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Tag: South Pacific

Visiting Rarotonga on The Cook Islands

Posted on by Roberta Hill

One of our most memorable and favourite trips we ever took stemmed from a gimmick. I was looking for something special to do for New Year’s Eve back in 2018 when I stumbled across this fantastic idea. We were living in Wellington at the time, so why not take a flight up to Auckland to celebrate New Year’s and then, the next day, pick up a direct flight to the Cook Islands to celebrate a second New Year’s Eve? It turns out the Cook Islands are slightly over the international deadline. So that’s what we did. We don’t only celebrate…

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A Two-Day Adventure in Kaikōura

Posted on by Roberta Hill

Kaikōura, nestled between the Seaward Kaikōura Range and the Pacific Ocean on New Zealand’s South Island, is a haven for nature enthusiasts and marine wildlife lovers. This charming coastal town offers a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure, making it an ideal destination for senior travellers seeking an enriching two-day getaway.   Getting to Kaikōura By Train: The Coastal Pacific train operates between Christchurch and Picton, stopping in Kaikōura. This relaxing journey offers panoramic coastline views, rolling hills, and rugged mountains. The train features large windows, comfortable seating, and onboard commentary, making the journey as memorable as the destination. Depart…

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Exploring Napier, New Zealand

Posted on by Roberta Hill

Napier, located on New Zealand’s North Island, is a charming seaside city renowned for its Art Deco architecture, stunning landscapes, and vibrant wine culture. We loved to visit and went for weekend trips quite a few times while we lived in Wellington. For all travellers, Napier offers a blend of relaxation, culture, and adventure tailored to various mobility levels and interests. Here’s your guide to making the most of your visit to this delightful city. Getting to Napier By Car: A scenic drive along State Highway 2 from Wellington (around four hours) or Auckland (around five hours) offers opportunities to…

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Package Deals for Maui - A Good Decision or Not

Day 30 – Sadly, Our Time In Maui Is Ending

Posted on by Roberta Hill

No pictures today of Maui except for the one down towards Waikiki Beach. We checked out of our lovely place in Piaha at 10 AM and had a few hours before our flight left at 3 PM. We went and rechecked the surfers for a bit of a while at Ho’okipa Beach Park. Ho’okipa Lookout For watching the surfers and epic surf, Ho’okipa Lookout is the place to be. The lookout is on the edge of a cliff overlooking “Pavilions” – the popular surfing-end of the beach. Conditions permitting, more adventurous folks walk down toward the tip of the rocky…

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Haleakala National Park 

Day 29 – Haleakala National Park, Maui

Posted on by Roberta Hill

Today’s adventure was to Haleakala National Park, with a top altitude of 10,023 feet. That is quite a climb when you think that we started from the ocean, practically at sea level, to climb up 10k feet through many winding hairpin turns. I must say the road is in excellent condition. We went in and out of the various low-lying cloud layers. Sometimes, we were in heavy mist, and it was like rain and other times, blazing sun. We made our way up to the volcano crater and took a short walk to look down and see the magnificent sight….

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Snorkelling in Maui

Day 28 – Snorkelling in Maui

Posted on by Roberta Hill

Surf’s up! Or should I say surfs down? Finally, the perfect day for snorkelling. No pictures of me snorkelling as I was too busy doing it all morning. I must confess it was not quite as good as the Cook Islands, but other than Niue, what is? Snorkelling in Maui I am certainly not complaining as we saw a large variety of fish, including some that are not found only in Hawaiian waters, such as potters angelfish, saddle rice, Hawaiian hogfish, white spotted Toby, bullet head parrot fish, surgeonfish, blue stripe butterfly fish, millet head butterfly fish, and brown surgeon…

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The Road to Hana

Day 27 – The Road To Hana, Maui

Posted on by Roberta Hill

The Road To Hana …. Hana is 50 miles one way, which takes two hours if you don’t stop for some beautiful sites. Just a few minutes drive on our journey to Hana is where the international competition for surfers is held. Ho’okipa Beach Park has some of the biggest surf waves in Hawaii. The road to Hana is a famous scenic drive some call “the world’s most beautiful drive.” It’s a long, curvy road with amazing scenery of the ocean, waterfalls and pools, vegetation and more. It is a rainforest that receives a fantastic amount of rainfall, whereas some…

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Makena State Park

Day 26 – Makena State Park, Maui

Posted on by Roberta Hill

Today’s travel was a trip through what is considered south central Maui. We drove to the end of the road to Makena State Park and the last lava flows on Maui in 1790.   Makena State Park   Located in Makena (south of Wailea), Makena State Park comprises of 165 acres and is composed of two beaches and Puʻu Olai, a 360 feet tall dormant volcanic cinder cone in the center of the park. There are no water fountains, so bring some bottled water. Makena Beach, also known as Oneloa Beach and Big Beach, measures 1.5 miles long and 100…

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