New Zealand 2011

1st to 11th October

1st Oct: Mount Ruapehu - featured in Lord Of The Rings and North Island's main skiing destination	Waiouru - Maori for "Don't Bother Stopping Here"	These fine gentlemen stopped anyway and later cut up all the traffic as they overtook round blind corners	The Desert Road section of State Highway 1
Another view of Ruapehu - this time through the coach window as the driver was on a mission and the mission was "No photo stops today!"	Another coach window job. This time Mount Ngauruhoe, better known as Mount Doom to those who stayed awake through all of Lord Of The Rings (what talking trees?). A cloudy day obscured the top	Is it genuine Tudor? An "English" pub, Taupo style. Taupo, we are told, is pronounced Toe-paw	Golfers are invited to get their ball onto this pontoon from the lake shore. Lake Taupo, by the way
Lake Taupo. As it was so cloudy, I didn't try the panoramic thing	One of those photo-opportunities so beloved by a certain type of tourist	They do love their big sculptures. Sadly, I didn't get a chance to photograph a giant concrete sheep on a roundabout. My loss	Especially for Steve Davies (aeroplane spotter)
Inside a 1950s caravan inside the Taupo Museum. We used to have those egg-cups	New Zealand gears up for the next Miss World contest	The Garden Of Well-Being at Taupo Museum. This won a gold at Chelsea Flower Show in 2004	Back in the caravan as it was the most exciting exhibit
The other end. It made me want to reach for a Five Star hotel directory	At the YHA hostel in Taupo I was "upgraded". I wonder what the lower-class dormitory was like as there wasn't room to swing a cat in this one	2nd Oct: The last hostel of the trip on a rainy morning. The YHA in Taupo where the TV was on the blink so I missed the England-Scotland game. Some say I was lucky	Matamata aka Hobbiton. We heard a story that Peter Jackson went to see a farmer by helicopter to negotiate using his land and was told to come back later when the rugby had finished
What has it got in its pocketses?	My precioussses, that Bakehoussse in the background doesss a lovely beef sssatay sssandwich	And we all thought he was working for ITV Sport in Auckland	5th Oct: A view from Devonport, looking back at Auckland
From North Head (which is the easternmost point of Devonport) looking south.		Looking east from inside the volcano
Arum Lillies	A disappearing gun - could have fooled us.	Ceremonial 4 pounders	That gun showing how it could disappear
One of the Americas Cup yachts out on a day hire.	Rangitoto	Apparently this gun could reach it, and any intervening ships	Times have changed - they let Vic in (and have a drink).
North Head from Mt Victoria, the other volcano in Devonport.	Yep, another panorama...
P&O Pacific Dawn	A rather derelict looking bunker	Or is this where they lock up the Folkies?	Not just Folk, but Bluegrass & Old Time Music too.
Look who's performing on Sunday 30th ! It's Jason & the Arguements - No it isn't!	From above, the only sign of habitation - a blackened smoke vent, sticking out of a turfed over roof.	Yes, it's as well hidden as this sign.	That boat again.
Mt Victoria summit - the mushrooms are air vents. And there's something else...	Another disappearing gun		This explains all
Thanks are due to Paul Bateman for these nice sunny pictures from 23rd Sept.	Even more Devonport pics are on the acromcr site	6th Oct: Gin palace in Viaduct Harbour	7th Oct: ITV's famous 'touchscreen'.
Look! There's a rugby player. (Sadly, the expensive backed-up computer system was connected to a cheap non-backed up video converter which didn't work, so this is the only recording!)	Eden Park. Go to acromcr to see the rest of these pictures	Hospital, Museum, North Head & Rangitoto nicely lined up from the top of Mt. Eden	The city - about 3km away.
Looking north again, this time with Mt. Victoria in view as well	Triangulation point	Says it all	Mt. Eden's crater
Another 'London that way' thing	9th Oct: Match goers 7½hrs before KO	Auckland Tram	$10 for a 15 minute ride - around a short loop
			An even bigger gin palace
Queuing up at 3pm for a 6pm KO - and that's only for the screens at Queens Wharf	A nice little plaque at Emily Place	Whoops!	The old railway station
Is now not what it says	A lovely foyer for the new flat owners		A reminder of Southampton
Nuff said	North Head & Rangitoto in juxtaposition	View from Tamaki Drive	View from a bridge over Tamaki Drive
Parnell Baths waiting for summer	Judges Bay: A private beach just for Vic & the ducks	So many tracks yet so few trains	Oh, OK, there's one.
10th Oct: Te Piha, or Lion Rock	It was windy	You can see (just) the sand blowing over the beach	Vic paddling
Lion Rock again	I was meaning to turn the camera off, but... nice clouds	We had to climb it	But only so far...
	Nice little town, but nothing's open until the summer.		Guess which one was supposed to be at work today?
And one extra who wasn't
Mike & Simon gingerly edging down	Ropes are for wimps (says Pete)	Is he doing a Reggie Perrin?	No, too cold.
Contrasting sand	The black seems to separate to the top	Then stick firmly to your feet	After lunch - the Arataki Visitor Centre - view from.
The inevitable panorama - shame about the visibility		The fern trees from above	And the side - can get to about 6m tall
	Pretty, but what is it?	11th Oct: The Quadrant has its own special facility for satellite uplinks	Old Government House - right opposite the Quadrant but hidden by trees. This is the first time we've seen it.
This looks promising...	Yes, this will do - Galbraith's Ale House	Six handpumps of lovely beer...	All brewed on-site
	Brewery undergoing refurbishment	The cellar - all real, hand-pulled & delicious. Under nitrogen blanket ;-) Don't get the brewer started on the 'CAMRA anoraks who speak out of their arse'. He is a member BTW.	They've had a falling out with Dominion Breweries who sucessfully trademarked 'radler', the German word for shandy, as the name for something that wasn't a radler.
Myers Park, back down towards the CBD.	Myers Park, back down towards the CBD.	HQ of Daily Mash?	A view from Albert Park. Good balancing ;-)
The curry that beat Vic - all chilli & no flavour

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Pictures from New Zealand 2011