The spiky stalks of rushes - large grassy rods - rose over our heads, densely packed throughout the long stretch in front of us. Even in the cool afternoon, we sweated with the effort of moving…
On a beautiful day Cape Reinga, the end of New Zealand, can feel so benign, if not at all peaceful. Busloads of tourists scurry about for a brief while, snapping pictures, huffing and puffing along…
We’ve long understood the value of slow travel, with the benefits of learning a culture, enjoying the less touristed pleasures of a place, meeting local residents and changing a travel plan based on what we…
“Welcome to the rocks that Wellington said don’t exist,” she greeted us. A wiry woman, impressively dressed in a broad-brimmed leather hat and a buckskin vest as if she were still ready for sixties counter-culture…
To the northeast of Auckland there are nearly 50 islands scattered about Hauraki Gulf. Some are large, like the Great Barrier Island, and some are tiny. Some are like suburbs of Auckland, like Waiheke, and…
Note: Each night at El Nido Miniloc Resort we were given a one page story that sought to educate us, in a fun way, about the fragile environment we live in, how we impact it,…
Mur-rom-boo! Thanks, mate! Salamat po! Ta! Kia ora! Thank you all for taking the time to share our 2013 travels in Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines by following us directly here on the Adventurephiles…
When in Manila, we stayed in the Ermita district, just a kilometer or so south of the old city district Intramuros. (To read about our visit to Intramuros, click here to our post.) Between the…
Impeccably dressed women flowered brightly against the grey backdrop. Formally suited men conversed quietly. Limousines and old cars moved slowly in and out of the small parking area, vigorously directed by a few parking managers.…
New Zealand prides itself on celebrating the diverse array of ethnicities and homeland origins of its people. On its national holiday in February, it celebrates its founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, which made peace…