This is the twenty-fourth in my series of short reflections on different places in Australia and New Zealand, as experienced during my November 2019 visit. Today is the eighth of my posts on New Zealand’s North Island. In my last post I wrote about our visit to Rotorua, situated on the shores of Lake RotoruaContinue reading “Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 24: North Island, New Zealand: Rotorua and the Redwoods Treewalk”
Author Archives: SC Skillman
Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 23: North Island, New Zealand: Rotorua and Geothermal Wonderland
This is the twenty-third in my series of short reflections on different places in Australia and New Zealand, as experienced during my November 2019 visit. Today is the seventh of my posts on New Zealand’s North Island. In my last post I wrote about our visit to the art deco city of Napier, destroyed byContinue reading “Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 23: North Island, New Zealand: Rotorua and Geothermal Wonderland”
Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 22: North Island, New Zealand: An Artistic Vision Arising from New Zealand's Worst Earthquake in 1931: Napier, and Hawke's Bay
This is the twenty-second in my series of short reflections on different places in Australia and New Zealand, as experienced during my November 2019 visit. Today is the sixth of my posts on New Zealand’s North Island. In my last post I wrote about our visit to the enchanting Lake Taupo. From Lake Taupo, weContinue reading “Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 22: North Island, New Zealand: An Artistic Vision Arising from New Zealand's Worst Earthquake in 1931: Napier, and Hawke's Bay”
Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 21: North Island, New Zealand: Scenic Beauty and Black Volcanic Sand at Lake Taupo
This is the twenty-first in my series of short reflections on different places in Australia and New Zealand, as experienced during my November 2019 visit. Today is the fifth of my posts on New Zealand’s North Island. In my last post I wrote about our visit to another of New Zealand’s most iconic attractions: aContinue reading “Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 21: North Island, New Zealand: Scenic Beauty and Black Volcanic Sand at Lake Taupo”
Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 20: North Island, New Zealand: The Magic of Millions of Glowworms in the Caves at Waitomo
This is the twentieth in my series of short reflections on different places in Australia and New Zealand, as experienced during my November 2019 visit. Today is the fourth of my posts on New Zealand’s North Island. In my last post I wrote about one of New Zealand’s most iconic attractions: the Hobbiton Movie SetContinue reading “Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 20: North Island, New Zealand: The Magic of Millions of Glowworms in the Caves at Waitomo”
Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 19: North Island, New Zealand: Enchantment and Delight for ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Fans: Matamata and Hobbiton
This is the nineteenth in my series of short reflections on different places in Australia and New Zealand, as experienced during my November 2019 visit. Today is the third of my posts on New Zealand’s North Island. In my last post I wrote about Paihia and the Bay of Islands. We set off from PaihiaContinue reading “Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 19: North Island, New Zealand: Enchantment and Delight for ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Fans: Matamata and Hobbiton”
Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 18: North Island, New Zealand: Paihia and the Bay of Islands; and Kawakawa and its Famous Hundertwasser Landmark
This is the eighteenth in my series of short reflections on different places in Australia and New Zealand, as experienced during my November 2019 visit. Today is the second of my posts on New Zealand’s North Island. In my last post I wrote about West Auckland and the spectacular beaches of Karekare and Piha .Continue reading “Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 18: North Island, New Zealand: Paihia and the Bay of Islands; and Kawakawa and its Famous Hundertwasser Landmark”
Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 17: West Auckland, New Zealand: Piha and Karekare Beaches
This is the seventeenth in my series of short reflections on different places in Australia and New Zealand, which I visited in November 2019. Today is the first of my posts on New Zealand’s North Island. We flew into Auckland from Brisbane, and our first experience of the spectacular scenery was in West Auckland. DrivingContinue reading “Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 17: West Auckland, New Zealand: Piha and Karekare Beaches”
Book Review: ‘Waireka’ by Sheila Donald, set in nineteenth century New Zealand – a story which makes you see your own life in a new perspective
Before I start my series on New Zealand, which I visited in November 2019, I am delighted to review a book set in the very place I visited – New Zealand’s North Island. But the times are very different in ‘Waireka’ by Sheila Donald. The genre is historical fiction. We are in the nineteenth century,Continue reading “Book Review: ‘Waireka’ by Sheila Donald, set in nineteenth century New Zealand – a story which makes you see your own life in a new perspective”
Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 16: Queensland Maritime Museum, Brisbane
This is the sixteenth in my series of short reflections on different places in Australia and New Zealand, which I visited in November 2019. In my last post I wrote about the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens which may be found inside a big loop of the Brisbane River, opposite the Kangaroo Point cliffs on theContinue reading “Australia and New Zealand Mini Series Part 16: Queensland Maritime Museum, Brisbane”