New Zealand 2006 - Aorangi Forest Park

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  The Putangirua Pinnacles. They where created by eroded gravel, which was gathered before the shore.
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  Pinnacles. They where created by eroded gravel, which was gathered before the shore. They also played a role in the movie LOTR: Return of the King as Background for the Dimhold Road (Paths of the Dead).
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  A surely not dead bumblebee.

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  Along the coast are many parking places...
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  ... with entertaining waves.
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  A fur seal paradise.

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  Epiphany - And Three Kings.
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  Katja's life long lasting Doc Martins.
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  Kitschy, but I like sunsets.

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  And We like the moon!
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  A classic road picture. Usually reserved for route 66.
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  Happy New Year! A group of stony crabs meets at every New Year's day to perform this phrase.

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  Not all of the sleeping seals are as visible as this one.
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  Some of them are in the scrubs behind the beach.

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  If you cross the place between them and the sea, they become ... uhm uncomfortable.
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  And they start to run back to the water.
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  Well, running is not the right expression for someone who makes a break every 10 seconds.

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  If you already broke their sleep, don't disturb their run.
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  In the water the plump seals become graceful animals.
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  And aren't shy anymore.

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  The farm dogs are treated like gods in New Zealand. There are movies to pay homage to them. ;-)
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  This picture is from the ruahine forest park. Our tour through the farmland was an entertainment for the natives.
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  Well, unless you have hooves or wellingtons, you should be careful there. Or the cows will laugh at you.

From December 2005 to February 2006 me (Thomas) and Katja visited New Zealand. First we went to Auckland, where I made an internship in a law practice. And with a little Hitop motorhome, we moved out to discover NZ.

The country was breathtaking and we liked especially the diversified landscapes, streams and forests in the southern island. But the more populated northern island is a must see, too.

We met a lot of kind and helpful people. In particular the splendidly Tapsell-Family and the team from Bluebird rentals.

To sum up: We ♥ NZ .