Sulphur Sniffing and Reminiscing in…Rotorua: De Ja Vu

Haven’t we been here before?? Hmmm…yes that’s right that place where something clicked and was once the place I described as my favourite place on earth. The city of Rotorua in New Zealand. From my visit there in 2007, I hadn’t actually meant to return to volcanic Rotorua and in fact did my best to Read more about Sulphur Sniffing and Reminiscing in…Rotorua: De Ja Vu[…]

You Can Taihape Now…Morning Snack At Gumboot Manor *

After Palmerston North, it was time to check out the town of Taihape. Love the pronunciation of that one, it could be seen as “Die happy”, title of a Therapy? song back in 1998. Therapy? being a Northern Irish rock band. And so the bus pulled over next to The Gumboot Manor. The road out Read more about You Can Taihape Now…Morning Snack At Gumboot Manor *[…]

Thirsty Thursdays: Pubs Of Wellington, New Zealand

I’ve been to a fair few capital cities and a fair few pubs in them as you’ll have gathered if you have followed DSL and in particular my Thirsty Thursday Feature. This one, New Zealand’s capital had to wait till I was aged thirty, and though it’s full of pubs, a pub crawl was not Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Pubs Of Wellington, New Zealand[…]

Backpacking in New Zealand: Visiting Palmerston North, The “Fawlty Towers” Suicide Capital of the World?

Seems weird to have a Palmerston North, with no obvious place called Palmerston South. I didn’t even question that, but I did wonder why. (Answer for you below anyway).  And is this really a suicide capital?? John Cleese, once of hit BBC Sitcom Fawlty Towers seems to think so…Palmerston North was once described by Basil Read more about Backpacking in New Zealand: Visiting Palmerston North, The “Fawlty Towers” Suicide Capital of the World?[…]

Whackpacking In New Zealand🇳🇿: A Dream Uninspired Return To Lake Taupo…

A warm single coloured tear flowed down my heart broken cheek in late October 2010. And the reason was obvious. Emotion, as ever had risen above everything else on this planet. Here I was back again in Taupo, or as I always will call the town, “Lake Taupo.”   “I left some dreams in Taupo. Read more about Whackpacking In New Zealand🇳🇿: A Dream Uninspired Return To Lake Taupo…[…]

Mighty Mighty run with the unicorns Wellington New Zealand

Running With The Unicorns – A Normal Night Out in Wellington

It sounds a bit weird but it’s only to be expected when partying it up on a Saturday night in New Zealand’s capital. I got to “run with the unicorns” but by total chance and thanks to three young ladies who provided me with this random tale to tell… I was due to leave Windy Read more about Running With The Unicorns – A Normal Night Out in Wellington[…]

Windy Wellington: Blown Away By New Zealand’s Capital City!

I was warned before coming to Wellington that it was windy. I thought nothing more of it, even onboard my Interislander boat, but once I had arrived in this, one of the southermost capital cities in the world, I knew they were right. Welcome to windy Wellington!   Exposed to the Antarctic drift and unsheltered Read more about Windy Wellington: Blown Away By New Zealand’s Capital City![…]

Backpacking in New Zealand: Jumping off Auckland Harbour Bridge

Its the last day of June 2008, and this time last year I was embarking on a 19 country world tour. During the first month, I found myself in New Zealand and in its capital city of Auckland. It is hard to believe that almost 12 months ago I jumped off Auckland harbour bridge one Read more about Backpacking in New Zealand: Jumping off Auckland Harbour Bridge[…]

“That’s me, Up In The Sky”: Sky Diving🪂Over Lake Taupo, New Zealand🇳🇿

“Hey you, up in the sky, learning to fly. Tell me how high will you go before you start falling” – Noel Gallagher. It was never an ambition to do a Sky Dive. It was too scary for me. Imagine jumping out of a plane from thousands of feet up in the air and relying Read more about “That’s me, Up In The Sky”: Sky Diving🪂Over Lake Taupo, New Zealand🇳🇿[…]