemon and Paeroa
Item Actions Lemon and Paeroa
Date: 02/07/2011
Views: 1
This is New Zealand's favorite soda, or so it says on the side of the bottle. It was originally made from sparking spring water from the town of Paeroa with lemon added. Now it is made by Coca-Cola company, but it still tastes great. We discovered it at the self-serve soda dispensers in a Subway sandwich restaurant. After that I couldn't stop drinking it. 02/07/2011
Payne's Ford
Item Actions Payne's Ford
Date: 02/07/2011
Views: 2
Finally out of the rain we found some fantastic climbing at Payne's Ford, near Abel Tasman National Park along the north coast of the south island. This place deserved several days at least, but as usual we did as much as we could in a day and moved on. 02/07/2011
View from Payne's Ford
Item Actions View from Payne's Ford
Date: 02/07/2011
Views: 2
It was warm, sunny, pretty, and mostly bug free- pretty much ideal. 02/07/2011
Neal raps off a steep route
Item Actions Neal raps off a steep route
Date: 02/07/2011
Views: 1
Pocketed limestone was the game. Similar to some of the climbing in southern Thailand. 02/07/2011
Neal at Payne's Ford
Item Actions Neal at Payne's Ford
Date: 02/07/2011
Views: 1
These routes were super-fun, well protected, and varied widely in steepness and difficulty. 02/07/2011
Tui
Item Actions Tui
Date: 02/07/2011
Views: 3
This is the New Zealand song bird. It likes to sing all kinds of melodies and you hear it everywhere, but rarely catch a glimpse of it. 02/07/2011
Terri at top of cliff
Item Actions Terri at top of cliff
Date: 02/07/2011
Views: 2
The routes on this wall required a short approach pitch to get to the belay ledge that I am standing on. 02/07/2011
California Quail
Item Actions California Quail
Date: 02/07/2011
Views: 4
The settlers of New Zealand loved hunting. Unfortunately there wasn't much there to hunt for, so they brought their own stuff over and let it loose. Everything from Quail to Moose was brought over. Some animals slowly died off, others came into balance, and still others became destructive pests. The California Quail has struck a balance in its New Zealand home. 02/07/2011
Terri loves cows
Item Actions Terri loves cows
Date: 02/07/2011
Views: 3
Cows and sheep are everywhere. 02/07/2011
A cliff at Payne's Ford
Item Actions A cliff at Payne's Ford
Date: 02/07/2011
Views: 1
. 02/07/2011
Swimming Hole at Payne's Ford
Item Actions Swimming Hole at Payne's Ford
Date: 02/08/2011
Views: 3
We took a dip to cool off after a long day of climbing. 02/08/2011
Picton
Item Actions Picton
Date: 02/08/2011
Views: 2
Picton serves as the south islands ferry connection to the nation's capital city Wellington on the north island. 02/08/2011
Green Lipped Mussels
Item Actions Green Lipped Mussels
Date: 02/08/2011
Views: 4
The areas specialty is green lipped mussels. Gross. We forced most of them down. Gross. 02/08/2011
Driving onto the ferry
Item Actions Driving onto the ferry
Date: 02/08/2011
Views: 4
We loaded Peacock onto the ferry and enjoyed a nice cruise to the north island. 02/08/2011
Arriving in Wellington
Item Actions Arriving in Wellington
Date: 02/08/2011
Views: 2
We learned in trivial pursuit that Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world. That was very exciting. 02/08/2011
Government Buildings
Item Actions Government Buildings
Date: 02/09/2011
Views: 3
The iconic building of New Zealand is this one, called "The Beehive". It's not that iconic I guess, being that Terri and I had never heard of it, but it's the best they got. 02/09/2011
Peacock
Item Actions Peacock
Date: 02/09/2011
Views: 3
This shot explains why the van was named "Peacock". 02/09/2011
Raukawa Falls
Item Actions Raukawa Falls
Date: 02/09/2011
Views: 3
There really are waterfalls all over New Zealand, including this roadside attraction. 02/09/2011
Start of Tongariro Crossing
Item Actions Start of Tongariro Crossing
Date: 02/09/2011
Views: 3
The most popular one day tramp in New Zealand is the Tongariro Crossing. You need to organize transportation to get back to your car from the other side, which we had not had time to do, so we decided to hike up to the pass and then turn around and come back. 02/09/2011
Ngauruhoe Volcano
Item Actions Ngauruhoe Volcano
Date: 02/09/2011
Views: 2
This stunning heap of pummice was the setting for Mordor in the Lord of the Rings movies. 02/09/2011
Hiking
Item Actions Hiking
Date: 02/09/2011
Views: 2
The landscape was very interesting, and different that anything we'd seen yet in New Zealand. 02/09/2011
Pummice Boulder and Ngauruhoe
Item Actions Pummice Boulder and Ngauruhoe
Date: 02/09/2011
Views: 2
A large wasteland encircles the giant volcanic cone. 02/09/2011
"Trail" up Ngauruhoe
Item Actions "Trail" up Ngauruhoe
Date: 02/09/2011
Views: 3
The trail literally goes straight up the side. It is not part of the popular tramping route, but makes a fantastic side trip for those in shape to make the climb. 02/09/2011
Crater Rim
Item Actions Crater Rim
Date: 02/09/2011
A deep crater is found at the top. 02/09/2011
My Precious!
Item Actions My Precious!
Date: 02/09/2011
I resisted the urge to throw my ring into the forge of Mordor. 02/09/2011
View to the south from Ngauruhoe
Item Actions View to the south from Ngauruhoe
Date: 02/09/2011
Views: 1
. 02/09/2011
Ngauruhoe from Red Crater Pass
Item Actions Ngauruhoe from Red Crater Pass
Date: 02/09/2011
From the high point of the Tongariro Crossing the views on both sides of the pass are inspiring. 02/09/2011
Looking over the pass to Blue Lake
Item Actions Looking over the pass to Blue Lake
Date: 02/09/2011
. 02/09/2011
Emerald Lakes
Item Actions Emerald Lakes
Date: 02/09/2011
Views: 1
This was our turn-around point. It didn't take long to descend back down the valley to our starting point. 02/09/2011
Lake Taupo
Item Actions Lake Taupo
Date: 02/10/2011
Views: 4
In the middle of the north island is this gigantic lake. Terri got this shot of a cormorant doing its wing thing. 02/10/2011
Black Swan
Item Actions Black Swan
Date: 02/10/2011
Views: 1
New Zealand is home to the world's only all-black swan! This one was swimming with ironman athletes that were out preparing for a big ironman distance triathlon to be held the next day. 02/10/2011
Kiwi
Item Actions Kiwi
Date: 02/10/2011
Of course the kiwi fruit in New Zealand was fresh and delicious! 02/10/2011
Climbing in Te Kuiti
Item Actions Climbing in Te Kuiti
Date: 02/10/2011
Views: 1
There weren't very many routes here, but they had rigged a bumpy slide for easy descent from the summit. 02/10/2011
Glow Worm Threads
Item Actions Glow Worm Threads
Date: 02/10/2011
Views: 1
In Waitomo we took a tour of the glow worm caves. The glow worms hang "fishing lines" down and then glow to attract prey. (Photo of a postcard, they don't allow photography in the caves) 02/10/2011
Glow Worms
Item Actions Glow Worms
Date: 02/10/2011
Views: 1
The boat ride through the pitch black cave is pretty spectacular- it really is like a star-filled sky. 02/10/2011
Holiday Park in Waitomo
Item Actions Holiday Park in Waitomo
Date: 02/10/2011
After seeing the caves we relaxed at the Waitomo Holiday Park, which included a soak in the hot tub and a nap. A Holiday Park is the kiwi version of a KOA. Nobody in New Zealand has a semi-truck sized mansion on wheels the way so many Americans do, so the Holiday Parks are much more pleasant and are filled with camper vans and tent campers. 02/10/2011
Wharepapa South shut down
Item Actions Wharepapa South shut down
Date: 02/11/2011
Views: 1
The Wharepapa region is supposed to have the best sport climbing and bouldering on the north island, but unfortunately it is all on private farmland. Our guidebook said that climbers had good relationships with the farmers and that all you needed to do was knock on their door and get permission to go on their land. In fact, a huge bouldering competition was supposed to be going on at this crag. I guess someone pissed off the farmers. 02/11/2011
Mount Maunganui
Item Actions Mount Maunganui
Date: 02/11/2011
Views: 1
After getting shut down in Wharepapa we pushed on to the east coast of the north island to a little resort town with some cragging on the little mountain at the tip of the peninsula. 02/11/2011
The beach at Mount Maunganui
Item Actions The beach at Mount Maunganui
Date: 02/11/2011
Views: 1
We felt oddly out of place among the surfers and sunbathers and tourists out for a stroll to the top of the hill. 02/11/2011
Double Shut Down
Item Actions Double Shut Down
Date: 02/11/2011
Views: 1
Luck was not with us- finally rain wasn't shutting us down and now access problems were. Our info on the area wasn't too specific about exactly where the cliffs were, and we spent 3 hours hiking around all of the trails that were still open before I went on a bushwhacking mission to figure out where the climbing was. 02/11/2011
Cliffs at Mount Maunganui
Item Actions Cliffs at Mount Maunganui
Date: 02/11/2011
Views: 2
I finally found the cliffs, and they were only a hundred yards past one of these shut-down fences and there was absolutely no danger of death, as the signs boldly claimed, so we commenced climbing. 02/11/2011
Neal on "EEC" grade 17
Item Actions Neal on "EEC" grade 17
Date: 02/11/2011
Views: 2
We only had time for two routes, so I picked the areas two most highly rated ones. This arete was really fun. 02/11/2011
The ridiculously overhung crack on "The Great Rock n Roll Trundle"
Item Actions The ridiculously overhung crack on "The Great Rock n Roll Trundle"
Date: 02/11/2011
Big holds on this steep route make it a bit easier than impossible! (despite it's 5.10ish rating) 02/11/2011
Rappelling at Mount Maunganui
Item Actions Rappelling at Mount Maunganui
Date: 02/11/2011
Can't beat the location, with panoramic views of the pacific ocean. 02/11/2011
Paeroa
Item Actions Paeroa
Date: 02/12/2011
Views: 2
Just by chance we drove through the home of L&P. They seemed proud of their creation, even if they sold it out to Coca Cola. 02/12/2011
Cookie Time
Item Actions Cookie Time
Date: 02/12/2011
Views: 1
Another New Zealand gem is "Cookie Time". These signs with the eye-catching rainbow eye-lid monster are on about every corner store in the country. 02/12/2011
Cookie Time Cookies
Item Actions Cookie Time Cookies
Date: 02/12/2011
Views: 1
After seeing the signs a thousand times we had to give them a try. Pretty good, for a packaged cookie... 02/12/2011
Auckland
Item Actions Auckland
Date: 02/12/2011
Views: 1
At last we arrived in Auckland and sadly had to return Peacock. But we still had a week in Fiji to look forward to. 02/12/2011
Fiji
Item Actions Fiji
Date: 02/18/2011
Relaxation here we come! 02/18/2011
Denarau Port
Item Actions Denarau Port
Date: 02/13/2011
Views: 3
From the airport we took a taxi to the port at Denarau, where we took a ferry to the Malolo Island Resort. 02/13/2011
Malolo Island Resort
Item Actions Malolo Island Resort
Date: 02/13/2011
This was our home for the next 5 days. 02/13/2011
Welcoming party
Item Actions Welcoming party
Date: 02/13/2011
Views: 3
They played music and welcomed us and two others upon our arrival. 02/13/2011
Room decorated with flowers
Item Actions Room decorated with flowers
Date: 02/13/2011
Each day they would leave fresh flowers around the room. 02/13/2011
Relaxing
Item Actions Relaxing
Date: 02/14/2011
After two weeks in the campervan it was nice to have space to sit back and relax. 02/14/2011
The veranda
Item Actions The veranda
Date: 02/14/2011
Views: 1
Each room had a veranda in front which was nice for getting out of the intense sun. 02/14/2011
Sunset at dinner
Item Actions Sunset at dinner
Date: 02/14/2011
Views: 1
The sunsets were beautiful each night, and the beach bar was a great place to enjoy them from. 02/14/2011
Tropical Drink
Item Actions Tropical Drink
Date: 02/14/2011
Views: 1
. 02/14/2011
Common Myna
Item Actions Common Myna
Date: 02/15/2011
Views: 2
These guys liked to hang out at the bar. 02/15/2011
Snorkeling
Item Actions Snorkeling
Date: 02/14/2011
Views: 1
I tried to take some photos with the GoPro HD Hero camera but it was really hard to get any good ones since it is a fixed-focus camera with no view finder. 02/14/2011
Moorish Idols
Item Actions Moorish Idols
Date: 02/14/2011
There were some good sections of reef right in front of the resort that were fun to explore. I went scuba diving one day but it wasn't any more exciting than what we had right in front of the resort. 02/14/2011
Titan Triggerfish
Item Actions Titan Triggerfish
Date: 02/14/2011
Views: 1
. 02/14/2011
Terri snorkels by the kayak
Item Actions Terri snorkels by the kayak
Date: 02/15/2011
Views: 2
One day we took a kayak out to another part of the Malolo Reef. We had to hang onto the kayak so it didn't drift away, but the coral was pretty vibrant over there. 02/15/2011
Coral
Item Actions Coral
Date: 02/15/2011
Views: 2
. 02/15/2011
Kayaking to Honeymoon Island
Item Actions Kayaking to Honeymoon Island
Date: 02/16/2011
Views: 1
We though it would be fun to kayak to another island, and it didn't look that far away. But it was. 02/16/2011
Terri on Honeymoon Island
Item Actions Terri on Honeymoon Island
Date: 02/16/2011
After an hour of paddling into the wind we finally made it! 02/16/2011
Castaway Island
Item Actions Castaway Island
Date: 02/16/2011
Views: 1
This is the island used in filming the Tom Hanks film. 02/16/2011
Big Clam Shell
Item Actions Big Clam Shell
Date: 02/16/2011
Views: 1
We found this large clamshell (and saw some of the big clams while snorkeling).These were not the "Giant Clam" though, which does occur in the area and can reach sizes of 4 feet across! 02/16/2011
Tongan Fruit Bat (aka Flying Fox)
Item Actions Tongan Fruit Bat (aka Flying Fox)
Date: 02/16/2011
Views: 2
Each evening around dinner time this giant fruit bats would fly in and feed on the palm tree fruits. They were really cute and we loved watching them crawl around in the trees and eat. 02/16/2011
Collared Kingfisher
Item Actions Collared Kingfisher
Date: 02/16/2011
Views: 1
Another bird I'd never seen before- this one I recognized right away as a Kingfisher. 02/16/2011
Relaxing on the beach
Item Actions Relaxing on the beach
Date: 02/17/2011
Views: 1
Yes, we did spend time relaxing on the beach! 02/17/2011
Hermit Crab
Item Actions Hermit Crab
Date: 02/17/2011
Views: 2
Hermit crabs were everywhere scurrying around and hiding in their shells. I once bent down to pick up an interesting shell and it ran away from me! 02/17/2011
The Pool Area
Item Actions The Pool Area
Date: 02/17/2011
More relaxing... 02/17/2011
Crab Racing
Item Actions Crab Racing
Date: 02/18/2011
We had some Fiji dollars that we had no more use for, so we bet on the crab races. Top three won money and our crab came in a very close fourth!! 02/18/2011
And they're off!
Item Actions And they're off!
Date: 02/18/2011
First crab out of the ring wins! 02/18/2011
Our Crabs
Item Actions Our Crabs
Date: 02/18/2011
Views: 3
The crabs were auctioned off before the race and proceeds made up the prize money for the top three. We got two crabs in the auction "Monika Lewinsky" and "Mikel Sumaka" (I guess that's the Fiji spelling of Michael Schumacher of formula one racing fame- I had to use google to figure that out). Little Monika Lewinsky never even found her way out of the ring! 02/18/2011
Going Home
Item Actions Going Home
Date: 02/19/2011
Views: 3
After a great trip we were sad to go home (these smiles are faked). 02/19/2011