Peter and Xiaoli Tours

No blog yesterday, too tired

The drive from Napier to Wellington plus stops taxed me a little yesterday. Then the suggestion from the group we have a jar on the waterfront just meant no blog. I needed clarification a jar meant a beer. Need get used to the terminology my group from England use. We may all speak the same language but we use different words for different reasons.

Today was my day off supposedly but I was asked to join the group to visit the Te Papa Museum, New Zealand’s national museum , then catch the cable car to the top of the hill, the name which evades me, then walk back down through the botanical gardens.

I have done both a number of times but each time I seem to see different things because of comments made. My camera works overtime.

The highlights today. We start with the Gallipoli exhibition at Te Papa Museum. I could not visit last time as the group I had did not want to know about wars for reasons I understand.

The Gallipoli Exhibition was largely constructed by the Weta Workshop in Wellington which was responsible for The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movies. It was excellent.

The cable car ride I have done many times although hadn’t been in the cable car museum before. That was fascinating.

The highlight of today was the Tui bird a native bird of New Zealand landing very close. Havent looked at my photographs yet but will for this blog. I have never had chance to photograph the Tui so up and close before. Hoping I may have some spectacular photographs, at least from my perspective.

Tomorrow a 5.30am alarm call so I can shower and get packed then get our tour vehicle back to the hotel ready to pack my groups luggage 6.30am. Then a quick breakfast and we are off to the inter-island ferry bound for the start of the South Island leg of our journey.

Personally I love the South Island leg of a tour. But already I have 8 pretty happy English tourists. So if happy already, then they are going to be blown away

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Rotorua to Napier today

The weather gods behaved and kept the rain at bay but the cold southerlies especially in the Taupo region were not pleasant.

You would think my group of 8 all coming from either England or Scotland would be used to the colder temperatures but I guess they came to New Zealand with clothing expecting us to be in summer temperatures. Hopefully as the tour progresses temperatures will pick up and the winds will ease.

First stop today was Huka Falls on the northern side of Taupo. Always spectacular and a well photographed area of New Zealand.

From there on to Taupo proper where we sighted a farmers market as drove in making for the next stop. In my view although labelled a farmers market there was little to infer in the way of stalls that it was farm produce. All were a little disappointed but then it was an addition to the schedule so all was okay. Taupo itself I gave them an hour to wander, get a coffee or whatever plus grab some lunch to eat when we stopped at a rest area as we headed towards Napier.

I am saturated with black coffee (long blacks) today with each stop someone insisting they buy me one. The rest area at Tarawera on the Taupo Napier Road had a café which one of my guests insisted he get me a long black. I think that was number 4 with 2 more at vineyards we were to visit on arrival in Napier.

First vineyard was Church Road and even though I seldom drink wine now a days I remember Church Road as being a good wine. My group after however samples they were given agreed it was an okay wine company as well. But we were all very disappointed as to the rapid rate it was served and lack of explanations. This was a prebooked wine tasting and Church Road I am sorry, we may have arrived early but service did not leave a good impression on my group.

Next winery was Mission Estate and from my drinking days it rated well. Here we were treated like royalty the minute we walked in. A dedicated person full of knowledge presented the wine selection and explained the background to each bottle and flavours to be expected. He was very professional and stayed solely with my group the whole time. Congratulations Mission Estate, my people saiud 10 out of 10 for service and the way they were treated after the Church Road experience. And they felt the explanation of each wine matched what they were tasting. And the wine wasn’t at all bad to apparently.

The downside of being a tour guide/driver, all you can do is watch. But having in the past consumed plenty of wine, its also quite good to watch others enjoy. Watch facial expressions gradually change and the laughter increase.

Last stop prior the hotel in Napier was up at the lookout on bluff hill. Not the best place to take a 12 seat tour vehicle but we were lucky not to strike on coming traffic.

Tonight for the first night on tour I believe I will be eating on my own. I have a distinct feeling some of the group will be having an early night. Tomorrow Wellington for a 2 night stay before we cross the Cook Strait to start the South Island leg

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Waiotapu thermal activities this morning. We started with a stop at some mud pools. My group were impressed. Next came the geyser which they coax to life each day. It was a fizzer. Built up great then quickly died. Personally I think the Te Puia geyser is superior and needs no coaxing. But we are going there tonight anyway for a concert and hangi.
Day 4 and it appears as though my group from England are over the jet lag and starting to smile and look awake. Also for me I have got into the tour routine. Always takes a few days when you have not done it for a while.
So tonight the Maori concert and hangi and tomorrow we head for Napier. First stop will be Taupo and the Huka Falls then time for a lakeside walk and a coffee or should I say an English tea for some.
Napier we have 2 vineyards to visit for a wine tasting. For me its a stand or sit and watch, but thats okay. After that a little art deco tour then the night is mine, probably shared with some if not all of my group.

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Day 3 of 18 – Coromandel to Rotorua

A little bit of tiredness on my behalf as I try get the body into the tour routine. Charged the camera battery on one camera last night then left it in the charger and packed in my suitcase. Go to use the camera and it wouldn’t work. Silly idiot I am.

The second camera I had left in the van last night with out charging thinking it will be okay for another day. How wrong I was. So reach Waihi and let the guests go see the Martha Gold Mine why I retrieve the Canon camera battery.

Missed photographs at 2 beaches but have done on other tours plus I did get some on the cell phone. Somewhere I have a third camera packed away, I assume in the bag with the drone which is yet to launched due to strong winds. Maybe we are now inland we will escape the winds although looking out at the lake from my hotel room here in Rotorua, the wind still blows.

Minimal rain today and the little we had stopped when we needed get out for photography.

A good tour group I have this time. To date they follow times I set rigidly. And I am not strict on times except when activities are booked such as Hobbiton Movie set today.

3 beach stops to start the day. No time to let them take a dip but all seem very happy. Lunch in Matamata. I skipped lunch today as I ate far more than I normally do for breakfast.

The Hobbiton Movie Set was the only booked activity today. I did follow them today on the guided tour. Often at Hobbiton I just wait in the vehicle. My enthusiasm for Hobbiton has seemingly disappeared. Probably due to the sheer amount of times I have viewed it.

I did get some good shots of the group with me both individually and as a group. Those I will compile the final night of the tour and donate to each of them on a USB stick. My little present. A momento of their tour with me.

Tomorrow we get a second night in Rotorua. I always enjoy 2 night stopovers. No packing and loading of suitcases.

We will visit Waiotapu thermal activity in the morning. Undecided if I will accompany them on the walk around. Decide that in the morning. Then in the evening we have the Te Puia Maori show plus hangi. That will be an experience for them

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Day 2 of 18 North and South Island New Zealand Tour

Its good today we don’t need change motel/hotel. Jetlag is obvious on the face of some of my group and this afternoon they have admitted it has caught them up. I had told them take it easy today.

The agenda they were given in England had me just taking them to Hahei Beach for a walk or swim. I added Hot Water Beach and borrowed shovels off the motel so they could dig in the sand to reach the hot mineral water. I believe that became the high light for today. From there we headed to Cathedral Cove. I had warned them it was a 20 minute walk each way of a moderate nature. Once we reached Cathedral Cove all were feeling it. It was becoming obvious who had a bit more fitness. I am ashamed to say I wasn’t exactly the fastest but I knew pre tour I had some feet and leg issues and the doctor had recommended only do the easy walks.

From Cathedral Cove it was over to Hahei where all had boldly stated they would have a swim. I warned them the likely water temperatures but they told me English beaches were colder. Not one in the end braved the water. Feeble excuses made such as rain on the way. They were right there was rain in the distance but today it never ended up where we were.

Over to Whitianga for their lunch. Again not on the agenda but they were very happy to have done.

How that place has changed from when I spent a lot of time there in the early 20’s age. Even met my first wife there who although I left after 23 years, we did have 4 great children together.

Back to Tairua. I put some over at the walking track to the top of Paku Hill and told hem that is as far as I go. They will walk back. Hopefully the tide by then is well out as they will be able to take the shortcut over the estuary.

I am not used to eating 3 meals a day but it seems some expect me to join them for dinner. So I guess today I will eat dinner, just hope there is a minimal choice I can make. Certainly do not want a steak.

Tomorrow, Whangamata, Tauranga/Mt Maunganui, Hobbiton then Rotorua. Hobbiton does not give me a buzz personally but I have seen it a number of times

Two nights Rotorua before we head to Napier and on south from there

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Day 1 of an 18 day tour with 8 from England

A good first day. We met briefly last night and several I had dinner with at a restaurant on the Auckland waterfront.

Today we departed the hotel at 9am. I think one of the group was still away in fairy land recovering from his long haul trip from England to here as he arrived at the vehicle supposedly ready to go, but no suitcase. I politely asked if he was travelling light and he looked at me strangely then saw the suitcases and the penny dropped so to speak.

Once finally ready we headed over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, did a quick U Turn at the first exit purely so they could see the city from the North Shore side of the harbour. From there a trip around the water front and up to a viewing area for photography. Then on to Mt Eden for even better sweeping views of Auckland and more photographs. And then the heavens opened. A huge deluge of hail and rain with a bit of lightning thrown in for good measure. Thank goodness we ad completed our brief sight seeing trip around Auckland.

Off we head for Coromandel Peninsula. Two nights staying in the beautiful Tairua. I know the accommodation well having stayed several previous tours. Lunch in the township of Thames. Gave my guests an hour there before heading for the Tapu/Coroglen Road. I had previously checked none get car sick and warned them this was a very narrow, winding metal road. But the alternative was the main road which was faster but no where as scenic.

The heavens again opened. Heavy hail that turned the road white followed by exceptionally heavy rain. Not the best road to be on in a tour van but knowing the road well I knew to just drive with caution.

We stopped at the giant square Kauri Tree. Needed wait in the vehicle until the weather cleared enough for them to get out. I had hoped to launch the drone here but weather just was not favourable for it. So stick with the normal cameras. 2 in use today, my large Canon with new memory card which appears to have corrected a previous fault, and my pocket size Sony. I find the Sony great for just a quick snap shot and the odd video. No where as sharp as the Canon but fulfils the role I need it to do.

Not a great photography day but then it was never going to be around Auckland or on the drive we did today. Tomorrow a few beaches to visit but other then that a rest day for the group to help get over the jet lag before we get into the tour proper

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Tour season is here

Tomorrow I return 11 lovely elderly Chinese people to Auckland who I bought to the far north on Friday. I should be careful when I use the word ‘elderly’ as I fall in a similar bracket.

Despite all being in New Zealand for many years, not one has any English. But it hasn’t stopped us having immense fun.

Tomorrow only 2 stops on route. The famous Hunterwaiser toilets in Kawakawa where I know many photographs will be taken. Then Sheepworld on the northern side of Warkworth. Merely a toilet stop and a coffee for me.

Then its drop them off West Auckland. Head for Smith and Smith Glass in Penrose who have agreed to repair the badly chipped windscreen the minute I arrive so I can head to the Grand Chancellor to meet my next group for an 18 day tour both islands.

Its good to have Dunedin on the agenda for this tour. My birth town and probably 5 years since I had a tour go that way. 2 nights. A trip down the harbour to see the Penguins and some other wild life. Most of the rest of the route I have travelled relatively frequently. Stay a night in Hokitika so hopefully a catch up with a cousin there.

Its going to be over 22 days away from Xiaoli and all our animals. I guess it will soon fly.

Tuesday a brief tour of Auckland before heading to Tairua for several nights. If none say they get car sick then we will travel the Tapu to Coroglen Road to see the square Kauri Tree. Their only opportunity with the route we go to see our famous Kauri Trees.

The Transit has been polished. Looking smart. One of 3 tours around New Zealand this summer, this being the shortest at 18 days

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Broken window day one – Damn!!!

What a way to start the tour season. The drive to Auckland to collect my first group of 11 I get a nice big stone chip dead centre passengers side of the vehicle. Just had a new windscreen put in 2 weeks ago and risk is if I don’t get this repaired it will crack the whole screen.

The glass company has been very cooperative and have got the insurance company sign off on the repair which they will do when I return the current tour group to Auckland Monday. It meant doing some of the activities planned for the way back, on the way up. Giving me a straight 4.5 hour drive Monday. The glass company will repair the minute I arrive in time for me to meet the next group of 8 at the hotel mid Auckland city.

I am tired already and the tours are just started for the season. Part of it is the sheer planning of everything for each tour. Fortunately the first big one has 2 slow days to start off with. Chance for my guests to get over the jetlag after flying from the UK and France, and chance for me to get to know them plus get into my routines.

Today the vehicle needs cleaned and polished which in turn on tour makes the cleaning easier.

Yesterday we had various stops as we travelled with the opportunity for me to put the drone to work. Unfortunately it flew well but the photography taken is sub standard. Just hoping its my fault with settings otherwise I am going to be very disappointed with the outlay on the drone.

Whangarei Water Falls was always spectacular. Lost 5 of my tour party as they took a wrong track which put our day 45 minutes behind. Not a good start and trying to find someone with no English was interesting. Fortunately we all seem to see the funny side afterwards.

From there it was up to Paihia in the Bay of Islands. Deposited 3 at the ferry terminal for the dolphin boat I had booked them on. The rest I directed to the Chinese Restaurant for lunch. I hadn’t planned on lunch but my group insisted I join. Afterwards we headed to Russell. More photography. I gave them an hour to wander but they never left the sight of the van. So gather them up and head for a beach. More photographs. Still cant figure out what is wrong with the drone camera. Dolphins sighted off the beach but with the drone not working properly, little point in trying to photograph.

Return to Paihia. Perfect timing to collect our guests off the boat. They had had a great time so everyone happy. Off to see the Kauri trees. Then home to our beach accommodation.

7am start with a 7pm completion. Partly my doing for building in several activities on route that I had scheduled for the return trip.

A supposed day off today but Xiaoli had other intentions. So here we sit after 12 noon writing a blog while Xiaoli and one of the guests she bought over to the farm chatter continuously in Chinese. I should be doing admin required but no concentration with the chatter going on plus dogs barking because they have been confines. I guess no admin today. Tomorrow I have been promised is my day of silence but prepared to bet it doesn’t end up like that

Need sort the drone, Charge the other cameras up. Cant wait to start heading southwards with my next group. I am missing the tours. The adrenalin they generate. And I love the photo opportunities

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The photos – Honey bees busy at work – Warkworth Honey Centre. The Whangarei Water Falls yesterday

The tour season for Peter and Xiaoli Tours starts

I spent yesterday trying to get my fishing passion fulfilled for a while as the next 3 months will not offer much recreation time.

The day started with some boat fishing on the local harbour on my mates boat. Should have taken my boat as I always feel more at ease when I am in control. Never have been a good passenger boat or car. Its just me. Haha

So I took little Li Li my pomaranian with me. I knew my mate wouldn’t mind. My boss (Xiaoli) objected but then she knows it would be wasted breath because if I have made up my mind when Li Li is involved, then that’s it. I have 3 months starting with almost no opportunity to fish, and little Li Li I will miss like mad. She sleeps at my shoulder. I move, she moves. Never had a dog like her before and I have had a lot of dogs over the years.

Tomorrow its off to Auckland. An overnight stop. I booked the cheapest motel but its in an okay area so hopefully its okay. Its only somewhere to put the head down for a sleep after all.

Friday an early start. An 8am scheduled meeting to collect my group of 11 to bring on a 3 day Northland tour which with Xiaoli’s offer of a free nights accommodation for the group, we have stretched to 4 days. Saves me going to Auckland a day early as the next tour starts late on the Monday.

From there its about 24 days on the road showing tourists our beautiful New Zealand before I get a break. Long days but very enjoyable days. I love the reaction from the tourists as we turn a corner and confront another of nature’s beauty’s on the road as we travel. The ooh’s and aah’s . A tour guides delight knowing you have shared something with your tour party that keeps them smiling.

The Northland tour for the 4 days are all Chinese. At this point of time I have no idea if any English is spoken but the tour leader I know. I also know she has no English but we seem to figure things out as we go. The third Northland tour she has done with me so no interpreter needed as she can tell the tour party the high lights as we travel.

The 18 day party 7 from England and one from France. Interestingly, no couples. 5 woman and 3 men which I am guessing will be similar age group to me. Just an educated guess. A slow start to the tour with a bit over a 2 hour drive the first full day where we overnight for 2 nights. Chance for them to recover from jetlag before we start moving down the country and into a busier agenda.

The agenda is very familiar to me even though not all on our normal tour routes. A good agenda. Not to rushed. So over the next 3 months start watching for some beautiful photography and hopefully some great stories. It will be good to be on tour again. The break away has been long enough.

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The last 2 days have been spent up Ninety Mile Beach far north New Zealand kite fishing.

I know our overseas readers and maybe some kiwi readers will be wondering what the heck kite fishing is. A simple explanation, we utilise a kite the same as we all played with as kids, although then we made our own. But we use the kite to tow out our longline up to 2 kilometers out to sea. We need a good wind obviously and on Ninety Mile Beach the ideal wind direction is north easterly.

Our long line has 20 baited hooks on it. Once the line reaches its destination we stop it going further then sit and wait for 30 minutes. Then its time to hook the winch up to the car battery and start the haul back to shore. And believe me its very satisfying when you see the Snapper come through the waves.

We have another day of these winds so once again when ur units are finished cleaning we will head up the beach.

The photograph is last nights sunset as we drove back down Ninety Mile Beach after yesterdays fishing. Normally we would not have been this lucky to be able to capture this sunset on the beach as it was full tide meaning normally we could not drive the beach then. But with these winds flattening the waves plus lower than normal high tides we have been able to drive the beach.

This was a good sunset and happy to know my large Canon camera is working once again. A crook SD card being the issue but now replaced.

We have had potentially great news on our accommodation business at Ninety Mile Beach with the possibility we may have 50% more space available this year. Effectively that means another 5 to 6 beds. It means the overflow we either normally turn away or sometimes sub contract, we may be able to manage our selves.

Our main accommodation for the peak holiday period is almost booked out so subject to completion of negotations, now we may be able to take more bookings. A great position to be in. The downside is poor Xiaoli having to manage it as I will be down country on tours. But we had talked about this as a possibility and it just means we will need call on part time staff more as needed

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