Out & About...New Zealand: 2013

Like all Journeys they begin with that first step and end with the last one stepping back into ones home crib. The decision began back in December 2012 when I awoke one morning with a message from dream world to head on down under to New Zealand. I negotiated with Ms. Maralyce about dates and timing to do such an adventure. I had always had a desire to travel to NZ and photograph it's landscapes. The date was set for early May and I wandered into One World travel and spoke with Angelica about making flight arrangements and camper van rental. We like to support local businesses and Angelica is great at diligently working out the details...its her job! Renting a camper van was the best choice for the trip as it allows you freedom to be in the moment with your lodging/meals...no hassle in searching out for a place to stay every night or where to eat out and it cuts your costs in half. NZ is also very camper friendly with places to pull over the side of the road or very organized campgrounds with kitchen facilities and other amenities. NZ tourism office is very accommodating in providing maps and campground facilities located in the Islands.
We didn't have an itinerary or agenda, nor did we do much research...wanted to be virgins and have our own experience...just point ourselves in a direction and see where the road took us at the end of the day. The only restriction we had was to be in Christchurch by May 27th. Angelica and a few other people including New Zealanders did share some of their experiences of places to visit and we did use that information as a guide.
Here is a link to a map that shows our route and stops from Auckland to Christchurch https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=ml.
Here are some Stats & Observations of our adventure:

Total Kms. traveled = 2,660 km
Thermal pools visited = 6 (Kerosene Creek a favorite)
Favorite Village = Akaroa
Favorite City = Wellington
Best meal out = Green Lip Mussel Platter at the Mussel Pot Restaurant, Havelock
Best Sunset = Seal Cove, Westport
Twisty scenic road = Queen Charlotte Hwy. from Picton - Havelock
Days of Sunshine = 15 out of 20 days
Avg. Day time temp. = 65
NZ population = 4.5 million
Coastline = more than the entire USA.
Regrets = not enough time to see the lower half of the South Island (good excuse to go back)

We found the people of NZ to be friendly, helpful, prideful of their country, and extremely green oriented. We never saw garbage along the road nor were the waterways polluted. The people are engaging but you have to initiate the conversation. We both agreed that everything is the exact opposite of the Arizona desert...extremely green & damp, drive on the right side of the road, opposite seasons (Xmas in the middle of Summer, Santa in a speedo!?), no border issues to hassle over, never more than 50km from a body of water.

Now on to the final photo album of our trip. These photos are in general more artistic than just another pretty snapshot. FYI...some of you may be curious about the cameras I used on the trip. All of the panorama photos were made with my iPad using the autostich app., Nikon D5100 with a 18-200mm lens, Canon G12, and GoPro camera for both still and video (I have accumulated about 100 hrs. of video that I will edit down to a 10 minute video and post on Vimeo sometime this Summer).

Thanks go out to Angelica of One World travel for her efforts, Kim Terpening for turning me on to Dan Burkholders workshop on iPhone/iPad photography in Santa Fe and Dan Burkholder for all the great apps. and how to get the most out of them...look forward to hosting you for a workshop here in Bisbee next Fall/Winter. Neil & Sally for their warmth and hospitality in Wellington, all the New Zealanders we came in contact with that made our trip rich. Lastly we would like to Thank all of you that have followed this blog and commented...much appreciated to have an audience living vicariously with us.

Have a splendid Summer and we'll catch up with you on the road somewhere!

Chuck & Maralyce

P.S. Also check out my friends recent traveling blog Curt & Sharon Stetter's journey back East http://curt-stetter.blogspot.com

Picton Harbor (Ferry landing on the South Island) early morning.

Rugged West Coast of New Zealand.

Palm tree jungle at the beginning of the Heaphy track, Karamea

Early morning tracks on an isolated beach Karamea.

Sunset at Seal Cove South of Westport.

Swing bridge at the beginning of the Heaphy track into the Palm Tree forest, Karamea.

Maralyce progresses on an isolated estuary beach, Karamea.

Last light... Cape Foulwind West Coast .

In search of the last wave of the day...Cape Foulwind.

Palm Trees at sunset Akaroa.

Park bench along the Akaroa harbor

Art wear Coat Ms. M purchased from Lorraine at her gallery 'Art et Fare' in Akaroa

Gallery setting at 'Art et Fare'. We are making arrangements to acquire these one of a kind coats at 'PanTerra' this Fall.

Ms. M takes in the sunshine Akaora Harbour

Akaroa lighthouse where we left one of three beads left in special places courtesy of Kate Wilkerson.

Main St. Akaroa

Boathouses on the bay at Duvauchelle

My token sheep shot in the Tapawera valley.

View from our campsite looking down on Akoroa harbor

Having one last hot thermal waterfall bath, Hanmer Springs.

Ms. M having a difficult time parting the thermal hot pools at Hanmer Springs.

Ms. M views the seals from the Seal cove overlook.

Baby seals frolicking in Seal cove.

This is Hwy. 6 etched into the mountain side along the Buller river gorge.

Tearoom in Reefton (delicious bowl of latte) just before entering Lewis pass.

Very nice old Hotel in Reefton.

End of the beach where we left the first Kate Wilkerson bead... the river meets the ocean, Karamea.

No fear on the swing bridge at the beginning of the Heaphy track, Karamea.

Seal cove from the parking area.

The last bead given to a Maori boy named Ricky on our flight from Christchurch to Auckland.

Parting shot of New Zealand, 'clouds from Above' as we headed back to Bisbee.

Suggested routes

2,203 km, 33 hours

State Highway 75

Driving directions to Christchurch International Airport

This route has tolls.

This route includes a ferry.

Auckland Airport, Auckland

New Zealand

	1. Head northwest on George Bolt Memorial Drive
		81 m
	2. At the roundabout, take the 4th exit and stay on George Bolt Memorial Drive
		450 m
	3. Turn left onto Tom Pearce Drive Go through 1 roundabout
		1.4 km
	4. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoPuhinui Rd
		4.0 km
	5. Turn right onto the State Highway 20 ramp to Manukau
		350 m
	6. Keep right at the fork and merge ontoSouth-Western Motorway/State Highway 20
		3.3 km
	7. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for State Highway 1 S/Hamilton and merge onto SH 1
		29.8 km
	8. Take exit 477 for State Highway 2 towardCoromandel Peninsula/Tauranga
		400 m
	9. Merge onto SH 2
		7.5 km
	10. Slight left toward State Hwy
		350 m
	11. Continue straight onto State Hwy
		5.4 km
	12. Slight left onto Mangatangi Rd
		4.5 km
	13. Continue onto Miranda Rd
		11.4 km

68.9 km – about 51 mins

Miranda

New Zealand

	14. Head southeast on Miranda Rd towardEast Coast Rd
		750 m
	15. Take the 1st right to stay on Miranda Rd
		1.6 km
	16. Continue onto Front Miranda Rd
		7.3 km
	17. Turn left onto State Highway 25
		18.1 km
	18. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoNgati Maru Hwy/State Highway 26 Continue to follow Ngati Maru Hwy
		4.9 km
	19. Continue onto Jellicoe Cres/State Highway 25 Continue to follow State Highway 25 Go through 1 roundabout
		55.0 km
	20. Continue onto Tiki Rd
		260 m

87.9 km – about 1 hour 21 mins

Coromandel

New Zealand

	21. Head southeast on Tiki Rd toward Pound St
		3.3 km
	22. Continue onto Manaia Rd/State Highway 25
		190 m
	23. Turn left onto The 309 Rd
		21.2 km
	24. Turn right onto Tairua Whitianga Rd/State Highway 25
		18.5 km
	25. Turn left onto Hot Water Beach Rd
		7.9 km

51.0 km – about 1 hour 1 min

Hot Water Beach

New Zealand

	26. Head southwest on Hot Water Beach Rdtoward Orua Ln
		7.9 km
	27. Turn left onto Tairua Whitianga Rd/State Highway 25 Continue to follow State Highway 25
		28.7 km
	28. Turn left onto Tairua Rd/State Highway 25
		19.5 km
	29. Turn right to stay on Tairua Rd/State Highway 25
		3.5 km
	30. Turn right onto Port Rd/State Highway 25 Continue to follow State Highway 25
		28.3 km
	31. Turn left onto Gilmour St
		700 m
	32. Turn left onto Tauranga Rd/SH 2 Continue to follow SH 2
		12.2 km
	33. Turn left onto Athenree Rd
		1.9 km
	34. Take the 1st right to stay on Athenree Rd
		1.5 km

104 km – about 1 hour 35 mins

Athenree

New Zealand

	35. Head west on Athenree Rd towardSandleigh Drive
		1.5 km
	36. Turn left to stay on Athenree Rd
		1.9 km
	37. Turn left onto Katikati North Rd/SH 2 Continue to follow SH 2 Go through 2 roundabouts
		44.3 km
	38. Take the State Highway 2 ramp toAirport/Mount Maunganui/Whakatane/City Centre
		80 m
	39. Merge onto Tamatea Arikinui Drive/SH 2 Continue to follow SH 2
		2.5 km
	40. Continue straight onto Takitimu Drive
		1.9 km
	41. Continue onto SH 2
		2.5 km
	42. Turn left onto Totara St Go through 1 roundabout
		2.6 km
	43. Turn right onto Rata St
		55 m
	44. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoMaunganui Rd Go through 1 roundabout
		500 m

57.8 km – about 50 mins

Mt Maunganui, Tauranga

New Zealand

	45. Head south on Maunganui Rd towardBanks Ave Go through 1 roundabout
		500 m
	46. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit ontoRata St
		96 m
	47. Turn left onto Totara St Go through 1 roundabout
		2.6 km
	48. Turn right onto Hewletts Rd/SH 2 Continue to follow SH 2
		4.0 km
	49. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit ontoTakitimu Drive/SH 2 Continue to follow Takitimu Drive Partial toll road
		7.7 km
	50. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit ontoState Highway 36 Go through 3 roundabouts
		41.8 km
	51. Slight left onto Tauranga Direct Rd/State Highway 36
		23 m
	52. Turn right onto Hamurana Rd/State Highway 36 Continue to follow State Highway 36
		6.6 km
	53. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoNgongotaha Rd/SH 5 Continue to follow SH 5
		4.3 km
	54. Slight left onto Lake Rd
		1.3 km
	55. Turn right onto Ranolf St Go through 1 roundabout
		850 m
	56. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoPukuatua St Go through 1 roundabout
		240 m

69.9 km – about 1 hour 8 mins

Rotorua

New Zealand

	57. Head east on Pukuatua St towardTutanekai St
		350 m
	58. Take the 2nd right onto Fenton St
		2.4 km
	59. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit ontoFenton St/SH 30 Continue to follow SH 30
		2.1 km
	60. Continue onto State Hwy/SH 5
		7.7 km
	61. Turn right onto Tumunui Rd (signs forWaikite Valley/Ngakuru)
		9.2 km
	62. Turn left onto Corbett Rd
		2.5 km
	63. Continue onto Hossack Rd
		5.1 km
	64. Turn left onto Waikite Valley Rd
		850 m

30.3 km – about 28 mins

Waikite Valley

New Zealand

	65. Head east on Waikite Valley Rd towardCorbett Rd
		9.4 km
	66. Turn right onto State Hwy/SH 5 (signs forRotorua/State Highway 5) Continue to follow SH 5 Go through 1 roundabout
		53.9 km
	67. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoNapier-Taupo Rd/SH 5 Continue to follow SH 5
		122 km
	68. Turn right onto Main North Rd/SH 2 (signs for State Highway 2/Napier/Hastings/Airport)
		9.0 km
	69. Slight left onto SH 2
		2.4 km
	70. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit ontoHyderabad Rd/SH 2/State Highway 50heading to Napier/Hastings Continue to follow Hyderabad Rd/SH 2 Go through 2 roundabouts
		1.2 km
	71. Continue onto Thackeray St
		950 m
	72. Turn left onto Tennyson St
		74 m

199 km – about 2 hours 20 mins

Napier

New Zealand

	73. Head southwest on Tennyson St towardStation St
		210 m
	74. Continue onto Kennedy Rd
		3.5 km
	75. Merge onto Napier Hastings Expressway/State Highway 50 via the ramp to Hastings/Wellington
		6.1 km
	76. Turn right onto Links Rd/State Highway 50 (signs for Fernhill/Taihape) Continue to follow Links Rd
		1.8 km
	77. Turn left onto Korokipo Rd/State Highway 50 Continue to follow State Highway 50
		8.6 km
	78. Turn right onto State Hwy/State Highway 50
		9.4 km
	79. Turn right to stay on State Hwy/State Highway 50 (signs for Wellington/Tikokino) Continue to follow State Highway 50
		61.8 km
	80. Turn right onto State Hwy/SH 2 (signs forDannevirke/Wellington/State Highway 2) Continue to follow SH 2
		58.8 km
	81. Continue onto Vogel St/SH 3 (signs forPalmerston North/State Highway 3) Continue to follow SH 3
		11.8 km
	82. Turn left onto Fitzherbert East Rd/State Highway 57 (signs for Levin) Continue to follow State Highway 57
		14.6 km
	83. Turn left onto Old West Rd/Turitea Rd/State Highway 57 Continue to follow Old West Rd/State Highway 57
		3.7 km
	84. Turn left onto Tennent Drive/State Highway 57 Continue to follow State Highway 57
		25.3 km
	85. Turn left onto Ballance St/State Highway 57 Continue to follow State Highway 57
		17.8 km
	86. Turn right onto Kimberley Rd/State Highway 57
		2.1 km
	87. Turn left onto South Rd/SH 1 Continue to follow SH 1 Go through 3 roundabouts
		88.2 km
	88. Take the The Terrace exit toward Kelburn
		650 m
	89. Turn right onto The Terrace
		61 m
	90. Take the exit toward Te Aro
		140 m
	91. Merge onto Boulcott St
		400 m
	92. Turn left onto Willis St
		350 m

315 km – about 3 hours 55 mins

Wellington

New Zealand

	93. Head northeast on Customhouse Quaytoward Willeston St
		280 m
	94. Slight left onto Jervois Quay
		43 m
	95. Continue onto Customhouse Quay
		250 m
	96. Continue onto Waterloo Quay (signs forState Highway 1/2)
		230 m
	97. Turn right
		44 m
	98. Take the 1st left
		400 m
	99. Take the Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry to Waimate Toll road
		96.5 km
	100. Continue straight onto Waimate Hwy/State Highway 1
		220 m
	101. Turn left onto State Highway 1
		650 m
	102. Turn right onto Dublin St (signs forQueen Charlotte Drive)
		400 m

99.0 km – about 4 hours 1 min

Picton

New Zealand

	103. Head west on Dublin St
		51 m
	104. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit ontoQueen Charlotte Drive
		32.8 km
	105. Continue onto Mahakipawa Rd
		400 m
	106. Turn right onto State Hwy/State Highway 6 (signs for Havelock/Nelson)
		300 m

33.5 km – about 42 mins

Havelock

New Zealand

	107. Head north on State Hwy/State Highway 6 toward Kavanagh Pl
		72.9 km
	108. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoTrafalgar St
		650 m

73.6 km – about 52 mins

Nelson

New Zealand

	109. Head south on Trafalgar St towardHalifax St
		15 m
	110. Take the 1st right onto Halifax St
		250 m
	111. Take the 1st left onto Rutherford St
		1.2 km
	112. Continue onto Waimea Rd
		3.7 km
	113. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit ontoWhakatu Drive Go through 1 roundabout
		950 m
	114. Slight left onto State Hwy/State Highway 6 (signs for Richmond/Westport) Continue to follow State Highway 6 Go through 1 roundabout
		8.8 km
	115. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit ontoAppleby Hwy/State Highway 60 Continue to follow State Highway 60
		22.9 km
	116. Continue straight onto Aporo Rd
		350 m
	117. Continue onto The Coastal Hwy/State Highway 60 Continue to follow State Highway 60 Go through 1 roundabout
		16.0 km
	118. Turn right onto Main Road Riwaka/State Highway 60
		750 m
	119. Turn left onto Takaka Hill Hwy/State Highway 60
		120 m
	120. Turn right onto Riwaka-Sandy Bay Rd
		7.0 km
	121. Continue onto Sandy Bay-Marahau Rd
		1.9 km

63.9 km – about 1 hour 6 mins

Marahau

New Zealand

	122. Head south on Sandy Bay-Marahau Rdtoward Otuwhero Valley Rd
		1.9 km
	123. Continue onto Riwaka-Sandy Bay Rd
		7.0 km
	124. Turn left onto Takaka Hill Hwy/State Highway 60
		140 m
	125. Take the 2nd right onto Main Road Riwaka/State Highway 60
		750 m
	126. Turn left to stay on Main Road Riwaka/State Highway 60
		3.3 km
	127. Turn left to stay on Main Road Riwaka/State Highway 60 Continue to follow State Highway 60
		5.0 km
	128. Turn right onto King Edward St
		1.3 km
	129. Continue onto College St
		2.8 km
	130. Continue onto Motueka Valley Hwy
		42.8 km
	131. Continue onto Main Road Tapawera
		800 m

65.8 km – about 1 hour 1 min

Tapawera

New Zealand

	132. Head south on Main Road Tapawera
		350 m
	133. Continue onto Motueka Valley Hwy
		6.9 km
	134. Turn right onto Kohatu-Kawatiri Hwy/State Highway 6 (signs for Murchison/Westport) Continue to follow State Highway 6
		75.8 km
	135. Continue onto Four Rivers Hwy/State Hwy
		8.6 km
	136. Turn right onto State Highway 6 (signs for Westport/Greymouth)
		40.2 km
	137. Turn right onto State Highway 69
		14 m
	138. Continue straight onto State Highway 6(signs for Westport/Karamea)
		39.1 km
	139. Continue onto Buller Rd/State Highway 67
		4.6 km
	140. Turn right onto State Hwy/State Highway 67 Continue to follow State Highway 67
		1.7 km
	141. Turn right onto State Hwy/State Highway 67
		600 m

178 km – about 2 hours 7 mins

Westport

New Zealand

	142. Head east on State Hwy/State Highway 67 toward Dellaca Pl Continue to follow State Highway 67
		48.2 km
	143. Continue onto Karamea Hwy
		44.1 km
	144. Turn left onto Bridge St
		1.3 km
	145. Take the 1st left onto Waverley St
		1.5 km

95.0 km – about 1 hour 21 mins

Karamea

New Zealand

	146. Head east on Waverley St towardOparara Rd
		1.5 km
	147. Take the 1st right onto Bridge St
		1.3 km
	148. Turn right onto Karamea Hwy
		48.2 km
	149. Continue onto State Hwy/State Highway 67
		2.1 km
	150. Turn left to stay on State Hwy/State Highway 67 Continue to follow State Highway 67
		42.6 km
	151. Turn left onto Palmerston St/State Highway 67 Continue to follow State Highway 67
		1.6 km
	152. Slight left to stay on State Highway 67
		4.6 km
	153. Continue straight onto State Highway 6
		39.0 km
	154. Slight right to stay on State Highway 6
		76 m
	155. Continue onto Reefton Hwy/State Highway 69 (signs for Christchurch) Continue to follow State Highway 69
		32.8 km
	156. Turn right onto Potter St/State Highway 69 Continue to follow State Highway 69
		500 m
	157. Turn left onto State Highway 7 (signs forSpring Junction/Christchurch/Lewis Pass)
		128 km
	158. Turn left onto Hanmer Springs Rd/State Highway 7A Continue to follow State Highway 7A
		9.0 km

311 km – about 3 hours 55 mins

Hanmer Springs

New Zealand

	159. Head south on Amuri Ave/State Highway 7A toward Bath St Continue to follow State Highway 7A
		9.0 km
	160. Turn left onto Mouse Point Rd/State Highway 7 Continue to follow State Highway 7
		67.5 km
	161. Turn right onto Omihi Rd/State Highway 1 Continue to follow State Highway 1
		46.8 km
	162. Continue onto Main North Rd/State Highway 74 (signs for Lyttelton) Continue to follow Main North Rd
		5.5 km
	163. Continue onto Papanui Rd
		400 m
	164. Turn right onto Blighs Rd
		850 m
	165. Continue onto Idris Rd Go through 1 roundabout
		1.8 km
	166. Continue onto Straven Rd
		1.1 km
	167. Continue onto Clarence St
		1.0 km
	168. Continue onto Whiteleigh Ave
		900 m
	169. Turn right onto Lincoln Rd
		1.4 km
	170. Continue onto Halswell Rd
		6.6 km
	171. Continue onto Tai Tapu Rd/State Highway 75 Continue to follow State Highway 75
		69.4 km
	172. Turn right onto Rue Lavaud
		450 m

213 km – about 2 hours 54 mins

Akaroa

New Zealand

	173. Head northeast on Rue Lavaud towardRue Brittan
		450 m
	174. Turn left onto Woodills Rd
		170 m
	175. Continue onto Christchurch Akaroa Rd/State Highway 75 Continue to follow State Highway 75
		71.3 km
	176. Turn left onto Halswell Junction Rd Go through 2 roundabouts
		4.4 km
	177. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit ontoSprings Rd
		1.2 km
	178. Turn left onto Amyes Rd
		1.1 km
	179. Take the 3rd right onto Shands Rd
		180 m
	180. Continue onto Carmen Rd/State Highway 1 Continue to follow State Highway 1
		6.0 km
	181. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoMemorial Ave
		550 m
	182. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit ontoDurey Rd Destination will be on the left
		550 m

85.8 km – about 1 hour 19 mins

Christchurch International Airport

Christchurch Airport, Christchurch 8053

New Zealand

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These directions are for planning purposes only. You may find that construction projects, traffic, weather, or other events may cause conditions to differ from the map results, and you should plan your route accordingly. You must obey all signs or notices regarding your route.

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Out & About...New Zealand

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Out & About New Zealand Day 15 - 20 Conclusion of another Journey.

Suggested routes