New Zealand 2007 
 
                                    Day Twenty-Four  Waitomo Caves April 06
                                               
                                            Day started with a tour around New Plymouth and the sea front.  The city faces the Tasman Sea
                                            and has a very nice sea walk - including a "Wind Wand" designed by a local artist.  Winds move
                                            the sculpture with a a lighted globe on the top end.
 
                                            Mt Egmont overlooks the city and is just a short drive to the visitors' center.  The National Park
                                            has several tracks, including a climb to the summit (7 hours return).  Our choice was the Ngatoro
                                            Loop Track.  Rain forest type trees and ferns lined the trail and a final vista included the valley
                                            of New Plymouth.
 
                                            Returning to New Plymouth included a lunch stop at Pukekura park.  Among the serendipitous
                                            flora was the Fernery and Display Houses.  Each display house was connected by tunnels and
                                            located on various levels.  Remainder of the park included a small zoo, amphitheatre, and various
                                            dells dedicated to different plant genres and trees.
 
                                            The highway to Waitomo Caves included stops at the black volcanic Tasman Sea beaches.
 
 
                                                                    New Plymouth    New Plymouth     New Plymouth - "Wind Wand" Sea Front    
 
                                                        New Plymouth - Sea Front    New Plymouth - Sea Front     New Plymouth - Sea Front
 
                                                         Mt. Egmont National Park    Mt. Egmont National Park    Mt. Egmont National Park    
 
                                                        Mt. Egmont National Park  Mt. Egmont National Park  Mt. Egmont National Park  Mt. Egmont National Park
 
                                                            Mt. Egmont National Park    Mt. Egmont National Park    Mt. Egmont National Park
 
                                                                    New Plymouth - Pukekura Park    New Plymouth - Pukekura Park    New Plymouth - Pukekura Park
 
                                                                        New Plymouth - Pukekura Park    New Plymouth - Pukekura Park    New Plymouth - Pukekura Park    
                                              New Plymouth - Pukekura Park  New Plymouth - Pukekura Park    New Plymouth - Pukekura Park    New Plymouth - Pukekura Park

                                                                            New Plymouth - Pukekura Park    New Plymouth - Pukekura Park    New Plymouth - Pukekura Park

                                                                        New Plymouth - Pukekura Park    New Plymouth - Pukekura Park    New Plymouth - Pukekura Park

                                                            West Coast - North Island - Hwy 3    West Coast - North Island - Hwy 3    West Coast - North Island - Hwy 3

        

 
 

        


                                                                                            Last Updated 2007 March email@ellerberoad.com