NEUIGKEITEN

MEINUNG / ERFAHRUNGEN / ZUSAMMENFASSUNG
Unübersehbar sind die Parallelen zwischen Neuseeland und der Schweiz - ähnliches Klima und Land- schaftstypen. Speziell ist jedoch die vielen Küstenlandschaften und eine unglaubliche Menge an Schafe. Jede Jahreszeit hat hier seinen eigenen Charme und bestimmt auch die Planung der Aktivitäten. Wer gerne eine Menge unternimmt und einfaches Reisen schätzt wird dem Land viel abgewinnen können.
HIGHLIGHTS / TIPS	NICHT GANZ SO TOLL / SEIN LASSEN
Verkehrsverbindungen, Unterkünfte und Aktivitäten sind einfach und relativ kostengünstig zu organisieren und machen eine Menge Spass..	Man wird teilweise von Angeboten überhäuft; einzelne Plätze sind von Touristen überlaufen so ist auch der Service und das Interesse der Neuseeländer manchmal sehr minim.
Die "umgekehrten" Jahreszeiten zu Europa bieten eine Menge Vorteile.	Irgendwie fehlte mir das Spezielle und Landestypische....
Die Einbindung der Maori ("Ureinwohner Neuseelands) in das soziale und gesellschaftliche Leben.

Right in time arrives the Air New Zealand at the Airport of Auckland and with the bus i move on to the city. After a visit of the Museum I took the ferry to Devenport on the other side of Auckland – some walks along the coastline and nice view to the city itself from the viewpoint. For a city with 1 million inhabits the city left to me a relaxed, calmed and a little bored impression. A small airplane takes me to Nelson on the South Island, after lunch i had a look at the town itself. Mostly with Kiwi Experience I will travel from now on trough New-Zealand a double-edged experience, some peoples are more interested in party’s as in the country itself. After stops at Nelson Lake and Buller Gorge overnight at Westport - a historical day for the All Blacks they beat Australia in a friendly rugby game and so a new nationl public holiday is born. A real rainy day on the west coast (not special for this region) with visits of Tauranga bay, Punakaiki pancakes and to Hokitika. The Lake Mahinapue present his best faces in the early morning; back in the bus to Bushman Centre and Whataroa. The glaciers are waiting today a walk on the Franz J. Glacier and on the next day together with Nicole and guide to the icecliming at Fox Glacier with crampons, rope, gloves and ice pick. Great fun even if I first have to learn to trust the rope and the climbing technique.

Up to the Haast Pass and along the Lake Wanaka we reach Queenstown. I leave on a tour to Milford sound which include a 3 hour boat ride. Nice Scenery with a lot of waterfalls, some seals and view points. Next Day walk, get news from soccer championships and I watch “gone in 60 seconds” at the cosiest cinema I ever saw. Skiing in July nothing easier then that in New Zealand at Coronet Peak. The ski-fields are compared with Europe small, to icy (not enough snow), just the price is equal. I hike up to Queenstown Hill with a nice view, it reminds me a lot like the panorama in Switzerland. Together with Stewart from England I go skiing again to the Remarkables on a nice sunny day. Queenstown also called the Action Capitol of the world, so I decide to do some of this stuff as well; my decision is Hang gliding – it’s unbelievable to fly like a bird. The next day let’s give the Luge a try - bring some plastic cars as fast as possible down a hill. Again great fun with Ice climbing up an iced Waterfall near the Remarkables.

The next stop is Christchurch a picturesque but sleepy city, the usual sightseeing and walks are on programm. Along the coast to Kaikoura, there on a whale-watch tour where all different species are to see and an albatross and dolphins as well. The next stop is Picton where we go for a bicycle ride and sleep at the snazzy backpacker hostel “The Villa” which I just can recommend. With the ferry I cross back to the North Island to Wellington. I visit the Botanical Garden and the National Te Papa Museum. Along a volcano plateau and a short visit of the Tongariro National we move on to Taupo. I really like to do some Sky diving here but no way with the weather. So I did walks around the lake and visit the Lady Knox Geyser and the boiling mud’s nearby. An other trip brings me to the caves of Waitomo some of the biggest cave system worldwide. A ranger brings us around some caves, abseiling and black-water rafting in the afternoon - it’s freezing cold. After two more days of unavailingly waiting for the skydiving in Rotorua I need to move on to Auckland.