"Aotearoa"    Motto: Formerly "Onward", can't find current motto "80% of the rubbish here is American in origin." -Frank

Pick a place to read all about the lovely locations, or if you prefer money shots, check out the Kiwi dollars and cents.

I'm here in New Zealand now through 30 May 2004... so updates will continue to flow until I take flight again and leave this land... and ask for the rubbish bit above, most of the litter on the ground I've seen so far is wrappers from McDonalds, Burger King, and Coca-Cola bottles. Go America.

Algies Bay - A cute town, even if it lacked virtually every service I'd hope to find in a town. (May '04)

Auckland - The City of Sails, and looking at the nine harbours, the name is abundantly clear. (May '04)
      Auckland Domain - Overlooking the city is the Auckland War Museum and Domain (a park).
      Auckland Harbour - For NZ$18, we took a cruise to see the harbour -- by sea.

Hamilton - The largest inland city (pop. 132,100+), and lots of rather attractive... shops to visit. (May '04)

Helensville - Nothing too noteworthy, yet, I wandered about and snapped a few pictures anyway. (May '04)

Kaukapakapa - A rather cute little town with some equally cute railroad crossing signs. (May '04)

Manukau - We didn't visit the entire place, just the Mangere Bridge portion, though. (May '04)

Martins Bay - A holiday resort for summer, a quiet place to go be by yourself in the winter. (May '04)

Napier - A nice little art deco town along the Pacific Ocean, even if it's not quite my thing. (May '04)

Ngongotaha - Not large enough to be on many maps, but lots of views of rainbows from here. (May '04)

Orewa - Best known for its vast beaches, but let's not forget the statue of Sir Edmund Hillary. (May '04)

Palmerston North - Not a very touristy area, but a nice town and the home of Massey University. (May '04)

Puhoi - This small town lays claim to being the first Bohemian settlement in New Zealand. (May '04)

Rotorua - The "Sulphur City" smells of just that, plus, you get a view of some spendid rainbows. (May '04)

Sandspit - Quite nice during peak holiday season, I bet; sadly, we didn't visit the place then. (May '04)

Snells Beach - In a close second to Warkworth in order of favorites came this beach town. (May '04)

Taupo - A super-clear lake and a Super Loo, Taupo has it all and is waiting for you. (May '04)

Waiwera - Great if you're looking for hot pools (i.e. the Waiwera Thermal Resort). Otherwise... keep driving. (May '04)

Warkworth - By far my favourite of all the towns I've visited in New Zealand, and my favorite size of town, too. (May '04)

Wellington - The capitol of New Zealand, even if it's not the largest city (Auckland is). (May '04)
      New Zealand's Parliament House - A couple of building pictures, since no indoor pics were allowed.
      Te Papa Museum - A rather large, and free, museum, along the waterfront of Wellington.
      Wellington Botanic Gardens - Some lovely gardens amongst the top of the hill overlooking Wellington.
      Wellington Cable Car - The only public cable car in New Zealand, and running almost continuously since 1902.
      Wellington Zoo - A lot of the usual offering of residents, although the Red Panda was one I'd not seen before.

Wellsford - It was quaint town, but had an unusual number of fallen trees hidden alongside the railroad tracks. (May '04)