KiaOra! January 2017. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park! We went across the Northern island from Auckland to Wellinton. I was 9years 1mo.
From Auckland to Wellington by car
HOBBITON, THERMAL PARKS, HUKA FALLS, DINNERS
• Rotorua: HoBbiToN, Te Puia Geothermal & Maori Park
• Tongariro: National Park, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park, Huka Falls
• Wellington: Waterfront, Beatles, TePapa Museum, Botanic Garden
• Best restaurant: Hippopotamus in Museum Art Hotel, Wellington
Rotorua
January 7, 2017. Rotorua, New Zealand.
• By Hyundai car from Auckland via Hamilton to Rotorua, 230km
• Hotel Holiday Inn, Rotorua, New Zealand, room 615, 3 nights
We woke up at five o'clock in Cook Island Rarotonga, arrived the same day evening to Rotorua (meaning Second lake) town of 60.000. Rotorua Hotel Holiday Inn, pool, then dinner at hotel restaurant. We saw a DuckBoat in the center of Rotorua.
KiaOra! Hello! Holiday Inn had power breakfast, especially deserts, jams and cream. We walked to lake-side Rotorua which is clean, green. Nice park town with cafes and breakfast shops.
Hotel Holiday Inn, swimming pool fun.
Pacific Collection of HELLO!
• iOrana! - Chile, Easter Island
• iaOrana! - French Polynesia, Tahiti, BoraBora
• kiaOrana! - Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Aitutaki
• kiaOra! - New Zealand, Rotorua
HOBBITON TOUR TO MATAMATA
In Rotorua we joined HoBbiToN Tour Group to Matamata. By buss to HoBbiToN village which was used for filming.
• The Lord of Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies by J.R.R. Tolkien
On the way we saw clean countryside, endless hills, 200-300 groups of beef cows, sheep and even deers. Then arrived to HoBbiToN village.
HoBbiToN village tour. The Shire, home of the Hobbit.
HoBbiToN village tour. The Shire, home of the Hobbit.
HoBbiToN village tour. The Shire, home of the Hobbit.
HoBbiToN village tour. The Shire, home of the Hobbit.
HoBbiToN village tour. The Shire, home of the Hobbit.
HoBbiToN village tour. The Shire, home of the Hobbit.
HoBbiToN village tour. Hobbit stories by guide Belinda.
Rotorua around. Pro Patria 1914-1918 memorial. I got haircut 6,5 euros. Beef dinner at the lake side restaurant. Hotel's pool.
Rotorua around, Sir-D and Sir-K.
Rotorua Museum of Art and History at Government Gardens. Museum was closed, earthquake repair works.
TE PUIA PARK TOUR
Te Puia Park introduced geothermal wonders, Pohutu Geyser and bubbling mud pools. Guided tour, a lot to walk. We met a kiwi bird in Kiwi House Whare Po Rahui Kiwi. Kiwi is New Zealand's national symbol. Kiwi House birds had names: Sketch and Marama. Just 65.000 kiwis are living because of a mistake to let opossums into New Zealand. Kiwi birds are relatives to ancient elephant bird which was the world's biggest.
Te Puia Park. We studied Maori Migration Map. The first Polynesian settlers to New Zealand arrived from Cook Islands around 700 years ago, in the year 1300. Maori language is TeReo. New Zealand in TeReo language is Aotearoa. Maoris have a whakataukī (proverb): What is the most important thing in the world? The people, the people, the people.
Te Puia Park. Maori Meeting House carved wharenui Te-Aronui-a-rua. We got singing and dancing show by Maori warriors.
Te Puia Park. Maori Meeting House. Met these warriors! We also saw Maori architecture and how Maori wood decorations were made.
Towards Tongariro
January 10, 2017. From Rotorua to Tongariro, New Zealand.
• By car from Rotorua via Taupo to Tongariro, about 200km
• Chateau Tongariro Hotel, open since 1929, room 121, one night
On way to Tongariro we stopped at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park near Rotorua. Area has unique geothermal and volcanic features. Our NZ-plan was to drive from Auckland to Wellington in a few days through mountains, lakes and sights. After Rotorua we left towards Tongariro. Altogether 9 days in NZ.
At Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park we walked over 3 km path and saw amazing colors coming from the earth. Some path stops: Rainbow Crater, Thunder Crater, Artist's Palette, Opal Pool, Alum Cliffs, Oyster Pool, Sulphur Cave, Inferno Crater, Devil's Bath, Wai-O-Tapu Geyser.
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park is a real wonderland. "The eighth Wonder of the World", the Pink and White Terraces were once here in Rotorua.
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park shows amazing nature.
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park is major, not small.
Furious, powerful waterfall. Adneralin! Huka Falls is on Waikato River. Water comes from Lake Taupo, Waikato River narrows the flow from 100 metres into canyon, 15 metres across. Waikato River is the longest in New Zealand, and the only outlet for Lake Taupo. Huka Falls, must see, never tired of looking at it!
• For centuries Maori society cultivated land and harvested fish in Taupo
• 1870s Europeans arrived and begun to settle along Waikato River
• Waikato River's hydroelectric system produces 15% of NZ electricity
Crazy foaming at Huka Falls. And the noise!
Chateau Tongariro Hotel. We drove by Lake Taupo, the largest lake of NZ, famous for Maori rock carvings and Huka Falls. We drove through Tongariro National Park. Roughness. In the evening we arrived to Chateau Tongariro Hotel, far away from everywhere. A famous wedding hotel.
Chateau Tongariro Hotel. The village: Whakapapa. Hotel stands almost alone. Happy Valley Ski Resort is 10 mins drive, at NZ's largest active volcano Mount Ruapehu.
Chateau Tongariro Hotel is surrounded by volcanic desert. Just beside are a snowtop mountain and volcano Mount Ruapehu which last erupted in 2007. Swimming in hotel's pool. Dinner in hotel's Ruapehu Restaurant. Problem, only one night here in Chateau Tongariro Hotel!
Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand's largest active volcano. In 2007 this place was smoke and thunder! Quite a place!
TAWHAI FALLS
We left Chateau Tongariro Hotel before noon, January 11, 2017. The first stop was at Tawhai Falls, we walked down to the river. Water level there was low. No big roar or foaming waves at this time.
NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM IN WAIOURU
Major military museum in New Zealand near Waiouru Military Camp. We scouted museum for two hours. We found tanks, jeeps, cannons and guns, working conditions for different types of army personnel, medals. Wars were explained. Equipment were shown in interesting format. Includes Museum includes Kippenberger military archive and research library. Good cafe shop.
American Medium Tank M4, by British name M4 Sherman. I am standing with the most produced and the most important WW2 tank in service with American, British and Allied Forces. This tank took part in Italian Campaign, an Allied operation during WW2 resulting collapse of fascist Italy. M4 Sherman weight 35 tons. Crew of five: commander, gunner, loader, driver, and assistant driver. Weapons 75mm gun and 3 machine guns. Armour 1-2 inches. Engine 400hp. Max speed 45km/h.
Wellington
January 11, 2017. From Tongariro to Wellington, New Zealand.
• By car from Tongariro via Waiouru to Wellington, 300km
• Museum Art Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand, 5 nights
Wellington, a 350.000 inhabitants city at Tasmanian Sea. Drive from Auckland to Wellington was almost 800 km, most of it a national park, sort of desert.
Museum Art Hotel is located in Wellington city center Waterfront beside Museum Te PaPa. We had excellent dinners in hotel's Hippopotamus Restaurant, French style. After dinner we went swimming pool and +39C hot tub. Good times. Enough, and we just crashed hands down into bed. We were maximum tired.
Frank Kitts Park Playground.
Frank Kitts Park Playground.
French crepes, Sweet or Savoury. I took sweet, enormously good.
Sweet 5-10 NZD. Savoury 8-13 NZD. Drinks around 4 NZD.
10 New Zealand Dollars is 6,38 EUR.
Old Bank Shopping Arcade. Walking in Wellington after we returned the car rented five days earlier from Avis in Auckland airport. Getting familiar with Wellington: clean, nice, somehow a ready city. Evening, dinner at Hippopotamus Restaurant in Museum Art Hotel.
EARTHQUAKE ZONE
Repair works continued with few buildings damaged by earth quake two months earlier. Wellington sits on top of earth plates line, a major risk of earthquake to happen. Next always expected to be strong. I saw a public poster of recommended actions in case of earthquake:
1. Drop down
2. Cover, go under the table
3. Hold table's legs
THE BEATLES BALCONY
Year 1964, Willis Street, The Beatles on the lowest corner balcony of Hotel St. George. B/W photo shows these streets packed with thousands of fans. Beatles played two concerts in Wellington Town Hall on Cuba Street.
- Next songs are A Hard Day's Night and All My Loving
Museum Te PaPa day. Treasures, stories and history of New Zealand shown and explained. Maori people. Kiwi birds. The colossal squid. Nature and volcanic activities. Modern, well organised, not small. TePaPa is a must-visit in Wellington and it was just beside our hotel. Free entry.
Museum Te PaPa. Blue whale's heart is an actual size replica.
Museum Te PaPa. Settlement of Pacific Islands. The first Polynesian settlers to NZ arrived from Cook Islands around 800 years ago, in the year 1200.
- Click to enlarge above settler map photo
Museum Te PaPa. We visited museum two times, exciting.
Museum Te PaPa. I felt missing home! Homesick. I felt tired of travelling. I missed home, my workshop, legos, toys, piano. Alone on the other side of the world.
Found a little house in Wellington Botanic Garden.
WELLINGTON BOTANIC GARDEN
We left early morning and took city's only Cable Car upto the hills. We visited Cable Car Museum. We saw old carriages and the big wheels in the cable room. We continued walk trip in Botanic Garden which was well arranged and cared.
Wellington Botanic Garden.
Wellington Botanic Garden Play Area with slider cable. Great fun. After trees and flowers we saw the spice garden. Wellington is capital, some embassies were just beside the garden. We had drinks in the Spice Garden Cafe. Walk back to Museum Art Hotel. After, I spent hours to write my trip diary.
Street art. It is Sunday, our last full day in Wellington. Weather was windy, cloudy, cool and then finally turned sunny. Wellington is at Tasmanian Sea. After breakfast I studied Finnish by working with the tasks given from my school. We went to Waterfront and Cuba Street for ice cream and shops.
- A Lipton-duo served us tasty ice tea from their pump back bag
Museum Art Hotel at Waterfront.
HIPPOPOTAMUS RESTAURANT
Hotel breakfasts and dinners were served at Hippopotamus Restaurant. Big, wide wooden oval table. Deco. Especially good with steaks. Our team's favourite, every time. We also joined afternoon High Tea celebration. Sommelier recommended New Zealand gewurztraminer white wine, MaMa and BaBa say it was nami-nami.
- Vinoptima Bond Road Ormond Gewurztraminer 2009
Museum Art Hotel. Lobby. Time stops, kill The Death.
The heart of the city: cafes, ice cream bars, street mucisians, swim jumpers. Sunny day, not too hot, nice day in Wellington. BaBa got a Wellington haircut. Evening, hotel's swimming pool.
HIKITIA CRANE BOAT
Hikitia is steam-driven self-propelled crane boat. Hikitia lifted WW2 Sherman tanks cargo and did heavy harbour works. The last major lift was in April 2013. Now here at the Taranaki Street wharf. What is Taranaki? A mountain, Mount Taranaki last erupted in 1775. Sacred mountain for Maori tribes.
Made-in-England steam boats:
• Hikitia, steam-based crane boat, Glasgow 1926
• Tarmo, steam-based ice-breaker, Newcastle 1907
Tarmo operated from Katajanokka, Helsinki waterfront. In 1940s my great-grandfather Emil Waris served as Chief of Machines of Tarmo.
These fish were looking like individuals.
- The blue one, is he Malcolm!
Last day in Wellington. Nice place. Dinner in Museum Art Hotel at Hippopotamus Restaurant. We all, we are six, ordered Le Bord Steak.
From Wellington to Melbourne
Morning at 4:25am to airport. Towards new places, next two flights:
• From Wellington to Melbourne, Australia, 4 hours
• From Melbourne to Bali, 5 hours
Jetstar flight from Wellington to Melbourne at 7:00 was 30 mins late. In Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine Airport) we had just one hour transit time, now cut to half. Jetstar person helped us to run through Melbourne Airport, through the security check, to the Bali flight. BaBa was the last to enter the Bali plane and the door was closed. Our luggages were left to Melbourne. Flight from Melbourne to Bali took 5 hours.
Island-Hopping World Tour
• New Zealand was a stop during our World Tour
• World Tour from December 10, 2016 to January 26, 2017
• Beginning of the tour I was 8 years 11mo old
• World is not flat, we went to the left, arrived back from the right
• After 21 flight hours over Pacific Ocean the world feels still big
• Got some mosquito bites, nothing more serious
TOTAL 48 days including starting and ending days
Our World Tour route from right to left
World Tour Islands
From Helsinki to
1. The Bahamas, Nassau (via Miami, USA)
++ Hotel Atlantis Resort, waterpark, dolphins, scenery, quality
-- No problems
2. Easter Island, Chile (via Santiago)
++ Moai era, BirdMan era, nature, touring trips
-- Mosquitos, street dogs, Internet problems
3. Tahiti Island, Papeete, French Polynesia
++ Hotel InterContinental, views, pools, dinners, dance shows
-- Mosquitos
4. BoraBora Lagoon, French Polynesia (visited 3 BoraBora islands)
++ Lagoon, beach, mountain, service, shows, lagoon/jeep safaris
-- Mosquitos, main island street dogs and forest dogs
5. Rarotonga Lagoon, The Cook Islands (via Tahiti)
++ Muri beach, pool, jeep safari, lagoon, shows, jungle
-- Mosquitos, hot, beach dogs, pricing of breakfasts elements
6. Aitutaki Lagoon, The Cook Islands (visited 8 Aitutaki islands)
++ Hotel Pacific Resort, views, pool, dinners, lagoon cruise, shows
-- Mosquitos
7. New Zealand: Auckland, Rotorua, Tongariro, Wellington
++ Views, dinners, geologic, nature park, cafees, hotels
-- No problems
8. Bali Island, Amed, Indonesia (via Melbourne, Australia)
++ Views, friendly service, dinners, juices, jungle temple
-- Mosquitos, hot, angry monkeys
9. Singapore
++ Hotel Shangri-La, quality, service, pools, restaurants, Orchard Rd
-- No problems
Back to Helsinki
FLIGHTS
No.1 from Helsinki to Miami, 10,5h night flight, Finnair
No.2 from Miami to Nassau, 30mins, American Eagle
No.3 from Nassau back to Miami, 30mins, American Eagle
No.4 from Miami to Santiago, 8h night flight, Latam
No.5 from Santiago to Easter Island, 5,5hours, Latam
No.6 from Easter Island to Tahiti, 5hours, 5 time zones, Air Tahiti
No.7 from Tahiti to BoraBora, 50mins, Air Tahiti
No.8 from BoraBora back to Tahiti, 50mins, Air Tahiti
----- flight had a stop on Raiatea Lagoon, French Polynesia
No.9 from Tahiti to Rarotonga, 3hours, Air Tahiti
----- flight got a technical problem, back to Tahiti, 2nd try ok
No.10 from Rarotonga to Aitutaki, 50mins, Air Rarotonga
No.11 from Aitutaki back to Rarotonga, 50mins, Air Rarotonga
No.12 from Rarotonga to Auckland, 4,5h night flight, Air New Zealand
----- NZ car tour from Auckland to Wellington, around 800km
No.13 from Wellington to Melbourne, Australia, 4hours, Jetstar
No.14 from Melbourne to Bali, Indonesia, 5hours, Boeing 787, Jetstar
No.15 from Bali to Singapore, 3hours, Jetstar
No.16 from Singapore to Helsinki, 12h night flight, Finnair
TOTAL 16 flights, 65 flight hours, 48.000 kilometers
HOTELS
No.1 Miami - Hotel Element, rm 249, one night
No.2 Bahamas - Hotel Atlantis Resort, rm 8549, 4 nights
No.3 Easter Island - Hotel Ota'i, Hanga Roa, rm 135, 4 nights
No.4 Tahiti - Hotel InterContinental Resort, rm 180, 2 nights
No.5 BoraBora - Hotel Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, Bungalow No.50, 7 nights
No.6 Tahiti - Hotel InterContinental Resort, rm 386, one night
No.7 Rarotonga - Hotel Pacific Resort Rarotonga, rm 209, 4 nights
No.8 Aitutaki - Hotel Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Bungalow No.114, 3 nights
No.9 Rarotonga - Hotel Pacific Resort Rarotonga, rm 44, one night
No.10 Rotorua - Holiday Inn Hotel, rm 615, 3 nights
No.11 Tongariro - Hotel Chateau Tongariro, rm 121, one night
No.12 Wellington - Museum Art Hotel, rm 343, 5 nights
No.13 Bali - Hotel Griya Villas and Spa, Villa No.14, 3 nights
No.14 Singapore - Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, rm 683, 4 nights
TOTAL 14 hotels, 43 hotel nights, 4 night flights
SAFARIS, TOURS, MUSEUMS, POINTS OF INTEREST, SHOWS
• Bahamas Nassau Airport - Welcoming 3-man guitar band
• Bahamas hotel - Birthday drumming show during dinner
• Bahamas - Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park
• Bahamas - Dolphin Cay dolphin show and photos
• Bahamas village - Jazz band at a street restaurant
• Easter Island - Museo Antropologico P. Sebastian Englert
• Easter Island - Moai, BirdMan tours with Mr Roberto, 3,5 days
• Tahiti Airport - Welcoming Tahitian guitar and singing group
• Tahiti hotel - Polynesian Warrior Drum and Dance dinner show
• Tahiti hotel - Great views at Hotel InterContinental Resort
• BoraBora Christmas Eve - Polynesian Drum/Dance dinner show 1.
• BoraBora Christmas Day - Polynesian Drum/Dance dinner show 2.
• BoraBora - Shark-Feeding lagoon Safari with Captain Will
• BoraBora - Jeep Safari day with Mr Steve
• BoraBora - Kayaking trip to the edge of islet Motu Tevairoa
• Rarotonga Airport - Welcoming guitar music by an old man
• Rarotonga New Year - Polynesian Drum and Hip-shaking dinner
• Rarotonga - Jeep Safari day with Mr Chico
• Rarotonga - Trip to Punanga Nui Market near Avarua Beach
• Aitutaki hotel - Aitutaki trio, harmonic music during dinners
• Aitutaki hotel - Polynesian Warrior Drum and Dance dinner show
• Aitutaki - Lagoon Cruise Safari with Captain Fantastic Andrew
• Aitutaki - Bicycle trip from hotel passing Arutanga Harbour
• Rotorua - HoBbiToN Movie Village tour: Lord of Rings, The Hobbit
• Rotorua - Te Puia Park geothermal and Maori culture show
• Rotorua - Te Puia Park Maori singing, warrior dances, faces
• Rotorua - Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park, geyser
• Lake Taupo - Huka Falls on Waikato River
• Tongariro National Park - Happy Valley, Whakapapa village
• Tongariro National Park - Ruapehu volcano, Tawhai Falls
• Waiouru - National Army Museum of New Zealand
• Wellington - Museum Te PaPa of New Zealand culture
• Wellington - Waterfront and Hikitia steam-driven crane boat
• Wellington - Cable Car Museum and Wellington Botanic Garden
• Wellington - Hippopotamus Restaurant in Museum Art Hotel
• Bali hotel - Band, movie music, popular olds, Beatles
• Bali - Pura Lempuyang Temple Safari and Mount Agung
• Bali - Tirta Gangga Water Palace Safari near Mount Agung
• Singapore - ArtScience Museum: NASA, A Human Adventure
TOTAL 38 experiences, over 30GB photos and video
GET-PREPARED FOR WORLD TOUR
• Vaccines: Hepatiitti-A; Hepatiitti-B; Tetanus
• Insurance: Persons; Things; Contact info
• VISA: ESTA.org for USA entry
• Medicine bag: Travel; Adult; Junior; Care things; Docs
• Hygiene bag: Dental; Shampoo/care; Combs; Scissors; Shaving
• Electronics: Phones; Cameras; iPad; Cables; Plugs; Loaders
• On-Travel: Clothes; Flight pillows; CabinBags; CargoBags
• Holiday clothes; Shirts and all
• Sunglasses; Sun hats; Sun oils
• Swimming: Snorkeling; Fins; RashGuards; Shoes
• Trip arrangement by Aventura, Helsinki
• Trip schedule and budget
• Trip process: Targets ➙ Flights ➙ Hotels ➙ Pickups ➙ Tours
• Trip documents: Tickets, Vouchers, Schedule, Contacts
• Other documents: Passports, Credit cards, Driving licences
• Principle: less to carry is better
______________________________
© The DanDanTimes 2022
No comments:
Post a Comment