Category Archives: Landscape

Holiday, Landscape, Motorbike Tours, Panorama, Travel New Zealand North Island

French pass New Zealand

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It was already end of January, that I could take a few extra days off. That was a good opportunity to fly to Auckland to relocate my bike, which is still at my storage unit. In total I have had 9 days to travel 2.300 km in total. My plans where to finish road 51 from Napier to Masterton. And ride French Pass.

The forecast was looking very good for the whole trip, after I departed from Auckland I headed to lake Tutira. Was easy ride on a state highway, nothing special. Lake Tutira is roughly 1h ride from Napier and has a freedom camp ground, which is located beside the lake, it was alredy dark when I pitched up my tent. Next morning I woke up I a stunning location. Short time after get ready and packed up my gear I headed to Hastings to get on road 51 to Akitio, a small village beside Pacific Ocean. At low tide it is a good location to try your luck to get some fresh paua I got 1 and it was as big as my hand, tose night I cooked a luxurious pasta paua dish. It was said that cray are around to from time to time, but I haven’t had enough time to stay longer to try my luck again. My ferry was booked already and I had still good distance to travel to Martinborough next day. That was my last day on north island.

I cached late Saturday and stayed at Picton for the night. On that night I heard for the first time about Omicron outbreak in Auckland. Following morning I rode French Pass and Bowler. It was a combination of sealed road and metal road, and the scenery was getting better and better, the further I rode up the valley to Bowler. I couldn’t go directly to bowler because it is only permitted for house holder and not for public. I rode same way out to French Pass.

In French Pass is a small shop to get most important supply but twice as expensive than in any supermarket in any town due the remoteness. Ice cream, coffee, some bread everything is available, but has his price tag, long black $6 what is absolutely fine for the location. There is no wifi and mobile reception in village.

Holiday, Landscape, Motorbike Tours, Panorama, Travel New Zealand North Island, Travel New Zealand South Island

changing plan part 2

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Sometimes making changes is unavoidable, if there are too many obstacles and hurdles in the way it is best to change the plan that is what I did in January, after I found out that no one was absolutely sure with shipping cost if Brexit is going to happen. That was not an easy decision to make leave bike in New Zealand and put it back into storage. At the end it was a good decision I made. After spending more than 1.5 years in Ireland and working there in a castle as pastry chef I returned to New Zealand. As I want reregister my bike, I found out that my wof has expired, at first, I was very confident that I got my warrant of fitness get done without trouble, I just did my previous wof km 2600 before. In general bike was fine there was just that concern of the engineer with my rear suspension that there is a slag of round 5mm which he though is not acceptable for safe riding on road, and I didn’t get my wof first time.

Now I had to find a mechanic which can replace rear suspension connector, everything was organized to fix, until I got the call from bike shop some of the parts are available but there main part what I needed is out of stock in NZ and eta was not available that time, I tried my bike shop in Germany same information part is not available in Germany either eta 3 weeks from that point. Nearly 8 weeks passed to get parts shipped to New Zealand, bike get finally fixed. It is now late summer already, but weather is much better than last 3 month it was raining snowing and stormy for the whole time not a good time to be riding. I have not much new tours but many new photos of stunning places of New Zealand.

I made a last minute change 4 days before my flight depart Queenstown to Auckland, I decided to freight my bike from Auckland to Queenstown, and I booked a return flight, not only for the time I would spend on the bike. This time it was more convenient and much easier to freight bike from Auckland to Queenstown otherwise I had to take holiday which I need later this year. Everything has been booked. On my day 10, (I work 10 days on and 4 days off);

All looked good so far despite we experienced heavy rainfall, thunder, lightning and galeforce winds, road is closed due to flooding on more locations that we get next road status update by 1.00pm. it didn’t got better rain got more heavy and we had to evacuate wharf, and staff accomedation. That all staff had to take some belongings they need to stay for the night on the boat, that is the safest place that time, because Cleadau river grow to a raising torrent no one know if the bank will hold and if in worst case scenario the staff accommodation would be flooded.

A big part of the road has been washed out too, worst of all the road will be closed for the whole week!!!

I have had to cancel my flight again.

 

 

Holiday, Ireland, Landscape, Panorama

from world abandoned to fairytale castle

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From world abandoned to a fairytale castle

 

After more than 7 years living and working on all part of the globe I returned one more time to Ireland. As I remembered I left Ireland in November 2007 just before the crises hit the whole economy. On my return I had some old memory’s in mind and was exited what I have to see and how much Ireland has been changed over the years.

For first few month I found a place to work in Waterford the oldest medivel city on south east. To my surprise many historic pubs didn’t exist any more, it was very sad to see there appearance broken windows, overgrown pergolas, no one rely bothered bout this part any more. On other hand Ireland had a big improvement on the road upgrade highways and Airports are stunning on their modernest structure. After my shift I strolled through Waterford and to my surprise it appeared much quieter than many years before, many pubs are open only at weekends, and the pedestrian steed is less crowded than before. Than I got a great opportunity to work in one of the best Castels in Ireland Kilronan Castel, it is hard to believe that that Hotel used to be on the world abandoned list, it is not long time ago it was totally ruined. But in early 2000 Hanly Group took the brave step forward to put an dream into reality. It took many years and many hard working hours to rebuild this Castle to todays prestine glory. The inventory has been carefully selected to decorate very single room from entrance, to lobby even dining room has it own charm. As I walked in on my first time I have been totally stunned what can be done, to rescue such a great building and show the public the beauty of history. Just a short stroll from the Hotel is Lake Mallegh, very easy walk through forest with very old trees to look at. There is a little loop walk in the forest with few stunning look outs and benches to chill out. After such an experience it would be good to have a light snack in the bar, the Afternoon tea is one of the best I have had on all my traveling around the world. I dried bar food and dinner menu too I couldn’t find any fault. In general I could feel the impact of the recession locals are more considered than before what they are doing. In the same way the are still as lively and social then before.

China, Holiday, Landscape, Panorama, People in live

changing plans

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To make a plan is always a good preparation, to get organized for a new adventure. Before I depart New Zealand I planed to ship my BMW back to Europe to get it registered and insured. For the last timer I put bike back in storage at Auckland and moved back to Ireland, where I used to work for 7 years already. To find a job was not that difficult, best of all I could work as a pastry chef in one of Irelands best Castle, what a privilege for me. But it took me some time, even month to settle back in in European work habits they are not as casual than in New Zealand, I struggled a lot over first few month. Every thing was organized to ship bike back to Ireland, I had all papers organized what I need for custom clearance, all I have to do fly back to New Zealand get bike crated up and ship it back to Ireland, shipping quote worked out reasonable too. I scheduled 3 weeks in total what is more than enough time to get bike crated and deregistered. After I booked my flights and hotels I could sit back and relax, I thought so……

All of us didn’t thought about one situation what affected whole global business BREXIT!!!!! I fond out after I arrived at Auckland. We couldn’t make a final quote, or even estimate how long bike is on the way and if there more delays in Europe or not. 

At the end I decided leave bike in NZ for an other few month until whole situation is more settled. Than I traveled independently visited Macau, Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Germany it is some time that I have been back home for many years, it was good to see parents after many years too.I start planning for my next adventure already, to get bike back to Europe

Holiday, Island, Landscape, Panorama, Travel New Zealand North Island, Travel New Zealand South Island, Wildlife

chatham island rekohu wharekauri

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This is my 2ndparty of my Chatham Island experience, I spend at eh end 8 month on this remote and very isolated Island. I still remember the time I arrived and had no mobile reception, any where on the island still on my last day I really enjoyed that, no ringing phones; anywhere. The only internet what was a available was in the Hotel and in our accomodation, I felt set back to the time I grow up, had to play in the garden with my friends without any mobile phone. Over that 8 month I saw a lot from spring, to summer and to fast arriving autumn. Spring and summer was very warm and we have had nearly no rain but every day sunshine and a good breeze from the sea. Autumn arrived very quickly, over night temperature dropped to a chilly 9C in the morning, and the sun rise and sunset where absolute ameizing, not to forget the night sky, after I took many photos already I got up one night at 3.00 am to take some photos of the stars again, on that night I took some rare pictures of an Aurora Australis. The prices in the hotel are not much more expensive than on the mainland, despite all goods have to get to the island, transport of the goods is not cheap, despite price is adequate. And the quality of the food get served is up the standard to mainland, in the presentation and taste is the pride of the chef anchored and presented. As it is in remote places sometimes your first juice of food is not available, for days or sometimes for weeks, because storage is limited and ship with all goods is no the way but due to weather condition delayed. No local is very upset about that, everyone know that situation even each household.Every one on the Island received on the same day all goods delivered by ship or plain. On my days off I did a lot of hiking along the beach, or went to Henna Park, saw many more hidden treasures beside the road many of them needed special permission by the landowner to see, usually there is no problem to get land access.

Wildlife is very active everywhere. Wekas, Chatham Island pigeon fantail, and hedge hook are only a few to name. Surprisingly there are no rabbits on the whole island.

After a big storm we experienced a very sad occurrence 27 whales had been washed up at the beach not very far from my accomodation, all of them died a short time after they had been washed on shore. The best time to visit Chathams is from December to late March, days are long and warm with less rain fall during this period. My personal joyce is Hotel Chathams situated in the most iconic location beside beach. Mountains around the hotel protect the Hotel from sometimes gale force winds which arriving from the sea. In the morning all customer can see the stunning sunrise by breakfast. Well worth it is to join daily organised tours by the hotel, the tour guides has special permission by land owner to visit, what individuals usually don’t have or get. Even to listen to the talkative tour guide about history and glorious ancient times is a good benefit on top of the experience.

Holiday, Island, Landscape, Travel New Zealand North Island

Chatham Island

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The Chatham Island is in the Pacific Ocean located, 800 km east of South Island New Zealand. It counts in total 10 Islands in a 40km radius, the main Island is Chatham Island it is the biggest island with around 600 citizens, Pitt Island is the 2nd largest island with around 30 inhabitants’. There is one company which operate between New Zealand and Chatham Island, Air Chathams. On the island is one Hotel which has the roots back to 1860 and operates still today on the same location in front of the beautiful protected harbour in Waitangi.

My first impression of the island was that it is much bigger than I imagined, from all the roads are only 10km sealed all other roads are gravel and dust roads. All bulky goods such as cars, oven, big alcohol order, petrol and any kind of building material get delivered for private or commercial use on a cargo vessel to Chatham Island, smaller goods and mail arriving via air plain.  It is al ways an exiting day when a cargo ship arrive to the island. It is even so possible that for month no ship arrives during winter month due weather condition.

Chatham Island has a history which is for many outsiders unknown it changed many times nationality first European arrived in 1791 on the ship HMS Chatham whose captain was William R. Broughton and claimed possession for Great Briton, Pitt Island was discovered after Chatham Island.

Movarian Missionary’s arrived in the year1843, those German missionaries made no converts but had a significant input into the lifestyle. They introduced potato which have been exported to New Zealand, Boysenberry and all kind of farming, sheep and cattle have been introduced too. Some how no rabbits, the island is rabbit free still today. the Original Stone Cottage from missionary was build in 1860 and is still open for public towaday, and Helen the owner live in that house with no electricity like the decades ago. I met Helen on my visit she is a lovely lady and like to talk about the past as she grow up, there is a lot to listen too.

Lifestyle is more described as chilled and relaxing, few times of the year locals have their social events as Horse racing, Chatham Island Jockey Club is one of the oldest clubs in whole New Zealand, fishing competition, rugby matches for local teams only, and food festivals are held during the year.

Even so hunting for pig, boar swan is a very popular time. WEKA is not protected on the island it can get eaten, but if a weka want get taken to mainland a permit is needed.

Chatham Blue Cod is world famous and gray fish too both are for export, Kina, Pipi, Mutton Bird, Hakupa is widely eaten as well, and not to forget Paua, it is cooked in all kind of variation, as paua burger, curried, minced, as salad or even Paua Polognese or Lasagne is available.