Rarotonga and New Zealand 2008

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These photos are from the trip that Joan, Wolf and Nico took to Rarotonga and New Zealand in January and February 2008. Highlights are:
  • Rarotonga
    • beautiful sandy beaches with coconut palms and blue lagoons
  • South Island NZ
    • Avalanche Peak tramp (hike) and kea birds, Arthurs Pass
    • Glacier area on the west coast
    • tramps on the east side of Aoraki/Mt Cook (the highest mountain in NZ)
    • Milford Sound, Key Summit tramp
    • Catlins (wild southeast coast), Dunedin and the Taieri Gorge Railway
    • Oamaru (penguins - just one photo though)
  • North Island NZ
    • Tiritiri Matangi bird sanctuary (rare native NZ birds)
    • Orokawa Bay
    • Ruakuri Cave
    • Tongariro Alpine Crossing (spectacular volcanic features)
 
 

Rarotonga


 
Rarotonga west side beaches

Joan and Nico arriving at Rarotonga,    2008 January 25 07:05
Rarotonga Backpackers unit with Mt. Raemaru behind,    2008 January 25 18:21
palms and lagoon from porch,    2008 January 26 12:59
paradise of sand and palms,    2008 January 27 12:56
Black Rock beach,    2008 January 28 15:51
Murivai Stream with The Needle,    2008 January 25 10:44
powerful surf - double set at reef edge,    2008 January 25 18:18
foam with wave at reef edge looking north,    2008 January 25 18:19
 
underwater and snorkeling

Joan and Nico snorkeling at Aroa Beach,    2008 January 27 14:36
school of Trevally by shore,    2008 January 27 14:39
Picasso Triggerfish,    2008 January 28 10:12
tetra-like fish,    2008 January 25 18:08
hermit crab,    2008 January 25 18:05
blue star,    2008 January 25 10:58
 
Punanga Nui market

courthouse downtown Avarua,    2008 January 28 13:50
thatch roof market stalls and mountain views,    2008 January 26 09:35
garlands,    2008 January 26 09:11
shopping for black pearls,    2008 January 26 09:13
 
Mt Raemaru hike

Joan and Nico on hike up with lagoon behind,    2008 January 25 16:06
slopes of Mt Raemaru,    2008 January 25 16:09
a purple flower,    2008 January 25 15:55
passion flower,    2008 January 25 17:25
flower of a Flamboyant Tree,    2008 January 25 16:56
 
Muri beach

Taakoka Island from Muri beach,    2008 January 28 10:23
Nico and Wolf at Muri beach,    2008 January 28 10:10
Flamboyant Trees and a palm near Avana Stream,    2008 January 28 11:24

The departing point for Maori canoes to NZ was at Ngatangiia/Avana Harbour

looking back to Ngatangiia-Avana Harbour,    2008 January 28 11:36
looking across Ngatangiia-Avana harbour entrance,    2008 January 28 11:37
 
sunset colours

sunset at a west side beach,    2008 January 27 19:12
 
 

South Island NZ


 
misc

koru, a symbol of NZ,    2008 February 10 12:36
camping at Lake Pearson,    2008 January 30 18:59
 
Avalanche Peak tramp

looking west up the Waimakariri Valley,    2008 January 31 09:02
bush and Bealey valley to the south,    2008 January 31 11:50
lichens on trees,    2008 January 31 11:41
daisies,    2008 January 31 11:47
edelweiss,    2008 January 31 13:10 Mt Rolleston 2275m
Mt Rolleston and Crow Glacier,    2008 January 31 12:49
kea with Shaler Range on Avalanche Peak,    2008 January 31 13:19
pair of keas with Shaler Range,    2008 January 31 13:18
kea and Nico,    2008 January 31 14:11
 
Punakaiki pancake rocks

Punakaiki pancake rocks with distant coastline to the south,    2008 February 01 07:08
pinnacles,    2008 February 01 06:52
blowhole,    2008 February 01 07:00
sea stacks on north side,    2008 February 01 07:09
 
rugged coast

sea stacks with orange flowers at Twelve Mile Bluff,    2008 February 01 08:47
 
Hokitika

clock tower in Hokitika,    2008 February 01 12:35
Hokitika Gorge swing bridge in the rain,    2008 February 01 17:46
 
Okarito

Okarito beach headlands and surf,    2008 February 02 11:51
Okarito surf - white with color grading,    2008 February 02 11:53
Okarito surf - breaking,    2008 February 02 11:53
 
Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier from Sentinel Rock,    2008 February 02 13:25
 
Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier with higher reaches,    2008 February 02 15:44
Fox Glacier snout with Wolf and Nico,    2008 February 02 15:58
 
Gillespies Beach

sundown at Gillespies Beach,    2008 February 02 21:06
dawn with some peaks,    2008 February 03 06:43
 
Ship Creek walk near Haast

beach near Ship Creek looking south to Haast,    2008 February 03 12:44
ferns,    2008 February 03 12:19
Nico climbing on vine,    2008 February 03 12:20
white blossoms on Hapuka Estuary walk near Okuru,    2008 February 03 14:40
 
Jackson Bay

Jackson Bay wharf,    2008 February 03 17:09
Ocean Beach,    2008 February 03 17:25
a reef star,    2008 February 03 17:29
blurred Fantail,    2008 February 03 17:37
 
Haast Pass

Thunder Creek Falls at Haast Pass,    2008 February 04 08:57
Fantail Falls,    2008 February 04 09:15
 
Wanaka

Mt Aspiring from Glendhu Bay,    2008 February 05 08:52
Lindis Pass with fog on mountain,    2008 February 05 11:13
 
Aoraki/Mt Cook

Aoraki/Mt Cook at 3754m is the highest peak in New Zealand.
Aoraki-Mt Cook from end of Lake Pukaki,    2008 February 05 13:23
 
Hooker Valley Track near Mt. Cook

Mt Sefton and Mueller Lake,    2008 February 05 14:46
second swing bridge with Nico and Joan,    2008 February 05 15:20
Aoraki-Mt Cook with Hooker River,    2008 February 05 15:24
Aoraki-Mt Cook, Hooker Lake and Glacier,    2008 February 05 16:11
Sharkteeth Mtn perhaps on ridge E of Mt Sefton,    2008 February 05 15:49
edelweiss,    2008 February 05 15:18
 
Kea Point Track near Mt. Cook

Mt Sefton and The Footstool,    2008 February 06 10:01
Aoraki-Mt Cook and Mueller Glacier, lateral moraine,    2008 February 06 10:17
tramping the Kea Point Track,    2008 February 06 10:29
 
Tasman Glacier and valley near Mt. Cook

Tasman Lake and Glacier, Mt Haidinger, Mt De la Beche and the Minarets, Mt Chudleigh,    2008 February 06 11:24
Nico, Joan and Wolf at Tasman Glacier overlook,    2008 February 06 11:41
Tasman Lake and Glacier, Mt Chudleigh, Mt Malte Brun,    2008 February 06 11:45
 
Queenstown area

TSS (Twin Screw Steamer) Earnslaw with Walter Peak,    2008 February 06 17:19
TSS (Twin Screw Steamer) Earnslaw with The Remarkables,    2008 February 06 17:22
Pig Island and Pigeon Island, Mt Alfred (prominent low center), Mt Earnslaw (right glacial),    2008 February 07 08:15
Glenorchy Library,    2008 February 07 10:26
mustering sheep,    2008 February 07 08:29
buildings at Arrowtown Chinese Settlement,    2008 February 07 13:44
lavender with stone house in Arrowtown,    2008 February 07 14:01
 
Milford Sound

Falls Creek,    2008 February 08 09:08
looking up the western part of Homer Tunnel,    2008 February 08 14:51
sculptured rocks, moss, wood at the Chasm,    2008 February 08 14:29
tree ferns at the Chasm,    2008 February 08 14:35 Mitre Peak 1862m
Mitre Peak,    2008 February 08 09:57
Mitre Peak with Joan and Wolf,    2008 February 08 13:56
 
Milford Sound cruise

Lion Mountain and partial Mt Pembroke, distant Stirling Falls,    2008 February 08 10:37
distant Stirling Falls with a cruise ship,    2008 February 08 10:52
Stirling Falls,    2008 February 08 11:43
Stirling Falls - lower part,    2008 February 08 11:40
Stirling Falls - Nico and Joan getting soaked,    2008 February 08 11:41
Sheerdown Peak and distant glaciated peaks,    2008 February 08 11:36
steep granite cliffs,    2008 February 08 11:05
fur seals at Seal Rock,    2008 February 08 11:10
fur seals on sloped rock,    2008 February 08 11:33
shoreline tree ferns,    2008 February 08 12:10
Bowen Falls,    2008 February 08 13:37
 
Milford Deep Underwater Observatory

Mitre Peak, boat at Milford Deep Underwater Observatory,    2008 February 08 12:12

Black corrals have black skeletons but are white when alive

black corral, Triplefins,    2008 February 08 12:46
Spotty Fish with some black corral,    2008 February 08 12:52
Marble Fish by black corral,    2008 February 08 13:15
Tarakihi with black corral,    2008 February 08 12:52
 
Key Summit hike

Nico and Joan on trail,    2008 February 08 15:29
fuchsia tree trunks,    2008 February 10 17:24
brown stemmed fern leaves,    2008 February 08 17:56
a silver beech with twisted branches,    2008 February 08 18:04
tarn with Mts Erebus, Xenicus, Ocean Peak (broad center) and Emily Peak,    2008 February 08 16:39
double peaks in the Ailsa Mountains,    2008 February 08 16:40
Mts Ngatmamoe, Flattop, Pyramid (7630ft) and long ridge of Mt Suter,    2008 February 08 16:32
 
other walks near Milford Sound

Joan and Nico on gantry at Marion Falls,    2008 February 09 08:49
moss covered rocks at Marion Falls,    2008 February 09 08:49
red beech trunk at Gunn Lake,    2008 February 09 09:43
ferns with water droplets,    2008 February 09 09:47
 
south coast

McCrackens Rest, Te Waewae Bay looking east,    2008 February 09 16:50
 
Curio Bay, Catlins

fossilized stumps below tide line at Curio Bay,    2008 February 10 11:02
fossilized log at Curio Bay,    2008 February 10 10:59
 
Cathedral Caves, Catlins

Cathedral Caves entrances,    2008 February 10 12:22
west entrance,    2008 February 10 12:13
east entrance with rising water,    2008 February 10 12:15
black frame east entrance - Joan, Nico, surf,    2008 February 10 12:06
Black-billed Gulls and surf,    2008 February 10 11:57
kelp,    2008 February 10 12:21
mussels on purple rock,    2008 February 10 12:08
 
Catlins

McLean Falls with Nico and Wolf in distance,    2008 February 10 14:16
Tautuku beach and Rainbow Isles,    2008 February 10 16:09
Nico at Tautuku Bay,    2008 February 10 16:17
Nico at Kuri Beach,    2008 February 11 14:24
 
Purakaunui Bay, Catlins

tree snags against light,    2008 February 11 07:43
fog shrouded cliffs at Purakaunui Bay,    2008 February 10 17:58
a sleeping Hooker sea lion in the grass,    2008 February 10 19:37
sheep moving in lines,    2008 February 11 08:12
 
Nugget Point, Catlins

kelp, Molyneux Bay, Kaitangata hill,    2008 February 11 09:12
Nugget Point sea stacks,    2008 February 11 11:13
cliff and rocky beach at Nugget Point,    2008 February 11 11:18
seals playing in a tide pool,    2008 February 11 11:07
 
Dunedin

Baldwin Street, the steepest street in world 1:3.41 max 1:2.86,    2008 February 11 15:47
 
Taieri Gorge Railway

Dunedin railway station,    2008 February 12 18:43
Dunedin station platform,    2008 February 12 14:04
Our coach seats, Taieri Gorge train,    2008 February 12 14:13
looking back at Flat Creek Viaduct,    2008 February 12 16:12
front of train passing over Flat Creek Viaduct,    2008 February 12 16:08
 
Moeraki Boulders

Moeraki boulders with surf and bay,    2008 February 13 15:20
Moeraki boulders with many broken one,    2008 February 13 15:27
birth of some Moeraki boulders,    2008 February 13 15:40
patterned Moeraki boulder with surf,    2008 February 13 15:23
Joan hatching from a boulder,    2008 February 13 15:32
 
Oamaru

penguin crossing sign,    2008 February 01 08:48
Bushy Beach,    2008 February 13 18:14
yellow-eyed penguin at Bushy Beach,    2008 February 13 18:07
All Day Bay beach with kelp piles,    2008 February 14 08:12
 
Peel Forest

tall old Totara trunk and roots with Joan,    2008 February 15 09:56
Totara intertwined roots,    2008 February 15 09:57
 
Christchurch

Botanic Gardens fountain, Christchurch,    2008 February 15 15:58
humourous display at Canterbury Museum: Bed wetas,    2008 February 15 15:25
a live weta,    2008 February 18 17:24
cicada - a common noisy insect in NZ,    2008 February 02
 
 

North Island NZ


 
Auckland

Auckland Sky Tower,    2008 February 16 15:21
dragon boat races, Auckland Sky Tower,    2008 February 16 16:36
University of Auckland clock tower,    2008 February 16 18:07
 
Tiritiri Matangi bird sanctuary

Hobbs Beach,    2008 February 17 10:50
Takahe, a very rare flightless bird,    2008 February 17 13:51
Pukeko,    2008 February 17 13:49
Kerereu (NZ pigeon),    2008 February 17 14:12
Tui bird in Mahoe (Whiteywood),    2008 February 17 14:38
manuka blossoms,    2008 February 17 14:26
 
Hamilton Gardens

East Indian flower garden,    2008 February 22 16:25
Medici garden,    2008 February 22 16:21
Nico and Marilyn Munroe,    2008 February 22 17:01
 
Waihi Beach, Orokawa Bay

Waihi Beach from Papatiotio Point,    2008 February 18 12:58
Nico by shoreline,    2008 February 18 14:10
twisted trees at north end of Orokawa Beach,    2008 February 18 15:15
Nikau palm,    2008 February 18 13:12
Nikau palm blossom,    2008 February 18 15:53
Nico at William Wright Falls,    2008 February 18 16:15
 
Ruakuri Cave

glowworms and glowworm threads,    2008 February 23 14:15
stalactites in orange light,    2008 February 23 14:04
white stalactites,    2008 February 23 14:37
multiple curtains,    2008 February 23 13:57
cone stalagmite,    2008 February 23 14:38
 
Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike

Lake Taupo and Mt Tauhara on drive in,    2008 February 20 16:04

Hike starts at 1150m, tops out at Red Crater at 1886m, then descends to 700m at 18 km

Mt Ngauruhoe in mist,    2008 February 20 07:44
lava slopes above the fog,    2008 February 20 08:33
lava pillars and mist,    2008 February 20 08:42
Joan at rim of South Crater,    2008 February 20 08:39
white cushion plant,    2008 February 20 08:50
South Crater with dried out lake,    2008 February 20 08:58
South Crater flats to the north,    2008 February 20 08:59
Mt Ngauruhoe from South Crater flats,    2008 February 20 09:01
Joan, from top of Red Crater looking back over South Crater and distant low cloud banks,    2008 February 20 09:29
Mt Ngauruhoe and South Crater from Red Crater,    2008 February 20 09:30
Red Crater dike,    2008 February 20 09:41
Red Crater dike and nipple with Mt Ngauruhoe,    2008 February 20 09:49
Emerald Lakes from Red Crater,    2008 February 20 09:54
looking south from the furthest Emerald Lake,    2008 February 20 10:11
Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe, Red Crater, Central Crater and lava flow,    2008 February 20 10:30
white lobelia-like flower,    2008 February 20 07:41
daisy,    2008 February 20 11:26
hebe,    2008 February 20 13:00
stony moss covered lava slopes on Te Mari,    2008 February 20 11:28
low hanging clouds on northern slopes,    2008 February 20 11:32
Lake Rotoaira and Lake Taupo with Joan,    2008 February 20 11:39
Ketetahi Hot Springs steam,    2008 February 20 12:22
 
ferns and other flora

koru,    2008 February 10 12:36
black fern,    2008 February 18 12:53
silver fern,    2008 February 17 11:39
hounds tongue fern,    2008 February 10 12:42
tangle of supplejack vines - Maungakawa Scenic Reserve,    2008 February 21 15:44
rimu tree bark,    2008 February 10 15:35
red lichens on grey rocks,    2008 February 08 16:20
 
end

multiple clouds at Gillespies Beach,    2008 February 02 20:44
Sundown over Manukau Harbour from Auckland airport,    2008 February 24 19:43

Last update: 2008 April 29