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03/09/2003: We are really active today and start for the Tongariro Crossing: a one-day-hike passing between the craters of the three biggest volcanoes of the Northern Island: Mt. Ngauruhoe, Mt. Tongariro and Mt. Ruapehu. The 17 km long track leading up to about 1900 metres is one of the most popular tracks in New Zealand. And - in spite of what the weather forecast said - we can enjoy the different colours of the craters and the crater lakes in the sun under (partly) blue sky!

03/04/2003: Another wild coast awaits us: the eastern cape has again some sun for us and we meet less tourists but more culture. We drive through many small settlements along the 344 kilometres long road along the coast. In most of them we find the traditional Maraes: meeting houses richly decorated with carvings and paintings where the tribe meets with its ancestors to special occasions. And we come to the most eastern tip of New Zealand. Here is the worlds most eastern lighthouse - just the point where we want to see the sunrise. This is where the day begins ...

02/27/2003: Our first drive out of Auckland takes us to the Coromandel Peninsula. Not only the books but also talks with other travellers promised us unique nature and fascinating coastlines ... But sometimes life is different than what we hear: short after leaving Auckland, it starts to rain and it does not stop again. The amazing landscape is grey just as the sea and the sky above. And after all the land is flooded, the roads are flooded and we have to make an unplanned stop overnight!

02/23/2003: Because of the bad weather (either no wind or too much rain) none of the sailings for the "America's Cup" is done, the boats stay in their sheds! But nevertheless we find enough things to do in this big city. The museum is a real treasure for those who want to learn something about the country, its history, people and culture. We enjoy amongst other things a presentation of Maori traditional dances. But Auckland has many different faces - not only because of the many different people that came here to live. Many of the emigrants come from Asiatic countries. For example the Chinese, who at the moment have their typical art on display: a big hall, cooled down to below-zero-degrees shows many ice sculptures made by Chinese hands.

02/20/2003: We arrived in the 10th country of our journey: New Zealand opened its gates for us. The short flight from Sydney brought us to Auckland just at the best time: the "America's Cup" is happening at the moment here and the town is boiling because of this exciting sailing-race.

02/16/2003: We visit the Capital of Australia. In that huge country, Canberra is easily overlooked - although it has its own state: the "Australian Capital Territory (ACT)". The city was planned completely at the beginning of the 20th century in an architectural contest - even an artificial lake was built. When the independent states were to form one country, none of the big cities was chosen as capital because that would have caused too much problems with the cities rivalling to be the "number one". But also having a new capital is not without problems: the ACT is the smallest state with the least number of inhabitants and rules that huge country! Since 1927 Canberra is the capital, being home for 308,000 people, most of which are working for the administration. Since 1988 the government is housed in the new and very luxurious Parliament building - and also the newly opened National Museum seems to be very poor. Its impresses us also with its architecture and with its great displays!

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