Uniquely New Zealand

• Climate and Scenery - mountains, lakes, forests and a spectacular coastline with deserted beaches, maritime parks and islands. New Zealand has them all and most of it is protected in National Parks and Reserves.
• Active Thermal Areas - New Zealand is also an area which is very active geologically and has a number of fascinating thermal areas, predominantly North Island.
• The Wines - The climate is ideal and there are many excellent wine areas in both North and South Island which we have visited.
• Goldmining was important at the turn of the century and there are many goldfields with structures still standing some of which have been restored.
• Kauri, both logging and the gathering and use of it's gum forms another unique part of New Zealand history worthy of investigation.
• Maori Culture and Heritage - One can not fully understand and appreciate New Zealand without gaining some understanding of the Maori Culture and Heritage and the interactions with the first settlers and their way of life.
• Sailing - New Zealand has some of the best sailing in the world from Auckland - the City of Sails - and the Bay of Islands. We have chartered from both.
• The Peace and Quiet - In the UK you can never get away from people and noise - in New Zealand we have found areas whilst touring, camping and walking where even aircraft do not pass over for days and people are so rare, friendly and helpful you want to stop and talk.

We cover our own experiences of activities such as sailing, fishing and camping which are fundamental to the Kiwi way of life. The content draws extensively on our "Letters from the Antipodes" periodically Emailed to friends the last few years with pictures added on our return to form a comprehensive touring guide. There is a lot of information but much of it is still organised chronologically. If you want specific information on, for example, a place you are thinking of visiting or an activity please try the Search Engine which has a complete index of every word on our sites and is updated weekly.

Each year we try to extract more from the chronological organisation into specific pages this year we have added, or updated, pages consolidating Wines, Wineries and Vineyard Restaurants, Goldmining and Sailing. There is also a Planning page which can be used as an index to our favorite places and activities and a page with GPS Coordinates of over 250 places we have visited including remote camp sites.

• New - Touring and Sailing in New Zealand 2012 - Three months mostly spent in South Island
  • Introduction and Summary
  • Part 1 - Auckland, Waiheke, Rotorua, Napier and Wellington
  • Part 2 - Marlborough and the Vineyards, Moulsworth Station, Waipara and Christchurch - a few layout changes are planned.
  • Part 3 - Mountains, Lakes and Backroads: Mt Somers, Tekapo and Cromwell
  • Part 4 - Central Otago, the Goldfields and the Snow: Omakau and Lawrence
  • Part 5 - Dunedin, the Otago Peninsula, Catlins, Invercargill and Lake Manapouri
  • Part 6 - Lake Wanaka, Haast Pass, Glaciers and Ross and Hokitika
  • Part 7 - Hokitika and the Pounamu Story - some layout changes are planned
  • Part 8 - Greymouth, Buller, Blackbull and the Dredge, Waiuta, Reefton, Murchison and Kaiteriteri in Tasman Bay
  • Part 9 - Golden Bay: Takaka, Collingwood, Nelson and Te Mahia in the Sounds
  • Part 10 - North island - the last couple of weeks
• Touring and Sailing in New Zealand 2010 - Five weeks in North Island
  • Introduction and Summary
  • Part 1 - Sailing from Waiheke Island to Great Barrier Island and on to the Bay of Islands via Tutukaka. A brief summary of the trip and a huge picture gallery
  • Part 2 - A journey round North Island - Rotorua, Napier, Wanganui, Mount Egmont and Taranaki, Taumarunui and Thames. This year we have restricted the detailed coverage largely to “First Time” visits plus a good number of pictures
• Touring and Sailing in New Zealand 2009 - Three Months in North Island
  • Introduction and Summary
  • Part 1 - Auckland, Sailing round Waiheke Island and the Coromandel
  • Part 2 - Rotorua, Tokomaru, Wellington and the Wairarapa
  • Part 3 - Wanganui, the River Road, Taumarunui, the Main Trunk and the Raurimu Spiral, Forgotten World Highway and the Tawhiti Museum
  • Part 4 - Taranaki with an update on Mountain House and The Anderson's Alpine Lodge, a walk to Dawson Falls from Mountain House, a visit to the Republic of Whangamomona, Napier and the Harvest Hawke's Bay Wine Festival.
  • Part 5 - Wairoa, Gisborne and the East Cape, Whakatane and White Island
  • Part 6 - Lake Tutira and the Napier Art Deco Festival
  • Part 7 - Wairoa, Waikaremoana, Rotorua and Auckland
  • Part 8 Sailing 2009 - Sailing in the Hauraki Gulf and Great Barrier Island
  • Part 9 - The Bay of Islands and Northland

• Touring and Sailing in New Zealand 2008 - Two months split between the Islands
  • Introduction and Summary
  • Part 1 - Auckland, Sailing round Waiheke Island, the Catalina to Napier and the Art Deco Festival.
  • Part 2 - Backroads from Napier - the Inland Patea and the Forgotten World Highway, Mountain House and walks round Mt Egmont, Wanganui and Wellington
  • Sailing 2008 - Sailing in the Marlborough Sounds
  • Part 3 - Marlborough, Omaka, Denniston, West Coast Goldfields and the Haast Pass
  • Part 4 - The Otago Gold Fields, the Burt Munro museum in Invercargill, Tapanui and Manapouri
  • Warbirds over Wanaka 2008 -
  • Part 5 - The Journey North

• Touring and Sailing in New Zealand 2007 - Six weeks in North Island
  • Introduction and Summary
  • Part 1 - Auckland, Waiheke Island, Wanganui, Mountain House and the Forgotten World Highway
  • Part 2 - Taumaunui, Rotorua, East Cape and Hawkes Bay
  • Part 3 - Napier and the Art Deco Festival
  • Part 4 - The Inland Patea, Tokomaru Steam Museum, Wellington, Rotorua, Waihi, Coromandel and Auckland
  • Part 5 - Sailing in the Hauraki Gulf and Great Barrier Island

• Touring and Sailing in New Zealand 2006 - three months split between the islands.
  • Introduction and Summary
  • Part 1 - Auckland, Waiheke Island, Tokomaru and Wellington
  • Part 2 - South Island: Marlborough, Christchurch and Dunedin
  • Part 3 - Otago Goldfields and Trails - Naseby and Cromwell
  • Part 4 - Lakes and Mountains - Wanaka, Lake Aviemore and Mount Somers and Arthurs Pass
  • Part 5 - West Coast, Tasman Bay, Golden Bay and Marlborough Sounds
  • Part 6 - North Island: Wellington, Taranaki and Inland Patea
  • Part 7 - Napier Art Deco Festival and Lake Tutira
  • Part 8 - Sailing from the Hauraki Gulf to the Bay of Islands and back
  • Part 9 - Northland, Coromandel and Rotorua

• Touring and Sailing in New Zealand 2005 - three months in North Island.
  • Introduction and Summary
  • Part 1 - Kauri Coast and Northland
  • Part 2 - Northland and Bay of Islands
  • Part 3 - Auckland, Waihi, Rotorua
  • Part 4 - SH43 Forgotten Highway, Mountain House and Egmont NP
  • Part 5 - Wellington and Tokomaru Steam Museum
  • Part 6 - Whanganui Riverboats, The River Road and Inland Patea
  • Part 7 - Napier - Art Deco Festival and Catalina
  • Part 8 - Waikaremoana, Gisborne, Tauranga and Auckland<
  • Part 9 - Sailing in the Hauraki Gulf and Mercury Islands
  • Part 10 - Whangarei and Bay of Islands

• Touring and Sailing in New Zealand 2004 - three months split between the islands.
  • Introduction and Summary to the 10 parts
  • Part 1 - Auckland, Waiheke Island and the Soren Larsen Tallship
  • Part 2 - Rotorua, Wanganui and Wellington
  • Part 3 - Marlborough, Golden Bay, West Coast Goldfields, Glaciers and the Haast Pass
  • Part 4 - Hawia, Queenstown, Glenorchy, Cromwell, Naseby and the IDA valley
  • Part 5 - Wanaka, Central Otago Goldfields and Wineries
  • Part 6 - Dunedin, Catlins, Mavora, Manapouri, Te Anau
  • Part 7 - Mt Cook, Benmore, Tekapo, Mt Somers, Marlborough, The Sounds
  • Part 8 - Napier Art Deco Festival, Wineries and The Marth Mine at Waihi
  • Part 9 - Sailing in the Hauraki Gulf and out to Great Barrier Island
  • Part 10 - Northland, Kauri Coast, Russell and Auckland

• Touring and Sailing in New Zealand 2003 - three months split between the islands.
  • Introduction and index to the 8 parts
  • Part 1 - Auckland, Waiheke, Rotorua and Ohakune
  • Part 2 - Inland Patea, Napier and Wineries, Gisborne and the East Cape, Palmerston North and Wellington
  • Part 3 - Blenheim and the Marlborough Wineries, Abel Tasman, Reefton and Gold Fields, Lewis Pass
  • Part 4 - Christchurch - Wineries and Museums, Mt Somers/Erewhon, Tekapo, Naseby and Goldfields
  • Part 5 - Queenstown, Wanaka, Christchurch, Hokitika and Goldfields, Marlborough Sounds
  • Part 6 - Wellington, Whanganui and the Riverboats, SH43, Mt Egmont and Mountain House, Taupo, Coromandel, Auckland
  • Part 7 - Sailing in the Gulf and up the Coast to The Bay of Islands and Whangaroa harbour
  • Part 8 - Auckland, Waiheke, Sandspit, Kauri Coast, Northland, Russell, Auckland

• Touring and Sailing in New Zealand 2002 - three months split between the islands.
  • Introduction and index to the 8 parts
  • part 1 - Waiheke, Tokomaru, Whanganui, Wellington
  • part 2 - Marlborough, Christchurch, The Lakes
  • part 3 - Haast Pass, Cromwell, Alexandra and Otago Goldfields
  • part 4 - Dunedin, Naseby, Arthur's Pass, Golden Bay
  • part 5 - Abel Tasman, The Sounds, Marlborough
  • part 6 - Wellington, Rotorua, Coromandel, Bay of Islands
  • part 7 - Sailing in Hauraki Gulf and Great Barrier Island
  • part 8 - Northland

• Touring and Sailing in New Zealand 2001 - three months in North Island.
  • Introduction and index to the 5 parts
  • part 1 - Coromandel, Rotorua.
  • part 2 - Napier, Gisborne, Lake Tutira, Inland Patea Heritage Trail, Tokomaru and Wellington.
  • part 3 - Egmont, SH43 Heritage Trail and the Whanganui River
  • part 4 - Rotorua, Auckland, Northland and Kauri Forests
  • Sailing 2001 - The Coastal Passage from the Hauraki Gulf to the Bay of Islands and on to Whangoroa Harbour.

• Touring New Zealand 2000 - Two months split between the Islands
  • Introduction and index to the parts
  • Part 1 - Auckland and South to Wellington
  • Part 2 - South Island - Wineyards, Christchurch, Banks Peninsular and Lakes
  • Part 3 - Queenstown, Fiordland, Catlins and Dunedin
  • Part 4 - Oamaru, Arthurs Pass and Golden Bay
  • Part 5 - Wellington, Mount Egmont and the Taranaki National Park.
  • Part 6 - Sailing in the Bay of Islands
  • Part 7 - Northland and a return to the Thermal Areas

• Touring New Zealand 1999 - Three months in North Island now updated to popup pictures.
  • Introduction and index to the four parts
  • Part 1 - Auckland and the local Wineries, Napier and the Hawkes Bay Wineries, the Central Mountains, and a week in Wellington including the Martinborough Wineries.
  • Part 2 - The Mahia Peninsular, The Pacific Coast Highway round the East Cape, Rotorua and the surrounding Thermal Areas, and the Coromandel including its Goldfields and scenary.
  • Part 3 - Sailing in the Hauraki Gulf
  • Part 4 - Northland - Kauri forests, National Parks and dazzling white beaches
  • Illustrated Highlights - A selection of the best 40 photographs

• Touring New Zealand 1998
  • Summary
  • Illustrated Highlights - A selection of 32 photographs, mostly South Island with some Sailing, Bay of Islands and Coromandel .

• Touring New Zealand 1997
  • Narrative - mainly covering South Island
  • South Island Picture Gallery
  • North Island Picture Gallery

• Touring New Zealand 1996
  • North Island

• Planning Guide - an Index to the information on our favourite places and activities with 15 catagories ordered to loosely match our reasons for returning. They are linked via icons to our background/reference pages, visits in the travel pages and lots of pictures.

• GPS waypoints - Latitude and Longitudes of many useful places in New Zealand including many of the Department Of Conservation (DOC) and other campsites, downloaded directly from our GPS. The page describes a Freeware GPS Utility to handle GPS coordinates and map them and has files to upload to your GPS.

• New Zealand Wines, Wineries and Vineyard Restaurants - brings together our favourite vineyards to visit. Selection is not solely the on the quality of the wine but is biased towards those with good vineyard restaurants, magnificent scenery and a friendly and helpful approach.

• Goldmining was important at the turn of the century and there are many goldfields with structures still standing. In five parts bringing together our information on New Zealand Gold, Goldmining Techniques and Goldfields gathered whilst touring, mostly in Otago, The West Coast and the Coromandel.

• Active Thermal Areas - New Zealand is also an area which is very active geologically and has a number of fascinating thermal areas which we have visited.

• Kauri, both logging and the gathering and use of it's gum were important and form another unique part of New Zealand history worthy of investigation. We document our visits to some of the remaining forests, historic areas and museums.

• Maori History and Culture in 5 parts. The Maori were the first settlers in New Zealand and first came from Polynesia about 1000 years ago. The occupied almost every area of New Zealand long before the Pakeha (European) missionaries, traders and settlers arrived and there were over 6000 Pa, fortified villages, by that time. They still have a very strong culture of their own with many traditions which flourish today. The numbers are now rising after a long period of decline and there are currently over 500,000 Maori, about 16% of the population.

• The Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum A comprehensive appreciation of the museum drawing on material supplied by the owners.

• The Whanganui River Story The story of the River and the river boats that served it.
  
• Mountain House, Walks in Taranaki and the Forgotten World Highway - This covers our stays at Mountain House and the Stratford area, walks on Mount Egmont/Taranaki from the Mountain House area, Dawson falls and scenic drives on the SH43 from Taranaki to Taumarunui, known as the Forgotten World Highway which passes through the independent Republic of Whagamomina.

• Sailing in New Zealand - An Introduction to Sailing in New Zealand with an index to our own sailing in the Hauraki Gulf, The Bay of Islands and the Coastal Passage between them and on up to Whangaroa Harbour.

• Camping in New Zealand - What you need to know to start camping based on our own experiences - contains a useful table of the kit we took and bought.

• New Zealand Book List: We have built up a library of books on New Zealand during our visits and have initiated a catalogue which will be extended in due course. Our books cover many topics from Sailing and Fishing through the Goldfields and Art Deco to Maori Culture.

• Interesting Web Sites: We have found a number of useful Web sites on New Zealand that you may want to have a look at. They range from sources of maps to follow our travels to details of the treaty of Waitangi. They are the sites on our "favorites" lists and the ones we go back to and those used by the locals for everything from finding a telephone number to booking a train. There are brief comments on each site.

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Copyright © Peter and Pauline Curtis Most recent significant revision: 16th May, 2012