Our Journey ... New Zealand 2011

If you're interested in seeing where we went on our recent trip to New Zealand, click on the link below to visit our TripAdvisor Profile page, where you can zoom into the South Island of New Zealand and see all the pins which map out out journey.

Visit our TripAdvisor page so you can zoom in and get more detail on just where we've been.  You can zoom in and see exactly what roads we travelled too!

(TripAdvisor Profile)

• View my profile
• Create your own travel map or travel blog
• Find the best vacation rentals at TripAdvisor

For those of you interested in seeing what we're up to, we'll be attempting to post updates and photos on our BLOG, PICASA WEB ALBUMS and FACEBOOK PAGE when time and Internet connections permit.

Warmest Regards ...
Darren & Kathy Gardiner

Our Second Honeymoon 10

 Dinner at Christchurch's best Italian Restaurant Tutto Bene where they had to squeeze us in between the THREE sittings they have every night ... even on a Monday.

The food and service are excellent at  Tutto Bene.

 WE'RE OK ... stirring words in this earthquake stricken city.

 The earthquake devastation is still very evident in Christchurch some 11 months after the first quake of September 2010.

  It is a little depressing to see such a beautiful city in this way ...

Christchurch city ... deserted apart from cleanup crews.

 One for Tony ... popped in to see the family for you mate.

 Qantas Club Lounge in Christchurch ... very nice.

 Business Class for the flight from Christchurch to Sydney ... very nice.

Goodbye Christchurch.

 Goodbye New Zealand.

Smoked Salmon and Cucumber Salad ... just beautiful.

 Our first glimpse of Australian Soil as the reality we'll be home soon sinks in.

 Qantas Club Business Lounge at Sydney Domestic Airport ... with hundreds of people.  This is one very busy place.

Kathy resting after the ordeal of getting through customs and making her way from the International to the Domestic Airports in Sydney.

 I've had enough ... get me out of Sydney, a couple of hours in Sydney Airport is enough for anyone.

 Business Class on a bigger plane from Sydney to Brisbane was very very disappointing Qantas.  I felt more like a Sardine on this flight than I did flying Cattle Class to Sydney for the Promotional Products Expo a year ago.  Very disappointed Qantas ...

As the sun sets on Sydney, it also sets on our Honeymoon ... sigh.

I do hope you enjoyed the blog and the photos ... and I would love some feedback, so please make comments and let me know what you think.

For those of you interested in seeing what we're up to, we'll be attempting to post updates and photos on our BLOG, PICASA WEB ALBUMS and FACEBOOK PAGE when time and Internet connections permit.

Warmest Regards ...
Darren & Kathy Gardiner

Our Second Honeymoon 9

Well, we couldn't get a scenic flight over the glacier's when we were on the west coast due to the weather, so when it did fine up, we chartered our own plane with pilot from Wings over Whales and finally got to see them from the air.

Joe our wonderful pilot and Kathy in the front ready to go.

 Me taking up the entire back seat and ready to go.

 Up up and away ...

 Ski Fields from the air ...

Just amazing scenery ...

Just amazing scenery ...

 When nature becomes art ...

 Landing at Pukaki to refuel.

 Joe our pilot refuelling at Pukaki.

The unmanned airport at Pukaki.

 Mt Cook ... up close and very personal.

 

 Kathy ready to open the door ... me ready to jump out ... err ... I mean lean out and take a photo.

Kathy opening the door ... and yes, it is a bit chilly out there.

 The Tasman Glacier ...

 The Fox Glacier ...

The Franz Josef Glacier ...

The Sperm Whales of Kaikoura.

 The Sperm Whales of Kaikoura.

The Sperm Whales of Kaikoura.

Landing south of Kaikoura with Wings over Whales what an awesome day.

There's a photo opportunity for everyone in Kaikoura.

The New Zealand Fur Seals of Kaikoura.

The New Zealand Fur Seals of Kaikoura.

The New Zealand Fur Seals of Kaikoura.

The New Zealand Fur Seals of Kaikoura.

The New Zealand Fur Seals of Kaikoura.

The New Zealand Fur Seals of Kaikoura.

The New Zealand Fur Seals of Kaikoura.

The New Zealand Fur Seals of Kaikoura.

This photography stuff is serious business.

Leaving Kaikoura ...

We have many many more photos in the Picasa Web Album ... so I do hope you'll have a look.

For those of you interested in seeing what we're up to, we'll be attempting to post updates and photos on our BLOG, PICASA WEB ALBUMS and FACEBOOK PAGE when time and Internet connections permit.

Warmest Regards ...
Darren & Kathy Gardiner