Japanese wheelchair traveler / photo / New Zealand

9 days with my friend's family / 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011. I could buy the wheelchair accessible seat half year ago. Normally it is difficult to book wheelchair accessible seat for foreigners. I could not buy the ticket of RWC 2007 in France. NZ is a good accessible country. They had a good system for wheelchair users to watch the game. Each stadium have a parking space for the guests with mobility impairments. It was perfect organization.

My friend who played rugby together in my high school days traveled with his family. We rent a car. I put on my portable handcontroller. This photo was taken 1 hours before Japan match.

Japan - Tonga. Japan lost. We were so disappointment. My seat was located top of the main stand.

Wales - Samoa. Nice game. Accessible parking for person with mobility impairment is available beside the stadium. Nobody checked the area. Free to enter. No police and security guard, but no illegal parking. New Zealanders have a good moral.

Seating map of world cup stadium. There are lots of wheelchair seats. Easy to book them.

One of my dream was watching All Blacks. This was the match " New Zealand - France " in group league.

Among the game, we went around north land by rental car. Here is sheep land. Public toilet has a wheelchair space. It was not perfect facility but enough to use. Every place are quite wheelchair friendly in New Zealand.

Nice cafe near beach. The entrance with no step. The toilet was also wheelchair accessible. Not so special, but so natural. Lovely accessibility.

Train in Auckland. Simple ramp at all the stations. In my country Japan, this accessibility is not allowed because of dangerous. Therefore we have many non-accessible train stations in local area. Two steps between train and platform. New stations in central are now good accessibility. We used this train to watch the big game " NZ-France." at Eden Park stadium.

Forest walk. The sign shows wheelchair accessible or not. I walked on the trail to Four Sisters. Some steep hill and dirt track. It was not easy to walk without help. Good wooden walk around Four sisters.

Another trail to the biggest Kauri tree in NZ. This is very easy. Only wooden flat walk. Everybody can touch and feel the great nature and rainforest.

Sign in Botanical garden. It shows that road ends is not wheelchair accessible. Stairs or barrier ahead. I love this sign. We need information of barrier.

8 days with a wheelchair friend / 2008

He is also Japanese wheelchair traveler. We met Christchurch airport and rent a car together.
He brought his own handcycle so we enjoyed to share some cycling.

In Queenstown, I tried a bungy jump. Normally the harness put on our ankle, but I am lower body paralysis.
The harness was put on all my body.

Here is Kawarau bridge, that is the first bungy site in the world. They have a lot of history and experiences.
43m high, about 15th floor of building. A big valley. I felt nervous to watch a river.

The staff helped me put on the harness. After I got off my wheelchair.
One of staff carried it down to riverside. After jumping two hunk men carried me up from river boat.

Yes, I am ready for jump !

movie

So exciting. Nice staff !

New Zealand wine is getting better and famous. Many winery near Kawarau bridge.
Our lunch was wine and cheese.

Dinner is hamburger. Great burger shop in Queenstown. My best hamburger in the world. Do not miss it !

New Zealand is well accessible country. Almost all toilet have a big toilet. They are simple but enough space.
Every gas station's toilet has an accessible toilet. Not for special, very natural. This is an ideal accessibility.

At Akaroa, 2 hours by car from Christchurch, I enjoyed dolphin swim.
Some step to ship. We walked down stairs by our hand.

The water was so cold. I felt freezing. I am OK in the sea because of a good swimmer.
If you are not good swimmer, it was so dangerous and scared

The water was not clear. Dolphin swim so fast. I just watched and kept my head up.
So many dolphin came to us. It was really closed.

Very very cold in the water. You can enjoy watching from the ship.

So exiting days in New Zealand ! Also they are friendly and heart barrier free. 　