News of Oceania and Pacific Islands

I´m coming down to NZ end of Feb.

Is this the right plug for NZ? (Basic question I know - but with various electric stuff that I´ll be bringing, it´s important)



Cheers

Charleshttp://users.telenet.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm#plugs_i

So I'm looking forward to spend a week in Asutralia, i will use two days for climbing Kosciuszko and 5 days to tour around Sydney. How do you guys recommend me to climb Kosciuszko? If guided and sightseeing, which company is the best? Also what are some of the most popular attractions in Sydney or surrounding area?

Just some pics of 2 weeks spent in NZ.

1st week based at Kelman Hut and when weather allowed played on Hoschetter Dome and Mt Alymer

2nd week based at Pioneer Hut. Attempted Mt Tasman. We turned around due to lack of efficiency on what was for me extremely icy slopes. Lesson learnt, more time needed crampon-ing on >45 deg ice.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/radson/sets/72157613321647122/

Looking for a Beginner / Intermediate ice/rock/mountain ropemate. I am currently in Wanaka staged for climbing in and around MANP. Have been up to Beavan Col and around solo on Mt Bevan (2-) and Mt Joffre (1+) thus far. Looking for interest in the Darrens (Mt. Talbot), Remarkables ( traverse ), climbing around MCNP (ascents from Welcome Hut as well as the e side), and Mt. French (via frh) - Mt. Avalanche - Mt. Tyndall ...

I'm planning a trip to NZ in October and will be flying from Seattle. I'm currently planning on hiking North around Nelson and South for the Rees/Dart rivers, so I plan on traveling completely across the South island.

I've looked at flying into both Christchurch and Queensland and the cost looks about the same. Are there any other major airports I should check on?

So I'm attempting to go to Hawaii for my Honeymoon in a couple months. Being a Highpointer, one of the main attractions for me is Mauna Kea. The only way I think I can get the new Mrs. to do it is to take one of the guided tours. I've seen 2-3 on the internet that look good, but I just wondered if anyone had had any personal experience with them. Any help or advice ...

I'm heading south in about 3 weeks and am looking to load my Garmin Map 60CSx with the right maps for kiwiland.

Garmin has nothing available and all I can find available on-line are free roads-only maps or rather expensive ($100+) contour maps.

Does anyone know of a source for free or reasonably priced NZ digital maps?

I am heading down to Dunedin, New Zealand for a few months to student teach. I want to bring my climbing gear, but I was wondering if the machines used to zap the microbes in items that have been exposed to soil will harm a rope. I'm assuming that they don't, but I just want to make sure. Thanks for your input.

Hey all,

headed out to NZ in a few days looking for any info on current conditions for Mt. Cook / Linda Glacier and the Aspiring area - Bonar Glacier / Qdeck.

Cheers!

Patrick

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/on-the-mountain-of-mourn/2008/12/23/1229998526776.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

I don't know why I took the photo. It was three men just passing time. The picture said nothing of the noise. The wind beat the hut walls with unrestrained ferocity. A blizzard had descended on the slopes of Otago's Mount Aspiring. We waited in Colin Todd hut for our chance at the summit.

Lying on my bunk, I reached for the camera and click, three men's lives were frozen in time. They were ...