Trip: My big OE in Aotearoa
There are [38] stories from my trip: My big OE in Aotearoa
FIJI | Wednesday, 19 Aug 2009 | Views [1296]
Nisa Bula! As I stumble through the arrival hall with a bottle of duty-free liquor (which my host family asked me to purchase) after getting like my eighth Fiji passport stamp, I spot my name hastily scribbled on a piece of paper. His name is Ratu, ... Read more >
Tags: food, hospitality, people
NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 9 Aug 2009 | Views [1441]
After four months in the most touristed area of NZ, I find myself in Gisborne, or "Gissy" as it's often called. The eastern half of the North Island probably has the smallest concentration of tourists in the entire country. There's a very ... Read more >
Tags: culture
NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 30 Apr 2009 | Views [8541]
Conditions really deteriorated since last night when it wasn’t too cold and I could see the stars but this morning it was very cold and gloomy, like it was on the verge of rain. Anyways, I packed up my tent and all my other stuff and ... Read more >
Tags: adventures, nature, tramping, wilderness
NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 22 Mar 2009 | Views [1640]
I’ve spent four nights in Ngatimoti now,
and I certainly felt better today than I did yesterday. This morning I woke up
at 9:45 AM and washed up. Last night I had a dream that I was stranded in Sao
Paulo. I was ready for a walk up to Mt. Arthur ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 26 Feb 2009 | Views [1743]
It was an outrageously adventurous day in the Northland today. We nearly got stranded but we made it out. First let me get to the good part. Oh I'm a self-professed traveloholic, by the way! OK OK I'll get to my day. This morning I washed up and then ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 25 Feb 2009 | Views [471]
This morning I was awoken when I heard someone yelling "Chris, Chris" It was Gabe and Lance because they were freezing cold. They had asked me to paddle to shore but a fisherman offered to give them a lift over. Lance's sleeping bag was soaked ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 22 Feb 2009 | Views [2186]
It was a big day of sailing as we set out toward the Bay of Islands today! This morning when I woke up I knew it was going to be so hard leaving because Nikki is a very nice lady! I took a shower and then made my morning cuppa earl grey with a teaspoon ... Read more >
NIUE | Monday, 9 Feb 2009 | Views [3006]
Fakaalofa
atu (Hello in Niuean ). My 10 th day
on Niue has passed. When I began my travels
four years ago in Australia I was only there for two weeks; it was much too
short. Nowadays I’m spending two weeks on Niue .
This morning I woke ... Read more >
Tags: culture, food, hitchhiking, hospitality
NIUE | Thursday, 5 Feb 2009 | Views [832]
When you hear "The Far East" it immediately conjures up images. Prototypically it's Shanghai or Tokyo, or to the more adventurous it could be Vietnam or even Mongolia. Whilst I'm half an ocean away from Asia, today I went to Liku, the village ... Read more >
NIUE | Wednesday, 4 Feb 2009 | Views [1290]
Niue this! Niue that! Niue! Niue! Niue! It's so different! This morning I was awoken by a chorus of roosters just outside my window. Niue has been my temporary home for five days now! Except for that whole debacle coming here I've enjoyed every minute ... Read more >
NIUE | Monday, 2 Feb 2009 | Views [4442] | Comments [2]
Great God, I've been in Niue for three days and it's been misery! Why did I do this to myself? I still don't have any money. My father isn't able to wire me any because he barely has enough to pay the rent. My uncle and mother hardly have any for ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 25 Jan 2009 | Views [1185]
For three days I've been searching, and today it paid off! This morning I woke up extra early at the crack of dawn
so I could scout around for someone going across the strait. Yesterday I learned
my lesson because I missed a catamaran by only ... Read more >
Tags: sailing
NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 25 Jan 2009 | Photo Gallery
In my plan to hitchhike the length of New Zealand, I hung around Picton for three days trying to find a yacht to hitch on, and I succeeded! I've successfully hitchhiked the full length of Aotearoa
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NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 15 Jan 2009 | Photo Gallery
One of my favourite tracks on the South Island. Here I got gorgeous views of Lake Te Anau as I walked above the treeline
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NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 25 Dec 2008 | Views [1872]
It's Christmas! But for me it's not your average Christmas. Most people wake up to presents around the tree, a cup of hot cocoa, and lots of good cheer, usually surrounded by family. This year, I'm in seclusion, deep in a glacier-carved valley. I woke ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 24 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery
On Christmas Eve I walked more than 12 miles deep into the Copland Valley on the West Coast. A good soak in the hot pools, combined with a sublime view of the Southern Alps felt so invigorating! On Christmas Day I spent the day out there, continuing to ...
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NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 17 Dec 2008 | Views [2072]
Two weeks ago whilst working with Ingrid at the store, a customer walked in and asked about whitebait. My response was "ah, that's used for fishing." Ingrid looked at me rather harshly and said "No, that's not fishing bait!" Feeling ... Read more >
Tags: food
NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 9 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery
Rocky, brown Otago is very different to flat, green Southland
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NEW ZEALAND | Monday, 8 Dec 2008 | Views [959]
Welcome to Clyde. Population: 918 This town may be a little dot on a map of the South Island, but it sure holds a special place in my heart. A wee while back I was thumbin' it near Milton (home of the "odd kink in the road") and I was picked ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Monday, 8 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery
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NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 3 Dec 2008 | Views [1802] | Comments [1]
It was a day of trying to strike it rich in the Land of Greenstone (and in some places, gold). I got up at 10:00 and packed my tent, sleeping bag and a few other things so I could go camping tonight. I wasn't sure where I would end up, but I was thinking ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Saturday, 15 Nov 2008 | Views [1941]
Today
was day three on the Milford Track. I was still in “dreamland” as everyone else
was getting ready to tackle MacKinnon Pass. At 8:30 I washed up hurriedly and
packed up everything and ran out the door. Since I walked up to MacKinnon Pass
yesterday, ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Friday, 14 Nov 2008 | Views [1154]
Day two of the Milford Track trek! I woke up at 7:00 AM when I
heard all the ruckus of everyone else getting ready to set out. I got dressed
and then washed up. Laurel and I took a photo together with our bags to make it
official that we’re Milford ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 13 Nov 2008 | Photo Gallery
New Zealand's most well-known of the Great Walks, it's a bit commercialized but nonetheless incredibly beautiful!
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NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 5 Nov 2008 | Views [4186]
Ian told me that if I want to get to Mason Bay before dark, that it isn’t worth it to go around the mud on the track. We went through the Paterson Inlet and then up the Freshwater River. Ian has to time the ride to go at high tide. At 6:00, I ... Read more >
Tags: adventures, beaches, kiwi, nature, wilderness
NEW ZEALAND | Monday, 13 Oct 2008 | Views [738]
Today
was another adventurous and exciting day in God’s Own Country. I awoke at 6:30
after having another strange dream last night. I’ve been having so many strange
dreams lately, including one where I was in a prison and I climbed ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 1 Oct 2008 | Views [1270]
Mill
Creek Rd., which is where I was headed, was very rocky and bumpy, and he seemed
to enjoy driving through the rocks. He dropped me off right in front of the
property. After eight rides and several hours, I was at my destination. It was
raining, ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Saturday, 20 Sep 2008 | Views [2645]
Happy Birthday to me! It was my free day today at the Dorje Chang Institute! I woke up at 9:30, had some Weet-Bix and a cuppa before packing for the day becuase I wanted to get into Auckland early. With my camera, credit card, and some money I hit ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 16 Sep 2008 | Views [818]
Welcome to the Dorje Chang Institute! A Tibetan Buddhist centre where big love and wisdom is practiced and absolutely no living thing is killed. It's a 2.5 hectare "Garden of Eden" with the high-rises of Auckland off in the distance. There ... Read more >
Tags: buddhism, culture, people
NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 10 Sep 2008 | Views [1952]
"Yoo-hoo, today is a great day if you want to go to Stony Batter" Roberta calls into my room at 8:30 AM. I'm glad I did because I've been waking up a little too late the past few days. She was right, so I thought I'd seize the opportunity ... Read more >
FIJI | Friday, 29 Aug 2008 | Views [715]
The Friendly Islands are behind me now. I sure miss Tonga already! After doing that tourism geography project last year it was totally worth it to visit. Earlier my flight touched down safely at Nausori Airport. I went through customs and got another ... Read more >
TONGA | Thursday, 28 Aug 2008 | Views [3569]
Today was exciting and full of events on my final full day in Tonga. I woke up at 8:30 ready to make the most of my final Tongan day. I washed up and made a cup of tea and ate some Weet-Bix although I had no milk. Toni asked me to pay him tonight, so ... Read more >
Tags: adventures, cycling, islands
TONGA | Tuesday, 26 Aug 2008 | Views [1160]
Today was my sixth day of my Pacific island travels. I got
up at 8:15, washed up and made a cup of tea. I still wasn’t sure what I was
going to do today. I walked over to Toni’s house and used my phone card to call
Teressa, but I only had like ... Read more >
TONGA | Sunday, 24 Aug 2008 | Views [1352]
Another fabulous island day has passed, so I’ll tell you all about it. I woke up at 9:15 as I was hearing the distant church bells. It is Sunday and I should be headed to church today; I haven’t been in a long time and I sure love the Lord.... Read more >
TONGA | Friday, 22 Aug 2008 | Views [2671]
As we were flying into Tonga, I noticed the island is dotted with coconut palms. I had brought a coconut with me, but when I went through immigration they took it. The official told me I can get tons of coconuts here. Grant wasn’t able to get me ... Read more >
FIJI | Thursday, 21 Aug 2008 | Views [863]
It was a great first day on my journey through two of the
world’s great island countries. It surprised me as I got off the plane that I
didn’t see the Fijians playing their instruments. I went through customs and
the official questioned the address ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 17 Jan 2006 | Photo Gallery
Fox Glacier is one of my favourite places in Aotearoa. I was there back in 2006 and then worked at the convenience store for two months last year. During my stay I visited Franz Josef, Hokitika, Ross, and just about every place I could think of on the ...
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NEW ZEALAND | Monday, 16 Jan 2006 | Photo Gallery
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