Another early day as I set off on the Kiwi Scenic Rail from Auckland to National Park. It’s a beautiful (and apparently rather new) train coach with big windows to look out over the rolling hills as we head south. It’s a gray cloudy day, but the windows provide a constant stream of lovely green and it’s nice to watch…
Author: lkcopeland57
Day 6: January 6, Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves
Since I’ve spent much of my life either living in or visiting cities in my business travel, I try to get out big towns when on most vacations. So rather than spend a day in Auckland, I booked a tour to go get my geek on in Hobbiton, the set used in the shooting of all three Lord of the…
Day 5: January 5, SYD-AKL
It was not much of a day for photos or adventure experiences, as most of the hours were taken with travel from Newcastle to Auckland. Will was kind enough to taxi me to Sydney airport from his home 2 hours north, and it was rush hour and pouring rain, so we both had a bit of anxiety about getting to…
Day 4: January 4, Hunter Valley
The weather has not been cooperating at all — it was another rainy summer day. But I’ve never known a vineyard to close in the event of showers, so Will decided to take us up to the Hunter Valley and the vineyards there. But the first stop was at Will’s cousin’s house, adjacent to the Shortland Wetlands at Newscastle. Because…
Day 3: January 3, Newcastle
The summer sun didn’t appear today in New South Wales, as a rain storm settled into the area. Of course those of you who know me know how much I hate rain, but at least it was warm! My camino-mate Aussie Will came to fetch me at the Westin this morning, and we drove up the coast to Newcastle. The…
Day 2: January 2, Sydney
Today’s adventure was a trip to the Blue Mountains. East of Sydney about 100km, they get their name from a blue haze that appears on the horizon. Not smog or pollution, which would be our assumption in LA or NY, but a result of the oils let off from the millions of eucalyptus trees which make up so much of…
Day 1: January 1, Sydney
I began 2016 having completely missed the last day of 2015 — lost to the international date line at some point while I slept fitfully while flying across the Pacific. I had sorta believed that the pilot might alert the passengers of our 777 when it was either officially midnight in Sydney, or when we crossed the dateline and never…
Down Under in Oz and NZ
This time for 6 weeks down under — Australia and New Zealand. I will visit cities, friends, the barrier reef, glaciers, national parks, fjords, mountains and the Great Ocean Road. I hope to blog daily with updates on my adventures and some photos, so check in occasionally to see what I’m up to. G’day, mates!
Day 13: St. Petersburg
The weather just has not cleared up! It was another chilly and cloudy one, making any time on the beach less appealing. Gulfport is a jewel of a little town right on the bay just west of St. Petersburg. Very artsy, with lots of crafty, artsy shops and adorable and colorful houses. We strolled the main street and visited a…
Day 12: Gulfport, Fl, near St. Pete
Spent most of the day in the Sarasota area; once again the weather did not cooperate for a beach day but we made the best of it. There’s a from scratch small batch bakery near where we stayed with amazing pastries and candied bacon, so we walked there for some breakfast treats. Erica then had some admin stuff to do…