day 1 ...

 

4 pages of photos for day 1.  Follow the links at the bottoms of the pages.

 

My first New Zealand photo.  My friend, James, driving us away from the airport.  Driving in the wrong side of the car on the wrong side of the road.

 

Off the plane and immediately on the road.  This is taken from a rest stop in the only area (Auckland area) of New Zealand which has something like our interstates.  The first of many McDonald's sightings.

 

Many different English languages.  "Wharepaku" is in the native language of the Maori, New Zealand's indigenous population and ethnic minority.  Language lesson: "wh" in Maori is pronounced like "f."  There's a town called "Whakapapa," which is fun to pronounce.

 

Lots of big stuff in New Zealand.  You can even climb up into the Big Apple.

 

Today's main attraction.  The Glowworm Caves in Waitomo.  The tour involves hiking into the caverns, then getting into a boat and floating through the dark cavern lake where the "glowworms" line the ceiling.  They look like tiny little lights, and it's like looking at a starry sky during the new moon.  Unfortunately, no photos allowed inside, but click on these links to see a couple photos: 

http://www.discovernewzealand.com/Default.aspx?DN=94,149,47,8,1,Documents

http://www.leadingattractions.com/new_zealands_leading_attractions/waitomo_glowworm_caves.htm

 

Trees outside the top cave entrance, the lower cave exit, and the vegetation around the cave exit.  Springtime here, very green.

 

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