Left the UK just after Christmas, and flew via Hong Kong and Auckland to Tauranga. Met by family and whisked off to their place. Spent New Year's eve in town, with fireworks. Visited Katikati, Waihi, Paeroa, Matamata, Rotorua and of course, downtown Tauranga. On the more touristic side, we revisited Hell's Gate and Wai-O-Tapu thermal parks, drove by the lakes between Rotoma and Rotorua, explored the gold mine excavation at Waihi (twice), visited Omanawa Falls, and ...more...

Flying out with Qatar via Doha and Adelaide, arriving Auckland 2am we headed directly to the Novotel. Following day took the short hop to Tauranga. Spent the entire time in and around Tauranga, during some of the wettest summer weather on record. Even so, we got some bright days and BBQ opportunities. Revisited Driving Creek Railway, took Ollie to MOTAT (the Museum of Telecommunications and Transport) in Auckland, and took Joe to Rotorua for the Skyline ...more...

Our first Christmas in New Zealand, flying Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Auckland. A night in the Novotel, and the family arrived the following morning. We picked up our hire car and drove to our rental property in Whangamata. Handy for beach, coffee and shopping, complete with BBQ and hot tub. Also easy drive to Coromandel township which includes the Driving Creek Railway, and the Hobbit village film set at Matamata. Afterwards we ...more...

The second element of this holiday - flew back from Auckland to Wellington for a couple of weeks of 'family time'. Chris made an exciting detour to Alice Springs to visit Rach, and we all enjoyed the air show 'Wings over Wairarapa'. ...more...

Flew Emirates via Dubai to Auckland end of December 2014 and spent New Year in Sebel Suites. Family flew up from Wellington on 2nd Jan and we picked up the 'Chuckle-bus' for a week in Paihia. Rach flew in from Yuendemu and joined us for the trip. Afterwards we flew down to Wellington for a couple of weeks in Karori. ...more...

Flying up from Wellington to Auckland with the family, we picked up a rental car at the airport and drove to Paihia, where we were booked in to the Blue Pacific apartments for a week (complete with hot tub). Highlights included taking the bus up 90 Mile beach to Cape Reinga, a train ride in Kawakawa, Haruru Falls, the Kauri forest and lots of barbecues. ...more...

Having spent a few nights in Hong Kong, we took the Cathay flight direct to Auckland, and then a domestic flight to Wellington, arriving New Year's Eve. Spent 2.5 weeks with family, which gave M & M an opportunity for a couple of nights away, Chris had time to fly to Melbourne for a weekend with the girls (+ a day at Australian Open), and we all had some general time locally with Ollie & Joe. At the end of the Wellington visit, we all flew up to Wellington to begin our ...more...

Stopped in Hong Kong for a few days on our way to New Zealand. Not very good weather. On our return journey we had an 8 hour connection in Hong Kong, so put our baggage into storage and got the train into town for another go at the Peak - see if the weather would be better. ...more...

Flew Emirates via Dubai and Brisbane, arriving in Auckland mid afternoon. Spent an overnight at the Novotel at Auckland Airport, then took an internal flight to Wellington. Two weeks pottering around Wellington, then took a rental car to Taupo, the family coming along in their own car, for four days in a holiday rental near the lake. Used that as a base to explore the lake, thermal parks and of course the Aratiatia Rapids (several times). At the end of the stay, ...more...

Flew from Auckland into Melbourne to visit Rach. Stayed opposite Flagstaff park near Victoria Market. During this stay we visited Marysville, the centre of the bush fires earlier in the year, and largely destroyed. Also visited St Kilda (by tram) and the Royal Botanical gardens, as well as enjoying some interesting meals out. ...more...

Flew via Dubai to Auckland, and stayed a couple of nights in Sebel Suites on the waterfront. Used the Tranz Scenic Overlander to Wellington, a 12 hour journey, then to M&Ms. Spent 10 days pottering around Wellington, then hired a car to drive back to Auckland, with overnight stops at Chateau Tongariro Hotel, and the slightly less opulent Suncourt Motel in Taupo. Flew from Auckland to Melbourne to meet up with Rach. ...more...

Flew in to Osaka, and first challenge was to get a train to Kyoto, where we had an hotel by the station (a feature of this holiday). Just timed things right for the cherry blossom to be out. Spent 4 days exploring Kyoto, then by train to Himeji to see the castle, and on to Hiroshima. From there we got a boat to Miyajima to see famous Torii gate, and then another combination of trains to get to Takayama, a city in Japan's mountainous Gifu ...more...

Set out to explore Australia this year. Landed in Brisbane for an overnight stop, then took the Sunlander (now 'Spirit of Queensland') to Cairns. From there we flew in a tiny plane to Bloomfield strip (grass airport) and were taken to Bloomfield Lodge for a few days relaxation in the rain forest. Tiny plane took us back to Cairns, over the Great Barrier Reef, landing in a thunderstorm - very exciting. More exploration locally, including train to Kuranda, ...more...

Arrived in Auckland from Bangkok and stayed in town a couple of nights, then picked up rental car and headed north. Visited Paihia and Cape Reinga, passing through kauri forests and over 90 Mile beach (on a bus). Then fast south, down the west coast via Raglan, Te Kuiti, the Forgotten World Highway to Dawson's Fall's, where we met up with the family, including new arrival Ollie. Returned with them to Wellington, where we had a rented apartment in Eastbourne. Our ...more...

Visited Bangkok on our way to New Zealand this year. Had a native guide an a driver, both kindly arranged by our travel agent, and visited temples, Buddhas, the floating market and a static market. Also had some clothing made to measure, not altogether successful. ...more...

Crossed the Cook Straits to Picton, picked up rental car and drove along Queen Charlotte Drive. Then turned East and crossed to Kaikoura for a couple of nights, including a whale-watching trip. South to Hanmer Springs, and then a long tedious cross-country drive until we reached Geraldine, then on to the coast at Timaru. From there we continued South to Dunedin (Flowered hot tub and Otago peninsula) before the long western traverse to Manapouri. ...more...

We flew from Sydney to Auckland, and were met by Jenny & Bruce. Spent a couple of nights with them exploring the Auckland area, then picked up a hire car and headed south, first stop Rotorua, where we enjoyed geothermal experiences and a Maori dinner. Then Taupo, more thermal stuff, + the Aratiaria Rapids and Huka Falls. Next stop Napier, which was celebrating its earthquake memorial week, and finally to Wellington to spend some time with M&M, before ...more...

A visit in two sections, as we stopped in Sydney on our outward journey to New Zealand, and Melbourne on the return path. We did all the touristy things in Sydney from our base close to the well-known bridge, before flying on to Auckland. We arrived in Melbourne from Christchurch and spent 6 nights with Rach (who was living there at that time). We then drove the Great Ocean Road together, eventually arriving in Adelaide. We caught the India-Pacific train ...more...

First trip to New Zealand, so we decided to break the journey at Singapore, spending a couple of nights in the famous Raffles hotel. Unfortunately we arrived the day after Chinese New Year, and everything was a bit quiet (or in some cases closed). Still, we did a lot of exploring on foot, visiting the various quarters and the Botanical gardens. ...more...