Month: October 2026

Auckland, New Zealand Botanic Gardens

For our last day in New Zealand we decided to visit the Auckland Botanical Gardens.
Along with all the colorful and beautiful flowers and fauna there were some interesting sculptures as well.
The local birds seemed to enjoy the beautiful gardens too!
A very interesting tree. I’m assuming newly planted by the straps they have holding it in place.
They had species from all over the world here. This one from Japan
This interesting sculpture was called “To the End of Love”.
Lots of Roses in many different colors.
And of course other flowers equally as beautiful~
This bi-colored one was especially beautiful I thought!
And of course I always manage to get the bees in my flower shots!
Some people just can’t help themselves and just look, they have to steal the plants!

That’s the end of our adventures in New Zealand. Time to pack up and head home! What an amazing trip it has been!

On our way to San Diego, via Honolulu.
San Diego in sight!
The end of a fabulous month in Austrailia and New Zealand!

Paihia, New Zealand- Day 1, Arriving in Paihia

This photo is actually at the airport in Auckland. We’re waiting to get on our flight to Paihia. Little did we know what was about to take place! We boarded the plane in torrential rain and took off. About an hour into the very turbulent flight the captain announced we were not given clearance to land due to the weather and we had to return to Auckland! Once there, we spent several hours securing seats on the next day’s flight and accommodations for the night in a much less than any star motel!
Finally departing in great weather for Paihia!
We toured this walking track for Aruru Falls.
Not as pretty or spectacular as other falls we’ve seen but worth the trip.

Day 2 in Paihia, Our Sailing Adventure

This is the catamaran we went on with Barefoot Sailing Adventures and or guide and captain, Luke.
A beautiful morning for sailing too!
Captain Luck had a map so we would’t get lost!
He also showed us this about their bird sanctuary . He pointed out that the national bird of New Zealand is the Kiwi, which is a flightless bird and nocturnal, so rarely seen! He thought that was rather odd since there are so many beautiful birds there as well!
The captain made us all very comfy for the trip out on the net in some bean bag chairs.
This was the other couple who were on our sailing adventure
Captain Luke with Joni….Wait, who’s driving the boat!?!?
A beautiful house with their own private dock and beach.
Joni had to get a selfie with Captain Luke!
Colorful sailboat!
Captain Luke stopped at this secluded island beach and we had sack lunches he provided.
He also provided some stand up paddle boards which the other couple who were with us took advantage of. Jan and I relaxed on the beach while Lane and Joni hiked inland to the other side of the island.
Since this island is a sanctuary, they have lots of rules to follow.
It was a very quiet, peaceful place for sure!
Given the abundant foliage and terrain the girls hike didn’t last too long!
Joni did get a few pictures of their hike, it looks to be pretty narrow of a trail!
Their view back to the beach from up there.
After returning from our sailing adventure, we had to have dinner across from the beach at The Tipsy Oyster!
The next morning back to the Airport for our return trip to Auckland.
This was a much calmer and pleasant flight than the two flights here! Don’t worry, the propellers were really working, this picture just stopped it visually!
Our last views of Paihia.

Auckland, New Zealand- Day 3

Sealife Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

This Aquarium is unique. It’s underground. The first display you come to is Scott’s Hut, a look into the living quarters and other facts about the exploration of Antartica. This is one of the vehicles they used to get around in.
One of their snowmobiles.
Their work shop.
They had some avenues to explore on their off time musically!
Their luxurious dining room.
Here’s a bit of their equally luxurious sleeping quarters!
A penguin skeleton. I had no idea they were so large!
Looks comfy doesn’t it?
This is about 176 mph, doesn’t seem extreme until you take into account the sub zero temperatures !
Penguin torpedos!
They’re graceful underwater, but very awkward looking out of the water.
I wonder what they’re discussing? Perhaps, how the hell did we get here!
These King Penguins are quite large!
This is a poem, “Lement for Kelly Tarlton” written in 1937 after his passing.
The jellyfish were in a perfect light, almost iridescent!
They had these underwater windows to the bay. It was raining the day we were there, but I expect it was quite beautiful on a nice day.
DUN DUN DUN DUN!! I can hear the Jaws music in my head here!
A beautiful Ray!
mmmmm, Lobster!
Seahorses, I’ve never seen them stretched out swimming like this before!
A Sea Snake
Back up topside in the parking lot. A rather odd sculpture!
Back at our VRBO, this hardware store was across the street next to the Sushi place we went to.
They had great Sushi, we had dinner from there a couple of times. Pretty convenient!

Auckland, New Zealand

Day 1- Half Day Auckland City Tour

On our first day in Auckland we took a half day guided tour of the city that began by driving around the bay. This bridge looks very much like the one in Sydney.
The only difference being New Zealand flags instead of Australian ones!
Downtown Auckland from across the bay.
And of course they also have a needle tower.
Very imaginative and unique architecture here too.
A couple of Scuba divers, I wonder what there is to see in the bay?
This is Mount Eden, also known as Maungawhau. It is what remains of a volcano, like most of the mountains in the area.
No, we did not eat there!
A beautiful bay with one vessel listing a bit too much to port!
A closer look at that bridge reveals that the locals here do NOT think it’s a good idea to have the tourists risk their lives walking over the top of the bridge!
This is the Auckland War Memorial Museum, also known as the Auckland Museum.
You can definitely see the British influence here.
Another view of Mount Eden.
Our transportation for the day, Auckland City Tours.

Day 2- Ferry to Waiheke Island

Auckland Ferry Terminal building
Once on the island we took a small tour bus to see it.
Very picturesque countryside!
Still picruresque, just ignore the traffic cones!
Some cute little cottages.
There were some pretty interesting sculptures around the island.
One of the murals around town.
Penguin family taking a selfie, why not?!
I have no explanation for this one!
Jan’s purple flowers.
Even the New Zealand Red Cross building was artsy!
Wine time at the Mudbrick Winery!
Want a Magnum anyone?
Looking for any leftovers I’m sure!
My Nikon has this artistic setting to make photos look like paintings, interesting I thought!
Beautiful gardens at this winery too.
This is a view of the area where we had wine and Joni and I also had Gelato! This was taken from the parking lot.
The working part of the harbor taken from our ferry on the way back in.
An exciting new architectural wonder of a building in progress!
Mussel pods for the restaurant. You can’t get much fresher than that!

Day 3- We woke up to a rainy day so decided to go to a unique underground aquarium……stay tuned!

Rotorua, New Zealand- Days 2 & 3

Day 2- Skyline Rotorua Gondola

The Rotorua Gondola takes you up to the top of Mount Ngongotahã, offering you panoramic views of the lake and surrounding area.
The island is called Mokoia Island and is a sacred site for the Te Drama tribe (Mauri) and an animal sanctuary. You can only visit it as part of a guided tour. The lake is part of an ancient volcanic cauldron thus there is a lot of geothermal activity in the area as well.
This park also has this wheeled Luge track and a Zip Line but we all agreed to leave that for the foolish younger crowd!
Fantastic views from up there though!
Lunchtime visitors.
I made a new friend but he wasn’t very chatty!
Heading back down.
An Irish Pub, we didn’t go in though.
It’s their Fall in March so leaves are changing.
The Australasian Swamphen, known as the Pūkeko in New Zealand.

Rotorua, New Zealand- Day 3

On day 3, we decided to take a guided tour of the town and surrounding area. As you can see from some of these pictures there are steam vents all over the area, They use geothermal energy for home heat and to produce electricity.
Entering the world’s youngest geothermal area.
One of the many, many caravans we’ve seen over here!
It was amazing to me that these ducks could tolerate the hot water and rather toxic water!
Steam vents everywhere.
An explanation of the Waiotapu geothermal make up.
A group picture cleverly arranged according to height!
Bubbling mud pots all over
Very much like Yellowstone but much younger!
This is Lady Knox Geiser. It’s unique in that they can make it erupt for their daily show by pouring a cup of laundry detergent into it!
It was kind of a grey day so the colors are more muted than normal.
The Sulpher smell wasn’t as bad as we anticipated, although it did give Joni a headache.
Unless of course you didn’t like them that much anyway!
The birds and ducks here are obviously used to this toxic smelling water.
Moving on to the “normal” water views.
What you lookin’ at?!
One of their thermal electric plants.
And here is something you don’t see every day, McDonalds Taupo Restaurant with an airplane!
For you avid golfers, a hole in one challenge. You tee off from the shoreline.
One of the smarter ducks not in the toxic water from before!
An interesting art exhibit.
Joni and Lane talking with our wonderful local guide. Sorry, we’re all old and can’t remember her name!
This is a map of the Wairakei Tourist Park area we’re in.
A very fast and long rapids/falls!
They have this tour boat that takes you right up to the falls. Kind of a mini version of the Maid of the Mist boats at Niagara Falls.
This was a pool on private land that the owner allows all the locals to use.
On our way “home” for the night, then off Auckland in the morning.

Rotorua, New Zealand- Day 1

On our first day here we Ubered to this Mitai Village dinner and show, very similar to the Luaus in Hawaii.
They have the traditional pit where the food is cooked, it smelled amazingly good!
The traditional pig
Really good sweet potatoes and the chicken ( wrapped in foil, I assume so it doesn’t taste like the pork).
After dinner we walked down to the river to see the shows performers arriving in their tribal canoes (called Wakas in the Mauri language) for the show.
It was an amazing show too!
Here they are tossing those sticks across the stage to each other. It was very fast action, kind of like juggling with multiple people at once!
If you’re a Mauri child, I wouldn’t recommend pissing mom off!
The facial tattoos are Mauri tradition and are meant to look fearsome, it’s working!
Or dad either!
Doesn’t Joni look fearsome here?