Author Archives: mikeandmonica

After we left the town of Kaikoura, we went on a two-day hike along the coast and up into the mountains. Before we drove off for the hike, though, we stopped at Lavendyl Lavender Farm. The lavender here is in full bloom. It is full summer now. The lavender was alive with color and withContinue reading “A Lavender Interlude”

Albatrosses! Kaikoura is a small town on the northeast side of the South Island, and it is famous for offering the best and easiest pelagic bird watching in the world. Kaikoura is all about the ocean. There is a trench, or canyon, just offshore that is a kilometer deep. If you are a sea creature,Continue reading “Kaikoura”

The Queen Charlotte Track is a seventy two kilometer hiking trail that runs along the Queen Charlotte Sound. The sound is an inlet from the Cook Strait, and the town of Picton is at the end of it. That’s where the ferry connects to the North Island. This whole area is in the Marlborough Region.Continue reading “Queen Charlotte Track”

The kiwi is a funny animal to pick for your national symbol. Really, it is quite unimpressive. It cannot fly, it is defenseless, it hides during the day, and practically nobody ever sees one. It doesn’t inspire people to swagger. When you compare it to other national symbols, like the bald eagle, which is aContinue reading “As Kiwi As Can Be”

Literally rising from ashes, the city of Napier rebuilt itself in three years. On February 3, 1931, a 7.8 earthquake crumbled the brick and stone downtown and severed gas and water lines. Uncontrolled fire completed the devastation. The community decided to rebuild rather than move the city. From 1931-1934, more construction happened in Napier thanContinue reading “Napier – Art Deco Capital of the World”

Rotorua is known for two things: Geothermal activity and Maori culture. We saw both during the time we were there. Geysers and hot springs are everywhere. We drove down the highway, seeing steam pouring out of rocks and geysers in the distance. Downtown is immersed in sulfur smell, and geothermal energy is used for electricityContinue reading “Rotorua and Taupo”

New Zealand takes coffee seriously. Our first morning in Auckland, we strolled down by the downtown waterfront and went into a hip looking coffee shop. I asked for a cup of coffee and the two baristas were immediately in a state of total confusion. Did I want a flat white? A long black? A shortContinue reading “Auckland Stories”

Great Barrier Island, or Aotea, is located about sixty miles northwest of Auckland. We flew there from the mainland and spent a quiet week, hiking on some of the trails, strolling on some of the beaches, driving on some of the roads, listening to birds, relaxing in our island home, and enjoying the peace andContinue reading “Aotea”

Update from Great Barrier Island (WiFi at the general store) Thank you dear friends for all your messages of caring. We are far from the volcano and have experienced no effects of the activity. We’ll be back in Auckland Monday and will report more from there. Love to you all. We’ve been in Auckland forContinue reading “Aotea”

We met on Kaua’i in February of 1973, and it’s always a pleasure to get back to the little island in the Pacific. We’ve changed, the island has changed, and the world has changed, but the waves continue to roll in and the sun continues to rise and set. We spent six days on Kaua’i,Continue reading “Skipping Over to Kaua’i”