October 10 | Arrive in New Zealand
I’m waking this morning surrounded by New Zealand fog. This nation of islands lies 992 miles south and east of Australia and, because of its size and ocean temps, cool temperatures and fog are common. Like Japan, New Zealand is isolated from the rest of the world. It has 103,700 square miles and a population of 4,115,771. Like Australia, New Zealand was settled by Englishmen, and the culture and language reflect that fact, but the indigenous people, the Maori, still influence much in the area. New Zealand is actually two large islands divided by 12-mile Cook Strait. Today I am located on North Island near the city of Whangarei, which is north of Auckland. I’m going to see Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s tallest peak. The Maori named it Aoraki because it means “cloud piercer.” If I have enough time, I’ll also get to see the Tasman Glacier, where I can spend some time exploring its amazing ice caves and seracs, pinnacles of ice located among the crevasses of a glacier. If I had come earlier in the season, I could have also enjoyed skiing the Tasman Glacier, the ultimate New Zealand skiing adventure. This country has so many different geographic features: fjords, glaciers, swamps, beaches, and high mountains. What a day I have planned!