Aotearoa, or the Land of the Long White Cloud
Sur les traces des Maoris, voyage du Nord au Sud en pleine nature et traversée du temps.
La Nouvelle-Zélande restait un rêve lointain et inaccessible, c'est désormais une réalité quotidienne.
Embarquement pour une odyssée de 8 mois qui me mèneront des splendides plages volcaniques aux forets impénétrables, des glaciers majestueux aux volcans impressionnants.
J'essaierai de partager au mieux cette aventure au travers de mes meilleurs cliches ;)
Toulon, France
J-4(05/01/2018)
Voila, c'est le grand depart!
Lire la suite Auckland, Nouvelle-Zélande
1e jour(09/01/2018)
Arrivee a Auckland, premiere etape obligatoire a mon periple. Je rejoins un hotel backpacker sur les hauteurs de la ville, visite le centre fait de building de verre et de parcs (verts aussi). Des quartier tres agreables (Ponsonby, avec de magnifiques maisons coloniales, des boutiques branchees)
Lire la suite Piha Beach, Auckland, Nouvelle-Zélande
4e jour(12/01/2018)
Trekking de 4 jours sur la cote ouest, au long des plages de sable noir et des randonnees cotieres
Lire la suite Anawhata Beach, Anawhata, Nouvelle-Zélande
5e jour(13/01/2018)
Des plages sauvages et desertes, petits paradis merites apres de magnifiques (mais longues!) marches
Lire la suite Karekare Beach, Karekare Road, Karekare, Nouvelle-Zélande
6e jour(14/01/2018)
En marche vers le sud et les cascades de Karekare!
Lire la suite Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, Nouvelle-Zélande
8e jour(16/01/2018)
Rotorua, entre culture maori et geothermie.
Lire la suite Te Puia, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, Nouvelle-Zélande
10e jour(18/01/2018)
Te Puia is "the center for New-Zealand's maori culture and geothermal wonders".
But it's also the day I understood how changing the weather can be in New-Zealand!
Lire la suite The Redwoods – Whakarewarewa Forest, Long Mile Road, Rotorua, Nouvelle-Zélande
11e jour(19/01/2018)
Debut d'un trail de plusieurs jours autour des lacs de Rotorua et des forets de Whakarewarewa
Lire la suite Lake Okataina, Bay of Plenty, Nouvelle-Zélande
12e jour(20/01/2018)
First day of the trail takes its start at the Redwood Forest, famous for its native red sequoias
Lire la suite Lake Okareka, Bay of Plenty, Nouvelle-Zélande
13e jour(21/01/2018)
Setting a my camp on the border of the lakes, from sunset to sunrise ...
Lire la suite Hot Water Beach, Lake Tarawera, Nouvelle-Zélande
14e jour(22/01/2018)
Another great walk that took me all my energy to connect Lake Okareka to the Blue Lake, the Green Lake and the Lake Tarawera in only one day! The Tarawera Trail is one of the most demanding trail, but the Hot Water Beach worth all efforts
Lire la suite Taupo, Waikato, Nouvelle-Zélande
16e jour(24/01/2018)
Sailing on the lake Taupo to the maori carving rocks at sunset.
Lire la suite National Park, Manawatu-Wanganui, Nouvelle-Zélande
19e jour(27/01/2018)
Start of the Tongariro Northern Circuit, a 4 days trail into the high moutain of Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom from Lord of the Ring).
I started the trek one day earlier from the Tongariro National Park to finish one day later to the Kaimanawa Forest Park, making a final 6 days trek.
Lire la suite Whakapapa, Manawatu-Wanganui, Nouvelle-Zélande
21e jour(29/01/2018)
Day 2 on the track. Outstanding views over the volcanos and crossing of Mount Ngauruhoe (the famous Mt Doom from Lord of the Rings). Fresh morning start at 7am from Mangatepopo Hut for the assumptionof the "Devil's Staircase to the Red Crater, Emerald Lakes, Blue lake and down into Oturere Valley.
Lire la suite Mount Ngauruhoe, Manawatu-Wanganui, Nouvelle-Zélande
23e jour(31/01/2018)
Sunrise over the valley, sleeping on the edge of the cliffs and waking up while the sun enter my tent. I team with Ad (Israel) for the day walk as we reach the "palace" hut before noon.
Lire la suite Wellington, Nouvelle-Zélande
25e jour(02/02/2018)
Wellington is the capital, and lives like one. It has its bars to go at night and the places to see at daylight. I went to please my belly with a Bun-Cha in the underground market, smelling the roses in Botanic Gardens, the head in the stars at the Observatory, and a really impressive museum of NZ.
Lire la suite Picton, Nouvelle-Zélande
28e jour(05/02/2018)
Crossing the sea to the South Island with the ferry. Arriving in the little town of Picton
Lire la suite Marahau, Nouvelle-Zélande
29e jour(06/02/2018)
Start of a wonderful 4-days track in the National Park of Abel Tasman. Coastal trail from one bay to another, sleeping on the beach facing a wonderful sunrise
Lire la suite Separation Point, Abel Tasman National Park, Nouvelle-Zélande
32e jour(09/02/2018)
Walking this track is delightful. The colors shine bright while going from one turquoise lagoon to a cobalt blue ocean through emerald streams and gold pools. The nights are enlightened with stars and shooting stars. I'm enjoying my breakfast every morning while watching the sunrise.
Lire la suite Christchurch, Nouvelle-Zélande
33e jour(10/02/2018)
Sometimes you make plans, but faith decides otherwise.
I was half way just finishing the Abel Tasman trail and ready to continue down the west coast on the Heafy trail for another 4-5 days walk. But the weather in New-Zealand is unpredictable and started raining. I took shelter in Christchurch.
Lire la suite Kaikoura, Nouvelle-Zélande
36e jour(13/02/2018)
A wonderful kayak tour in the bay to watch seals swimming or sleeping under the bright sun
Lire la suite Picton, Nouvelle-Zélande
37e jour(14/02/2018)
Back to Picton to start the Queen Charlotte Trail
Lire la suite Endeavour Inlet, Nouvelle-Zélande
66e jour(15/03/2018)
Start of 3 days trail on the Queen Charlotte track. First day is belgian day as we walk Robin (Antwerp) and me with an other couple from Brussels.
Lire la suite Anakiwa, Nouvelle-Zélande
68e jour(17/03/2018)
Finishing the Queen Charlotte Trail
Lire la suite Dunedin, Nouvelle-Zélande
42e jour(19/02/2018)
Mission abort! Storm coming from the Fidji is on the way (again!).
I decided to go south as far as possible and rest for the rainy days coming.
Lire la suite Lac Pukaki, Tekapo, Nouvelle-Zélande
47e jour(24/02/2018)
Start of my journey in Central Otago for a first week of hiking with Frog (Germany) on Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo, then continue for a second week hiking with Olivianne (France) on the Routeburn, Queenstown.
Lire la suite Parc national Aoraki/Mount Cook, Canterbury, Nouvelle-Zélande
49e jour(26/02/2018)
Who wants to be above the clouds has to get up early and reach the top. That's exactly what we've done.
Lire la suite Routeburn Track, Parc national de Fiordland, Nouvelle-Zélande
54e jour(03/03/2018)
After a week in the mountains, I just continue for another week hiking the Routeburn and Greenstone tracks. I join Olivianne (France) to face once more the nature. The road is long and the weather merciless, but that's the price for such beauty.
Lire la suite Victory Beach, Okia Flat, Nouvelle-Zélande
60e jour(09/03/2018)
It becomes a habit, almost a ritual, to come back to Dunedin to rest after a challenging hike. I relax and meet new people back at Hogwartz Backpacker, enjoying the surroundings of this nice city.
Lire la suite Curio Bay, Nouvelle-Zélande
63e jour(12/03/2018)
On the road to the Catlins with Beren (Germany) for the next few days. Exploration of the native forest to the beautiful beach in Curio Bay, surf and maybe seeying some dolphins.
Lire la suite The Hump, Parc national de Fiordland, New Zealand
67e jour(16/03/2018)
Confronting real wildness, accepting defeat.
This was the most challenging day so far. I didn't expected anything like this and the reality was brutal... I ended up washed out, trapped in the rainforest like this old jalopy.
Lire la suite Te Anau, Nouvelle-Zélande
69e jour(18/03/2018)
I stayed in Te Anau for a couple of days. The place is calm and quiet, all about the stunning views on the lake and the surrounding mountains. It's also the most remote town in the south, best resort for who wants to visit the Fiordland and the Sounds
Lire la suite Kepler Track, Parc national de Fiordland, Nouvelle-Zélande
71e jour(20/03/2018)
I gave myself two days to rest after my last nightmare adventure in the woods. But I get myself quickly ready to go on a new trail: the Kepler track.
This time, I overcome this new challenge with the most effective facility: this 2 to 3 days track took me no more than a day!
Lire la suite Dunedin, Nouvelle-Zélande
103e jour(21/04/2018)
Enjoying the area of Manapouri and Te Anau lakes, making my way to Dunedin with Esther (germano-french) and making the best out of a couple of sunny days on the east coast.
Lire la suite Glenorchy-Paradise Road, Glenorchy, Nouvelle-Zélande
76e jour(25/03/2018)
Charlotte joins me here in New-Zealand! Start of a 3 weeks roadtrip from South to North. Exciting to travel together for new thrilling experiences, while the summer slowly ends and the days become colder.
Lire la suite Milford Sound, Nouvelle-Zélande
78e jour(27/03/2018)
We went through the darkness at 4am to Milford Sound for our 6am "Morning Glory" kayak tour, which unfortunately got canceled because of strong wind and heavy rain. Nevermind, we embarked in a boat tour at 9am... for one of the biggest rainwashing shower ever!
Lire la suite Wanaka, Nouvelle-Zélande
79e jour(28/03/2018)
What a day!
On the road out from the flood of Milford Sound, picking up the Canadian hitchhiker Johnny, close encounter with a huge wapiti crossing and close encounter with the police for being to enthusiastic on the road ...
We finally make it to Wanaka, another wonderful place on top of our list.
Lire la suite Rob Roy Glacier Trail Head and Car Park Wanaka-Mount Aspiring Road, Mount Aspiring, Nouvelle-Zélande
80e jour(29/03/2018)
Another fresh start to climb our way to the Rob Roy Glacier in the early morning
Lire la suite Haast Pass, Otago, Nouvelle-Zélande
112e jour(30/04/2018)
We left the lakes behind for the sea in front
Lire la suite Franz Josef Glacier, Nouvelle-Zélande
82e jour(31/03/2018)
From the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers to the Martheson reflection Lake, down the dark Tatare Tunnels and the sand beach on Gillepsies track ...
Lire la suite Arthur's Pass National Park, Nouvelle-Zélande
83e jour(01/04/2018)
crossing
Lire la suite Akaroa, Nouvelle-Zélande
85e jour(03/04/2018)
Banks' Peninsula
Lire la suite Paihia, Nouvelle-Zélande
86e jour(04/04/2018)
Back to the North Island
Lire la suite Russell, Nouvelle-Zélande
87e jour(05/04/2018)
Kayaks and sharks
Lire la suite Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, Nouvelle-Zélande
88e jour(06/04/2018)
Mount Maunganui
Lire la suite Matamata, Nouvelle-Zélande
90e jour(08/04/2018)
Hobbiton
Lire la suite Hahei, Nouvelle-Zélande
92e jour(10/04/2018)
Hot water beach, Cathedral cove, Hahei, The Pinnacles
Lire la suite Tauranga, Nouvelle-Zélande
102e jour(20/04/2018)
I started a seasonal job for a month in a kiwi orchid, where we were kiwi picking all day long (when it wasn't raining). The work wasn't the best, but the people made it up for an amazing experience I won't forget!
Ps: comments are still to be developed here :)
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