Category Archives: Tour

2014 New Years Escape: Coming Full Circle.

Life Aboard the Southern Aurora If you haven’t travelled overnight on a sleeper there is a lot of insignificant detail to learn. How do you get the bed down? Why won’t it lock back into the wall? Why isn’t there … Continue reading

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Upper Hunter Valley, NSW. Cruising aboard the Southern Aurora

Day 1: On Being without Barrington Tops or Scones but with Fireworks    Travelling with Heritage Express on the Southern Aurora, a 50 year old inter-city express passenger train. The itinerary says: Explore the Barrington Wilderness from the Hunter World Heritage … Continue reading

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The Dawn of Sconeology

The Blending of Science & Fiction Anthropology is the science of humanity that endeavours to understand the diverse nature of people and their cultures. Sconeology explores the nature of people searching for great scones and great places to enjoy them. Their quest reveals … Continue reading

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Mt Tongariro, N.Z. The Joys of Rocks, Rubble & the Rest *****5 stars

And All the Way Down Again Our brain is a curious thing. We think of all sorts of things as we walk along and even break into song at times but on the return journey our perspective is always completely … Continue reading

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Mt Tongariro, N.Z. Rising to the Challenge *****5 stars.

The Only Way is Up. As always, an early start is best for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing on New Zealand’s North Island. Here’s a website with info and a Map. Signposts indicate distances and times and help to track your progress. Are … Continue reading

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Mt Ruapehu, N.Z. Enjoying the Silica Rapids Walk****4 stars

A Stroll in the Sunshine makes us Smile.   On the road between the Whakapapa Ski Area and Tongariro Village is the end of the Silica Rapids Walk which can be taken as a circuit or one way. There’s a … Continue reading

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Mt Ruapehu, N.Z. Patience Duly Rewarded ****4stars.

Waiting Amidst the Clouds & Mist until the Sunshines! Still Waiting Amidst the Clouds & Mist It wasn’t a dark and stormy night but the road to the Mt Ruapehu base area was covered in mist and and not at … Continue reading

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Tongariro, Mt Ruapehu, N.Z. Patience Rewarded****4 stars

* * * * Waiting Amid the Clouds & Mist * * * *   Wonderfully clear day yesterday for our train journey on the Northern Explorer to Mt Tongariro in New Zealand’s North Island. Looking out the window at Chateau … Continue reading

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Auckland-National Park, NZ. Train Spirals on Kiwi Rail’s Northern Explorer ****4stars

Why would you drive 350 kms?      Finally on New Zealand’s North Island and heading down from Auckland to National Park to stay at Chateau Tongariro and walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Mt Ruapehu. Mt Tongariro volcano has erupted … Continue reading

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North Island, New Zealand. Assorted Scone Adventures 2013.

GREETINGS  FROM NEW ZEALAND (AGAIN)! Just returned from the North Island of New Zealand and an assortment of scone adventures.  Flew into Auckland and travelled on the new Northern Explorer Train to Tongariro National Park, then returned on the train back … Continue reading

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