I cannot find any notes on my New Zealand journeys, but I have some photographs which may help my memory. Between 1976 and 1982, I organized 10 - 28 day visits during the months of November and February (Spring and Fall visits) through the North and South Islands. Our group of 8 - 10 travelers explored the country in a 12 passenger rental van and spent our nights in cabins and motels that provided kitchen facilities which enabled us to prepare both breakfasts and dinners.
Our group came together from another Sunset magazine "Things To Do" column as well as some former Hawaii members. I began researching on the New Zealand Town & Country program while working at the Western Forestry Center, so about a year and a half went into the planning and organizing.
My initial visit was the biggest challenge. Fortunately, all the travelers were congenial and cooperative, so riding with a driver in a 12 passenger van traveling down the wrong side of the highway was not overly stressful for them. Their leader made all attempts to look natural and confident, experiencing a lapse of judgement, mainly, when leaving gas stations or grocery stores and finding ourselves facing oncoming vehicles. The good news, there was not much traffic in those days so we might drive awhile before encountering another vehicle. The bad news, anyone approaching straight ahead could become totally confused and swing into the other lane, the lane in which I was suppose to be driving, which lead to a few minutes of chaos and all calmness and confidence by the driver became lost.
Then there were the weekend closures. Saturday afternoon, most stores, restaurants and petrol stations closed for the weekend. We had sufficient petrol that first weekend, but our planned Saturday/Sunday food shopping couldn't happen. We prepared a simple Saturday evening meal, but without groceries for Sunday evening, we found a 1* fish and chips place and ate very local. Lesson learned, complete all shopping before Saturday noon.
The concept for the New Zealand Town & Country was to explore the cities and small towns, enjoying museums, local markets and restaurants then spend some time in their wonderful National Parks. It would have been nice, in those early years, to hike the length of the Milford and Routeburn Tracks as well as some of those lesser known tracks, but a taste is better than nothing. During my multiple visits to these tracks over the years, our members were introduced to the many on day hikes. Always included in our schedule were hikes in Egmont National Park, hiking the side of Mt. Taranaki, the meadows of Mt. Cook, the UNESCO and Natural World Heritage site of Tongariro National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site of Mt. Aspiring. Not to be left out, Mitre Peak, situated in the famous Milford Sound, was spotted on many clear morning cruises - no, it doesn't always rain in the Sound. (Note - Rudyard Kipling described Milford Sound as the eight wonder of the world.)
One of the real joys of those New Zealand years was meeting local folks in the National Parks, on the ferry between Wellington and Picton, scenic cruises in Milford Sound and the Bay of Islands as well as dining in the small local restaurants. On my return visits, our members would gain insights from these local folks when we would join them for dinner, a BBQ or afternoon coffee at someone's house.
Did all our New Zealand travels run smoothly? In the end, nothing seriously happened and some of those early travelers became friends for years. But, there was one memorable person, a heart surgeon from Los Angeles, who tested the patience and mental endurance of the young driver/guide. We will call him Dr. Wizard, referring to his ability to magically disappear and reappear throughout our road trip. Sometimes, Dr. Wizard would leave a note in the morning on his door that he would see us at dinner with no information regarding where he was going. As our journey continued, he would disappear for a day and night, then reappear the following morning for our drive onward. I did not know what to do about him. He insisted that I not feel responsible for his safety, but I did have Dr. Wizard's family Los Angeles phone number in case he did not reappear. Upon the completion of the New Zealand Town & Country, Dr. Wizard's name was removed from our mailing list.
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| Glow-Worm Grotto - Waitomo Caves (1979) |
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| Suspension Bridge Crossing on Day Hike (1979) |
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| South Island Road Hazard (1979) |
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| Mt. Cook Hike (1979) |
