jillballau

Monday, April 13, 2026

Blogging from A to Z 2026 - K is for Motu Kōkako and Kvaløya

As I travel the world I take many photos that pique my interest. During the year April 2025 to March 2026 our travels included visits to many islands large and small. My theme for 2026 Island Hopping will give precedence to Islands visited in the past year but for those difficult letters like X and Z I will dig into my photo archives for content.

Motu Kōkako in New Zealand's Bay of Islands has several names. "Piercy Island, also known as "The Hole In The Rock" (and by its Māori-language name Motu Kōkako), is located off the north coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is at the very northern tip of Cape Brett in the Bay of Islands. It is Māori freehold land, which is administered by the Motu Kōkako Ahu Whenua Trust for the benefit of the descendants of the traditional owners." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piercy_Island_(New_Zealand).

While we didn't set foot on this small island we visited it on a cruise from Pahia. The highlight was when our driver put his foot down and whisked us through the famous "Hole in the Rock."

The Rock and its Hole

Approaching the Rock

Phew - we made it through.

Back in November we had a more sedate visit to Hammerfest, Norway, which is on the island of Kvaløya.

Hammerfest Harbour

Hammerfest - a small modern city

While on Kvaløya we visited a traditional Sami Camp and learnt about the lives and culture of these indigenous peoples.

We were greeted by a family member in traditional dress

And directed inside this traditional grass-covered building

We had fireside chat to learn about Sami customs

It takes a big fence to keep the reindeer herd contained

A young reindeer grazing - the older reindeer were rather mangy

Lavva - a traditional Sami tent used by nomads following reindeer

After returning to our ship for some fast food we took a tour to the Museum of Reconstruction where we learnt about the devastation wrought on the area during the Nazi occupation in World War Two.

Unfortunately , as I was suffering from a bad photo day or overwhelmed by what I saw in the Museum, I only have a couple of photos to share.

Inside the Museum

Most of the exhibits had English translations

Patriotic photo from the exhibition

Bonus Blog Post Cayo Hueso

Other K islands we have visited include

Kangaroo Island

Kauaʻi

Key West

King Island (Tasmania)

Kings Island (Ireland)

Saturday, April 11, 2026

Blogging from A to Z 2026 - J is for Journeys

The Oldest and Youngest members
of our family on Hamilton Island

We took several journeys that included island visits over the past twelve months.

The first was a short visit to Hamilton Island, a tropical Island off the Queensland Coast. We were independent travellers on this journey but, as it included 40th birthday celebrations for a young cousin, we had a wonderful few days of family fun and fellowship.

"Hamilton Island is an island of the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia.[3] It is approximately 887 kilometres (551 mi) north of Brisbane and 512 kilometres (318 mi) south of Cairns. It is the largest inhabited island of the Whitsunday Islands and a popular year-round tourist destination." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Island_(Queensland)

I'd be quite happy to visit and explore Hamilton again if they could turn on better weather for us.

We escaped the Australian winter and travelled to Europe in the northern summer. We had two cruises and a minicoach tour that took us to some island sites.

The first leg of our journey was a cruise with Regent

After a couple of days R&R in London we flew to Edinburgh where we joined a Back-Roads Scottish Journey that included several Isles off the Western Coast of Scotland.

A Scottish Journey with Back-Roads

After the whip around Scotland we needed some more R&R so we flew to Paris where the Ile de la Cite was included in our wanderings. Footsore after a few days in the Ville lumière we were whisked to our floating home in Le Havre.

Itinerary for Paris to Norway Regent Cruise

In October we flew to Papeete where we boarded our very first cruise with Silversea.

Our cross Pacific Cruise to South America

The end of our Cross Pacific Adventure with Silversea

After completing our cross Pacific journey it took a couple of flights to land us in the Atacama Desert where we found no Islands. A few days after that more flights took us to Guyaquil in Ecuador. Following an overnight stay there we flew to the Galapagos where we joined a National Geographic/Lindblad cruise around that Island Group.

Around the Galapagos with National Geographic/Lindblad

Our December/January cruise included a few islands from little Phillip Island to the larger North and South Islands of New Zealand

With Regent in December/January

J Islands we have visited include Jar Island, Jersey, Jura

Bonus Posts St Helier Lalique

Friday, April 10, 2026

Blogging from A to Z 2026 - I is for Iona and Isabela

We visited Iona last year as part of a tour with Back-Roads. A minicoach ride through the Isle of Mull from Tobermory to Fionnphort and a short ferry trip across the Sound of Iona delivered us to Iona. Once on Iona we were given a short orientation by our guide and then we were let loose to make our own discoveries.

"Iona is an island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there are other buildings on the island. Iona Abbey was a centre of Gaelic monasticism for three centuries." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iona.

My dilemma is which pics should I share. As Iona is Holy Isle I'm choosing some Holy Images.

Ruins of Iona Nunnery

The Abbey at Iona

Font in the Abbey

Tomb of 8th Duke of Argyll and his wife

Nave and Choir in the Abbey

"Back on his feet" Sculpture of St Columbus

A place in the Abbey to leave requests for prayers for healing

St Columba's Shrine

Cloister of Iona Abbey

St Orans Cemetery, Burial place of many Kings, is adjacent to the Abbey

Tomb Slabs in St Orans Chapel

Michael Chapel is one of the many small chapels on the Island

One of several Crosses at Iona

For a change of pace and a dose of the natural environment we are hopping over to Isabela Island in the Galapagos.

"Isabela Island (Spanish: Isla Isabela) is the largest of the Galápagos Islands, with an area of 4,586 km2 (1,771 sq mi) and a length of 100 km (62 mi). By itself, it is larger than all the other islands in the chain combined, and it has a little under 2,000 permanent inhabitants. The island straddles the equator." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabela_Island_(Gal%C3%A1pagos).

When moored off Isabela Island on our Silversea cruise we were offered a range of activities that included swimming and kayaking.

Conga Line of Kayaks ready for boarding

We opted for the more sedate activity of exploring from a glass bottomed boat.

Glass Bottom Skipper

All eyes down

Best of a bad bunch of photos through the glass.

We had curious company along the shore

The coast was rocky

This little chap watched us from his perch

Bonus Island Posts from the Archives - I is for incarcerated on Isles du Salut

From the archives - Runaway Cows Turds in Paradise

Other I Islands we have visited include Ibiza, Iceland, Ilha Grande, Islay

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Blogging from A to Z 2026 - H is for Hiva Oa and Hinnoya

I have previously blogged our 2025 visit to Henderson Island. One can read that post here https://ballau.blogspot.com/2025/10/circumnavigation.html.

For this H post I have selected an island from each hemisphere.

"With its 320 square kilometres (124 square miles), Hiva Oa (Marquesan: Hivaʻoa) is the second largest island in the Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiva_Oa

Visiting the Paul Gaugin Cultural Centre and Grave had been on my bucket list for ages so there was no way I was going to miss them on Hiva Oa. We were fortunate to snag a lift up the hill in Atonua to visit Gaugin in the cemetery.

Aussie tourists say Bonjour to Paul

Also resting in the cemetery is Belgian Heartthrob Jacques Brel

After a steep walk down the hill we found the Cultural Centre which is set in lovely landscaped gardens near the site of Gaugin's home.

View as we wander down the hill

We've arrived

Plan of the complex

The several buildings on the site were complementary

Welcome to the Gallery

Inside the Gallery

While Gaugin's works are displayed in the Gallery
they are mostly copies

Traditional work in the garden

Reconstruction of Gauguin's home Maison du Jouir (House of Pleasure)

Interior of Maison du Jouir (House of Pleasure)

A few months earlier we were in Norway.

"Hinnøya (Norwegian; Northern Sami: Iinnasuolu)[1] is the fourth-largest island in Norway, and the largest outside the Svalbard archipelago. The 2,204.7-square-kilometre (851.2 sq mi) lies just off the western coast of Northern Norway." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinn%C3%B8ya

While on Hinnoya we visited the town of Harstadt.

Harstad from our ship

North of Hinnoya Island showing Harstad and Kasfjord

Our scenic drive out of the city took us west via Kasfjord and beyond. It provided us with some stunning views as we wound our way along the edge of Mokkelandsvatnet.

Watch out - Ski Training in Progress

Kasfjord City, a surprise miniature village located in Kasfjord

After a quick lunch back on the ship we set out for a short journey to the Trondenes Peninsula where we enjoyed visits to a museum, traditional buildings and the Trondenes Kirke, a medieval stone church.