These photographs, presented here without further editorialization, were taken during a 2-week family trip to New Zealand in January 2016. Our itinerary on the North Island was as follows:
January 5th: We arrive in Auckland, and after Chinese dinner, we catch sunset from the top of Mt. Eden.
January 6th: We drive to the Coromandel Peninsula in the morning and complete a 3-mile hike along the coastal bluffs to Cathedral Cove. The trailhead is busy with summer tourists and beachgoers, and we must park at a satellite lot. On our way back, we stop for lunch and delicious passionfruit ice cream. We then drive southwest toward Hamilton, and take a short walk through podocarp forest to a stand of giant kauri trees in the Hakarimata Reserve. Dinner (Sichuan Style Restaurant) in Hamilton.
January 7th: We pass through the Waitomo region, taking brief walks to the Mangapohue Natural Cave and Marokopa Falls. We then drive south, reaching the lagoon at Tongaporutu in time for low tide. We explore the beach's sea stacks and arches, including the famous (formerly) Three Sisters and Elephant Rock. We eat dinner (Chinese again) in the west coast beach town of New Plymouth. At night, Evelyn and I check out the annual Festival of Lights in Pukekura Park.
January 8th: A rainy day with perilous, hilly routes. We drive east toward Lake Taupo via the Forgotten World Highway, stopping briefly in the inn at the "Republic of Whangamomona". We reach Turangi early in the afternoon, and have steak/lamb dinner after briefly visiting the shore of Taupo. The rain continues into the early evening.
January 9th: I walk the northernmost 3 miles of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing while everyone else takes photos at Lake Rotoaira. We drive south along the Desert Road toward Wellington, stopping roadside to photograph the Tongariro volcanoes. We stop for Japanese food for lunch on the road (Sushi House in Feilding). In Wellington, I walk to the harbor and explore the city while everyone rests; I bring them Vietnamese dinner.
January 10th: We wake up early to return our rental car and catch the Bluebridge Ferry across Cook Strait. We arrive on the South Island at noon with a busy day ahead.
