Rotorua

Hi Guys
that's gonna be a short post as I'm really tired and I also have to get my washing out of the laundry room before someone else does.... I'm staying at Treks Backpackers in Rotorua at the moment, Rotorua is maori and can be translated as "an evil-smelling place" which points it out quite well....rotorua has its unique smell of rotten eggs from all the sulphur from the geothermal activities in the area. it's situated directly where the tectonic plates meet and is a heavy earthquake and volcano spot. we arrived too late today so i couldn't do any of the Geothermal parks (but I'll probably see them with Annalen, we're planning to do a weekend in rotorua together as there's heaps of cool stuff do do - as an example rotorua is the only place in the world where you can do 'zorbing', means rolling down a hill in a plastic ball very fast and if you like it wet you can also have a few buckets of water with you...sounds strange? i suppose it is) .


and it looked like rain and i decided for the Rotorua museum which is more interesting than i thought it would be, it was some stuff about the local maori tribe and information on the volcano activity as the last big eruption killed a whole village about hundred years ago.
I then headed to the 'Fat Dog' which is told to be Rotorua's best cafe.... honestly, it is a nice place and i had some coffee there (and there might also have been a tiny little piece of chocolate cake) and time to catch up with writing postcards and completing my travel diary.
it was followed by a thing i really wanted to do because i enjoyed it pretty much when my host family took me there. there's a Polynesian Spa in rotorua, rated as one of the best spas in the world.....you're soaking away in the hot thermal pools while having a great view on lake rotorua, another crater lake. it's kind of scary to realise you're just sitting in a huge crater even though the volcano under your feet is (probably) asleep.
So now i'm here at the backpackers, looking forward to a day full of action in waitomo where the famous glow-worm caves are.
i'm having a great time but of course i miss all of you....
lots of love
cora

Whitianga, Cormandel Peninsular

Hello everybody,
i'm now at the backpackers in whitianga. whitianga is a small place on coromandel peninsula - and directly at the beach. I left the busy auckland central backpackers early this morning (and some very funny guys thought i would be very funny to hide my rain jacket under someone's mattress.......that was a bit of a drama as i had to catch my bus and of course i had no idea that it wasn't my fault this time, but finally it worked out all right, i found my jacket, left an angry note for my room mates and got on the bus) and first we headed towards auckland's dormant volcano mt eden where we had some free time to have a glimpse into the crater.
to be honest, it wasn't too scary as mt eden has been asleep for a long time now and there's grass all over the volcano's inside.

The next stop was the car park above cathedral cove, a beach on the peninsula. There was a 1 hour walk down to the beach as it is only accessible by foot - or by kayak. but it was well worth the walk and i had to get some guys from the bus to take a picture of me at the beach - otherwise you'd probably say i had taken it from a brochure
.... but there are some photos by Jeremy, January 2006
Cathedral Cove is possibly the most beautiful beach in the world.....clear and incredibly blue water, white sand and there's a cave-like thing that divides the beach in two parts and looks like taken straight out of 'Lord of the rings'. honestly, this beach is very cliche but just to die for.








After the walk back we headed to hot water beach.... unfortunately, the tides weren't right but otherwise you can dig a hole in the sand to create a personal spa....after a few metres it fills with hot water from the thermal springs under the sand. in case you think it's too hot you can mix it with some fresh cold sea water. but ok, we couldn't do that but at least it's good to know we were at the one and only 'hot water beach' :)
the only thing you might ask is who first had the idea to dig a hole in the sand on a random beach.








So now i'm at the buffalo peaks hostel and already getting excited about visiting rotorua again. i'll try to do the waiotapu geothermal park and again, the polynesian spa which is just gorgeous....looking forward to that!!
have a wonderful day....and i'll be happy if you write me some time!
lots of love
cora

hi guys
this is probably the first time i'll do a post here on my own.... I just want to say I'm here in auckland st auckland central backpackers and i'm having a wonderful time, taking lots of photos for you (and me) and will post them on the blog when i'm back in wellington.
jeremy THH (the helpful hostfather and he's much more than just helpful but he might get too much self confidence if i write it all on the blog) has already written a lot as i see. but there's more to come!
well i think it's time to grab some dinner (some dumb australians have crashed the kitchen hier in the backpackers so it might be COLD vacuum packaged risotto)........i wish all people in NZ a pleasant evening and have a good day to all people in the northern hemisphere!!
love
cora

Auckland GoogleEarthed

Friday 29 September ... AUCKLAND

I am in Auckland today and doing a trip across the Waitemata Harbour to Rangitoto Island, part of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. It is a dominant landmark of Auckland, New Zealand. Situated 35 minutes by ferry from Downtown Auckland, the islands' unique geological and natural attributes are of international interest. What is less known is that the three Bach Settlements of Rangitoto Wharf, Islington Bay and Beacon End are also of national importance













Volcanic Origins
The island emerged from the sea in a series of fiery volcanic explosions. Lava cooled and hardened into a cone which would have looked quite different from the scrub-covered cinder cone today rising 259 metres above the sea.

Further eruptions sent red hot lava flows down the sides of the volcano, forming the black basaltic rock which makes up 95 per cent of this roughly circular, island, five kilometres across. Ash from the eruptions engulfed neighbouring Motutapu Island and the Maori settlements there.

Bare lava fields, lava caves, pillars and tunnels and different types of lava flows are all obvious features of the island's volcanic landscape. The summit can be reached in a two hour return walk from Rangitoto Wharf. A loop track around the crater rim gives fine views of the extinct crater and Hauraki Gulf.

Diverse History
Maori use of the island appears to have been limited compared with neighbouring Motutapu and Motukorea (Browns Island). Rangitoto was used by early Maori as a commanding lookout in times of war and as a parrot reserve, or rahui-kaka. There are ancient Maori burial caves on the island, the resting place for bones brought across from Motutapu Island.

The Crown purchased Rangitoto in 1854. It was designated a public domain in 1890 and became a popular destination for picnickers. During the 1920s and 1930s prisoners built handpacked roads and trails, some of which are now used as walk-ways on the island. They also constructed the stone walls around the landings and a swimming pool.

Bach sites were leased to help pay for island developments. Some of these baches will be preserved as historic buildings. During World War II there were extensive defence installations on the island, including a fire command post on the summit.

Wednesday 27 Sept

WELLINGTON TO TAUPO
We’ve got quite a distance to cover today so we headed away from Wellington by 8am to beat the rush hour traffic. We passed through Taihape where we drop off and pick up people for River Valley. Departing Taihape we made the climb up to the Central Plateau, home of the Tongariro National Park and across the Desert Road. Thru Turangi and around the southern end of Lake Taupo.

... I stayed at the Tiki lodge in Taupo

The Big Green Bus

packing the taxi with my backpack ... and me !!



















... as the song says "that's me in the corner"









... backpackers for the bus
...and now "on the road again" as the other song says

KIWI EXPERIENCE Northern Roundup

I left Wellington this morning (Wed 27 Sep 06) on my adventure around the North Island. Some I will have seen before but other parts will be completely new for me. I am a bit nervous but excited ... here is my itinerary

WELLINGTON TO TAUPO We’ve got quite a distance to cover today so we head away from Wellington by 8am to beat the rush hour traffic. We pass through Taihape where we drop off and pick up people for River Valley. Departing Taihape we make the climb up to the Central Plateau, home of the Tongariro National Park. For access to the National Park, we can drop you off in the township of Turangi.

TAUPO TO AUCKLAND (VIA ROTORUA)This morning we head north to Rotorua, often referred to as 'rotten rua' due to the abundance of thermal activity in the area. After dropping off passengers who are spending a few days to have a good look around we make our way to Auckland, taking in the rolling countryside along the way.

AUCKLAND TO MERCURY BAY (WHITIANGA)After visiting Mt Eden (one of many dormant volcanoes in Auckland) we head towards the Coromandel Peninsula and spend the afternoon at Cathedral Cove accessible only on foot or by kayak - a beautiful coastal spot great for swimming, sea kayaking and spotting dolphins if you’re lucky. Provided the tides are right we may also check out Hot water beach and dig our own hot pools.

MERCURY BAY (WHITIANGA) TO ROTORUA We depart Whitianga early in order to make the most of our time in the geothermal and cultural centre of New Zealand, Rotorua. Our first stop en route this morning is a visit to the Karangahake Scenic Reserve to explore a native bush clad gorge, swing bridges and a one kilometre long tunnel. On arriving into Rotorua you will have the chance to go luging, zorbing or for a dip in a natural hot spring before experiencing the traditional Maori Hangi and Concert in the evening with Tamaki Tours - a night not to be missed!

ROTORUA TO WAITOMO Today we start with a visit to Te Puia - a large geothermal reserve and Maori Arts and Crafts Centre. Te Puia is also your first chance to spot the elusive Kiwi bird!! We depart Rotorua to drive on through the Waikato and King Country to the Waitomo caves. (Wai meaning water, tomo meaning cave) The local caves, hiding under the green Waitomo countryside, are made out of limestone, which is basically very old dead fish (in this case about 40 million years old). We spend the afternoon checking out Marokopa Falls (3rd largest falls in NZ), the 'Natural Bridge' and Ruakuri reserve. Apart from glow-worms in caves you may see stalactites, stalagmites, cave coral, rock sculptures, fossil oysters and fossil whalebones.

WAITOMO TO TAUPO We leave at lunchtime today so that you have time to experience the legendary Black Water Rafting in the morning with either the Labrinth or Abyss trips! Other adventure activity options include the Quad Biking through rural farmland or the brand new Ruakuri cave which is an engineering master piece. We leave the Waitomo region behind us heading in the direction of the Tongariro National Park and Lake Taupo. Apart from the natural geothermal features of the surrounding area, Taupo is fast becoming known as the action adventure capital of the north. Activities include skydiving, bungy jumping, jet boating, walking the Tongariro Crossing (said to be the best one day walk in the world!), trout fishing and more…

Da Berlin Belle

Wellington East Girls College "Leavers' Ball" at the Duxton Hotel, Wellington
My "little black dress" from Max




... thoughtful pose



















... handbag, necklace, earings, hair ribbon and lots of hair clips









Having a laugh with the taxi driver

The Agony & Ecstasy of SHOPPING

The iconic IKO-IKO shop in Cuba Street ... one of my eclectic favourites



















... and the SOUNDS music shop



















Fay and I doing the shops in Cuba Street



















... but it's really hard making DECISIONS !!














... and I keep fit by running DOWN the UP escalator!!

Germany takes the "apple peel" record

... displaying awesome dexterity under difficult conditions, Cora Scmidt-Ott takes the Gold Medal in the Apple Peeling competition !!

The Art Studio

The Blandford kitchen was only being used for preparation of food and I thought that it really needed a bit more colour and creativity !!

The artist at work



















The paint spreads beyond the canvas



















Caught RED handed














The big cleanup

Joshua hits the Stage !

Joshua as Horatio in "Ophelia Tries Harder" (by Jean Betts & William Shakespeare) ... the Onslow College Drama play. We went to watch it on Tuesday night.

HORATIO









Horatio & Ophelia










... the bedroom scene !!










Scanning the newspaper for the critics' reviews ... YEAH RIGHT

The Supermarket after the Rugby

You can buy some really interesting things at the NewWorld supermarket in Wellington ... but sometimes they require food!!!

My neigbourhood on a sunny day

looking NORTH from the driveway towards Mt. Kaukau TV mast









looking west towards our house ... you can just see the brown roof of my bedroom right in the centre of the picture









looking WEST from the driveway ... our Subaru wagon









looking EAST towards Ngaio

RUGBY Lions vs Canterbury 26-24 YES!!!

Running out on to the field for the start of the game














Tana Umaga No. 13











An injury break ... the forward packs of both teams














the cool dude in someone elses sunglases



















walking out WIN happy after the game