Australia and New Zealand

Retirement has arrived. I completed my last work day on a Friday January 21, 2005. The following Monday I boarded an aircraft and commenced the long trek to Sydney Australia. Over the next four weeks I toured the east coast of that beautiful country. I then moved onto New Zealand for an extensive three months tour of both the North and South Islands. The following photo should provide some insight into my great adventure.

Mount Cook within Mt Cook National Park is New Zealand's highest mountain. The highest of three peaks on the main ridge of the mountain is 3,753 m high

A storm's brewing on Queen Charlotte Sounds. This area is renown for its 1500 KM of coastline, it's lush countryside and sparkling waters. Queen Charlotte Sound is a renowned tourist destination and the gateway to the spectacular South Island.

The spectacular Milford Sound fiords along the coast of the South Island are awesomely beautiful. The region is rugged and isolated. Waterfalls tumble hundreds of meters into massive fiords. Ancient rain forest clings impossibly to the side of the mountains.

New Zealand has 45 million sheep and produces some of the finest wool in the world. It is the second largest wool producer after Australia. The sheep outnumber the country's human population by more than 11 to one.

I think I best get off the road. All of these sheep were being moved to a fresh pasture by three border collies and a farmer on an ATV.

Abel Tasman National Park provides plenty of amazing tramping routes along the shores of Tasman Bay including offshore islands and hundreds of bays and beaches along the broken coastline.

While driving throughout these Islands one is often overwhelmed by the beauty of the scenery and the sense of remoteness. Can I possibly capture some of this with a camera? I must try.

Tramping along Queen Charlotte Sound is one of the finest and most diverse coastal track in New Zealand.

Marlborough is the largest wine producing region in the New Zealand which produces almost 57% of the country's wine production.

Wellington is the country's capital city and the home of the National Museum of New Zealand. This museum has been very well designed as it allows the visitor to explore this country story from the shaping of its land, the spirit of its diverse peoples, its unique wildlife and its distinctive culture.

Sunset in the Bay of Islands - this region consist of 144 Islands and many secluded bays. These bays has an abundance of marine life, including the big marlin, whales, penguins, dolphins, gannets and many other species.

A front seat view from the my aircraft. Auckland known as the city of sails has a population of 1.3 million making it the largest city in New Zealand with one third of the country's population.

The term tramping is a common word to describe exploring in Australia and New Zealand by foot in remote areas. This walk in the bush lead me to Rainbow Falls complete with a very refreshing swimming hole.

Here I am at the helm of a 22.5 meter sailing sloop. A very big boat that handled much like a small boat. It was my good fortune that I was the only tourist on board that afternoon and I got to stay at the helm throughout the sail.www.kiwisail.com

The Daintree Rain Forest located north of Cairns in Tropical Far North Queensland Australia is home to the largest range of plants and animals on earth.

Sydney Australia has to be one of the world's most enchanting cities complete with a spectacular waterfront. It's population of over four million make it Australia's biggest city

Australia’s most famous building the Opera House has become Sydney's best-known landmark and international symbol.