Cook Strait

Posted by Didier Van Bellinghen on February 26, 2013 · 1 Comment 

Wellington, home to 400.000 souls and cosmopolitan capital city of New Zealand is the second most populous urban area at the southwestern tip of the North Island between Cook Strait & the Rimutaka Range.  The city is a busy & vibrant place packed with heritage buildings, theatres, eclectic cafe’s, museums, galleriesparks, bars & restaurants.  It has a spectacular … Continue reading →

Category Cook Straight, NEW ZEALAND, PACIFIC, Picton, South Island, Wellington · Tagged with , , , ,

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Posted by Didier Van Bellinghen on February 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment 

Established in 1887, Tongariro was the first national park in New Zealand and the fourth in the world. It is also a dual World Heritage area, a status which recognises the park’s important Maori cultural and spiritual associations as well as its outstanding volcanic features.It is a place of extremes and surprises, a place to explore and … Continue reading →

Category NEW ZEALAND, Tongariro · Tagged with , , ,

Reid’s Farm & Lake Taupo

Posted by Didier Van Bellinghen on February 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment 

The great lake Taupo is situated right in the middle of the North Island on the dramatic Central Plateau offering crystal clear water, wild trouts, pristine native bushes, …  We pitched our tent at one of NZ many free campsites, Reid’s Farm near the small town of Taupo & next to the Waikati river close … Continue reading →

Category NEW ZEALAND, Taupo · Tagged with , , , ,

The Redwoods

Posted by Didier Van Bellinghen on February 22, 2013 · 2 Comments 

Haere mai!  Welcome!  Rotorua, New-Zealand’s thermal capital is famous for its vibrant Maori culture, spectacular thermal areas & forest-fringed trout-filled lakes.  Rotorua lies at the heart of New Zealand’s most active geothermal field with bubbling mud pools in the parks, geysers & steaming fumaroles just minutes from the city.  It’s rich Maori heritage gives an … Continue reading →

Category NEW ZEALAND, Rotorua · Tagged with , , , ,

Coromandel

Posted by Didier Van Bellinghen on February 22, 2013 · 2 Comments 

Coromandel, one of New Zealander’s favourite destination is within an hour and half east from Auckland and yet the region is a world away from the hustle & bustle of city life. With a thousand natural hideaways to enjoy, gorgeous beaches, dramatic rainforests, … Coromandel feels very much off the beaten track and contains diverse  … Continue reading →

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The grip & the farmer

Posted by Didier Van Bellinghen on February 21, 2013 · 5 Comments 

Destination Cape Reinga today ! Michelle from Oregon was leaving us this morning to travel on her own and Martha, another Spanish girl joined us. In the small town of Tortara North, on the way to Cape Reinga, we stopped and visited Annie, a very energetic & active kiwi. She lived in this beautiful wooden … Continue reading →

Category Cape Reinga, NEW ZEALAND, Northland · Tagged with , , , , ,

Bay of Islands

Posted by Didier Van Bellinghen on February 17, 2013 · Leave a Comment 

Big day today! The beginning of my Kiwi roadtrip… Destination, Bay of Islands. But before that I had to solve a problem. I rented a car for a month with Ace Rentals but Lyndon told me he would travel with Pilar & me in the North Island for 11 days and that we could use … Continue reading →

Category Bay Of Islands, NEW ZEALAND, North Island · Tagged with , , ,

The Nurse

Posted by Didier Van Bellinghen on February 17, 2013 · Leave a Comment 

I was dreaming of this day for so many years and it felt pretty unreal to finally fulfill this dream… Flyin’ all the way around to the other side of our beautiful planet in the Southern hemisphere to visit the Kiwi’s in New- Zealand aka Aotearoa, as the local Maori’s call it. Meaning ‘Land Of … Continue reading →

Category Auckland, NEW ZEALAND, North Island · Tagged with , , , ,