Tag: KiwiExperience
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Redwood forest and Huka Falls
Pickup time was 9:30 and the next destination was just around the corner. So we got to walk around a little bit more today. First stop was a redwood forest just outside of Rotorua. They planted it when the loggers realized that the big Kauri trees they where cutting down actually where thousands of years…
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A night with the Maori
Tonight be had the chance to sleep on a reconstructed Maori village (with a few addons) and eat some hangi (dish cooked in the earth). After a more informal greeting by our hosts we got the chance to try our hand at a few stick games and some flax production. Of course only after we…
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A visit to Hobbiton
After we had a cider in the local pub and a good nights sleep in a nice lodge the next planned stop was Hobbiton. Or at least the place where the Hobbiton scenes of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit where filmed. The first contract stated that the film crews had to revert…
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Down down into the hole we go
Today was a pay or get bored kind of day. The place we went to was in the middle of nowhere and the reason we went there are some caves that are inhabited by glowworms. Those cannibalistic maggots have silk strings hanging from them and produce bioluminescence as a byproduct of their digestion. The light…
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Cathedral cove
After hotwater beach we had an appointment with cathedral cove. Which in the end is another hole in the rock. The kayaking tour had been cancelled because of forecast thunderstorms. So whoever wanted to go there (the whole bus) had to walk Nice views all the way. Just somewhat cloudy. And then it started to…
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Hotwater beach
The first part of the day was filled with driving through the Coromandel peninsula running for the tide at Hotwater beach. Hotwater beach got its name because of some faults pushing hot water to the top at a very few spots. They are only usable an hour before and after low tide as well. At…
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A blown tire
After the shocker with the child in the water the drive back to Auckland was all the excitement we had to expect for the rest of the day. The trip was supposed to be pretty uneventful. Had the main road had not beem closed because a milk truck rolled over and the milk all coagulated…
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Kauri Trees
Kauri trees are the biggest trees in New Zealand. Not the highest. The trees where massive (40-50 meters high with a diameter of 5 meters) and almost everywhere in the North Island as it seemed. To make it even better the wood is always straight, smooth and does not contain those ugly holes produced by…
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Auckland to Pahia
Today is the first ride with Kiwi Experience. Pickup is at 6:55 hours a few meters away from my hostel. So got to get up early. The Bus is not extra comfy, comparable to the big european travel buses. After a few stops to pick up people we are on our way out of Auckland.…