Tauranga, New Zealand

Tues, March 13, 2007

Cruising into this port this morning we see a beach short distance away. If we were home in the US we'd been close enough to swim to shore. But there is no beach here, just land at the water's edge.

Tauranga means "safe harbor for many canoes" with our 'canoe' being the biggest around, even taller than any buildings in the city.

As our excursion we tour a small village of Paparoa Marae or Maori (My-or-ee). We are welcomed by the chief but the women enter first then the men behind. Custom is for women to advance first making sure no evil spirits abound and the group comes in peace. The ugliest faces are shown to scare off any impostors and believe me they are ugly.





After the ceremony, a tour of the inside and refreshments. Then everyone "kissed" by touching noses and foreheads together. This is for the exchange of knowledge.



Notice all the intricate carvings on their 'house'. And here also is the Chief's wife and the ladies alongside another angle of their house.





We toured a kiwi grove across the street from this village and learned 80% of world's consumption of kiwi's is grown in this area.



The afternoon brought a dance with poi and wood sticks and lots of singing and other dances. It was very entertaining and seems everyone is a cousin even to our tour guide!




Very enjoyable day as we say Kia ora (key-ore-a) which translates to Hi/Goodbye.

Christ Church, New Zealand

Thursday, March 15th, 2007

A picture postcard town today at 64 degrees.


We took the Wildlife Boat Cruise for the esteemed Hector's Dolphins. Took most our our time in Christ Church which was a shame since we didn't get to see anything else here. As for the dolphins, they aren't on a timed schedule and we only quickly viewed about 3 times. Too quick for cameras. Some facts about them and a picture from the web:

1) only found off the coast of New Zealand, which means it is endemic to New Zealand
2) is the rarest dolphin in the world
3) has a small, rounded dorsal fin – all other species of dolphin found in New Zealand waters have crescent shaped fins that are more pointed



See all the many different overlapping layers? This is typical New Zealand terrain.



Had to buy some postcards for the rest. Run a search on Christ Church, it is beautiful and just sorry we missed it.

Dunedin, New Zealand

Friday March 16, 2007

Dunedin is the largest city in New Zealand and has a Scottish flair. Took the train ride over the gorge and thru the mountains. The train is very rustic with a table between our seats, the countryside beautiful. Lunch of small sub with a vegetable based salad in a tasty vinaigrette liquid. One each of strawberry, plum and yogurt based strawberry mouse. Also cheese and crackers and tea and wine. Also packed w/in our lunch was a silk yellow daffodil pin. Very enjoyable altho bumpy ride. I bought some post cards to get a better view of the train ride. The gorge was nothing to us compared to sights seen elsewhere but still an awesome trip.




Later we went to Larnach Castle, complete with all the trimmings. Below is an aerial picture of the area. The gardens here are breathtaking. One picture below is part of the gardens with another of the view from the end of the garden. And the bagpiper in full regatta. Enjoy!






We finished the day with a ride of the city and interests with a view of the steepest hill in a residental city as recorded in Book of Guinness Records.

Fiordland, New Zealand

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Saturday March 17, 2007

At the very southern tip of New Zealand is Fiordland National Park. This part of the country has rain 300 days a yr so odds are against us for a sunny day; it's overcast, cloudy but not rainy. Sitting on balcony and overhearing commentary from the cabin TV we learn many facts. Listed are some in no particular order.

1) Dusty Sound is the largest of over 40 miles
2) Capt Cook first mapped this area and they are still the best maps around.
3) Area gets 27 feet of rain each year
4) Highest waterfall over 500 ft
5) Jade in this area
6) Mitre Peak is the tallest peak at 9,042 feet high, it's in Milford Sound and is my last picture, altho you can't view the top of it for the clouds.

Only by comparing how tiny the tour boat is (and imagining the people on it!) can you get an inkling of the magnitude of these mountains.





Most everything looks the same so it's not a picture day, but an awesome experience of majesty for the entire day!