Just to let everyone know, we are home now, safe and sound and in great health.
the pics are starting to be put up slowly as I have about 900 and will be editing through them and adding them as I have time.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ErnieRHennig
Monday 28 March 2011
Thursday 24 March 2011
March 25, 2011
Well, the time is nearly running out.
Just in Auckland now, returned the car and are doing some exploring of Auckland
We had lots of rain on the Coromandel Peninsula, in fact the roads were flooded in all directions leaving Whitianga, a tour bus with 48 individuals was carred away and had to be rescued, also a pair of elderly drivers, All okay.
We had to delay our drive over the Coromandel a couple of hours until the flood waters and landslides were cleared.
Drove over to Coromandel Town, similar to Greenwood/Nelson, very frontier mining.
Checked in to Miranda Hot Springs and stayed, swam in the hot springs and got black fly bites....
Next day drove in to Auckland and toured volcano cones, and yesterday went to Waiheke Island for the day.
Today it is just getting ready for our flights to Sydney then Vancouver.
Hope all is going well
Ernie and Jean
Just in Auckland now, returned the car and are doing some exploring of Auckland
We had lots of rain on the Coromandel Peninsula, in fact the roads were flooded in all directions leaving Whitianga, a tour bus with 48 individuals was carred away and had to be rescued, also a pair of elderly drivers, All okay.
We had to delay our drive over the Coromandel a couple of hours until the flood waters and landslides were cleared.
Drove over to Coromandel Town, similar to Greenwood/Nelson, very frontier mining.
Checked in to Miranda Hot Springs and stayed, swam in the hot springs and got black fly bites....
Next day drove in to Auckland and toured volcano cones, and yesterday went to Waiheke Island for the day.
Today it is just getting ready for our flights to Sydney then Vancouver.
Hope all is going well
Ernie and Jean
Sunday 20 March 2011
March 21, 2011
What! It has been a few days since I did the last blog.
After Napier, we headed to Gisborne, similar to Napier but the beach was much nicer, sand instead of rocks. We then headed to the Pacific Coast Highway and drove around the East Cape. Jean was getting seasick driving the twists, turns corners and winding ing highway that has not changed in 21 years, except they are paved now.
We stopped many times, took lots of pictures of the beaches, waves and surf. I'll bore you with them again.
Stopped by Hicks Bay Hotel and stayed the night, a 1950's style motel, but clean charming and a GREAT view. Swam at the Opototo Beach.
Next day headed off to Whangatane, stayed 2 nights, mostly because I wanted to take the White Island Cruise, a Six hour cruise and tour of an active volcano. I booked the tour and then spent 2-3 hours crashing in the surf, and loving it....
Next day, I went to on the cruise, Jean would have been seasick so I went by myself, and 76 other tourists.
It is like Mt St Helens, in the water. Again, tons more pics will be done when I get home.
Yesterday, we headed to the Coromandel Peninsula and drove up to Whitianga. Cloudy, and warm. Headed up to Hot Water Beach, and dug my toes into the sand, and nearly burned them...
Too many tourists, so I could not dig a pit in the sand. They left when the tide came up, and then tehre was no point. Just imagine a hot spring bubbling up through the sand on the beach.
Last night it started raining, so a perfect time to catch up on the blog, and let everyone know all is okay...
Headign over to the other side of the Coromandel Peninsula, on our way back to Auckland for our flight back home...
Hope all is well, there.
Happy First Day of Spring..
Ernie and Jean
After Napier, we headed to Gisborne, similar to Napier but the beach was much nicer, sand instead of rocks. We then headed to the Pacific Coast Highway and drove around the East Cape. Jean was getting seasick driving the twists, turns corners and winding ing highway that has not changed in 21 years, except they are paved now.
We stopped many times, took lots of pictures of the beaches, waves and surf. I'll bore you with them again.
Stopped by Hicks Bay Hotel and stayed the night, a 1950's style motel, but clean charming and a GREAT view. Swam at the Opototo Beach.
Next day headed off to Whangatane, stayed 2 nights, mostly because I wanted to take the White Island Cruise, a Six hour cruise and tour of an active volcano. I booked the tour and then spent 2-3 hours crashing in the surf, and loving it....
Next day, I went to on the cruise, Jean would have been seasick so I went by myself, and 76 other tourists.
It is like Mt St Helens, in the water. Again, tons more pics will be done when I get home.
Yesterday, we headed to the Coromandel Peninsula and drove up to Whitianga. Cloudy, and warm. Headed up to Hot Water Beach, and dug my toes into the sand, and nearly burned them...
Too many tourists, so I could not dig a pit in the sand. They left when the tide came up, and then tehre was no point. Just imagine a hot spring bubbling up through the sand on the beach.
Last night it started raining, so a perfect time to catch up on the blog, and let everyone know all is okay...
Headign over to the other side of the Coromandel Peninsula, on our way back to Auckland for our flight back home...
Hope all is well, there.
Happy First Day of Spring..
Ernie and Jean
Monday 14 March 2011
March 12, 13, 14, 2011
Beautiful warm, sunny days this weekend. New Plymouth was nice, and a spectacular volcano hovering over the entire area. We ached from the hike from the 4.5 hour hike on the volcano.
We drove down from New Plymouth to Paraparaumu, about a half hour north of Wellington. It is a beautiful coastal village, with an island off the coast. Took some nice sunset shots. We went into Wellington on Sunday, took a ride up the cable car and walked around in the downtown core. Did the tourist walk, it was in the book once I realized "WE DID IT"
Imagine Vancouver's False Creek, but bigger and a much smaller city as the backdrop.
The roads around NZ are quite well maintained, a bit twisty and they are now starting to twin or add passing lanes. Until this morning....
Headed out to drive from Paraparaumu and a nice side road to Upper Hutt, to get to Napier. Well, it is a hellish, twisty, winding, tight corners, a roller coaster of a ride. I thought the Akaroa Peninsula road on the South Island was bad, this was worse, and scary...We got into Upper Hutt, and then started to drive another pass, Unbelievable. Thinking we had a 3 hour drive to Napier turned into almost 6.
The wine country is like the Okanagan, but BIGGER and the wines are delicious.
Got into Napier, and walked around the beach, and admired the Art Deco buildings knowing it was all built after the 7.8 earthquake in 1931...hmmm 70 years ago...and thinking, is it going to happen here again???? and when??
Staying here a couple of nights before we head up to Rotorua, (more volcanoes)...
We drove down from New Plymouth to Paraparaumu, about a half hour north of Wellington. It is a beautiful coastal village, with an island off the coast. Took some nice sunset shots. We went into Wellington on Sunday, took a ride up the cable car and walked around in the downtown core. Did the tourist walk, it was in the book once I realized "WE DID IT"
Imagine Vancouver's False Creek, but bigger and a much smaller city as the backdrop.
The roads around NZ are quite well maintained, a bit twisty and they are now starting to twin or add passing lanes. Until this morning....
Headed out to drive from Paraparaumu and a nice side road to Upper Hutt, to get to Napier. Well, it is a hellish, twisty, winding, tight corners, a roller coaster of a ride. I thought the Akaroa Peninsula road on the South Island was bad, this was worse, and scary...We got into Upper Hutt, and then started to drive another pass, Unbelievable. Thinking we had a 3 hour drive to Napier turned into almost 6.
The wine country is like the Okanagan, but BIGGER and the wines are delicious.
Got into Napier, and walked around the beach, and admired the Art Deco buildings knowing it was all built after the 7.8 earthquake in 1931...hmmm 70 years ago...and thinking, is it going to happen here again???? and when??
Staying here a couple of nights before we head up to Rotorua, (more volcanoes)...
Friday 11 March 2011
Waganui Saturday March 12, 2001
Hi all
After climbing Mt Taranaki (a volcano) near New Plymouth, for 4.5 hours in a perfect weather, we came to our hotel to see there was a huge eathquake and tsunami in Japan. There is a tsunami advisory and alert for the North Island, and it did hit but was only 15cm-40cm high, and of course we are not that close to the water....
We are in Wanganui and will be heading to either Wellington or Rotorua after today. Taking our time and driving and enjoying the scenery. Morning drives are great, good shots, and walking and exploring in the afternoon. and wine in the evening. Lots of great red wines in NZ
All is well and will update again
Ernie and Jean
Wednesday 2 March 2011
March 3, 2011
Hi all
Landed in Christchurch yesterday afternoon. Picked up the car and headed straight over to Akaroa, on the Banks Peninsula, Stayed in a very nice motel and had a great night sleep. Did not feel any aftershocks, as they had mentioned that happen daily.
We drove out this morning and headed down to Oamaru, on the east coast. Staying at a B&B here, and in town checking out the emails.
If anyone has any comments or questions, please emil me at ernierhennig@gmail.com
or JeanStL@shaw.ca Would love to read anything from you all.
Off to the pub and dinner...
Ernie and Jean
Landed in Christchurch yesterday afternoon. Picked up the car and headed straight over to Akaroa, on the Banks Peninsula, Stayed in a very nice motel and had a great night sleep. Did not feel any aftershocks, as they had mentioned that happen daily.
We drove out this morning and headed down to Oamaru, on the east coast. Staying at a B&B here, and in town checking out the emails.
If anyone has any comments or questions, please emil me at ernierhennig@gmail.com
or JeanStL@shaw.ca Would love to read anything from you all.
Off to the pub and dinner...
Ernie and Jean
Monday 28 February 2011
March 1, 2011
Here we are in Sydney. The trip in was fine, Slept most of teh way. The lineup through customs was LONG. Made it through okay and then headed to the Center where we checked in.
Walked around Randwick, the area we are staying. ate something and tried to stay up for as long as possible to clear our jet lagged minds.
I napped for 3 hours, and then went for Thai food. And then slept.
On sunday we got up refreshed and headed down to the Sydney Opera House, and The Rocks. Touristy and familiar as we have done that before. Discovered the New South Wales Wine Festival and got 10 tickets and tried many Merlots.
Headed back to the Center, and again rested. Met a very nice couple from Snowy Mountains, Mary and Sid.
We relaxed again, went to bed fairly early and got up again early.
Monday we needed to book out tickets to Christchurch, and the Car. All okay
After that we took teh train to Wentworth Falls and did a beautiful hike, then got a torrrential thunderstorm An adventure. Did the walk , headed back into town and took the train back to Sydney. Grabbed a bite to eat and then cleaned up.
Tuesday morning, we are getting ready for tomorrow's departure to Christchurch, tonight it is Tom's birthday, we will drop in this evening with some wine and a card.
That's about it for now
Am I miising the cold??? NO! It will be 36C here today, HA! HA!
Love
Ernie and Jean
Walked around Randwick, the area we are staying. ate something and tried to stay up for as long as possible to clear our jet lagged minds.
I napped for 3 hours, and then went for Thai food. And then slept.
On sunday we got up refreshed and headed down to the Sydney Opera House, and The Rocks. Touristy and familiar as we have done that before. Discovered the New South Wales Wine Festival and got 10 tickets and tried many Merlots.
Headed back to the Center, and again rested. Met a very nice couple from Snowy Mountains, Mary and Sid.
We relaxed again, went to bed fairly early and got up again early.
Monday we needed to book out tickets to Christchurch, and the Car. All okay
After that we took teh train to Wentworth Falls and did a beautiful hike, then got a torrrential thunderstorm An adventure. Did the walk , headed back into town and took the train back to Sydney. Grabbed a bite to eat and then cleaned up.
Tuesday morning, we are getting ready for tomorrow's departure to Christchurch, tonight it is Tom's birthday, we will drop in this evening with some wine and a card.
That's about it for now
Am I miising the cold??? NO! It will be 36C here today, HA! HA!
Love
Ernie and Jean
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