Short trip to New Zealand in February 2017, with a visit to Queenstown on the South Island, and Auckland on the North Island. Our accomodation was in Queenstown, which is perfectly based for day trips. Short drive from Queenstown is the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown in the Otago region. Arrowtown is located on the banks of the Arrow River.
The history of Cromwell dates back to the gold rush days of the 1800’s. In the 1980’s and 90’s, Cromwell underwent a major transformation with the construction of the Clyde Dam Power Station. When completed in 1992, the valley behind the power station was flooded to create Lake Dunstan. As a result, the original site of Cromwell’s historic business district at the junction of the Kawarau and Clutha Rivers now lies at the bottom of the lake.
Cardrona was established as a gold rush township in the 1860’s on the banks of a small river with same name. The Cardrona Alpine Resort and Mount Cardrona are nearby.
Wanaka is a popular ski and summer resort town in the Otago region of the South Island. It is situated at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, and the start of the Clutha River. It is also the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park.
Kingston is a small town at the southernmost end of Lake Wakatipu, just north of the boarder at Otago and Southland. Kingston was originally named St Johns after Police Commissioner St. John Branigan.
Kawarau Gorge. The Kawarau River flows through the gorge which is located between the towns of Queenstown and Cromwell. The Roaring Meg hydro scheme and Goldfields Mining Centre are in the gorge. Bungy jumping at the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, white-water sports and river boarding can also be found here.
Glenorchy. This rustic town is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Set against a background of native beech forest, and towering mountain ranges.
The Remarkables are a mountain range and ski field in Otago in the south Island. The mountains were named by Alexander Grave in 1857-58, allegedly because they are only two mountain ranges in the world which run directly north to south.
Our stay in Auckland was at Mount Hobson in the suburb of Remuera. The accomodation was very central, with only a five minute drive into Auckland. Train station and motorways right on the doorstep with little chance of being stuck in traffic.
Whangarei, the city by the sea. Situated to the North of Whangarei city is the 26m high Whangarei Falls surrounded by park and native New Zealand bush.
Puhoi is a settlement located approximately 50 km north of Auckland. The name Puhoi is translated as “Slow Water”. It was settled by Europeans on 29th June 1863 by a group of German-speaking migrants from Staab in Bohemia, now a province of the Czech Republic.
Thames is a town at the southwest end of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand’s North Island. It is located on the Firth of Thames close to the mouth of the Waihou River.
Cornwall Park. Expansive parkland in Epsom near the heart of Auckland.
Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand extends 85 km north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the west from the Pacific Ocean.
Also home to Stuart a 70 year old who lives with wild pigs! A happy go luck person who enjoys a good yarn.
