Tour Managers Tales

Kia Ora, Hello again, unfortunately now back home in what is a sunny Stafford, the final few days of the New Zealand trip were spent in the beautiful Bay of Islands,from the 19th - 22nd,  although the weather was not the best, torrential rain and gale force winds .... we did manage to enjoy it. After leaving Auckland we crossed the harbour bridge, and made our way to the Kauri Museum, at Matakohe. Here we had time to experience this fantastic museum, and learn all about the Kauri tree and its uses. The afternoon drive was through a native forest, where we stopped to view the oldest largest of the Kauri trees, Tane Mahuta (the big tree), it is said to be over 2,500 years old, and stands tall in the forest (see pics below). Later we travelled through to our destination of Paihia, in the Bay of Islands, when we arrived we met with Lena, our guide from Culture North, she took us on a short orientation tour ending at the Waitangi Treaty Ground, where we had a visit to the Treaty House

Hello everyone, welcome back,  it has been a few days (okay a week or so) since the last update,   so I thought it time I put pen to paper !!!  we had a great couple of days in Queenstown the weather improved and got a lot warmer, even managed to burn one side of my face !! Enjoyed an evening cruise on the TSS Earnslaw followed by dinner at Walter Peak, it ended with a sheep show before the return sailing to Queenstown. The following morning we were off to Mount Cook, on the way we stopped iin at Arrowtown the old gold town. It was then on to Gibbstons Winery for a tour and taste ... very nice it was too ... then it was a healthy stop .. Mrs Jones Fruit Stand, before the journey took us over the Lindas Pass to Omarama and lunch. Exciting afternoon as some of the folks went on a flight with Air Safaris over Mt. Cook and the surrounding glaciers and mountains. We spent the night under Mt. Cook at the Hermitage. The following day took us first to Tekapo, and then on to Christchurch, I was

Hello everyone, arrived in New Zealand after the long flight via Los Angeles, then headed straight to Dunedin, on South Island, where we spent 3 nights. While there we had a couple of tours around the area, one was a wildlife cruise, on the Monarch, they took us through the harbour and out to Taiaroa Head, where we find the Royal Albatross, this is home for these birds the world's only mainland royal albatross colony. I have been many times before but the display we witnessed was excellent there was a seal with a barracuda fish, and the birds were trying or hoping to take it from the seal, but the seal was not having it .... and managed to eat it all. There are some pics below showing the seal and the albatross. The following day we took the famous Taieri Gorge Rail trip, a half return journey to Pukarangi passing the Taieri Gorge with some excellent sight along the way, there was a short stop at Hinton where we could disembark, and managed to get some great views, this journey is

Happy St Davids Day. Hello, and welcome to the start of this years exciting travels. Today I leave for New Zealand on a 23 days tour and as always look forward to this fantastic country, it is so diverse, there is something here for everyone. From the start it is great, flying wit the national airline, Air New Zealand, a top class airline, with a service  to match, today's flight is on the NZ001 service to Auckland via Los Angeles, unfortunately no time for sightseeing in Hollywood, a quick transit and then off over the Pacific, cross the date line, and arrive in Auckland on Saturday morning, its then onto a domestic flight to Dunedin via Christchurch. Dunedin being our first base for 3 days, staying at the lovely Southern Cross Hotel. Look forward to updating you from Dunedin in a few days.