top of page

Fiji to New Zealand & New Zealand Touring

 

 

See blogs for more details
 

Return to Fiji and the trip to New Zealand via New Caledonia then to New Zealand for Xmas

Well its been a mad 3 months, new Grandson Logan is now about 12 weeks old and we have rebonded with the 2 year old Reuben. Seen friends family and fitted a lot of work in with all the boxes ticked. Weather in the UK is changing to cold and grey again so its time to head back to Fiji.

One box not ticked is planning but we will make that up as we go !  Our broad plan is New Zealand by late November sailing via the French island New Caledonia where Pam and Craig, friends who crewed with us across the Atlantic will re-join us back into their home country. Pat and I plan to spend 3 months sailing and land touring New Zealand before returning to the UK for a few months in March 15.

 

New Caledonia - 23/10/14

It was a fast crossing just 4 days for 720nm. Pam and Craig will join us from New Zealand.

Well we are going to have to come back here, beautiful French islands with unique pine trees we had not seen in the pacific. Noumea a bustle French port but the islands around it were absolutely charming and not busy.

 

New Zealand - 10/11/14

Pat and I are still finding it a little difficult to believe - we have made it to New Zealand - its beyond the goal we had originally set 5 years ago. We had a difficult passage from New Caledonia with lively winds and high seas on the nose the entire 977 miles we sailed. We passed through the Bay of Islands at night - a cold one and into Opua and th Q dock awaiting immigration the next day.

 

A mail between Pat and her cousin Linda, South in Napier meant we hired a car to meet them halfway in Auckland for a Rolling Stones concert and a fitting for Linda's forthcoming wedding in February which we are now invited to attend ! We started to get to grips with the stunning countryside and thats still in North Island.

 

During December 14

Sailing the Bay of islands outside Opua and up to Whangoroa and the Cavalli Islands (where Rainbow Warrior still lies) then South to TuTuKaKa and a few days in Whangarei then down to Barrier island off he coast of Auckland - much of this in cold cloudy weather.


Auckland - 12/12/14

Arrive Auckland to Bayswater marina opposite the city where a quarter of the 4million population live. We see the city lit up from the cockpit of BriZo and its  5 minute ferry into the city. We met up with Pam and Craig here and also visited Tom a chef we knew and his fab restaraunt in Ponsonby street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christchurch - 6/1/15 (See South Island blog)
Following a fantastic Xmas in Napier with Pats family which included a trip to Linda and Stevens holiday bach on Lake Taupo we continued our drive via Graytown to Wellington the capital for New Year. On the 2nd we headed by ferry across the Cooke straits into Queen Charlotte sound to Picton North Island. By the 5th we were in Christchurch and the next day experienced our first 'severe' Earthquake tremor - 6.4.

 

Hanmer Springs to Dunedin  9/1/15 (see South of South Island blog)

From Christchurch we moved inland to Hanmer Springs then into Pinot Noir country of Wanaka visiting Mount Cook on the way. Skydive was the highlight at Wanaka and the Hillary center on the way. Next on to Queenstown for one night. From here we went West to Te Anau and the Sounds (Fiordland), Doubtful Sound overnight cruise and seaplane was the highlight.

Then South East for an overnight at Invercargill then to the Catlins along the coast to Dunedin and Lanarch Castle in the Otago peninsula.

 

Dunedin (SE) to Westport (NW) - 25/1/15 (see West of South Island blog)

From the 17th to 25th Jan we moved from the South East coast of South Island to the North West Coast at Westport. This meant traversing the Southern Alps to Franz Josef. So leaving the warm Pinot Noir countryside behind to the wetter west Tasman coast which was very quiet and beautiful with wonderful beaches and warmer climate as we headed ever North.

 

Westport (NW) to Marlborough (NE) - 6/1/15 (see North of South Blog)

On the 26th Jan we left Westport to Golden Bay and Abel Tasman in the North. Here we found spectalcular golden beaches and sunny climate. We took a few days to take in the delights of this area before moving acoss the hills to Nelson a cultural city. We did the WOW Wearable Arts  and Car Museum. From Nelson we headed inland and East towards the major wine growing district of Blenheim where we met up with Paul and Suzie from Firefly and cycled the 'Cellar Doors'  and then kayak on the Marlborough sounds.

 

 

 

Fiji to New Zealand  Pictures

Place cursor over image to control slide show and see text or

Double click to enlarge pictures to full size, browse and see text

New Zealand - NORTH Island Photos

Place cursor over image to control slide show and see text or

Double click to enlarge pictures to full size, browse and see text

New Zealand - SOUTH Island Photos one of three

Place cursor over image to control slide show and see text or

Double click to enlarge pictures to full size, browse and see text

New Zealand - SOUTH Island Photos two of three

Place cursor over image to control slide show and see text or

Double click to enlarge pictures to full size, browse and see text

LATEST Pictures lower down this page

New Zealand - SOUTH Island Photos three of three

Place cursor over image to control slide show and see text or

Double click to enlarge pictures to full size, browse and see text

North Island 7th February to 7th March 2015 (see blog 7th Feb to 7th March)

North across the interislander saw us back in Napier for Cousin Linda's wedding to Steve.  then up to Auckland and 'home' again to BriZo. A week then sailing the Coramandels and Waiheke first with Pam and Craig then Paul and Susie on Firefly, great weeks and stunning cruising area, Mansion House on Kawai and two wineries in Kawau Bay including Susies birthday at Plume. We will enter Gulf Harbour on the 10th March and lifted 13th to return home for 5 weeks to UK. BriZo will be cleaned and antifouled before our return and the ICA rally to Tonga's Ha'api group, Fiji's Lau group, Vanuatu and on to Australia.

bottom of page