next Vulcano: Mnt. Taranaki

I climbed mount Taranaki- a vulcano that rises out of the coastal flat-lands to 2520m.. an amzing climb.. the previous alpine walk [Tongariro crossing] was nothing compared to this [in terms of physical effort]. My god.. what a monster! Photos will come soon...

Bas.

Rotorua and Napier

Hi people!

After Taupo & Tongariro i went to Rotorua. This is an amazing place- everywhere there earth bubbles with Volcanic energy. Steam and fumes drift by everywhere- almost everybody has a hotspring in their own backyard! The town smells horrible though- a sulphur smell (like rotten eggs). But is is pretty impressive. I saw a geiser (biggest on southern hemisphere) in a park with some steaming lakes. There was alos a lot of information on Maori culture- they had a great war-canoe on exhibition! See the PICTURES.

After that I went to Napier. This little town on the east-coast was destroyed by an earthquake cin the 1930's. They quickly rebuilt everything in the style of the 30's, so now they have an amazing collection of Art Deco architecture... Just check the pictures.

I also added some pictures of the bustrip to Napier.

Enjoy.

Bas.

Auckland and Taupo

On top of Tongariro Mountain [1978m].

Hi People!

I've been in New Zealand now for more than a week. I was off to a slow start in Auckland since A- I was staying in a great hostel and B- I needed to get organised (in the brain) about my trip trough NZ.

In Auckland I have visited some vulcanic hills: Mount Eden and the next day Rangitoto. Mt. Eden is in the middle of the city, and on top you have a great view of Auckland. You can also see (in the photographs aswell) the green hills dotted troughout the city: these are all vulcanos! Really something. Especially cool to see a group of cows grazing in the crater of the vulcano.

Rangitoto is the youngest volcano in Auckland. It emerged out of the sea some six hundred years ago. That event has been thouroughly imbedded into Maori (native New Zealanders) culture- they have a gods that are linked to the vulcanic activity of the island. I took a ferry from the harbour of Auckland and dit a 12km walk around the island (which is mostly deserted accept from some holiday homes around the coast). It was great.

After Auckland I travelled to Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the biggest lake on the southern hemisphere and was created in a hug volcanic explosion 1800 years ago. The Romans and the Ancient Chines recored that for months the earth recieved much less sunlight! I am happy to not have been here during that explosion! The lake is 30x40km... imagine.

Anyway, the first day I spent walking around and hinking along a river that flows out of the lake, towards some nice waterfalls. Great walk- the water was so nice and clear (and the weather was great too).

Yesterday however, I spent the whole day hinking in the mountains. This was incredible. Simply amazing. The walk I did was Tongariro Alpine Crossing- wich takes you trough some of the most amazing volcanic landscapes in the world. For people who know Lord of the Rings: this is the Mount Doom region (large vulcano with red topping you see in pictures). It was an all day, 23km hike (I did some side-tracks which made it better but also a bit tougher).

I hope the picture show a little bit about the trip because in reality it is simple flabbergasting- mindblowing- insainely wicked. What a trip! See the black lavaflow, the emerald turqouise lakes, the snowtops, the popped red blister, the steam and vulcanic fumes coming out of a valley, and mount Doom in the

PICTURES

What a trip am I making! This is what I came for! Can it get better than this??

Bas.

goodbye Melbourne, welcome to New Zealand

Auckland

vlnr Donnie, Matt, Dorian, Bruno, Rafa, Leanne, Dennis, Emily, Jet.

Hi people!

I have recently arrived in New Zealand, Auckland. Maybe you can tell from the picture; it is not the most beautifull city in the world in terms of architecture, however it is built on 50(!!) vulcanos amidst the sea. After a couple of sunny days, this weekend has been very rainy. I have spent most days on the internet and in books and travelguides, trying to make up my mind on where to travel (I am alos waiting for a package from Holland with my tent and campinggear).

In Melbourne I had a very nice goodbye-BBQ. Leanne helped me organize it and it was really great. Dennis and Emily were there, ofcourse! And Matt and Jet. And some guys from the hostel: Donnie (from New York), Dorian (from France), Rafa and Bruno (from Brazil). And ofcourse Leanne, who will be coming to NZ in Febuari, so I will see her soon again.

Merel stayed in Sydney- she will do some surfing and working on an organic farm. She will come to New Zealand for 5weeks, from 19januari onwards. We will travel the South Island together, that will be so cool!!!

Big hug, hope all of you are very well!

Bas.

new phonenumber

Hi people.

My new New Zealand phonenumber is:

+64-211-61-3464

Take care.

Bas.

happy new year!

New Year I celebrated in Sydney, with my cousin Marc and his girlfriend Clarissa, and some friends of them- some of whome I have met before in Germany or in Townsville. It was simply fantastic. We were invited to the home of somebody a friend of my cousing met while travelling. He had an amazing apartment with an amazing view over Sydney towards the Harbourbridge. It was awesome!! We bbq'ed on the balcony, opened some beers and later watched the crazy fireworks! What a night!

See more PICTURES HERE.

Bas.

PS. Merel spent the night with her friends in the Sydney Harbour, on a boat of people they'd met travelling. She made some movies of the fireworks.. I will try and upload them soon!