Travelogue

What could be more natural than to combine a visit to Australia with a flying visit to neighboring New Zealand? After all, it's not that far away.

So we also planned a week to visit New Zealand's North Island. Our flight took off from Sydney with destination Auckland. Unfortunately, the flight was delayed due to overbooking and a missing visa for New Zealand. So we had to take another plane in the late afternoon. We were able to apply for the visa online at the airport without any problems. We arrived at our hotel much later than planned, just before midnight.

Problems leaving the parking garage next door after I had parked our car there, plus no alcoholic drinks at reception to toast my wife Jutta's birthday. That was already off to a good start!

Breakfast at the hotel next morning was a disaster. Little choice, everything very unappetizing. So we set off on our way. We ate something and had a cocktail in the Commercial Bay shopping mall on Queen Street. Then a fire alarm went off and all customers were asked to leave the center. But t he day was saved by a sensationally good dinner on the Sky Tower in the Orbit 360° Dining restaurant. The restaurant rotates once an hour and offers a great view or the city.

The next morning we had breakfast in a small café directly opposite the hotel before taking the Big Bus on a sightseeing tour of Auckland. We got off at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The museum is located on a hill in the middle of a well-kept park. The exhibition itself and a small Maori show were well worth seeing and gave us an insight into the history of the country and its indigenous people. For dinner, we chose a restaurant in the immediate vicinity of the Sky Tower.

Next stop is Rotorua at the lake of the same name. Our trip through the impressive landscape of the North Island went without any problems. In Rotorua we found another very nice B&B with nice hosts. For the afternoon we had booked a tour with an amphibious vehicle to the nearby lakes Lake Tikitapu, Lake Okareka and Lake Tarawera. Unfortunately, it rained continuously, so we didn't get to see much of the beautiful landscape. The day ended at the Italian restaurant on Eat Street, a small passage with numerous restaurants.

What you need to know about New Zealand's North Island is that geothermal activity takes place in many places. On the way to our next destination, Taupo, we visited one of these places, the Waiotapu Mud Pools, a pool of mud that bubbles vigorously and throws mud bubbles. Another attraction, Huka Falls, was our next destination. The waterfall consists of two cascades and a rapid in between. An impressive natural spectacle. Every second, 220,000 liters of turquoise water flow over the rapids. Our accommodation in Taupo is located directly on the waterfront with a beautiful view of the lake with the same name. Lake Taupo is the crater lake of a collapsed volcano and the largest lake in the country. Worth seeing and an absolute must here is a visit to the Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings, which can only be reached by boat from the water. In a rock niche, 14 m high - a tattooed face next to smaller figures - really very impressive. Especially when you know that these rock carvings were only created in the late 1970s.

But back to Rotorua again. We had learned that a visit to the Redwoods Treewalk, an adventure trail at a height of 20m, 700m long and with 28 suspension bridges on sequoia trees that are over 120 years old, is definitely worth it. In addition to the day tour, a night tour is also offered, we did both tours. It's particularly beautiful when, in the dark, thousands of light points and large lanterns illuminate the tree path in different colors.

The next day, back in Taupo, we took it a little easier. Some wellness at the Wairakei Terraces & Thermal Health Spa was just what we needed. A beautiful complex, pools with different temperatures(32 - 42 degrees), very rich in minerals. The thermal terraces are also worth a visit.

On the way to our last stop, Wellington, we found a very nice place for our breakfast. The landscape is truly breathtaking, just as you know it from many TV travel reports. When we arrived at the hotel we had some time to relax. It's Christmas Eve - our Christmas dinner was booked in the Whitbys Restaurant, on the 17th floor of the hotel. The buffet dinner was very good and the atmosphere was appropriate with live music on the piano.

A totally unusual situation for us - the first time not at home over Christmas - and then in summery climes. On Christmas Day we explored the city. First to the Mount Viktoria Lookout with a panoramic view of the city, then to the Wellington Harbour Lookout. Then walk towards the harbor. The city seems deserted that day. All shops closed, no one on the street. So back to the hotel. That was our last day in New Zealand. It's a shame - we would have liked to explore the South Island too. The next day we took the plane back to Sydney via Auckland.

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