Breaking news - Kaufman dukes it out with the local wildlife

And we all thought those hopping long tailed fuzzy beasts were cute.

They are, but don't take their picture without getting asking them to sign a release, or they just might land one on your jaw.

Karen asks Steve if her camera is ensured.

Kiwi - fruit or fowl?

New Zealand's national bird - or - national fruit?  You decide.

• The bird does not fly and there's debate if there really are wings.
• The fruit outwardly quite similar in appearance.

Small, fuzzy, brown - they both look awfully similar. Do you think the beak is real?  Or part of a disguise.

On the Road Again - New Zealand

Some people having a mid life crisis buy a Ferrari.  So what might two corporate retirees do to break out, go a little crazy and "find themselves"?

MAYBE they grow a beard, don tie-died clothes and go on a road trip to New Zealand.  Or maybe not.  We'll never tell.

Honey I don't think we are in OZ anymore

Want dense forest,  dessert or glaciers?   Maybe you prefer placid rivers, rapids, waterfalls or deep water gorges?  Vineyards or ranches? Oh, mountain peaks are what you are in the mood for. No worries.

Just cross "The Ditch" from Australia to New Zealand and you can have it all and then some.

The South Island has Queenstown, which at 45 degrees latitude is the as Eugene, OR - just on the other side - so the red wines are amazing!  Doubtful Sound is really a fjord and its Tasmanian Sea waters are some of the roughest in the world. There are also deserts, glaciers, forests and ranches of cattle and deer.  You may have heard they have a few sheep.  At about 43 million, that's 10 sheep for every person.  Escape to Glenorchy's Blanket Bay and you are in heaven and the land of the Lord of the Rings.

The North Island's warmth suggest you are thousands of miles away.  Auckland boasts more sailing vessels than any other city in the world.  Useppa - with a little effort we could take them on!
Click for pics - look for the latest Maori fashion in Auckland
Music from "The Piano"

Kaufman's raise funds to extend trip

Yes, we have been away for a LONG time.

Wondering how we can afford all this travel?

There's our man at work.

Baby needs a new pair of airline tickets!

Strangely Magnificent

Australian birds don't sweetly sing.  They scream, mimic, "caw" and screech with gusto, but rarely a twitter is to be heard.  However, they are amazing to see.  

Did someone open up the pet shop cages? Is Paul Miller available for a consult?

Click here to see birds galore

For the MUMs!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

We saw thousands of "stickies" posted on the outside of a window display in  Auckland, New Zealand.  Passers by were invited to fill out a special message for their Mum.  Great idea!

It's been up for days!  Can you imagine that anywhere in the USA? 

Well, maybe we should just give it a go! 

Going outback with the Indian Pacific

Broken Hill is Australia's longest lived mining town.  It is called the "capital of the Outback." With a population of 2,880 you begin to understand what "going into the bush" really means. Silver was discovered in 1884 and the town boomed.  Zinc appeared in the 1970's and today the city still lives on its mineral resources.  It's also a well known artist enclave.

Nearby Silverton's claim to fame isn't its population of 89. It's   the filming site for "Mad Max" and "Priscilla Queen of the Desert". Looking for vast harsh horizons?  You've found them.
In between is the Stone Symposium, a collection of sculptures amidst a protected nature area.

How to get there?  Hop on board the Indian Pacific railway and watch the reddest scenery you'll ever see go by. Are those sheep or moving red rocks?
CLICK for a trip Outback

Kangaroo Island - the Australian Galapagos

KI is worth a visit whether for fantastic nature, the food or the views.  This World Heritage sight has 4,000 people and 400,000 sheep. The third largest island is slightly larger than Long Island, NY and has two paved roads running along the north and south coasts.  With the oldest bee sanctuary in the world, wineries and farms, you won't starve.  The wildlife is fantastic, the shore line is rugged with limestone cliffs and weathered granite boulders that are - "REMARKABLE." 

CLICK - seeing is believing

Barossa Valley - Magical vineyards and farmland

AH, this is wine country! A scenic one hour drive north of Adelaide and you will be transported to what Napa was - well maybe for a nano second.

Architecture and riesling wine traditions reflect the first 1842 German Lutherans settlers.  Today the valley is better known for Shiraz, Cabernets, Semillon and Chardonnay. AND since 1878 it is home of the world's only continuous collection of fortified wines, compliments of Seppeltsfield.

Not so interested in wine? Meander through Mararnanga, Tanunda, Angaston and stop at the local farmer's market.

Steve got unexpectedly in touch with his early "tractory consulting" roots at the annual Kapunda Farm Fair.  Who knew?  Gar Beckstead did!
CLICK and enjoy!

Elegant Adelaide - the first free colony

In 1836 Australia founded its first free colony and named it after the Queen of then King William IV.  The first settlers were non-conformist from Great Britain seeking a more tolerant society.  Sound familiar?

Carefully planned along the River Torrens and built with money gleaned from mining and agriculture,  many of the city's Victorian Buildings still exist.  The city's central market, asian area and art Festival Centre give energy and character.

Maybe not worth a special trip, but a terrific jumping off point for wine country and some of Australia's most lovely shoreline.
CLICK and take a quick look at Adelaide