Some photos and a video from our trip to Auckland, New Zealand.
Continue readingNew Zealand: Photos from the Auckland Explorer Bus Tour
The Auckland Explorer Bus Hop on, Hop off tour gave us a chance to explore Auckland and find the things that we wanted to look more closely at. It also allowed us to check out the following places:
Continue readingNew Zealand: Flower Costume Exhibition Photos at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Christchurch is known as the Garden City in New Zealand. It is one of the more expansive botanic gardens we visited. The ilex cafe is a great place to eat, especially if you sit outside and enjoy the birds. You can punt down the Avon, and enjoy the nearby museum. They also host special exhibitions, like this one featuring the flower costumes of Jenny Gillies in its Enchanted Garden exhibition.
Continue readingNew Zealand: Photos from Tiritiri Matangi Island
Tiritiri Matangi Island is an open preserve. They only allow 150 people per day on the island tour. The island has been set aside as a place for native New Zealand species to make a home. Mammal predators have been eradicated, which allows the birds and the reptiles to flourish. This was our first time seeing a blue penguin in its burrow. We decided to join as supporters, and I will make a $1 donation for every “Polly Penguin Wants to Fly” book I sell here or at Amazon.
Continue readingNew Zealand: Maungawhau and Mount Eden with Auckland Explorer Bus
We took a wrong turn, or rather didn’t take the right turn, when we got off the Auckland Explorer Bus Hop on Hop off tour. We decided to follow the bicycle route up the mountain instead of the vehicle route. The problem was that the bicycle route didn’t actually go up the mountain, and we found a foot path that was barred.
Continue readingNew Zealand: Eden Garden with Auckland Explorer Bus
Eden Garden in Auckland was our fourth stop with Auckland Explorer Bus Hop on, Hop tour. We got a discount on entry because we came with the Auckland Explorer Bus, but didn’t get to spend as much time in the gift shop as we wanted because we wanted to be able to hike up Mount Eden. We did eat at the cafe though.
Continue readingNew Zealand: Wintergardens with Auckland Explorer Bus
We spent a lot of time exploring the flowers in these greenhouses at the Wintergardens in Auckland. We even decided to eat at the cafe across the road. This was our third stop on the Auckland Explorer Bus.
Continue readingTales from an Alaskan Cabin: Chapter Fifteen
Gerald told this story:
When I was driving in from Canada, I made one mistake. I didn’t fill up at the border. I don’t know why I didn’t. Maybe it was the stress of going through border patrol, or it was the hours I had been putting into driving. I was tired and not thinking correctly. Whatever the reason, my car sputtered to a stop about 30 miles from where I thought the border was – the place that was marked by the U.S. flag on one side and the Canadian Maple Leaf on the other.
Continue readingNew Zealand: The Parnell Rose Gardens with Auckland Explorer Bus
We used the opportunity to stop at the Parnell Rose Gardens and head down to Judges Bay. Stepping off the bus, the floral scent of the resident flowers was beautifully string. This was our second stop on the Auckland Explorer Bus Hop on, Hop off tour.
Continue readingNew Zealand: Bastion Point with Auckland Explorer Bus
Our first stop with the Auckland Explorer Bus Hop on, Hop off tour was this Bastion Point overlooking the city of Auckland and Waitemata Harbor. It was windy, but beautiful.
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Penguinate! Positive Creativity 