Just across the road, there is a river.  Across the river, there is a bridge.  Across the bridge, there is another bridge.  Step onto that bridge if you dare, and enter a world of adventure … Admire the ancient Iron Age relics, including a strange rusted Relay Map Graveyard, perched above the river and positioned […]

After dinner, we headed back into Pukekura Park, in search of glow worms.  It was still light when we arrived, so we took a leisurely stroll around the flatter parts beside the lake, reminiscing fondly about which way we went to which controls (it was all of a day and a half ago).  At a […]

We’ve come to New Plymouth to compete in the Lonely Mountain Sprints – Mt Taranaki being the “lonely mountain”.  So named because there is nothing of comparable size anywhere, and when you can see it in all its glory, it completely dominates the view.  Last time we visited, the skies were cloud free and we […]

We picked up our rental car this morning. It’s a Prius.  None of us have ever driven a hybrid.  We asked the nice rental car man for instructions.  He explained how to start it.  We followed his instructions and duly set off, heading south.  Google said it would take us 4 hours plus, to get […]

After four events in a row, we’ve earned our rest day. A sleep in, a leisurely breakfast, then off to check out a few more sights in Oamaru, where we have one more night to stay before heading to Queenstown via Naseby tomorrow. It’s a glorious sunny day perfect for strolling and sightseeing. Serenity – […]

So DipidyDoo has subbed in Simon for Ian for this trip (though Dipsdydoo doesn’t quite roll off the tongue as well, and sounds rather like I feel at the moment – yes, still got the vertigo) and here we are in New Zealand for their national orienteering champs in Oamaru, and some follow-on events in […]

“said Simple Simon to the Flyman, Please let me go there” Off on our next Orienteering across the ditch to Oamaru and Queenstown on New Zealand’s south island for their National Championship, the famous three, Debbie Ilze and Me, were waiting in the departure lounge at Melbourne airport for the arrival of the fourth member […]

Shelly Beach was at its brilliant best this morning – sunny and still.  We sat on the deck for breakfast, which stretched into morning tea.  Then we took off for a scenic drive of the Waiterake Ranges, Auckland’s equivalent of the Dandenongs. First stop was a walking trail to the Fairy Falls.  The track wandered […]

A very welcome rest day in Rotorua – slept in, then did some relaxed pace sightseeing around town.  The theme was definitely thermal – steaming pools, bubbling mud, and the pale yellow tinge of sulphur – the smell pervades the town, but you get used to it quickly.  We visited the Government Gardens, where the […]

All the talk has been of Cyclone Cook, predicted to bring gale force winds and torrential rain to much of New Zealand’s north island today and tonight.  So far we have had a couple of heavy showers and no wind to speak of.  The skies are very dull, but stories of cyclones have so far […]