Have You Been?, What did you like most?

[CelticRoz]

I have not been to NZ, but my hubby spent three weeks there as he was really seriously thinking of moving there. He spent time on both islands. He loved the people! He spent time driving around on the "other side of the road" LOL and staying in bed and breakfast places so he could get to know the locals better! I have seen photos of his adventures there and they are awesome! Some of the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen! He still talks of going back to visit!

Have any of you been or are from there? I was told there is a rich history of celtic culture and that there is a huge population of ancestry from the UK! Please educate me. I look forward to hearing about New Zealand! Another place I want to go and visit!

[Iain A.D.]

Rose

I know you posted this thread back in 04 but thought I might as well take the opportunity to reply now that I have finally made it over to NZ.

I spent a month there earlier this year, touring and visiting my "wee" brother who I hadnt seen for 3 1/2 years.

Loved the country, it really has everything.

Beautiful scenery, multicultural cities, wonderful friendly people, great beer, you name it.

We (me,wife,mum) travelled from Auckland, up to Northland, down to Christchurch, over the Southern Alps to the Westland (or Wetland as we renamed it), Queenstown, Fiordland, Mount Cook, Nelson, Wellington, Napier, Tongariro,Coromandel, back to Auckland and home again.

It is a very popular country with Scots wanting to emigrate and in return we (here in Scotland) tend to get all their 19-25 year old "gap year" bunch descending on Edinburgh every summer. A lot of NZ is very similar to Scotland although the scenery is probably more spectacular and varied over there. The climate in the north of the country is also more tropical than here.

Highlights of our visit were numerous, but include:

Helicopter ride up to the top of a glacier in Mount Cook National Park. Walking over the untouched snow in the pure silence of the mountains

Doubtful Sound (a fiord) cruise where the mountains literally meet the sea. And where the captain takes great pleasure in pointing out where NZ's West island is...........across the Tasman Sea............





Oz.

"Te Papa" in Wellington is a very fine museum, tells the story of the country and its Maori heritage. There is also a small museum in the Northland which tells the story of the huge NZ tree, the Kauri. I was a bit sceptical about this trip but it was well worth a visit.


Also had fun on jetboat rides up the River Dart near Glenorchy (LOTR Country) and on the Aratiatia Rapids at Taupo.

One thing which did get a bit tedious was the constant and blatant reference to all things LOTR.

We went on a wine/beer tour which included a stop at a brewery which apparently was the "official Lord Of The Rings" brewery for the cast of the film

My brother informed me there were more than 20 "official" LOTR breweries in NZ.

Fabulous place. The only downside was the hellish journeyto get there.

2 x 12 hour flights back to back via Hong Kong

Can highly recommend some lovely B&B's and other accommodation if anyone ever needs it.

[CelticRoz]

Holy cow, Iain! sounds like you had a really terrific time in NZ! If my hubby could move there today, he would do so. He loves that place that much. But I hear there is a huge waiting list to do so. Oh well.

You really saw and did a lot! You took a helicopter ride?! EeP! I am not that brave! LOL

Anyway, care to share pics of your trip?! would love to see them. And anything and everything the LOTR cast members, I am all for and more! They must have had a blast of a time while in NZ!

Speak soon!

[Iain A.D.]

View of Mount Cook Range from helicopter

[Iain A.D.]

Doubtful Sound in Fiordland

[Iain A.D.]

I will link the rest :

[URL=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v685/MidlothIain/NZ%202006/MumsNZPhotosPart1009.jpg]Christchurch

Auckland sky tower

View from Auckland sky tower[/URL]

[Iain A.D.]

OK , cant seem to edit those broken links so I will try again

Christchurch

Auckland sky tower

View from Auckland sky tower

Guard dog in Mangawhai

Glenorchy at Sundown

Lake Manapouri

More to follow

[Iain A.D.]

Crater on Mount Tongariro

Landed on Richardson Glacier !

Mount Cook Range

Forest near Glenorchy

Mitre Peak at Milford Sound


More to follow

[Iain A.D.]

The picture titled "Crater on Mount Tongariro" in the thread above should have said Mount Ruapehu !

View over bay at Nelson from B&B

Emerald Lakes Tongariro

Mount Ngauruhoe crater

Aratiatia Rapid Jet

[CelticRoz]

Outstanding photos, Iain! They were amazing! Can't believe you got into a helicopter though...that would scare me to death...but hey! Whatever it takes, eh? I have the one shot looking down at the city from the heliocopter. They are all amazing shots and thanks so much for sharing!

[Rindy]

Wow Iain, those pictures are beautiful, hope you don't mind me having a look. I would love to go to NZ....Sounds like you had a wonderful time..

ITs good to see you Celtirose...