My two weeks in New Zealand flew by very fast, I really enjoyed my visit and and it was good to see Dr. Tunavoyer well and kicking. When it came to eating, Tuure made sure I can't complain that I have to got with a empty stomach. Man-BBQs with six lamb cuts to start with... in short; I never went hungry in NZ. Weather stayed fresh throughout my stay, it was nice to have a bit of a break from the heat.
I spent the last few days in Northland. I rented a Nissan with 160k on it, won't do that again!. In the end it did take me around where I wanted to go, sure was wobbly ride. I spent a night near Tutukaka as I booked a trip to Poor Knights Island (dive tutukaka). The operator was very professional, I avoided the herds of divers as it was off-season. Not so many want to dive in +16 degree water with rented wetsuits. It's been a while, since I've been that cold diving. Upside was the subtropical marine life, which I have not really seen like this before. Definetely worth the trip, even when it was a bit on the expensive side. Not sure thought if I'd spend a week or so diving there, certainly not this time of year without a drysuit.
You can't see and do everything in only two weeks, so next time I come around, it will be the South Island I'm heading to. Read More...

Cheez, I'll have to a better job reading my own blog. I didn't realize that Forum, Gazza and Chet have been visint quite some time ago. Apologies. This starts to feel like being on vacation... 6th week on tour. Next I'm planning to move to Gazza-land and Cairns on the 17th. I'll still do a tour on the Northland, Poor Knights, Bay of Islands and perhaps even Cape Reinga. Let's see how far I get in four days. Renting a car seem to be the way to do it, though people over here drive on the wrong side of the road.

Life is hard on tour. I've survived a hailstorm, my SMB (Surface Marker Buouy) broke down in Fiji, I think it was wrong to start with. Flights have been cancelled and rescheduled and I've had to drink wine and beer on many occassions. I also need to wash my own clothes and remember to pack everything. Hardship, I tell you. Worst is still to come. XXXX and other Aussie beers.

On the upside, I can spend a day reading a book and not pay a fortune to get a decent fish dinner. Ah, and still grow my beard. I think I'm going for the Moses look. Also, I have not met a single Finn since I left Switzerland (outside of my hosts, that is). For the record I have met Dutch, Swiss and Swedes, which pretty much rounds up the usual suspects
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Mudbrick Wineyard and Restaurant in Waiheke Island. Tuure ja Minna vei meitsin murkinalle 'normaaliin' maanantain tyyliin. Degustation menyy ja viinitilan viinit olivat kerrassaan mainioita. Suomalaiset nimet on edelleen vaikeita, eli olen ollut Dr. Tunavoyerin ja Ms. Von Holmin Waiheken kodissa vieraana. Vois olla paskemminkin.

Oon muutaman foton napannut viikonlopun reissulta ja Minna avitti kuvaamalla Karekaren and Pihan surffirannat. Karekarella on kuvattu 'Piano' elokuva. Ilmat on varsin vaihtelevat, kesää kohti mennään eli kaikkea raekuuron ja auringonpaisteen väliltä. Vaatii hieman tottumista viileämpään keliin.



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Spring weather in Auckland. My first day in here, I got a hail shower down on my back while walking down the street. I though I was walking in sunshine (last time I looked up). Weather seems to be changing fast around here.
My mate Tuure lives in Waiheke island, just off Auckland and I'm staying at his place for the next week or so, depending. There's a 35min boat/ferry ride from the city, very nice area I must say. I took a picture from deck on the back.

We did a quick tour around nothern North Island over the weekend in Rotorua and Coromandel area. Read More...