Taupō – Volcanic Zone and Identity Giver for the Maōri

Volcanism created New Zealand and even today the force emerging from the Earth’s inside is omnipresent on those islands in the South Pacific Ocean no matter if as earthquakes in the south or in the shape of real fire mountains on the north island. Like a belt the appearances of Taupō Volcanic Zone lead through the whole country, starting with offshore volcano White Island, the geothermally active area of colourful Wai-O-Tapu near Rotorua, right through to Lake Taupo super volcano and the fire mountains Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu to end at Mount Taranaki.… Read More

The Gannets of Cape Kidnappers and the Trans Tasman Flight

Seabirds are little miracles of evolution and New Zealand is home to a lot of them. At Muriwai Beach and the Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay I spent days with the second rarest gannet species in the world, the Australasian gannet, who is a master aviator and swift as an arrow hunter when it comes to fish.… Read More

Auckland’s architectural Side

Actually Wellington is the capital, but when it comes to business and logistics then Greater Auckland pulls all strings and due to its international airport for tourists this metropolis is to boot the gateway number one to cross into New Zealand, hence for many people in the world this city makes the initial contact.… Read More

Fiji – Melting Pot of the South Seas

The Fiji archipelago is the perfect melting pot of the South Seas. In a very charming way its 332 small as well as big islands unite the culture of Melanesia and Polynesia plus the influences of British colonial times and the Indians being brought into the country back then by the Britons.… Read More

New Caledonia – Kagu’s threatened Home

When something is really expensive then it costs “an arm and a leg”. Against that proverbial background the French overseas department New Caledonia is so expensive, that it costs even the double. The island can be a grave for your hard-earned money, in particular the south, where the capital Noumea slaps your face financially and with the typical arrogant French attitude you can meet in St.… Read More

Living at the Landing Strip – The Tuvalu Atoll

Having a look at its actual landmass, Tuvalu is the second smallest nation in the world. Some of its islands are so tiny and narrow that you can literally spit from one side to another. The heart of Tuvalu is the Funafuti atoll being embraced in the east by the main island Fongafale.… Read More

Tonga – Where Time begins

What does the Island Kingdom of Tonga have in common with a high voltage cable? Correct, both things are pretty much isolated. The 136 islands of Tonga are the only Polynesian nation that never got colonialized by the west. The archipelago being called “The Friendly Islands” lies at the 10.8km deep Tonga trench, a fault where the Pacific plates submerges the Australian, which is at the same time also the International Date Line; a place where you can meet the new year as being one of the very few first people on the planet.… Read More

Rock Giants and Caribbean Blue – The Mountains and Lakes of the Southern Alps

One of New Zealand’s most impressive and stunning landscapes are the Southern Alps, a range of giant mountains and large lakes. Coming from Christchurch in the east, Lake Tekapo and its backyard mountain Mount John plus its astronomical observatory already give a first impression how wonderfully scenic the southern Kiwi land can look like.… Read More

Ice in the Rain Forest – Exploring the Fox Glacier

New Zealand’s West Coast region is unique. It is leader of the list of the rainiest regions on our planet and offers the possibility of getting in very close touch with the remarkable combination of a glacier gliding down amidst an environment of alpine mountains having rain forests on its slopes.… Read More

Mount Ruapehu – Above the Clouds of North New Zealand

Mount Ruapehu marks the southern end of the Taupo volcanic zone. Together with stunning Tongariro national park it stands for a region that shapes and defines the character of New Zealand’s north island. With an elevation of impressive 2797 metres it is also North New Zealand’s lighthouse, its highest spot; a place easily seen from the far away.… Read More