Mine Bay Rock Carvings

In the late 1970s master carver Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell had completed his 10-year training period with Maori elders. He came to his mother's land at Lake Taupo to mark the occasion with a significant carving.

On a boat trip around the Western Bays he saw the cliffs at Mine Bay and recognised the opportunity to use them as a canvas for his work. Matahi decided to carve a likeness of Ngatoroirangi, a visionary Maori navigator who guided the Tuwharetoa and Te Arawa tribes to the Taupo area over a thousand years ago. In recognition of the cross-cultural nature of New Zealand, Matahi also carved two smaller figures of Celtic design, which depict the south wind and a mermaid.

The main carving is over 10 metres high and took four summers to complete. The artwork is Matahi's gift to Taupo. He and four assistants took no payment other than small change donations from local bar patrons to cover the cost of the scaffolding.

The carving has become an important cultural attraction for the region and a clear demonstration that traditional Maori knowledge and skills continue to be passed from generation to generation.

http://www.newzealand.com/int/feature/mine-bay-rock-carving/
http://www.sailbarbary.com/cruise-taupo/maori-rock-carvings-cruise/

Rotorua destinations

waikete

whaimangu

blu lake

green lake

lake tarawera

Redwood forest

whakarewareh

Laurens Lavender Farm

Laurens Lavender Farm was established in 1999 by our family members Lorraine, Scott and Ross who purchased a property with the intent of establishing a lavender farm. With the help of a much loved daughter and father, our family got to work and set about to make a dream come true.

In 2001, tragedy struck our family with the loss of a much loved daughter, sister and niece. Her name was Lauren, and we have named our Lavender Farm after Lauren and her memory.

As time went on, we decided to convert our old farm house and make-shift horse stables in to a cafe and shop for customers to purchase our lavender products. We decided to paint some of the walls bright lime green and all the other walls are the original varnished walls from the original farm house. We added a very large deck on the front and side and the floor of the cafe is in blue and green tiles


and the shop floor the original varnished floor boards.

We all helped in the renovations with Scott doing the painting and staining with help from our youngest daughter Kasey. Ross and Scott both helped with the building of the deck and Lorraine kept the team spirits high with her lovely meals that fed the family through many long nights of hard work.

For the past 6 years we have been harvesting the lavender by hand with lots of help from friends and family. This year we finally purchased a harvester which makes the going easier and we use a partner lavender farm to help us extract the oils from our lavender plants.

Laurens Lavender Farm has been open to the public for four years and every year we are enjoying the fruits of our labours with a growing customer base and lovely comments in our visitors books.

http://www.laurenslavender.co.nz/index.html

Forest Rock GArden Hotel, Andarawewa, Anuradhapura

Parasail

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Humans are meant to move across the earth on two legs - well, at least that's what evolution would have us believe. We're not that great at doing what we're told though, which is probably why we've built cars, trains and planes, and why we've come up with a multitude of ways of moving about that don't involve walking at all - one of the most awesome being parasailing, without a doubt.

The best way to see the beautiful Bay of Islands is from 1200 feet in the air, with a parachute wafting above your head and an orange boat dragging you along. It's an exhilarating and yet surprisingly peaceful experience that's pretty much as close to flying as you can possibly get. Spend 10-12 minutes watching your feet dangling below you and appreciate the truly stunning panorama of the Bay of Islands spreading all around you like a big beautiful patchwork quilt – how can you resist?

Tongariro Alpine Crossing,

New Zealand's oldest national park and a dual World Heritage Site. The Tongariro National Park is rich in both cultural identity and dramatic, awe-inspiring natural scenery. Unique landforms, including the volcanic peaks of Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and Ruapehu ensure the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is considered a world-renowned trek.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is heralded as the best one-day trek available in New Zealand, while others say it ranks among the top ten single-day treks in the world.

Many who complete the 19.4-kilometre journey will tell you the climbs can be steep and the weather unpredictable, though worth it in every aspect.

Prepare for the elements. Ensure transport is arranged to drop you at the beginning of the track and pick you up at the end of the day.


 http://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/

Vimutti Buddhist monastry

Vimutti means liberation, ultimate freedom

Venerable Ajahn Chah

Vimutti Monastery is a Buddhist community in the lineage of one of Thailand’s greatest meditation masters, Venerable Ajahn Chah. Created with the intention of generating peace and wisdom in the world, Vimutti is situated in the midst of 144 acres of native bush, pine forest, streams and rolling hills. The monastery offers seclusion and suitable conditions for those who wish to deepen their meditation, as well as the opportunity for people of all nationalities to join together in harmony and work towards a noble common goal. One can experience the rare and precious opportunity to take part in the daily life of a monastery, participate in regular meditation workshops and serve the community on ‘Good Kamma’ days. With the combination of a traditional approach to monastic training, a beautiful natural environment and a compassionate atmosphere, Vimutti is a powerful support for the alleviation of human suffering. True freedom and lasting happiness are to be found through the purification of the heart, the cultivation and perfection of the Buddha’s Eight-fold Path. By encouraging the study, practice and realisation of these teachings, Vimutti can truly be a liberating refuge on the way to awakening.

Craters of the Moon

Craters of the Moon Thermal Area (or Karapiti in Māori language) is a region with geothermal activity north of Taupo, New Zealand. It is a part of Wairakei, the largest geothermal field in New Zealand, with a surface area of about 25 km2, which lies in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The name springs from the many hydrothermal eruption craters, which are in part barren and which have bright colours. Combined with the numerous steam vents, constantly shifting, collapsing and reforming giving the whole area desolate appearance, and the sulphur smell, the whole area has an “unearthly” atmosphere. The craters are a relatively recent feature of the area and appeared as a result of human activity in the region.

The site is Crown Land, administered by the Department of Conservation, with help from the Craters of the Moon Trust, a volunteer organisation that provides information for visitors and passive vehicle security.

http://www.cratersofthemoon.co.nz/html/visitor-s_site.html 

Waitomo Caves - King Country

The magical Waitomo Caves have been attracting visitors for more than 120 years, thanks to their incredible limestone formations and luminescent glowworms. This subterranean cave system is located beneath the rolling green countryside of the Waikato, one of New Zealand’s prime farming regions. Step into the belly of Waitomo for an unforgettable sightseeing tour experience as you walk through majestic caverns, explore limestone shafts, marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites and enjoy a boat ride through a grotto lit by thousands of tiny native glowworms.

The Waikato is also home to the famous Hobbiton film set where movie magic was made for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. See Hobbit holes and many other structures from the movie while you learn how this beautiful farmland was transformed into The Shire from Middle-earth.

From Waitomo you can travel east, onwards to Rotorua where a geothermal wonderland rich in Māori culture and heritage awaits. Marvel at the natural geothermal wonders of Te Puia as you explore its thermal valley of geysers, streams of boiling water and hot mud pools and get an insight into Māori culture through performance and traditional carving, weaving and art all created on site. The Agrodome is a fun window into the farming culture and you’ll see why it’s one of New Zealand’s most loved attractions, with a sheep show, shearing and dog trials.

Fun fact: Do you know how to remember the difference between stalactites and stalagmites? Stalactites hold “tight” to the ceiling, while stalagmites “might” grow up to reach the ceiling one day!

http://www.greatsights.co.nz/new-zealand-tour-destinations/waitomo-caves/

Hobbiton (Matamata) - Waikato

New Zealand became synonymous with the Middle-earth of JRR Tolkien's famous books following the release of the blockbuster Lord of the Rings film trilogy, directed by New Zealander Sir Peter Jackson. Stunning scenery all around New Zealand was transformed into sets for the three movies and the subsequent Hobbit prequels.

One of the most famous was that of The Shire, home to the plucky hobbits. While filming has now finished, today you can still visit The Shire and see where the movie magic was created. Tucked away on picturesque private farmland near Matamata in the North Island's Waikato region is the set of Hobbiton, which draws visitors from around the world for guided tours to see the famous Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn and other well-loved locations from the films.

 

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Top ten NZ attractions

1. Milford Sound
2.BAy of Islands
3. Tongariro NAtional PArk
4.Coramandel
5.Rotarua
6.Mt Cook
7. Wellington
8.Chch
9. Auckland
10.Q town

http://www.clicktop10.com/2013/07/top-10-tourist-attractions-in-new-zealand/

Auckland water Front

WYNYARD QUARTER

 http://www.waterfrontauckland.co.nz/Waterfront-Auckland/Home.aspx

Auckland's newest waterfront area, Wynyard Quarter reflects Auckland's gritty maritime heritage in a new, revitalised public environment.
Whether it's Friday night-open air cinema in the summer or a promenade along the sparkling Waitemata Harbour with an ice cream, Wynyard Quarter is Auckland’s newest urban community.

Wynyard Quarter is going through one of the largest urban regenerations in New Zealand, evolving from an industrial port area that was closed to the public to a place where people can live, visit, be entertained and do business. This regeneration will continue for 20 more years.

Wynyard Quarter comprises approximately 37 hectares of land and almost three kilometres of costal frontage. Stage one, completed in August 2011 provides 500 metres of places and spaces right next to the water’s edge for the public to enjoy.

The vision for the area is a mix of residential, retail and commercial development to enable the growth of a strong, diverse and vibrant and sustainable residential and business community.

The next phase to be developed as part of the revitalisation of Wynyard Quarter is Wynyard Central.  It will be a mix of commercial office space focused around innovation and residential living earmarked for mixed-use apartments and townhouses that will allow for a mix of residents.

A 5-star international quality hotel is planned on a large site on the western edge of the Viaduct Harbour opposite the Viaduct Events Centre. This prime waterfront location is close to the CBD, transport and entertainment options.

Wynyard Central will feature new spaces and activity for people to enjoy such as green pocket parks, a new network of pedestrian-friendly laneways, and the newly built Daldy Street with associated Linear Park; community facilities such as a daycare centre, medical centre, and services such as food stores and corner shops, along with cafes, bars and restaurants. Regular happenings such as weekly workshops for kids, markets and outdoor cinema will be provided by Waterfront Auckland.

Later stages include residential, retail and commercial development as well as a signature public building as part of the Headland Park development.