Between Christmas and New Year's Eve 2003, I cruised down the south
island along Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook, Wanaka and finally Queenstown.
In the second half of February 2004, I then visited the north island
from Palmerston North up to the Bay of Islands, spending six days
in Tongariro National Park and subsequently visiting Hamilton, the
Bay of Plenty, the Waitomo Caves, Auckland and the Bay of Islands
(Paihia and Waitangi). The purpose of this page is to give my friends
an impression of the beautiful landscape that I got to experience during
the journey.
All pictures on this page have the same height, but vastly different
widths - so don't forget to scroll on the panorama pictures or to
view them in a resolution that fits your screen (if your browser
supports that). You might want to press <F11> to use your full screen
for viewing.
![Tim, one of my best kiwi friends.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_01.jpg)
Tim, one of my best kiwi friends.
![Tim's grandfather had a very exciting life and is still quite fit - Tim gave him a hacky sack for his birthday.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_02.jpg)
Tim's grandfather had a very exciting life and is still quite fit - Tim gave him a hacky sack for his birthday.
![Christmas titbits](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_03.jpg)
Christmas titbits
![The children distributed the presents.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_04.jpg)
The children distributed the presents.
![three of Tim's best friends](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_05.jpg)
three of Tim's best friends
![yeah right](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_06.jpg)
yeah right
![The beautiful Lake Tekapo](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_07.jpg)
The beautiful Lake Tekapo
![Lake Tekapo from a different perspective, with the church of the good shepherd on the small peninsula](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_08.jpg)
Lake Tekapo from a different perspective, with the church of the good shepherd on the small peninsula
![beautiful landscape near Lake Tekapo (panorama)](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_09.jpg)
beautiful landscape near Lake Tekapo (panorama)
![different perspective](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_10.jpg)
different perspective
![Typical Otago landscape - looks a bit like Afghanistan in a dry summer, as far as I can judge from what I saw from the plane.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_11.jpg)
Typical Otago landscape - looks a bit like Afghanistan in a dry summer, as far as I can judge from what I saw from the plane.
![Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World near Wanaka - featuring a nice collection of puzzles and a maze](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_12.jpg)
Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World near Wanaka - featuring a nice collection of puzzles and a maze
![Inside the leaning tower - the horizontal step appears tilted](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_13.jpg)
Inside the leaning tower - the horizontal step appears tilted
![nice illusion due to the tilted floor](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_14.jpg)
nice illusion due to the tilted floor
![leaning forward to stand vertical - looked funnier in reality than in the photo](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_15.jpg)
leaning forward to stand vertical - looked funnier in reality than in the photo
![Nice challenge to alleged mind readers; so far, six persons attempted to discover the treasure's hiding place in vain, yielding a total of $NZ 6000 for charity.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_16.jpg)
Nice challenge to alleged mind readers; so far, six persons attempted to discover the treasure's hiding place in vain, yielding a total of $NZ 6000 for charity.
![I think I'll adopt that tile pattern for my next bathroom!](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_17.jpg)
I think I'll adopt that tile pattern for my next bathroom!
![The maze from one of the bridges that make it even more fun!](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_18.jpg)
The maze from one of the bridges that make it even more fun!
![Weight training - sorry for the disadvantageously cast shadow](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_19.jpg)
Weight training - sorry for the disadvantageously cast shadow
![beautiful Lake Wanaka](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_20.jpg)
beautiful Lake Wanaka
![Cinema Paradiso in Wanaka is one of the premier attractions and features not only comfy sofas and a car instead of the normal armchairs, but also hot fresh-made cookies in the break!](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_21.jpg)
Cinema Paradiso in Wanaka is one of the premier attractions and features not only comfy sofas and a car instead of the normal armchairs, but also hot fresh-made cookies in the break!
![Queenstown, with one of the fast jetboats used for the shotover river cruise for tourists.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_22.jpg)
Queenstown, with one of the fast jetboats used for the shotover river cruise for tourists.
![Queenstown scenery - isn't this landscape just amazingly beautiful?](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_23.jpg)
Queenstown scenery - isn't this landscape just amazingly beautiful?
![enlarged part of the scenery](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_24.jpg)
enlarged part of the scenery
![Landscape close to Queenstown, along the road to Wanaka through the Cardronas valley](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_25.jpg)
Landscape close to Queenstown, along the road to Wanaka through the Cardronas valley
![Lake Hawea, north-east of Wanaka](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_26.jpg)
Lake Hawea, north-east of Wanaka
![extremely beautiful river scene near Wanaka](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_27.jpg)
extremely beautiful river scene near Wanaka
![The annual world busker's festival in Christchurch](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_28.jpg)
The annual world busker's festival in Christchurch
![The birthday present that I got from my flatmates: An inflatable kiwi (I bet they were the first non-Asians to buy it)!](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_29.jpg)
The birthday present that I got from my flatmates: An inflatable kiwi (I bet they were the first non-Asians to buy it)!
![New Zealand Summer on 27/12/2003: extremely dry.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_30.jpg)
New Zealand Summer on 27/12/2003: extremely dry.
![New Zealand Summer on 04/01/2004: extremely wet (photo courtesy of Stephen France (?)). The wettest hour alone saw 104mm of rain.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_31.jpg)
New Zealand Summer on 04/01/2004: extremely wet (photo courtesy of Stephen France (?)). The wettest hour alone saw 104mm of rain.
![Mike Steel, my professor and supervisor, and the director of the Biomathematics Research Centre.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_32.jpg)
Mike Steel, my professor and supervisor, and the director of the Biomathematics Research Centre.
![Mt Ngauruhoe (Orodruin / Mt Doom) in one of the very few sunny moments.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_33.jpg)
Mt Ngauruhoe (Orodruin / Mt Doom) in one of the very few sunny moments.
![Mt Ngauruhoe at dusk.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_34.jpg)
Mt Ngauruhoe at dusk.
![Beautiful small waterfall in Tongariro National Park.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_35.jpg)
Beautiful small waterfall in Tongariro National Park.
![Me in sexy outdoor outfit (near Lower Tama Lake).](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_36.jpg)
Me in sexy outdoor outfit (near Lower Tama Lake).
![Even more sexy without the jacket.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_37.jpg)
Even more sexy without the jacket.
![Bay of Plenty, the north-eastern shore of NZ's north island - note the phenomenal long white cloud!](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_38.jpg)
Bay of Plenty, the north-eastern shore of NZ's north island - note the phenomenal long white cloud!
![further to the left](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_39.jpg)
further to the left
![Glowworm cave in Waitomo - the curves instead of dots are camera shake artifacts.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_40.jpg)
Glowworm cave in Waitomo - the curves instead of dots are camera shake artifacts.
![Me right after abseiling 100m down into the lost world cave - an exciting, but expensive adventure.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_41.jpg)
Me right after abseiling 100m down into the lost world cave - an exciting, but expensive adventure.
![Typical north island vegetation and relief.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_42.jpg)
Typical north island vegetation and relief.
![further to the right](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_43.jpg)
further to the right
![above a cave in Waitomo, with some typical pancake rock](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_44.jpg)
above a cave in Waitomo, with some typical pancake rock
![closeup of a piece of layered pancake rock](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_45.jpg)
closeup of a piece of layered pancake rock
![Beautiful river near the Mangapohue Natural Bridge Scenic Reserve](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_46.jpg)
Beautiful river near the Mangapohue Natural Bridge Scenic Reserve
![the same river a little further upstream](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_47.jpg)
the same river a little further upstream
![Marokopa falls (note the faint rainbow!)](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_48.jpg)
Marokopa falls (note the faint rainbow!)
![nice hill with rocks and two trees](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_49.jpg)
nice hill with rocks and two trees
![context](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_50.jpg)
context
![pancake rock (turned 90°)](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_51.jpg)
pancake rock (turned 90°)
![interesting rocks](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_52.jpg)
interesting rocks
![interesting wood and rocks](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_53.jpg)
interesting wood and rocks
![another interesting rock](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_54.jpg)
another interesting rock
![rock skyline](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_55.jpg)
rock skyline
![beautiful shore with dark, mineral-rich sand at the west coast](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_56.jpg)
beautiful shore with dark, mineral-rich sand at the west coast
![view from above](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_57.jpg)
view from above
![view inwards](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_58.jpg)
view inwards
![interesting dead tree](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_59.jpg)
interesting dead tree
![Karsten "Spiff" Sperling at Taharoa Lake, north of Auckland near Dargaville.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_60.jpg)
Karsten "Spiff" Sperling at Taharoa Lake, north of Auckland near Dargaville.
![Te Matura Ngahere (The father of the forest) - a 2000 year old giant Kauri tree (trunk 10m high, 5.22m diameter, total height 30m). These trees were used for Maori war canoes (wakas) and for sailing ship's masts.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_61.jpg)
Te Matura Ngahere (The father of the forest) - a 2000 year old giant Kauri tree (trunk 10m high, 5.22m diameter, total height 30m). These trees were used for Maori war canoes (wakas) and for sailing ship's masts.
![The normally beautiful Bay of Islands in foggy and rainy weather.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_62.jpg)
The normally beautiful Bay of Islands in foggy and rainy weather.
![Karsten in Paihia, the heart of the Bay of Islands.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_63.jpg)
Karsten in Paihia, the heart of the Bay of Islands.
![Closeup of world's largest waka, launched on the 100year anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_64.jpg)
Closeup of world's largest waka, launched on the 100year anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi.
![Aft section of the waka, a smaller waka in the background.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_65.jpg)
Aft section of the waka, a smaller waka in the background.
![Auckland's skyline (photo courtesy of Karsten Sperling)](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_66.jpg)
Auckland's skyline (photo courtesy of Karsten Sperling)
![Skytower at night; it has three color schemes on a weekly cycle, with blue being the best.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_67.jpg)
Skytower at night; it has three color schemes on a weekly cycle, with blue being the best.
![steeper viewing angle](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_68.jpg)
steeper viewing angle
![view from the skytower's viewing platform - the lines are the wires for the 195m skyjump (not a bungy jump, but slightly slower).](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_69.jpg)
view from the skytower's viewing platform - the lines are the wires for the 195m skyjump (not a bungy jump, but slightly slower).
![a little further to the right](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_70.jpg)
a little further to the right
![view downwards](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_71.jpg)
view downwards
![view through the glass floor](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_72.jpg)
view through the glass floor
![view over Auckland - one tree hill AKA no tree hill is visible in the background, on the left](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_73.jpg)
view over Auckland - one tree hill AKA no tree hill is visible in the background, on the left
![One of Auckland's yacht harbours, and the famous Harbour Bridge.](albums/nz_summer/thumb_nzs_74.jpg)
One of Auckland's yacht harbours, and the famous Harbour Bridge.