We have more to see of NZ's north island, as we head our way up towards Auckland. Bad weather set in and that made it harder to get excited about sightseeing, It held off long enough for a visit to the Tongariro National Park, where we see the ski slopes and can visulize how busy this place would be in the winter. We take a two hour hike to a waterfall that takes us up a mountain, across a windswept grass plateau and down another mountain. Reversing this was...

We were several hours out of Sydney when the pilot came on the intercom asking if there was a doctor on board!! (I know sounds like the beginning of a joke). A few minutes later the request was repeated, then shortly after a new request for any one with medical experience. Following a short delay, the pilots next announcement was we were to make a brief landing in Auckland. The plane landed at Auckland, New Zealand and all passengers were asked to disembark and...