New Zealand: Nov 13 - Dec 22, 2001 - photos of New Zealand on Worldisround

New Zealand: Nov 13 - Dec 22, 2001

Tourists don't know where they've been, travellers don't know where they're going.

After the dark events of Sept 11, Anita and Julian Matthews sought to find a place to reaffirm their faith in humanity and life. With their two hyperactive toddlers, Andrea(3) and Jordan (5), they found lots of hope and profound beauty over a 40-day driving adventure across New Zealand. Here are some pictures of their great adventure...

Back to homepage: http://matthewscyberhome.tripod.com

Hamilton Rose Garden
Photograph taken by Jordan Jay Matthews, aged 4 years 10 months.

Yellow Wonder
Andrea and an incredibly colourful shrub outside Queenstown

Purple splendour
A simple stopover to rearrange luggage turned out to be a great photo-op for...

Trusty Toyota
Anita and our trusty 'steed' that got us thru' five weeks in NZ...

Farmer's Mailbox
Mailman must get a kick out of delivering mail to this farm, outside Te Anau.

Penguin & Babes
The Penguin Place, Otago Peninsula has tunnels and hides to sneak up on...

Jetboat, Queenstown
Thrilling, breakneck-speed ride up and down Shotover River outside...

Mountain & Lake
After days of rain in the west coast of South Island, it was nice to turn the...

"Thar She Blows!"
Spermwhale-chasing in Kaikoura, a feeding ground for this giants of the deep...

Whale Tail
Another view of a sperm whale as it escapes our camera-toting bunch on...

Akaroa View
Mt Vernon Lodge, horses and the view - highly recommended.

Doe a deer...
Akaroa was so peaceful that even deer allowed for close petting.

Pony Pair
Jordan and Andrea enjoyed a number of pony rides, this one atop Barnyard...

Penguin Peep
This juvenile yellow-eyed penguin gave us an angry glare from his...

Penguin Parade
The main stars of Oamaru showed up a little late, just after 9pm, dried off...

Leaning Tower of Wanaka
Puzzling World, outside Wanaka, was fascinating but dizzying way to spend the...

Puzzling Tower
Andrea and Jordan under the amazing tilting clocktower.

Snow & Glaciers
Kids get a taste of snow up somewhere between Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.

Mount Cook
After our snow landing, the helicopter pilot took this family shot somewhere...

Snow Play
Kids enjoy snow for the first time up the mountains near the glaciers.

Atop Otago
From the vantage point of a farm on the peninsula we had this classic Kiwi...

Tuatara
The primitive spiny-backed Tuatara is a reptilian species that's...

Maori carving
See the steam rising from beyond this maori totem pole and the holes in...

Maori hall, Rotorua
There was a funeral going on at the time, so we weren't allowed...

Milford Falls
The classic NZ cruise afforded a close-up view of the many falls in the area.

Spring Cleaning
Jordan dips hands in cool waters from mountain spring along the...

Curious Kea
These huge, green, alpine parrots wander around the Milford-Te Anau...

Shanty Sitting
Jordan fools around at Shantytown.

Moon Crater
Hot mud pool at Craters of the Moon, outside Taupo.

Four For the Falls
Huka Falls, a gushing, noisy, dramatic waterfall with turquoise waters...

Andrea, Anita & Angora
Angora rabbits at the shearing shed on returning from Waitomo Caves. The...

Splashing Spa Fun
Nothing like a warm spa for respite from the chilly winds outside. We enjoyed...

Maori Mope
Jordan & a Maori carving compete in the Blank Expression contest

Haka Dance
Jordan watches tongue-wagging skill of dancer and dad only to repeat it...

Musical Maori
A Maori troupe perform traditional dance and song Whakarewarewa...

Sheep Shearing
At the Rainbow farm in Rotorua you get to see how a sheep is stripped of its...

Shorn Sheep
The unfortunate shorn sheep poses along with his wooly mates.

View from Walter's
At Walter's Peak we were served tea and scones and this sumptuous view.

Walter's Peak
View from the TSS Earnslaw as it pulls up to Walter's Peak.

Steam Train, Shantytown
A real coal-fired steam engine in Shantytown, outside Greymouth.

Atop Larnach
Andrea and Anita up on the roof of Larnach Castle in Otago Peninsula.

Princess and Her Castle
Andrea takes a pretend snooze in the gardens outside Larnach Castle, Otago...

Prince & Princess
Siblings share a throne outside Larnach castle, Otago Peninsula.

Tongariro National Park
A dramatic double chairlift ride and another chance to get close to...

Chairlift, Whakapapa
The chairlifts were closed for days because of the weather, but opened...

Bird In the Bush
The native birds at Tongariro seem unafraid, and allow you get real...

Taranaki Falls
Father and son strip and plunge into falls as daughter looks on at strange...

Waterfall Road
The road to Milford from Te Anau is landscaped with literally hundreds...

Wake Up Seals!
Ahhh those seals. Never awake nor performing when we came by....

Ride Into The Mist
"The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far...

article published 2/5/2002

bookmark with del.icio.us

Comments

Add a comment

Mrs
I am leaving in Sept. to visit my daughter in N.Z. for 3 months. Seeing your photos reminded me how wonder the country is. We were there 2 years ago and also visited a lot of places and enjoyed it so much. Thanks for sharing.
— Miemie Louw, May 7, 2004

frst clace vere goud the best i have seen fo a long time
— teifion hughes, April 10, 2004

Thanks a bunch
Thanks for sharing all those photos and pictures with the world thanks a bunch they are exicting and interesting.
— Natasha, May 27, 2003

makes me miss home
Just wanted to say thankyou for showing your wonderful pictures, im Maori but living in England and i just miss NZ sooo much so it was great to be able to see home....Thankyou again...Kelly
— kelly Tekani, April 3, 2003

thanks
I lived in NZ for 28 year, my husband worked overseas, most of that time and I did not get to see much of the most beautiful country in the world, I now live in West Australia. Enjoyed your photos very much.
— catherina Maureen North, April 13, 2002

Thank you for sharing this with me!
What a wonderful surprise! I had great fun going through the photos, love the one of our 'Happy' the Deer. I've also got some nice shots of the kids which I'd love to send you but don't have a scanner. Perhaps you can pass your address on and I'll post them to you.

Love to all,

Cathy
— Cathy Nolan - Mt. Vernon Lodge, Akaroa, March 26, 2002

Thanks for the great pictures of your holiday. We are so pleased you chose New Zealand and our Motels.
— Margaret & Ivan, March 24, 2002

none
Just had to write and tell you ....I leave on April 9th for a 42-day adventure to New Zealand.Also, my reasons for chosing N.Z. are exactly as yours were, but i am traveling alone.Is something i need to do in the aftermath of 9-11. After seeing your pics posted....I will be sure to post mine there on my return. Thank you for the idea. I hope my trip will be as rewarding as yours....Look for my pics early in June...M.
— Mary Dahlke, March 10, 2002

Greetings from Sydney
Nice pictures, glad u had a nice time. Dad received your letter, thanks. Pls do drop in to Sydney if u get a chance (it is heaps better than grey dull Melbourne)..email is joefernandes@hotmail.com

bye
— joe and arvind fernandes & family, March 10, 2002

yo matey .... this is something to remind all of us .... to give our family and ourself a treat .. a real holiday treat.... once awhile
— prinz, March 7, 2002

very inspiring. fantastic way to spend 40 days!!!
— nic, March 7, 2002

Excellent stuff!
Cool photos mate :) Now I wonder when I'd be able to take a nice little holiday *grin*...

Regards, D.
— Dhillon Andrew, March 7, 2002

Greetings from KL
Hi Julian & Anita and dearest Andrea & Jordan,

Thanks for sharing the fun with me!!

Going to mark this as a reason to have kids in my book.. "To take photos of them in adorable poses in exotic locations"

Cheers, See Ming
— See Ming, March 4, 2002

Great pics! Must have been a real memorable trip. Kids must wish that everyday were like that.
— eric and kim chong, March 4, 2002

I am envious! To think all this while spending 2 nights 3 days at Langkawi was considered Vacation...
— Saffura, March 3, 2002