This trip I had planned for 3 years, took place between June 29 and Aug. 13, 2000. It was a great trip, but went by too fast, and in 6,5 weeks in these different places I didn't get too see everything of course, so I need to go back sometime!
June 29:
I left Tulsa @ the "crack of dawn" @ 6AM so I could be in LA by 11Am to catch plane to Aukland. The Air New Zealand plane was nice and comfortable, I recommend flying with them, the 13 hr. flight didn't seem too long, since they showed movies practically the whole time.
June 30:
I arrived in Aukland, New Zealand's biggest city @ 7:30pm. Upon landing I thought NZ looked alot like Norway, the countryside and the fact that things were spread out. I remarked how interesting it was to finally hear the Kiwi accent. Booked in to City Backpackers Hotel in the CBD that was a good deal for $18NZ, but a bit noisy w/ a bar downstairs. 
View of Aukland harbour
July 1:
I got up @ 6AM (jet lag!) and went on an excursion to Rangitoto Island in the Aukland harbor, it's a vulcanic island that has rocks formed of lava + ask millions of years ago. 
Rangitoto from ferry
Was on a 4WD to top of island and saw beautiful view over the harbor and downtown. Taking the ferry back was a nice experience because it was sunny and all the sailboats in the harbor made me realize why the call Aukland the "city of sails". Upon returning to the CBD, I walked to Albert Park and through the University campus.
July 2:
It was raining, so I went to Aukland Museum where I spend 3,5 hrs. cause it was quite extensive! Impressive exhibits on Maori (native New Zealanders from Polynesia), New Zealand geology and natural history. I also saw the shops of Newmarket, a nice trendy part of Aukland. I also went to Kelly Tarton's Underwater World, where there were penguins in a cooled-down snowy room simulating the antartic, and an aquarium you walk through with fish in "tubes". 
Me and Aukland skyline
July 3:
Raining again, I went to Ponsonby part of town, where the stops are also supposed to be trendy, but I didn't see much of interest. Just went to a movie @ the Planet Hollywood IMAX cineplex, British awardwinner "East is East".
July 4:
I was picked up by the Magic bus (highly recommended!)@ 8 AM to go to Rotorua. We stopped @ Waitomo Caves, 
where I went on the glowworm tour, we saw glowworms in the caves in the dark, and took a canoe through some of the cave, interesting experience. Went on to Rotorua (sulfur town, where the smell is everywhere because of the steaming mud pools caused by vulcanic activity). Stayed @ Downtown Backpackers (good place, friendly owners) 3 nights.
sulfur steaming in Rotorua
July 5:
Owner of backpackers told me how to get to Te Puke, where I wanted to visit Kiwifruit Country. I had to pay $32NZ for another bus that took me there and wait 3 hrs. for it to pick me up, but oh well. I wanted to see how and where they grow the yummy kiwifruit. 
They grow 'em on vines that are all over the orchards, but in July it's winter so there weren't any growing. They took us around in a "kiwikart" and at the entrance to the park there was a giant 3 story kiwi you could look out from a tower. Funny! There were also nut and other fruit trees in orchard. When I got back to Rotorua, I went to Polynesian Spa, which was nice, for $10NZ you can soak in the indoor heated pool and the outside sulfur baths that were all regulated at different temperatures. Relaxing...
July 6:
Rented a bike for $15NZ/day from the ice cream parlor and and went to Rotorua Museum where there was an interactive film about Rotorua's interesting vulcanic history and the rest of the museum was just about the bathhouse it used to be and the Maori culture in this, the "capital" of Maori culture in NZ.
Then I attempted to bike to Buried Village which was 12km away, some uphill, but when I reached the top of a 2 km hill I couldn't go further, cause the hill kept going... So I went back down, and just went to Rainbow Farms instead. There were sheep, cows, chickens and ponies etc. In the evening I went to a "hangi" traditional concert
and feast danced by Maori. Met a nice guy from Singapore there, and we went out for drinks @ one of Rotorua's popular bars.
July 7:
Got back on the Magic bus and went to Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland that was really a wonderland! This park had many sites to see with bubbling mud pools, and craters called "Devil's Lair" amongst others. Also Champagne Pool, Artist's Pallette and Bridal view Falls. A memorable visit to a remarkable natural wonder on NZ's North Island. 
Lady Knox Geyser 
Bubbling mud in cave
From there we went to Taupo
, which is surrounded by the huge Lake Taupo. While some of our fellow travellers went skydiving, I went on a bush walk w/ 2 Germans, a Brit and a Japenese guy. Stay only a couple hrs. in Taupo before we went to Turangi where we stayed the night.
July 8:
Just rode the bus to Wellington thru Palmerston North. Went up to Mt. Victoria to see the view. NZ's capital 
reminds me alot of the Norwegian cities Bergen + Aalesund!
July 9:
Went to the impressive Te Papa Museum of New Zealand. Spend 3 hrs. there w/ the Japanese guy from the other day.
July 10:
Took cable car to the botanical garden and saw Victoria University of Wellington. Also saw the Parliment (the Beehive) and 2 cathedrals. Took the Interislander ferry to Picton in the evening (cheaper then!). Stayed @ Sequoia Lodge there, HIGHLY recommended! Very cosy! But as soon as I arrived on the South Island, I realized how COLD the trip thru there would be... (middle of winter in July there).
July 11:
Walked around the small town of Picton until Magic bus left @ 1. Only drove 2 hrs. to Nelson along windy roads. Only got to stay in Nelson 1 night, but I would of liked to go to Abel Tasman Natl. Park + do sea kayaking! Went to Victoria Rose bar w/ the German from the other day.
July 12:
On the bus again along the NW coast to Westport and Cape Foulwind 
where we went on a walk. 
Pancake rocks, Punakaki
Stayed in the funny inventive Noah's Ark backpackers in Greymouth (recommended for the cleverness!). Also sang karoake @ the "only" bar in town...
July 13:
Back on bus from Greymouth to Franz Josef. Stopped in a jade jewerly store + factory where we saw how they take the stone + carve it into traditional Maori symbols. We also stopped in Ross Goldmining town, where we panned for gold in pans they'd already put the rocks into... Got some small pieces of jade + golddust. We came to the glacier town of Franz Josef 
View of the ever-moving glacier
@ 12:30 + went to the glacier @ 2. It took a while just to walk to the glacier, like 1,5 km then we walked up another km or so, had on spikes for boots. Some of it was pretty steep and kinda scary because you might fall into one of the narrow crevases. But an experience it was! 
View while on glacier
I recommend the walk for anyone who has the chance to visit a glacier!
July 14
We drove off in the cold to Lake Matheson and went on a bushwalk where we saw "the most photogenic lake in the Southern Hemisphere". Saw also mountains where there was Mt.Cook, 
NZ's highest. Later saw Fox Glacier 
from a distance and stopped along the way at a number of beaches with powerfull crashing waves. 
View of marsh in rainforest not far from beach
Took Haast Pass over to Makorora where we spend the night in cabins in the wilderness. Took a jet boat on the river there, which was quite frightening since it went up along the rock on the side of the river just to give everyone a thrill. They also did 360 degree turns! 
The other group in their jet boat
The landscape was nice in this natl. park though. In a whole was this day defitenly the most beautiful scenerywise, we saw so much of the West Coast, and the weather was beautiful (but cold).
At night, we had a party and dinner.
July 15:
Drove to Wanaka where we stopped @ Puzzling World + "Have a shot" shooting range, I didn't go in to the exibits or have a shot. Stopped in town an hour, which was a pretty place. Along the way to Queenstown we stopped @ A.J. Hackett Bungy, the first bungyjump in the world. Some of my fellow travellers jumped, along w/ the driver's 70 yr. old dad, and Vikki, the company manager who was with us along the way. I would of liked to go, but didn't have the $125NZ to spare for 30 sec. of "sheer horror". We arrived in Queenstown 
View from mountain look-out
in the afternoon, which was "busting at the seams" because of Winter Festival. I took the gondola up to 400m or so, saw the sunset over this beautiful city. There were fireworks later to mark the beginning of the festival. Later I went to a bar where the Magic group watched a rugby match against Australia, NZ (ALL BLACKS) won! Where I stayed people were constantly partying, so I didn't enjoy the noise, but that's the skiresort town for you.
July 16:
Was supposed to get up @ 6AM to catch a bus to go to Milford Sound, but the alarm didn't go off, so I ended up missing it. Because I had only 1 full day in Queenstown, I decided to just rent a car to go there, which cost at least $30NZ more.
Beautiful view from boat cruise on the Sound 
Oh well. It was a 4hr. drive 1 way + my 1st experience driving on the left side of the road, but it went fine since the roads were country roads. Arrived in Fiordland National Park and saw the beatiful scenery in the mountains. When I got to Milford Sound
I took the Red Boat Cruise on the fjord, which took 1.5 hr. Very much like Norway there, so I didn't see anything new exactely! On the way back, stopped @ Te Anau with a nice reflecting lake, and followed the moon in the clear sky back to Queenstown. 
July 17:
Waited a half hour in the cold on the bus, and then the heater wasn't working all the 4 hrs. to Dunedin! Went on a wildlife tour there, where we saw 
penguins,
albatross, seals, black swans, and 
sea lions in their natural habitat.
In the evening I went out with some of the group to an italian restaurant and then a Scottish pub, as Dunedin is very Scottish.
There was a guy there dancing in a kilt. 
July 18:
Stayed in Dunedin, saw Otago University, the train station and Otago Settler`s Museum.
July 19:
My last trajet with the Magic bus to Christchurch.
July 20:
Did Kiwi bone carving, made my own Maori symbol pendant. Walked in the botanical gardens and Cantebury Museum (free). Very many English buildings here. See Pics from Christchurch 1, 2, and 3.
July 21:
Got up @ 5 to catch the plane @ 6:50 to Sydney. Was quite dissapointed to leave NZ after such short time... Must come back! Got to Sydney @ 8 already and checked into Nomad`s Downtown Backpackers (only recommended for those who don`t mind it being dirty!) Went into Darling Harbour, Victoria House Shopping Centre and AMP tower where a guide told about the sights from the tower, and afterwords there was a virtual journey through Oz. See pics 1 and 2 from Sydney.
July 22:
Got up early and went to St. Mary`s Cathedral, Hyde Park and the Aquarium which was great, 3 tubes with all kinds of fish and shark! Also seals outside and a crocodile! Saw some of Powerhouse museum also that has alot about technology and its expansion in Australia. See pics 3, 4 and 5 from Sydney and the aquarium.
July 23:
Walked in the Botanical Gardens 
up to the Opera House and a little over Harbour Bridge. Then realized that I was in Sydney! Beautiful city! Walked in the Rocks (old part of Sydney) 
and took a ferry trip to Watson`s Bay, a suburb, were there were loads of people. Walked to the lighthouse. On the way back downtown on the ferry, saw the sunset on the water. Memorable experience, recommended!
Sydney skyline + Manly, seen from Watson`s bay
July 24:
Took a bus to Bondi beach, which is Australia`s most famous, but was pretty empty in July. Took the 2 hr. walk to Coogie beach and even took a dip in the somewhat cold water! That walk has some great scenery, recommended! Went to Australian Museum afterwards and the Botanical Gardens some more.
July 25:
Went on an excursion to the Blue Mountains, 80km from Sydney. Stopped a little in the Olympic Village, went inside the gigantic 
Stadium Australia.
Stopped in the woods where we saw kangaroos 
and their joeys in their natural habitat.
At the Blue Mts, went down the "longest stairway in the world", 1000 steps, into the valley, and took the "world`s steepest trainride" up, 52* incline for 3 minutes. 
me and view of mountains, the Three Sisters
July 26:
Was supposed to rent a car to go to Brisbane + Canberra, but when I went to pick it up, the agent told me I needed to pay a $500AU deposit cash which I didn't want to do, being tight for cash. So upset as I was, I took the bus back to town and waited @ the train station all day until the 4:30 train left for Brisbane, a 15hr. ride until the next morning... The train ticket did save some $ tho, even tho it was boring!
July 27:
Arrived in the morning in Brisbane, and took the train + bus up to Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island. 
Got there @ 5pm, stayed only til the last ferry @ 11:30pm since it was too expensive to stay there overnight. It was overcast, so I didn't see too much, but did see a free slide show and went on a guided night walk, looking @ bats + dingos there. Of course it would of been much better staying there 2 days and doing an excursion, but since I was alone and only had 6 days to travel around Oz, I guess I'll do it next time I intend to visit OZ for 3 months.
July 28:
Left for Brisbane @ 9:00 and got there @ 3. Walked in the town center, and the skyscrapers weren't very appealing. Took a river ferry for 2 hrs. at sunset which was nice. 
Queensland landscape
Brisbane skyline
July 29:
Just spent the whole boring day on the train from Brisbane to Sydney. Got to Syd @ 10:30pm! Never wanna take such a long boring train ride again! Would of been much better driving, but as u read earlier, that didn't work out!
July 30:
Left for Canberra to visit the sister of a Finnish friend of mine who lives there. She took me up to the 800m tower overlooking Australia's capital, which showed what a spead-out city it was. But the nature was nice, slightly mountainous. But the weather was much colder there, inland!
July 31:
Inna took me to the Royal Australian Mint and National Wildlife Park. I didn't see but one koala, which was dissapointing. There were emus, wallabies, and a Tasmanian devil there tho. 
Me and a bit-too-friendly emu!
Also looked inside the modern Parliment building with a grass roof. Took the train back to Syd in the evening.
August 1:
Went to the airport to catch the plane to Aukland. Rushed around to get some last-minute souvenirs, even tho I hope to make it back to Oz, who knows if or when I will? Arrived in the evening in Aukland and spend the night in the same hostel as a month earlier, met some of the same people who were still there.
August 2: (a day I experienced twice)
Left New Zealand for good in the morning to take the 10hr. flight w/ 2 stopovers to Tahiti. Stopped in Fiji and the Cook Islands, which was interesting, I can now say I`ve been to lots of Pacific Islands! What a tropical feeling! Paradise! When I arrived in Papeete at midnite, I met up w/ someone and we found a lady who was kind enough to let us stay at her place 2 nights. 
The next day, still Aug. 2, walked around in downtown Papeete, which isn`t all that nice. Got sunburned by the strong uv-rays, anyone who is light-skinned NEEDS uvlotion there! Discussed Polynesian politics in the evening w/ one of the ladies we stayed with.
Aug. 3:
Rented a car to drive around Tahiti. Visited the Polynesian Museum which had things about the geology and history of the islands. Finally went to the beach, and over to the peninsula Tahiti-iti. Saw waterfalls. 
around island of Tahiti
At 5pm, took the ferry to Moorea, 17kms away. Was afraid I`d have to pay $50 a night in Polynesia since it`s a quite expensive place, but got a bed at Nelson Camping. Realized I wouldn`t be going to any of the other "Iles sous le vent" (Windward) islands because the other ferry wasn`t running and the plane ticket was too expensive. Moorea was a fine place to stay for 10 days, but I would of liked to see Bora Bora and Huahine. All the more reason to go back later!
Aug. 4:
Relaxed on the beach. 
On the beach in paradise!
Went snorkeling and saw lots of pretty tropical fish. These islands are surrounded by lagoons so there aren`t waves and the lagoons aren`t deep. Looked at stores in the touristy area we were in that sold sarongs, shells and black pearls.
Aug. 5:
Rented a bike in the afternoon and biked 25 kms to Cook`s Bay. Stopped in a juice factory and enjoyed the beautiful scenery, the lush vegitation, mountains, and blue sea. 
The beautiful scenery
Aug. 6
Walked 17kms total to a church to hear the glorious island music they sang there, then the other way to Tiki Village Theater were I was guided by a tatooed islander who showed us around the village and showed the crafts they made. 
Aug. 7:
Moved over to Moorea camping along the same beach. Snorkeled and saw the pretty tropical fish, also swam, life's a beach! :-)
Aug. 8:
Went on the shark tour organized by the camping site. Was pretty cool seeing (friendly!) shark close-up and also stingrays. Went to a "motu" (small island) where the guides cracked open coconuts and cut up tropical fruit. 
Aug. 9:
Went scubadiving for the first time. After putting on the wetsuit and tank and a briefing, me and an instructor dove down to 7 meters where I saw a variety of interesting sea life. Tried to take pics w/ an underwater camera, but most didn't turn out. An experience to remember, I'd like to get a diving certificate sometime. 
Aug. 10:
Got to know 3 British girls who came to the camping dorm. Lay on the beach again and chilled...
Aug. 11:
Went on a boat trip with Albert tours, the same kind of thing as the shark tour. Should of gone on an island safari instead. Had a good fish and chicken picnic on the "motu". Afterwards, took the plunge and got a Polynesian tatoo, 2 dolphins. They have some pretty cool traditional tatoos to get there.
Aug. 12:
My last day :-( Waited with a Scottish girl I met for the 3pm ferry back to Tahiti to wait @ the airport until midnite for the flight. The LA flt. was cancelled, we ended up going to Honolulu, where I just stayed for 7hrs. the next day. Unfortunately I didn't get to stay there a while too.
Click here for pics from around Moorea and of me and the Brits and view of Papeete from ferry.
So what a trip! I advise you go to these places if you can someday, it was well worth the money invested, and wasn't all that expensive if you go on a budget trip like I did.
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