Our primary destination this morning was Mount Taranaki in the Egmont National Park. Unfortunately, our good weather luck ran out and we faced high winds and driven rain. We had planned to hike to the Wilkies Pools and Dawson Falls but decided to forgo the former in the interest of safety. The falls were spectacular and more than justified the drive. I had hoped to photograph the three volcanoes in the park but they were covered in clouds while we were there. With a few extra hours on our hands, we decided to stop at Waihi Beach and were greatly rewarded for the detour. The beach is strewn with huge pieces of driftwood and rocks shaped by the waves and wind. During our visit, the wind speed rarely dipped below 20 mph.

Our final destination for the day was the city of Whanganui, where we visited the Durie Hill Memorial Tower before checking into our quaint AirBnb. Once settled we ventured into the downtown arts district where Jeanine purchased a pair of earrings and we enjoyed a Japanese dinner for a change of pace.

The Waitomo area features several limestone caves that are inhabited by glow worms. Only the Ruakuri Cave permits photography inside. It also contains stalactites, stalagmites, curtains, popcorn, and limestone formations of all manner. Access to the cave is by a spiral staircase that is beautiful in its own right. It also makes this the only wheelchair accessible cave in the southern hemisphere. Our guide allowed me to use my tripod for the glow worm photo which would have been impossible otherwise. Even so, the photo is not that great. You really have to see these in person to appreciate them.

After our visit to the cave, we had hoped to hike to the Three Sisters and Elephant Rock. Unfortunately, it started to rain so heavily that we opted to drive directly to our bed and and breakfast in New Plymouth.

Rotorua is known for its rich Māori culture and otherworldly geothermal landscapes. Today, our focus was on the latter. We spent several hours hiking through the Waimangu Volcanic Valley where we were treated to some very beautiful sights. When we arrived at the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland we had just missed the entry time cut-off of 3 PM so I had to settle for a high altitude drone image so as not to disturb anyone in the park.

Prior to our geothermal adventures, we visited the National Kiwi Hatchery, where we got to see an 11-day-old baby kiwi and three juveniles. Regrettably, photography of birds within the facility is strictly prohibited, so I had to settle for the image below. It is estimated that a total of 25,000 birds remain in the wild and the hatchery has contributed 10% of that number to the total since its inception moving the national icon off the critically endangered list.

Here is what a real baby Kiwi looks like (from the Smithsonian website).

Rotorua is also known for its amazingly dark skies. For the second night in a row, we enjoyed a spectacular view of the Milky Way galaxy. It is a shame that this has become such a rare opportunity for most people.

Neither Jeanine nor I have read or watched the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbits trilogy. At the behest of our kids, who are rabid fans of Tolkien’s works, we included a visit to Hobbiton to our itinerary. I am thankful we did. Even absent context, the place is magically wondrous. The attention to detail and whimsy that can be found everywhere is amazing. Note to kids: These photos are but a tiny sampling of all the photos I shot. We thank you for encouraging us to visit this special place.

After a light snack at the Green Dragon, we drove to Hell’s Gate, a sulfurous geothermal site near Rotorua. It was interesting but not particularly photogenic, and neither one of us was interested in taking the mud baths for which it is best known.

Jeanine learned of a nearby Kiwi bird rescue sanctuary, but we just missed their last tour when we arrived. After reserving a spot for tomorrow, we took a tour of the next-door Agrodome, where we were introduced to 19 species of live sheep, three breeds of sheep herding dogs, watched demonstrations of sheep sheering and the dogs playing (literally running across the backs of all the sheep in the back row) and working (driving sheep into a pen). On a tractor tour of the farm we had a chance to feed the sheep and lamas.

Our day finished with a Mitai Maori Village dinner and cultural experience. We learned about the Indigenous people of the area and witnessed their forms of welcome, celebration, and warfare. I was chosen as Chief of the visitors and had to meet with the local Chief on stage and give a speach on behalf of my tribe (the 200-person audience). Maintaining uninterrupted eye contact was crucial to demonstrate our good will and to prevent the outbreak of hostilities.

The tiny town of Hahei, population 300, receives half a million visitors a year who flock here to visit Cathedral Cove and the other natural wonders of the coastline. We started the day with a boat tour that was both informative and thrilling as we flew over the 1 meter swells en route to the geographic features of the coastline and into the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve. Our fist destination was Cathedral Cove and the arched sea cave for which it is named. Later in the day we would return on foot.

The Orua sea cave, located further south, was equally impressive and large enough for us to maneuver into with the boat.

Mahurangi Island is a sanctuary for birds, sea mammals, fish, turtles. and also features sea arches and caves.

After our boat tour, we hiked back to Cathedral Cove. It was a relatively short 2.6-mile round trip with steep up-and-down sections that left my knees barking by the end. Totally worth it.

In the afternoon, we visited Hot Water Beach where it is possible to dig into the sand allowing hot water to escape to the surface forming a hot water pool. The water, with a temperature as hot as 147 °F, filters up from two underground fissures. Visitors dig large holes and relax and soak in the thermal baths. Click on the overhead aeriel view to observe the many excavations and styles of relaxation.

After Jeanine got her fish tacos at Hotties, we set out for a 2-hour drive to Matamata.

This morning, we set out for the small town of Piha, located on the western coast. There, we hiked to the Kitekite Falls along one of the most beautiful trails I have ever had the pleasure of traversing. Our early start gave us sole access to the falls and basin below. Typically, the latter is full of people splashing about.

We then drove to North Piha Beach, where Jeanine soaked up some sun while I flew my drone.

Rinse and repeat for South Piha Beach.

We then made the 3-1/2 hour drive to Hot Water Beach, located on the eastern coast. Thus far, the roads have been well-maintained, as in a well-maintained roller coaster ride. A straight and flat section of roadway is as rare as the endangered Kiwi birds.

We are staying in what amounts to a tiny house without a bathroom. It is quite adorable, actually. It has a queen-sized bed, a tiny table with a pair of chairs, a dorm-size refrigerator, and not much else. Bathrooms and showers are located in a separate building. There is also a communal pool, food court, and play areas.

Jeanine and I arrived in Auckland at 5 AM this morning. We cleared customs quickly and then spent more than a short while configuring our phones with travel data plans. Unable to contact our rental car agency for pickup, our first hike in New Zealand was to the rental car agency in the rain. Fortunately, it was only a 15-minute walk and we packed light. Our first destination was Mount Eden (Maungawhau), a volcanic peak with hiking and jogging trails leading to views over the Hauraki Gulf. Despite a slight drizzle and heavy cloud cover it was a great way to wake up our legs as we hiked up to and around the ancient caldera. Afterwards, we treated ourselves to coffee and pasteries at a French bakery that Jeanine described as the real deal.

In light of the rain, we decided that our next stop would be indoors and chose the Auckland Aquarium. I was most captivated by the jellyfish displays, although I could have easily spent the entire day watching the penguins in their very realistic habitat.

By noon, the rain stopped, and the skies cleared, so we set out for Waitipu Beach on the western coast, about an hour’s drive from the capital. We practically had the entire black sand beach to ourselves but opted not to go into the water after Jeanine discovered dozens of Portuguese man o’ war washed up on the sand. Their sting will not kill you, but are said to be excruciatingly painful.

Jeanine opted for shore combing while I put up the drone for some aerial photography.

We arrived back in Auckland by 3 PM and visited Auckland University before checking into our downtown hotel.

Jeanine found a lovely Italian restaurant within walking distance, and we enjoyed a stroll there that afforded us a nice view of the Sky Tower.

Jeanine and I arrived in San Francisco yesterday evening after our 7-hour flight, where we boarded this New Zealand Air flight for Auckland. Fortunately, we had strong tailwinds, which cut the normal flight time from 12 hours to 11. For the first time in my life, I was able to sleep comfortably on an airplane. I credit this to a new neck pillow that I purchased and a pair of compressions socks. I can only hope the return flight will be as comfortable.

Jeanine and I leave on a 5-week adventure today. We will spend a month in New Zealand and a week in Sydney, Australia. While we are away, Nico will be house-sitting for us.

This has been a much-anticipated trip for us, and we are happy that all the planning and preparation is behind us and that we are ready to embark on our journey. I decided to review some of my photographs from past adventures to places of natural beauty and can only hope that I return with as much bounty on this trip.

Pictured above is Mount Fitz Roy on the border between Argentina and Chile taken with my drone when I traveled there with Nico. Below is the village of Gasadalur on the Faroe Islands.

Unified basketball is a sport that combines students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team to promote friendship and understanding.  Nico and Brian Scalabrine were celebrity referees for today’s game at the Concord Middle School. Brian is a current television analyst and former player for the Boston Celtics. They are pictured here with Justin Cameron, the CMS Principal, before the start of the game.

Maya and Nicolai joined us for brunch this morning. Kyle is still traveling in Columbia. Jeanine prepared Japanese pancakes for the first time, and they were a huge hit. In the afternoon, we spotted a Bald Eagle perched right outside the kitchen window. Unfortunately, a tree branch prevented me from capturing a better image.

Jeanine and I completed packing for our upcoming trip to New Zealand and Australia. My two bags are pictured above. They contain clothing for 5-weeks, including rain gear, a camera and three lenses, a drone and controller, a tripod, trekking poles, and a laptop. If not for the fact that trekking poles are not permitted in carry-on, checking bags would not have been necessary. On this trip, I have allowed myself a few luxury items; a pair of slippers, an inflatable neck pillow, and a windshield mounting kit for my phone to facilitate navigation while driving.

Our niece’s daughter, Charly, celebrated her birthday with what must be her favorite meal: mac and cheese, tacos, and fruit. If I had to guess, fruit may not have been on the wishlist. I have yet to meet Charly, a situation that must be rectified before her next birthday.

Jeanine and I agreed that the landing between our main floor and basement would be ideal for displaying a dozen family photos taken over the years. I completed the project this evening, and we are both very pleased with the outcome. They are perfectly located to draw the eye when traversing our main hallway. Because they are most closely observed while going up and down the stairs, any given photo can be viewed at eye level, depending on which tread you are standing. It will probably take as long to furnish the house with art as it did to build, but it feels good to have started the process.