ramblings of a Seattle travel, food and photography hound
We could easily have passed by Kiwi Country, a Chinese-Malay restaurant in the basement of a building near Albert Park. Wide stairs from street level pointed us down to the front door. Once inside, we were faced with a very extensive menu on the wall with pictures to help us decide. Next to each item... Continue Reading →
You don't have to live in Italy anymore to have gelato. It seems that this dessert has taken the world by storm. As we were walking around Auckland's beautiful waterfront area, Valentino's seemed like a very popular place. There were crowds of people in the store. Never being ones to willingly forego gelato, we slipped in.... Continue Reading →
David Attenborough featured them in his BBC Planet Earth series. Arachnocampa luminosa is found only in New Zealand, more commonly called glowworms. Technically, they are not worms, but rather the larvae of gnats. To snare food, one larva can exude several mucousy threads of silk that suspend from the roof of a cave, sticky enough to trap... Continue Reading →
The Ruakuri Bush Walk, whose trailhead is but a few kilometers beyond the Waitomo Caves attraction, is considered one of the ten best short hikes in New Zealand. In under an hour, you can see verdant forests, limestone outcroppings, caves, gorge, natural bridge, tunnel, and the Waitomo Stream, all in what is called a karst landscape.... Continue Reading →
Sitting atop a hill across from the B&B, Huhu is without question the best place to eat in Waitomo Caves. A restaurant of this caliber would do quite well in a larger urban area. After we dined here the first time (lunch), we knew we had to return before leaving for Auckland. Simply put, Huhu... Continue Reading →
One of the places recommended for a lunch by the proprietors of Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge was Curly's Bar, a tavern in the village just a few blocks up the main road. There are quite a few tables inside, likely filled when tourism is in full swing. There are pool tables and an internet café.... Continue Reading →
I was under the mistaken, naive impression that the only geyser attraction in the world was confined to Yellowstone. It turns out that there are many throughout the world. New Zealand has its own, of course, in the so-called Taupo Volcanic Zone, a vast volcanically active area stretching between Mt Ruapehu to the southwest and... Continue Reading →
For diners wanting a taste of food from across the ocean, Sabroso offers Latin American cuisine, which not only includes Mexican food but entrées from South America, too. An American ex-pat and his Venezuelan wife own the place. It gets consistently great reviews on the standard NZ food/travel sites. Inside, the space is modest with... Continue Reading →
New Zealand seems to have a café attached to every kind of business or public building. When we were in Christchurch two years ago, the public library near Sydenham had one. Coffee and snack were served right to your table in the reading room. The local community center where my grandson takes swimming lessons also... Continue Reading →
The full name is Te Whakarewarewatanga O Te Ope Taua A Wahiao, or Whaka for short. A thermal reserve, Whaka is a showcase for geothermal activity—hot springs, mud pools and geysers. The most famous and largest geyser in NZ, Pohutu, which can reach heights of 40m (130ft), can be seen at a distance from an... Continue Reading →
zoomeboshi 