23 day tour and already on to day 3

Sort of home turf this first section of the tour. Northland Province but unfortunately I do not get the luxury of a home visit to see the boss Xiaoli, or my 4 beautiful children, the dogs. 120km further north and although I have today largely off I still need be on call for the clients.

The tour started Auckland and we headed for the Gannet colony at Muriwai. Doesn’t really give me a buzz but then I openly say sea birds do not really enthuse me. But the guests were happy. Obviously only an hour at that stage so not really into tour mode and we are all strangers to each other. But already it was showing that we had smiles and a sense of humour in the bus. A good start.

On to the Matakohe Kauri Museum. Everytime I go there I think what a pity this museum is not on a main tourist route. It really is worth a visit and to add to it there is a good café opposite if you seek a coffee or a bit of a feed.

On to Tane Mahuta, the god of Waipoua Forest. People are always in awe of this giant Kauri Tree. Height I can never remember but is circumference measuring 13 metres. Photographs never do it justice as you never really appreciate the sheer size of Tane Mahuta.

Footprints, a guide service run by the local Iwi met us at Tane Mahuta and told our group all about the god of the forest. Very well done and if you are visiting the area I suggest you may consider booking the short tour with our friends at ‘Footprints’.

On to Opinoni for the night on the edge of the Hokianga Harbour staying at the Copthorne Hotel. The hotel was okay but I am sorry but if anyone from the Copthorne is reading this, the dinner meal I could not even rate average and all the group agreed, it was terrible. A pity because the restaurant sits in such an idyllic place over looking the harbour. The food was horrible but I will say the staff were fantastic.

The morning we left Opinoni we did a short excursion across the harbour for some sand boarding on the dunes. Not a buzz factor for me as we do sand boarding on the giant Te Paki sand dunes further north. But 4 that did the boards enjoyed so all good.

On towards Paihia. A coffee stop in Kaikohe then on to the Rainbow Falls at Kerikeri. Worth a visit for anyone passing through Kerikeri. Not far off the main road and the walk is short. You can even take a swim in the pool below the falls of that takes your fancy. Just google ‘Rainbow Falls, Kerikeri’. You will find it.

Then to the Stone Store and Kemp House at Kerikeri. We lunched first in the Honey Café behind. Coffee fine, service great, food average.

At the Stone Store we had booked a guided tour. Very informative for the group. Obviously not new information to me but well done and a very important part of our history.

On to Waitangi and the treaty ground where the treaty between the English and the Maori’s was signed. A very important document in New Zealand’s history.

Now if you are going to visit Waitangi on tour which I recommend you do, take the guided tour. It takes an hour but I rate highly.

Another Copthorne Hotel but this time Waitangi. The hotel is certainly not new but very clean and tidy. Corridors are long so be ready to do a lot of walking if you need go back to the restaurant or bar.

We made a mistake as we arranged to eat in their restaurant. But on booking I should have asked what time the big bus groups were eating. We seemed to coincide with their arrival in the restaurant. The buffet food was okay but because of our timing some dishes were sadly lacking in food. The restaurant was refilling but it took a few trips to the buffet to get what you wanted. So my mistake for not checking with the restaurant on booking. And yes, I should have known better so am kicking myself.

Tday my rest day. Put some of the group on the dolphin boat the rest elected to stay hotel bound. Yesterday the obvious signs of jetlag were there so hopefully today all will just take the opportunity to rest.

Tomorrow its Auckland, then Christmas Day Rotorua. Christmas dinner being the hangi feast at Te Puia.

I have not asked Xiaoli how she is coping up north with our accommodation but I know both houses are booked out until early January. We agreed I concentrate on the tour, she will look after the Ninety Beach side of our business. We do talk or message each other on wechat 3 or 4 times a day but both avoid asking about each others business. We cannot help each other and both have our own stress issues that come with being full on so must deal with that ourselves.

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23 days – A very long tour

Today is officially day one of a 23 day tour. However only for me, not the group I collect.

Today is collect the bus. Make sure its cleaned and fuelled up. Go through route agenda to make sure I understand everything from the route itself to hotels and activities. The route this time differs from the usual although covering most of the same places. I nice change for me as the driver guide.

Yesterday I left the far north of New Zealand where we are based. Rather than bring a vehicle down I opted to experience the trip on an Intercity bus. Two actually. A smaller 20 seat coach from Kaitaia to Kerikeri then a brand new 50 seat plus coach Kerikeri to Auckland.

The 20 seat coach I am sorry Intercity I do not give a pass. A great coach as I drive similar coaches but the seats were positioned I suspect for Asians who often are smaller more petite than the western build people. My legs spent the journey in the aisle which meant stops where people disembarked or boarded I needed breathe in so I could pull my legs behind the seat in front. Obviously being positioned that way to achieve maximum loading capacity.

The next seat just happened to be brand new and obviously dedicated to the run Auckland to the far north. I say that because of permanent signage on it. What a pleasure it was being that bus following the smaller one on the first leg of the trip. Spacious and very comfortable. Wi Fi available the whole trip and yes sometimes the speed wasn’t great but it allowed me to kill the trip working on the computer. So that 3.5 hour part of the trip was bliss on Intercity.

Would I do it again? Probably when I know I am going to be away so long. It saves me parking a vehicle up in Auckland which is not just cost but security concerns. I only get 3 days home in January so arranged a small rental on arrival back in Auckland. For 3 days cost is less than running my own vehicle. Then away again until late February. Then I need figure out how to get back from Auckland to the far north.

Moa Tours who I am doing the 23 day tour for have presented me with a brand new 20 seat Mitsubishi Fuso. Only 390km on the clock. Cant complain at that. The seating is great as very spacious so customers should have no complaints.

This tour sees clients from the USA, United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland. Only one of the group non English speaking but in her case the husband is fluent. So a good cross combination of nationalities.

Now its rest time ready for a 7am departure in the morning. The first 3 days its north ward bound to the Kauri museum and forest before crossing to the Bay of Islands. All in theory now-a-days my home province of Northland. Then its head south ending in Christchurch January 10. I can do that. The longest day a bit over 500km. Not an issue

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One tour completed, three to go

My blogs are going to be out of order over the next week or so as I normally blog every day of a tour. But unfortunately the tour just completed I fell ill with about 5 days to go and life became a battle.

It all started with one of my tour group became ill and fortunately for her we had a 2 night stay at the time so she was able to take bed rest why I took the remainder out. Unfortunately though she had unknowingly already passed the bug with 3 more f the group progressively fulling ill, then lastly me. And it would appear I received the worst dose or maybe it just hit me harder as there was no time for me to get a break from being a driver/guide.

On one hand it was a great tour. All 8 in the group bonded well yet prior tour not one had met another. And I fitted into that bonding. Always great when you don’t get those odd people out that can make a tour hard. But this was not the case with this group with a reunion in England down the track already being planned. Needless to say I wont be going. Just too far away now for me.

The highlights for me as a guide. Number one was certainly the group itself. They were a great bunch with my sense of humour which mad the tour easy.

The route which was not my route but planned by a consultant back in the UK was good. I could and did make improvements as we travelled, but generally I could not fault in any major way. 4,500km travelled on route. Add another 2,000km for me on top because of travel prior and after the tour completion, so a lot of ground covered.

The weather generally behaved. It was late spring which can be unpredictable but other than a lot of wind in the North Island leg, the rest was just beautiful sunshine.

Photography opportunities were great and I made the most of them. I took away the drone, my Canon SLR and a compact Canon plus Sony camera. All were used at some point on tour. The drone to date is a disappointment but I believe fault is with me as the operator, rather than the drone. All other cameras fulfilled the functions I used them for.

This trip I got some very good bird shots. In particular the highlight was the Tui. Never managed to photograph it as well before in its natural environment. I still need study each individual picture to see just how well I captured it but on the quick looks I have had, I am impressed.

The Weka as always was easy to photograph. And the Kea I am yet to capture one in flight but I did manage some great ground shots. But I still have my aim to capture it in flight with that bright orange feathering under the wings.

As always, a number of opportunities to photograph seals. This time I got a lot closer to one of the males which he wasn’t greatly thrilled with, but that’s okay. I was in an enclosure so all could do was threaten me.

A long trip home on conclusion of the tour. Christchurch to the very far north of New Zealand. A lengthy detaour on the Christchurch to Picton leg because of the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake. That added over 2 hours to the trip. My computer prior leaving Christchurch told me a bit over hours to Picton but turning on the GPS I found it told me 8.5 hours. The latter would have made me ate for the ferry. Fortunately by not stopping I made it in just over 7 hours and good timing for the ferry.

The rest of the trip was uneventful except for heavy rain and fog in the centre of the North Island.

Blogs for the trip proper will follow in coming days. Still need defeat this bug I picked up. Plus need start preparing for the next tour which is 20 days. Two more after that of similar durations. Two of the three being groups from England and the last a group from Sweden. A little nervous about the Swedish group but I am assured the English language is not an issue and most do speak it.

Its going to be a long tour season with those taking me through to late February. After that 8 months to fit in some fishing. Maybe a little trip to China and Cambodia. The latter been on my horizon for a long time but illness had delayed. Health now good, I need now plan to go see.

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A tour drivers day off in Queenstown

What did I do on my day off?

Firstly the cold I have is making life difficult. Fortunately I am not on call but did this morning accompany most of my group on a trip up the gondolas. Following that they split up and all recommended I head for bed. It wasn’t hard to agree. I feel like shit. Excuse the expression.

I did get my usual photography shots from the Skyline at the top of the gondola. At least I have something to show for 2 nights in Queenstown.

Tonight they all want to have a ‘Ferg Burger’. I have said I will join them but in all honesty have no appetite.

Tomorrow its off to Milford Sounds. A very long day with stops ending in Te Anau. Going to be hard on me if I cannot shake this bug. But the others that had it prior me all seem to be better again so hopefully tomorrow I will be to

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What a long day at the office!

Today we left our hotel at 7.30am. The chef was apparently sick so we needed breakfast at another hotel. A simple drama to sort out.

8am the 2 heading for the helicopter were reported to check in so I went 10 minutes prior just to ensure they were flying. And yes they were as we had had to rebook it from the prior day due to weather ruling helicopters out.

The remaining 6 in the group I took to the Fox Glacier walk to the nearest sightseeing point. An hour return walk. I had declared I wouldn’t do it but it was a superb day so decided to lead them. The final bit to the viewing platform is steep and I dread and it really taxed me. My feet are now swollen as I hobbled my way back. Why don’t I listen to my own voice in the head saying don’t do it?

Following the walk we collected our 2 from the helicopter and started the long drive to Queenstown. I new it would be a long day thanks to the many walks and sure enough we finally arrived at 8pm. As I started by saying, a long day at the office for me.

Today we had brilliant weather. Virtually no wind and no clouds. We couldn’t have asked for better.

Many trees are in flower currently and 5 out of 9 of us are either suffering hay fever or maybe have picked up a cold. Unfortunately I seem to be the worse affected but a day off tomorrow, so some healing time.

I haven’t looked at my photographs yet but will to post this blog. I suspect I have some stunning ones starting with Mt Cook from the hotel early morning. Then the glacier. The beaches on route. The many waterfalls. A great photography day and hopefully I got some great ones of my group enjoying their day on tour.

Tomorrow all have the day off to enjoy Queenstown. I have said if needed I will take them for a scenic drive but expect I wont be called on. So for me its get admin up to date for the next tours but also try and defeat this little illness I have

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