Still coughing but no longer running a fever, it was time to leave Auckland and head to Rotorua. I had been told by everyone that this was one area that I should really take time to visit. I was told to be sure to take in the evening show and dinner at the Maori Village, …
Continue reading "MY LAST NEW ZEALAND ADVENTURES AND FINAL HOUSESIT"
Peaceful-Design Pretend it's now February 6th. My time in New Zealand is drawing to a close - just one month a 2 days before my Visa expires and I my leave my home of the past 9 months. The first thing I did after landing in Auckland was to catch a bus to Thames - …
From Dunedin, I hoped a Naked Bus (just the name of the bus company, not how the driver & passengers dress), and headed to Queenstown - the Adventure Capital of the South Island. I had booked into the new Haka Lodge - 4-bed mixed dorm room - for a week. (I always request a …
Continue reading "THE SOUTH ISLAND 3 – Queenstown, TeAnau, Milford & Doubtful Sounds"
On January 19th I completed my holiday housesit and flew from Wellington to spend the next 3 weeks exploring the south half of the South Island. I spent the first week in Dunedin at the wonderful hostel, KiwisNest. With a corner room all to myself, the staff even brought me in a desk and chair and …
If you read my previous blog posts, you know that I had made my way to the South Island for a trip to Nelson to specifically tour the WOW Museum (with a short foray into the fabulous Abel Tasman National Park) before returning to Blenheim, smack in the middle the delicious Marlborough wine region, for a …
Continue reading "The SOUTH ISLAND 1- Christchurch, Akaroa, Arthur’s Pass, Hokitika"
Time really flies when you're having fun! I loved my 3 1/2 months living in Wellington - I had public transportation that made it easy to get from my little 'home on the hill' into the CBD (if you didn't mind walking down an extremely steep hill to catch the bus - or back up …
Continue reading "TRAVELING IN, AROUND AND OUTSIDE OF WELLINGTON – PART 2"
From October 1st to January 19th, I was based in Wellington - the capital city of New Zealand, where I made my home, most of the time, in a comfy room overlooking the beautiful harbour. But I did venture out from my cozy nest to see and do and house and pet sit during this …
Continue reading "TRAVELING IN, AROUND AND OUTSIDE OF WELLINGTON – PART I"
SOLACE IN THE WIND This metal statue balances on the edge of Wellington harbour. He has a grimace on his face that is hard to interpret. Is he grimacing at the force of the winds that whip this city almost constantly - giving it the name Windy Wellington. (120km just this past week). Sometime it …
I left the Coromandel on September 29th and took a bus to Auckland where I overnighted before rising early in the morning of the 30th to catch the Northern Explorer Kiwi Scenic Rail to Wellington. This would be my first time riding Kiwi Rail and being a person who grew up on trains, I was …
I arrived at the Auckland airport on the 30th of June where I was met by my next home/pet owners. I always try to arrive a few days before the homeowners depart (this time for a 3-month holiday in the UK). This way I have time to learn how things in the house work, the pet's …
My Home on the Roam 