No set itinerary here. We wandered and enjoyed the country from bottom to top during two six-month periods, out of a home base in Wellington and then Auckland. You can see a slide show of pictures below. For journal postings from New Zealand, CLICK HERE.
You can also browse the map below for where we’ve been in New Zealand (both in 2009 and 2012 – 2014). Click a pushpin to find posted articles from 2012 – 2014 about that location.
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SLIDE SHOW HINT: If you’ve already seen the earlier pictures in the slide show, use the dot placemarks below the slides to jump around.
Whirling around the North Star 
Our worldly possessions make a great bed 
Arriving in Wellington with the bags on alert 
View from our deck…Wellington Harbor 
View from our deck…Victorian buildings 
The excitement builds with a rest stop at JJ Murphy’s on Cuba Street 
Our local farmers’ market on Sunday with monster cauliflower 
Real kiwis from the market 
You know you’re in New Zealand when you eat smoked mussel pate 
You know you’re in New Zealand when the store features meat pies 
Harborside in Wellington 
Don’t forget to buy the fiddly bits 
Recycle calendar #1 
Green bags and bin for recycle 
Vodafone’s promise 
Hot water bottles for the icy bed 
Diving into Wellington Harbor on a sunny morning 
Sailboats flocking in the harbor near the Sunday market 
The Sunday market near Te Papa museum 
A rental tricycle tours the harbor 
Walking Wellington Harbor on a warm winter afternoon 
Warm winter afternoon at Mac’s next to Te Papa museum 
The neo-classical Embassy Theatre at night 
Hastening to the lobby bar past some comfy chairs 
The grand side staircase of the Embassy 
The Embassy lounge across from the fully stocked bar and around the circular staircase 
Trail marking for the City to Sea Walkway 
Forest trail just 10 minutes from home 
Winter flower on the City to Sea Walkway 
Mount Street Cemetery, Wellington 
1858: Annie Webb, beloved wife, age 25…”Boast not thyself of tomorrow” 
Central Park, Wellington 
Forested hilltops and valley towns in Wellington 
Down Cleveland Street to Brooklyn NZ 
Hi-rise-oglyphics on Brooklyn Road 
A Thai bride and groom before the ceremony 
All hail Queen Sirikit of Thailand on her birthday! 
Bridegrooms at the Thai wedding, and a son 
At the wedding table with halos binding each pair 
At the wedding table, awkwardly awaiting the queue of well wishers 
Bridesmaids at the Thai wedding 
The ceremony hostess offers newlyweds some honeyed water 
Candlelit prayer of good wishes at Thai marriage ceremony 
Poems succumb to travel expo on our neighborhood cylinder 
Gluten free postering on a cylinder 
Postering poaching on building space 
Love and other posters on a cylinder 
Evening gleam – Wellington 
Lunch break at Town Hall Wellington 
The shipwreck bridge from Town Hall to Harbor 
The Beehive – seat of New Zealand government 
Mussels and brussels – NZ’s bounty 
Quaff by quaff: Emerson’s craft beer disappearing at the Malthouse 
Winter light tips Te Aro and Brooklyn 
Mamaku tree ferns in the wilds of Central Park 
Brilliant winter flowers on City to Sea walkway 
One more ascent on the trail out of the city 
The trail crosses the golfcourse 
Incongruity of the wild and the domestic along City to Sea walkway 
Looking to the sea from ancient Maori lands 
Maori powhenua with faces toward the sea and the mountains 
Hillside canopy and carpet on City to Sea walk 
Tapu Te Ranga island stands apart from the populated valley at Island Bay 
Winter garden flowers 
Winter garden flowers 
The perilous private stairway into Island Bay 
Sheep safely grazing along the hills of Highway 2 
Our pass to new friends at the Wairoa Club 
The Bridge, Wairoa NZ 
Sheep-dotted volcanic hills of East Coast, NZ 
Lake Waikareiti above Lake Waikaremoana, Te Urewera National Park 
The wheel of life in a fern tree, Te Urewera National Park 
Rings of fire, Te Urewera National Park 
Rainforest fern tree canopy, Te Urewera National Park 
Moss along the track, Te Urewera National Park 
Us at Papakorito Falls, Te Urewera National Park 
The sandstone bluffs of Lake Waikaremoana NZ 
Century-old farmhouse near Wairoa NZ 
Driftwood strewn beach along Pacific Coast Highway NZ 
Turquoise waters of the East Coast NZ 
Turquoise waters of Mahia Beach of East Coast NZ 
A black sand beach along the East Coast NZ 
Winding through the volcanic hills of East Coast NZ 
River and coast along the Pacific Coast Highway NZ 
Us enjoying the sunset at Ohiwa Beach, Bay of Plenty NZ 
East Cape Lighthouse at farthest edge of north island NZ 
Coastal headlands at East Cape Lighthouse 
Sweep of the bay along the Pacific Coast Highway NZ 
Simple exterior of St. Mary’s Church, Tikitiki 
The unity of Christian and Maori influences at St. Mary’s Church 
Elaborately carved pulpit in St. Mary’s Church, Tikitiki 
Stained glass panels with Maori designs, St. Mary’s Church, Tikitiki 
Commemorating Puanga, vanished into space, and the friendship of Maori and European at St. Mary’s Church 
Storing the organically produced wine at Moana Park vineyard – $2000 each 
The vine in winter at Salvare Vineyard 
Pastel blues of Napier 
Rose detail in downtown Napier 
Art deco architecture along the streets of Napier 
Art deco glories at the Municipal Theatre, Napier 
The auditorium at Municipal Theatre, Napier, with variable light fixture and Beardsley-esque woman 
A Last Supper carving amid Maori decoration at St. John’s Cathedral, Napier 
Loading the lumber below the massy bluff in central Napier 
Totems and palisades at the site of an old Maori pa, Napier 
Overseeing the river from the Maori pa 
Springtime feeding along the Pacific Coast Highway NZ 
A rainbow adds color to the Pacific Coast Highway 
Sunrise over Wellington Harbor 
View of Wellington, the bay and the sea, from Tinakori Hill 
Awaiting her return 
Southern Cross constellation above Wellington, or Maori anchor of a great canoe 
The old town of Newtown, Wellington suburb 
Crowds enjoying the vivid tulip display at Botanic Garden 
Tulips at Botanic Garden 
Wellingtonians enjoying spring at Botanic Garden 
Flowering trees at Botanic Garden 
Tulip trees announce the spring at Botanic Garden 
Succulent at Botanic Garden 
Druid Hill valley at Wellington Botanic Garden 
The lake at Zealandia 
Kaka dining on pine cone at Zealandia 
Curious North Island Robin at Zealandia 
“Where the bee sucks” at Zealandia 
The natural bowl of Zealandia from our picnic spot 
Endangered Tuatara lizard eyeing the tourists at Zealandia 
Wellington from the Skyline Track on Tinakori Hill 
Buller Gorge from Nelson to the west coast, South Island 
Storm clouds approach the beach at sunset 
Sun and showers form a sharp double rainbow 
The rest of the arc of the double rainbow 
Friendly chaffinch in Oparara basin 
Moria Gate Arch in Oparara Basin 
Moria Gate Arch in Oparara Basin 
At the copper-colored outflow from Moria Gate Arch 
Moisture gathers in the rainforest 
Rainforest flora 
Paradise Shelducks – female has the white head 
Mirror Tarn in Oparara Basin 
Streaming in the Oparara Basin 
Oparara Arch in the Oparara Basin 
Hanging arch of the Oparara Arch in the Oparara Basin 
Watch your step at Crazy Paving Cave, Oparara Basin 
Walkway along Cape Foulwind outside Westport 
Seal rocks at Cape Foulwind, Westport 
West Coast shoreline, South Island 
Freedom camping with our campervan on sandy beach 
Inside the campervan – benches convert to a king-size bed 
Pororari River walk, Punakaiki 
Rainforest walk near the Pororari River, Punakaiki 
Pancake rocks at Punakaiki 
Blowhole at high tide, Punakaiki 
Booming waves at Punakaiki 
Approaching Fox Glacier amid the clouds 
Terminal face of Fox Glacier 
Metal ranger stops you at the barrier safely away from the ice 
Us at Fox Glacier’s terminal face 
Fox Glacier and its approach, agleam in the sunlight 
Fox Glacier valley 
Farmstead viewpoint of the Southern Alps 
The archetypal view from Lake Matheson, minus the clear peaks 
Lake Matheson ground cover 
Pukeko prowling a field at Lake Matheson 
The weather clears to reveal the Southern Alps 
By helicopter toward the Alps 
Blue ice shining on the peaks 
OMG, another gorgeous view! 
Sheer delight at Mount Cook 
Peeking over the Alps toward the Tasman sea and beaches 
Vivid ridge near the peaks 
Swooping over Fox Glacier from above 
Upon the Fox Glacier at 6500 feet 
Approaching Franz Josef glacier 
Pictorial overlay shows the disappearing Franz Josef glacier 
Some of the plentiful waterfalls on the way to Franz Josef glacier 
The descending levels of Franz Josef glacier 
Rock strewn beach at Okarito 
Rare variable oystercatchers skitter by 
Amid the veiny rocks and colorful pebbles 
Pyramid rock as the storm blows in 
Buller Gorge, between the west coast and Nelson 
Hope Springs viewpoint along the highway 
Plant at the Hope Springs viewpoint 
The hilly sounds of South Island on the way home 
Fern coil – the nascent leaf 
Fern coil and the full-blown leaf 
The koru used in a traffic barrier 
Silver fern – marking the way 
Pre-historic giant nautlus at Te Papa Museum 
Wellington harbor and Fitzroy Bay from Mt. Kaukau 
Atop Mt. Kaukau with view to South Island 
Crossing the fence line via a stepping platform at Mt. Kaukau 
The skyline walkway above Wellington 
Te Papa Museum, Wellington 
The main atrium at Te Papa 
Promoting the exhibit of Buller’s Birds at Te Papa 
The extinct Huia, one of Buller’s birds 
Gay rights display in “Slice of Heaven” exhibit 
Lighted floor map of New Zealand in the Our Space section 
Welcome to the exhibit on how native forest was converted to farm and grassland 
Contemporary Maori cloaks on display at the Kahu Ora exhibit 
The modern marae at Te Papa before an operatic recital 
Coffee shops abound in Wellington 
On the beach at Abel Tasman National Park 
Awaroa Bay estuary at low tide 
Awaroa Bay from Skyline Ridge 
Jaunty kayakers at Onetahuti Bay, Abel Tasman National Park 
Island colony of New Zealand fur seals 
Torrent Bay estuary 
Spring stream above Torrent Bay 
Falls River at the top of our hike 
The sixty year old eel atop Cascade Falls at Torrent Bay 
Shell-strewn beach of Abel Tasman National Park 
Split rock at Abel Tasman National Park 
Women of Nelson NZ 
Guy Fawkes Night at Wellington Harbor 
Black beach of the Wellington coastal walk 
The Red Rocks on Wellington’s south coast 
Descending to the Whanganui River road 
Maori Christian church at the Koreinti (Corinth) Pa 
Dark clouds threatening at sunset – National Park NZ 
Preparing for our Whanganui River canoe trip 
A tranquil section of the Whanganui River 
The solar eclipse from our canoe 
Cliff faces of the Whanganui River 
The Bridge to Nowhere 
Cave exploring on the Whanganui River 
Hidden falls up a goat trail along the Whanganui River 
The river quickens. Rapids ahead? 
Pullout for the hut at Tieke Kāinga 
Tieke Kāinga hut 
Last look at the Whanganui River 
The gardens of Pukeiti 
Flower at the gardens of Pukeiti 
Flower at the gardens of Pukeiti 
Hillocks along the Forgotten World Highway 
The “Hobbit Hole” one lane tunnel on the Forgotten World Highway 
Attentive sheep on the way to Mt. Damper falls 
Mt. Damper Falls 
Whangamomona Hotel – the White House of the Republic 
Mt. Taranaki from the town of Stratford 
Radiant sunset at Mt. Taranaki 
Hobbit Hats at the Premiere 
A Hobbit cart distributes hats at the start of the red carpet 
Where we watched the carpet parade, adorned with an Irish Hobbit 
The crowd throngs Courtenay Place 
Oh, yes. Sir Peter Jackson himself. 
Awaiting Orlando Bloom, all the way from Manchester 
Our man from the film. Dan! 
Two of the beautiful people signing autographs on the carpet 
Hanging out of the second floor windows to see the stars 
Fans of the film and of pending same-sex marriage legislation 
Fans of human flesh attacking the red carpet 
Wall paintings and posters adorn the premiere site at the end of the red carpet, the Embassy Theatre 
Te Anau – Gateway to fjords and mountains 
Ranching in the valleys leading to Te Anau 
Beach at Lake Te Anau 
Lookout on the Kepler Track over Te Anau valleys 
The finish of the Kepler Track at Lake Te Anau 
Boating out of Te Anau 
Lake Te Anau en route to the glowworm cave 
The beauty of Doubtful Sound 
Cruising Doubtful Sound at full sail 
Protests against plans to bypass Te Anau 
Crossing Lake Manapouri 
A ridgeline overlooking Lake Manapouri 
Stopping for the overlook into Doubtful Sound 
Twin room on Doubtful Sound 
Coronation Peak appears on Doubtful Sound 
Rocky island at mouth of Doubtful Sound dotted with fur seals 
At the mouth of Doubtful Sound at the Tasman Sea 
Taking a dip in the chilly waters of the Sound 
Dusk on the sound 
Morning fog on the sound 
Morning light and fog on Doubtful Sound 
The sky clears on the sound 
Still waters and mirror reflections in an arm of Doubtful Sound 
Three Fjordland Crested Penguins observe our ship 
Heading east along the Sound on a cold morning 
A naturalist examines the rata tree as the ship tucks itself into an island 
A place to pause silently in Hall Arm of Doubtful Sound 
Ferry and cruise catamaran 
Heading out to crayfish, Stewart Island 
The harbor of Oban, Stewart Island 
Showing off the chain of Maui’s anchor, Stewart Island 
Along the Rakiura Track, Stewart Island 
Crossing a bay at low tide on the Rakiura Track 
Shell on Maori Beach, Stewart Island 
Following the Rakiura Track, Stewart Island 
Nesting variable oystercatchers at Maori Beach, Stewart Island 
Estuary and strand of Maori Beach, Stewart Island 
Along the Rakiura Track, Stewart Island 
Turqoise waters along the Rakiura Track, Stewart Island 
Central harbor of Oban from the Garden Mound overlook 
Telephone booth on the trail, Stewart Island 
White-capped albatross waiting for a handout 
Flight of the white-capped albatross 
Sunset over Stewart Island 
Dominant fur seal chases a challenger from his mate and baby seals 
Stewart Island Kiwi indifferent to observers 
Lone fur seal above bull kelp gathered like spinach pappardelle 
The Stewart Island Kiwi feeding on sand bugs 
Under the sea with the kelp, Titi Islands 
Yummy blue cod 
Alone on the beach at Ulva Island 
Unique New Zealand flora, the lancewood 
Friendly Stewart Island Robin at Ulva Island 
Helpful stairs along the trail of the Ulva Island bird sanctuary 
Rugged eastern coast of Stewart Island 
Mistress of quiz night, Vicki 
Two foot long crayfish waiting for dinner 
Clouds circle snow-topped Mt. Taranaki 
Selecting produce at the farmers’ market 
The Beast backflips off The Jump at the harbor 
The family takes the plunge off the Jump near Te Papa 
Anti-whaling vessel, Sea Shepherd, in Wellington Harbor 
Harbor walk 
Harborside at Foxglove 
Atop the cable car on the way to Botanic Gardens 
Rose garden at the Botanic Gardens 
Overgrown cemetery between Botanic Gardens and city 
Along the Northern Walkway, part of the Town Belt, and Tinakori Hill 
Down Allenby Terrace through the city 
Stopping to feed the friendly burro on Akatawara Road 
River paradise at Otaki Falls – hills, streams, waterfalls 
Sheep safely grazing on Akatarawa Road 
Approaching Waikanae Beach, Kapiti Coast 
Enjoying Boxing Day party 
Goal! Celebrating a Phoenix score at Westpac Stadium 
Breezy city overlook at Mt. Victoria 
Ocean view from atop Mt. Victoria 
Farewell Island Bay, on prop plane to Blenheim 
Beach at The Store, Kaikoura Coast, South Island 
Kenepuru Sound, South Island 
Touring the sounds of the South Island 
Portage Beach, Kenepuru Sound 
Translucent jellyfish at Portage, South Island 
On the ferry from Picton back to Wellington 
The mouth of Queen Charlotte Sound, from the ferry 
Arriving in Wellington by ferry 
On the way to Cape Palliser 
Seal pups poolside at Cape Palliser 
Seal rocks, Cape Palliser 
Fishing boat with tractor, Ngawi, Cape Palliser 
Windblown at seal colony, Cape Palliser 
Enjoying Martinborough wines with the winemakers 
Spying on the takahe at Zealandia 
Lazy tuatara at Zealandia 
The family celebrating with 2013 LED spectacles 
Auckland NW from our balcony 
Auckland north from our balcony 
Coast to Coast Walkway, Auckland 
Close up of Auckland from Mt. Eden 
At Mt. Eden volcanic crater in Auckland 
Auckland viewed from Mt. Eden on the Coast to Coast Walkway 
Flowers along Auckland’s Coast to Coast Walkway 
One Tree Hill, Coast to Coast Walkway 
Obelisk at grave of Sir John Logan Campbell, One Tree Hill 
Sheep in the craters of volcanic One Tree Hill along the Coast to Coast Walkway 
Backyard flowers Auckland 
Welcome to the Auckland Lantern Festival 
Swan lake charms even during the daylight 
Fan lanterns hang in the trees 
Lantern gateway at Auckland Festival 
A lantern teahouse under the February moon 
Sheep safely grazing at Lantern Festival 
Vases and teasets light up the night 
Celebrating the New Year at Lantern Festival 
Lights are everywhere at the Auckland Lantern Festival 
The goddess Xi Wang Mu offers brightly lit immortality 
Two dragons playing ball in the Year of the Horse 
Celebrants of the Year of the Horse 
Sky Tower fireworks close the Lantern Festival 
A weekend retreat, or bach, on Rangitoto 
Greenery takes hold on the craggy lava rock of Rangitoto 
Fantail on Rangitoto Island 
Auckland and Hauraki Gulf, from the top of Rangitoto 
Enjoying the view atop Rangitito 
The view toward Motutapu, Rangitoto’s sister island 
Web at lava cave entrance 
Lava cave entrance, Rangitoto 
A forested walkway on Rangitoto 
The inlet between Motutapu and Rangitoto 
Islington Bay, Rangitoto 
Distinctive Rangitoto volcano 
Rangitoto Island 
Coastal Tiritiri 
Takahe, endemic to New Zealand 
The multiple colors of emerging forest, Tiritiri 
The northern coast of Tiritiri 
Fern whorl, Tiritiri 
Fluted basalt boulders scattered about, Wairere 
Under the boulders 
A pool in the forest along the Wairere waterway 
Massive upended boulder with extensive striations 
Fluted boulder looms over the track 
Striated basalt amid the woods 
Overview at trail’s end of rock-strewn waterway, Wairere 
Tane Mahuta, the oldest and tallest kauri at 51.5 meters 
Fused kauris.Two trees or one? 
Protective bark of young kauri tree 
The Four Sisters – kauri trees joined at the hip 
Some of the dozen or so kauris at the Cathedral, Waipoua 
Te Matua Ngahere, the widest kauri at 16.4 meters around 
A host of common dolphins 
Common dolphins along for the ride 
Wooly mammoth…or Hole in the Rock? 
Cape Brett from the water 
Cape Brett from the top 
Idling by the islands of the Bay of Islands 
Sunset on the water, Poor Knights Islands 
Taking the blowhole challenge at Poor Knights Islands 
Mooring at Poor Knights Islands 
Schools of blue maumau nipping at the surface of the water 
Poor Knights Islands 
View from atop Waewaetorea Island 
On the cushy grasses of Waewaetorea during our hike 
Sunset at Waewaetorea 
Kayaking the northern coast of Waewaetorea 
Kayakers love to paddle 
Remains of the very active day 
Quiet time on the deck 
Swirls and currents as the Tasman and Pacific seas meet at Cape Reinga 
Point below the lighthouse where dead souls depart 
Pohutukawa tree clings to the rock where the dead souls depart 
The coastal trail heading away from the Cape Reinga lighthouse 
Heading from Cape lighthouse to a splendid cove 
Above the precipitous coastline at Cape Reinga 
Volcanic rock at the cove receives the incoming waves 
Inviting waters at the cove near Reinga 
Our view at Ahipara across the end of 90 Mile Beach 
Stilts nibbling at Ahipara beach 
Gleaming far shore at Hokianga Harbour mouth 
Sunset at Ahipara 
Trees twisted and stunted at Hokianga Harbour 
Another splendid beach near Hokianga Harbour mouth 
Whatipu Beach enclosed by hills 
Ridgeline of cliffs heading eastward along Manukau Harbour 
Looking back from a sandy gap in the rocks across Whatipu Beach 
Whatipu Beach of black sand 
LIghthouse rock on Whatipu Beach at low tide 
Zebra rushes 
Bushes block the way before a wall of pricky gorse 
Wresting with rushes 
Seeking passage where bushes abut the grasses 
The grassy terrain shows no trace of our passage 
Reservoir lake in regenerated rainforest, Waitakere 
Descending alongside Fairy Falls, Waitakere 
Along Fairy Falls, Waitakere Ranges 
Looking back up at Fairy Falls 
Part of the lushness of the rainforest 
Umbrella-like fungus in the Waitakere 
Lion Rock sleeps at Piha Beach 
Inaccessible cove beneath the bluffs north of Karekare 
Ridges and canyons mark the coast of West Auckland 
Karekare Falls 
Stream flowing into Karekare Beach 
Black sand beach at Karekare 
Vista over Karekare Beach from the Hillary Trail 
Lovely Kitekite Falls near Piha 
Plate of fresh-picked melon-y, citrus-y Feijoas 
Making virtual friends real 
Bird sanctuary, Miranda, south of Coromandel Peninsula 
Coromandel sunset 
View across Firth of Thames to Rangitoto at 350 meters high 
Along the trail, Coromandel Peninsula 
Tree huggers, kauri-style 
Pohutakawa, or Christmas Tree, flower 
Harvesting green-lipped mussels in Coromandel Harbour 
Kayaking into a private beach, Coromandel Harbour 
Hiking from the beach, Coromandel Harbour 
On the headlands overlooking Coromandel Harbour 
View of Coromandel Harbour 
Barry Brickell’s narrow gauge railway 
Sculptor Barry Brickell 
Coastal approach to Cathedral Cove 
Cathedral Cove, Coromandel 
Praying mantises not praying 
A cavern accessible by kayak near Cathedral Cove 
Barreling through by kayak 
Digging our natural hot tub at Hot Water Beach, Hahei 
Lounging on Hot Water Beach 
Rail trail, Karangahake Gorge 
Along the rail trail, Karangahake Gorge 
Walking the rail tunnel 
Waterfall along the rail trail, Karangahake Gorge
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I’m loving your posts. You do such a great job of telling the story and illustrating it as you go.
So pleased you are enjoying them. They are a treat to work on, but they are work too. Come on down and visit!