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A vivid turquoise bay curves beside sandy shoreline and forested hills.

New Zealand

July 2023 · New Zealand

WhenJuly 2023
CountriesNew Zealand
Stages13

Route

Photographs (297)

A sleek black Air New Zealand airliner parked at the boarding gate.The seatback screen showing the flight path across the sea.A neatly arranged airline meal tray with beef, sides and cheese.A store shelf of tiki figurine solar lights on special offer.A boardwalk bridge wrapped in steam and mossy trees.A clouded hot pool shimmering with steam and submerged wood.A little brown bird perched on grey gravel among fallen leaves.A high view of apartment towers, streets and houses below.Panoramic view from a hilltop of a turquoise bay, a long sandy beach, an offshore island and a seaside town.A vast wet beach mirrors the cloudy sky, with walkers scattered along the surf and a low island on the horizon.A dirt footpath winds through dense rainforest crowded with giant tree ferns and a small wooden bridge.A boardwalk overlook frames a deep green gorge lined with tall ferns and a river far below.A white two-deck paddle steamer marked 'Lakeland Queen Cruises' sits moored at a lakeside pier beside parked cars.Green rolling farmland with a post-and-wire fence slopes down toward a wide blue lake and distant hills.A sealed road curves along a hillside beside tussock, ferns and red flowers, with a lake and islands beyond.A quiet dirt path passes through dense fern-filled bush under a dappled canopy of green light.A white car waits beside a choppy lake under a bright cloud-studded sky.A flock of black swans swims in a pale, milky thermal lake.Wooden railings wind over pale mineral ground beside a sunlit lake.Concentric ripples spread across a muddy geothermal pool and a sunken branch.A geothermal pool emits soft steam from a bowl of layered mineral rock.Dry cracked mineral ground surrounds a small steaming pool of mud.Steam drifts from a rocky vent beside a lake glittering in the sun.A small pool of mud bubbles inside a hollow formed of mineral rock.

Journal Notes (13)
Day 1 - Rotorua

New Zealand is an island country located in the south-western Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,000 kilometers southeast of Australia. It consists mainly of two large islands, the North Island and the South Island, along with numerous smaller islands. Despite its relatively small po …

Day 2 - Rotorua & Mount Maunganui

Mount Maunganui is a coastal town and popular seaside destination located in the Bay of Plenty region on New Zealand’s North Island. It forms part of the wider Tauranga metropolitan area and is situated on a narrow peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and Tauranga Harbour. The tow …

Day 3 - Rotorua

Rotorua is a city located in the Bay of Plenty region on New Zealand’s North Island. It sits on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua and is internationally known for its geothermal activity, Māori culture, and natural landscapes. Rotorua serves as a regional center for tourism, cu …

Day 4 - Around lake Taupo

Lake Taupō is the largest lake in New Zealand and one of the most significant natural features of the North Island. It is located in the central North Island within the Waikato Region and occupies the caldera of a massive volcanic system. The lake lies at an elevation of approxim …

Day 5 - Along the coast to Gisborne

Gisborne is a coastal city located on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, within the Gisborne District, which functions as both a city and a regional authority. It lies along the shores of Poverty Bay, facing the Pacific Ocean, and is one of the most geographically isol …

Day 6 - Gisborne to Himatangi Beach

Himatangi Beach is a small coastal settlement located on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, within the Manawatū-Whanganui region. It lies approximately 35 kilometers west of Palmerston North and faces the Tasman Sea. The settlement is separated from the inland rural ar …

Day 7 - The Forgotten World Highway

The Forgotten World Highway is a scenic and historically significant route located in the central western part of New Zealand’s North Island. Officially designated as State Highway 43, it connects the towns of Stratford in Taranaki with Taumarunui in the central North Island, cov …

Day 8 - At Mount Taranaki

Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont, is a prominent volcanic mountain located on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island. Rising to 2,518 meters above sea level, it dominates the landscape of the Taranaki region and is one of the most recognizable natural landmarks in …

Day 9 - Around New Plymouth

New Plymouth is a coastal city located on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island and serves as the main urban center of the Taranaki region. It lies along the Tasman Sea, with Mount Taranaki rising prominently to the south-east, creating one of the most distinctive natural …

Day 10 - New Plymouth to Whangārei

Whangārei is the largest city and main urban center of the Northland region in the far north of New Zealand’s North Island. It is located at the head of Whangārei Harbour, approximately 160 kilometers north of Auckland, and serves as the economic, administrative, and service hub …

Day 11 - Cape Reinga

Cape Reinga is a dramatic and culturally significant headland located at the northern tip of New Zealand’s North Island, in the Far North region. It marks the meeting point of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean and is widely regarded as one of the most iconic natural landmarks …

Day 12 - Around Whangārei

The area around Whangārei encompasses a diverse and scenic part of New Zealand’s Northland region, stretching from sheltered harbours and sandy beaches to rolling farmland, forested hills, and offshore islands. While Whangārei functions as the main urban center, the surrounding a …

Day 13 - Coromandel Peninsula

The Coromandel Peninsula is a distinctive and scenic region located on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, separating the Hauraki Gulf from the Bay of Plenty. The peninsula extends northward from the Waikato region and is known for its rugged coastline, forested ranges, …