Weggs - Judy and Rags

Hi We first backpacked in Eastern Europe in 2001. In 2002 we spent the whole 12 months backpacking around the world. This was before blogs so find details here: http://members.iinet.net.au/~weggs/weggs_world/index.htm
In 2007 we enjoyed another 6 months. This time we organised some home exchanges to help the budget, meet new people and be able to kick back and relax in a few places.
In 2008 apart from a few local trips that we have also decided to include on our blog we are off to New Zealand. We will do 3 weeks with a home exchange in the North Island and 3 weeks in the South Island traveling around in a hired camper van.
We are currently considering South Africa for an exchange in early 2009 after being offered a beautiful home in Hout Bay, just out of Cape Town.

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Joined on: May 5th 2007
Last Login: November 12th 2008

Blog Entries: 78
Photos: 1398

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Blogs & Travel Journals

by Weggs, order by Date newest first.

By Weggs
October 17th 2008

Last days in New Zealand

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Sleepy seal at Ohau Point

Tuesday 14th October After a good night's sleep we were awake by about 0700, Judy going for a walk along the beach whilst Rags prepared to go. We left before having any breakfast, having this at a roadside stop next to a lake before the town of Ward. We continued down to Ohau Point, a seal colony reserve. We had been made aware of this stop through a travel blog by somebody else and they also mentioned the Ohau Falls. This was the highlight of the day, these falls being just a short distance inland from the seal colony. There were [View Full Entry]

Raodside stall where we ate whitebait sammys!

Rags soaking in the pool at Hanmer springs

By Weggs
October 12th 2008

Abel Tasman National Park and North Coast

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Abel Tasman National Park » Marahau

Our water taxi

Saturday 11th October We were at the building from where the water taxi was to leave at 0900 by 0830. After booking our tickets we had enough time to pack a lunch and our things in a backpack before being loaded onto the boat with 15 others and then driven by tractor to the launching ramp. As the tide was in we were actually launched from the ramp, later the water recedes about 2-300m out and it becomes a beach launch. The boat is an aluminium craft made the same as a rubber dinghy with pontoons as the sides. Makes for [View Full Entry]

By Weggs
October 10th 2008

Jade country and goodbye west coast.

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Hokitika

Central Hokitika

Thursday 9th October After an early start we were in Hokitika just as the shops were opening. Before we went into town we stopped at the river entrance and looked back over the ranges to the east. The cloud had lifted a little and we could see some snow-capped mountains. On a clear day apparently you can see all the alps including Mt Cook. Just doesn't seem that we are going to see this icon on this trip! Hokitika is known for its NZ jade, originally called greenstone by the Maoris, and there are many shops selling the end product. After [View Full Entry]

By Weggs
October 8th 2008

Rob Roy Glacier Walk

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Mount Aspiring National Park

Our campsite at Glendhu Bay

Monday 6th October Beautiful morning at Glendhu Bay, near Wanaka, and we spent the first few hours doing mundane things such as washing and preparing the van. Then on the road to the Rob Roy Glacier, termed the jewel of the Mt Aspiring National Park. We travelled about 50km from where we campedat Lake Glendhu, the last 30km on a good gravel road through farm country and very scenic. About 6km from the end cars were parked at the side of a shallow stream. As the bottom looked hard and the water wasn't too deep we continued through, this occurring several [View Full Entry]

Cows block our path on the way to the Rob Roy rack.

By Weggs
October 8th 2008

Glacier Country

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier

Wednesday 8th October It rained heavily from about 0400 and both of us had a fitful night. On our way and first stop was just up the road, Fox Glacier. A short walk got us to the observation area but when we saw others in the distance near the foot of the glacier we ducked under the marker tape and moved quickly along a rockfall area, keeping our eyes peeled. On our return this section was open so it couldn't have been too bad. After a bit of fun trying to get across streams of gushing cold water we managed to [View Full Entry]

By Weggs
October 5th 2008

A new experience - paragliding!

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Queenstown

Kingston Flyer
A vintage steam train operating near Queenstown.

Saturday 4th October It was still raining when we awoke so we set off headed for Queenstown about 150kms away. As the rain didn't abate we didn't stop at Lumsden where we were going to do some shopping and refuel. Instead we continued on and until 10kms before Kingston we saw the Kingston Flyer, a vintage steam train, just about to leave on its journey back. This gave us enough time to take a few photos of this fine old machine. Queenstown, set on Lake Wakatipu, is what you would expect for a tourist town on the snowfields and in the [View Full Entry]

By Weggs
October 2nd 2008

Fiordland National Park

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Fiordland National Park

Better weather the afternoon we arrived
Lake Manapouri

Wednesday 1st October What a night! At 0300 we were woken by strong winds, heavy rain, occasional lightning with the accompanying thunder. The van was buffeted by the strong winds and rain and we dozed fitfully, expecting to wake up with water all around the van and having problems getting out. No worries, daylight brought a few puddles and no hassle driving out. Rags battled the wind gusts which hammered the van, and was happy to take a break in Invercargill, where we found a Countdown store. There was a New World store there but Judy wanted to see if they [View Full Entry]

By Weggs
October 2nd 2008

Dunedin to the Catlins

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island

View from the camper on our second night

Sunday 28th September Great nightʼs sleep but very cold when we awoke. Judy risked it and went for a jog up the beach for an hour or so. Rags meanwhile had a couple of hot coffees whilst watching the local birdlife and scanning the beach. Sometimes having an injury has advantages! Moeraki Boulders was our first stop, quite different but still a bit disappointing from what we had been led to believe. From here we continued to Shag Point where the road in was lined with beach huts of all descriptions. Most of them were tiny, either the families who stayed [View Full Entry]

By Weggs
October 2nd 2008

South Island - A new adventure!

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Lake Tekapo

Amazing views

Thursday 25th September We were picked up by our airport transfer, Luxury Airport Shuttle, just after 1130 and by 1400 we were at the Auckland International Airport. It was a smooth flight to Christchurch and we were picked up and taken to the nearby Sudima Hotel a few minutes after advising them of our arrival. We were quite impressed with our room, large, modern, well worth what we paid. Hotel.com does give you a good bargain. We caught the bus into Christchurch, walking one stop further than the one outside the hotel on the advice of a local, saving us $5 [View Full Entry]

By Weggs
September 24th 2008

Last days on North Island

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Plenty

Interesting statues at Quarry Park

Wednesday 24th September Yesterday was a day of recovery, both tired and Rags' foot painful. We did go for quite a long walk around the neighbourhood in the morning, especially alongside the estuary. In the afternoon we went to Fernland Spa where we soaked in hot mineral waters for about 30 mins before both having a deep tissue massage. This was most enjoyable and we felt much better afterwards. Today was a day of preparation as we leave for the North Island tomorrow. Besides washing and packing we set about the task of cleaning both the house and the car. [View Full Entry]

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Weggs | Judy and Rags | Travel Blog

Weggs - Judy and Rags

Blogs & Travel Journals

Last days in New Zealand

Abel Tasman National Park and North Coast

Jade country and goodbye west coast.

Rob Roy Glacier Walk

Glacier Country

A new experience - paragliding!

Fiordland National Park

Dunedin to the Catlins

South Island - A new adventure!

Last days on North Island