For the 2009 / 2010 Christmas and New Years period, we will be visiting New Zealand for around two weeks. The first week or so in will be in Taranaki visiting family and possibly visiting the Hawkes Bay area.
Hawkes Bay is best known for the Art Deco cities of Napier and Hastings and wine production. I'm not a big fan of Art Deco, but the wine I have had from the region is pretty good.
At Cape Kidnappers, there's a Gannet Colony, a Department of Conservation managed area for the purpose of protecting the Gannet.
My personal advise on what to do and see in Rome
Mt Egmont seen from the King Edward Park playing fields in Stratford
The Stratford Glockenspeil in Taranaki
The Antelope - your local, dog friendly, beer friendly pub
Must see ancient monuments around Rome
Historical information about the gothic Antwerp Cathedral
What to see, where to stay and eat in historic Antwerp
Recommended hotels in Vienna, Salzburg and Bregenz
Europe - Travel information from around Europe
Zähringen - Brief history of the Noble family of Zähringen
Berne - Information on and about Berne
Travel pictures - Pictures from my travels in Switzerland, Italy and New Zealand
Eclipse chasing - Essential total eclipse trip planning information from 2010 to 2019
New Zealand - A personal guide to things to do, see, eat and drink in New Zealand
Marlborough Sounds - sunset seen from the Interislander - Sunset over the Marlborough Sounds in New Zealand seen from the Interislander ferry
Europe pictures - A gallery of pictures from my travels in and around Europe
Taranaki pictures - A gallery of pictures from my travels in Taranaki
Germany pictures - A gallery of pictures from my travels in Germany
Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook