FIJI. #102 20 March 2011 Departed Auckland noonish on Sunday for a direct flight to Nadi, Fiji. Transfer was arranged and so taken to the "First Landing" resort. Pretty much just settled in and fiddled around before dinner. There was a Polynesian show that evening, but the room was full, so blessedly, we ate just outside, entertained, but neither overwhelmed by the loud music, nor forced to pay attention for politeness' ...

Photo: Auckland from the harbour. You might want to save reading this for bedtime, as I don't have much exciting to report. Flew from Dunedin on 07 March, and straight out to the Coromandel peninsula to the town of Whitianga. Not to be confused w Whakatane, Wanganui, Waiakanae or even Whangarai or Waitangi. Something that's easy to do sailing down the only real stretch of road in the country, looking for your exit. The "wh" is pronounced with an f sound ...

Photo: Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island, from our balcony. I have been negligent, now March, and I'll play catch up. Down the west coast past the Fox and Franz Joseph glaciers. From the road you can look over the tops of palm trees to see the glaciers. Not something we see at home! Thru the Haast Pass to Wanaka for 3 nights in a nice modern apartment. Poor weather in Wanaka. Went to "Puzzling World", worth the price of admission just for the "Ames roo...

New Zealand has a great many wonderful 3-5 day walking tracks. The QCT is distinguished by the fact that your big pack or luggage is moved for you daily by water taxi, leaving you to hike, mountain bike or sea kayak (or a combination of all three) from one spot to the next. There are campgrounds, b&b's and 4 and 5 star lodges to choose from along the way. We started at the end of the track, km 71, Ship Cove. This is the place where Captain Cook spent ov...

Late into Christchurch, had one hot day there and one drizzly and wet. A very English city. Double decker buses, gardens and even punting on the Avon. Picked up the car and SE to the Banks Peninsula. Decided on 2 nights in Akaroa. (Maori- "long bay"). This town has an interesting history. Seems the French had a look at it and decided it would be a nice little add-on to their Pacific holdings, and so went back to France to round up a few settlers. Seven da...