Category Archives: Travel

View over Wellington

Apr302017

Posted in City • Culture • North Island • NZ • Travel

Back to Wellington

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Paul here…

So after the ANZAC day service we set out on our last road trip – down to Wellington, about a 4 hour drive.

Foxton Dutch Windmill

Foxton Dutch Windmill

As usual the New Zealand scenery was stunning. At Foxton it became very flat and suddenly there was a Dutch windmill! That was a surprise. We stopped off and filled up with Dutch liquorice and other Dutch goodies from the shop inside. It was like being back in Amsterdam.

Arriving in Wellington we saw our cousins’ new home for the first time.

Unlike many NZ houses it is 3 storeys high, and set in the bush. It feels just like living in a big tree house!

Fishing in Wellington Harbour

Fishing in Wellington Harbour

For the last few days we’ve been up to all sorts – fishing in Wellington Harbour, visiting the Wellington Botanical Gardens, visiting the brilliant Te Papa museum which has a Gallipoli exhibition on until 2019, visiting old friends from Wales, and meeting new people over pizza cooked in a home made pizza oven. It’s been busy!

We’ve had a great 2 weeks touring around with Chris and Belinda and the kids.

All change tomorrow – Chris and Belinda are back in work, the kids are back to school and we fly out Monday evening for Auckland, LA and London…

A great 4 week holiday 🙂

Gallipoli "giants" by Weta

Gallipoli “giants” by Weta

Gallipoli "giants" by Weta

Gallipoli “giants” by Weta

Giant dog in Tirau

Apr222017

Posted in Culture • North Island • NZ • Travel

The Goldfields Railway

By

Anne here…

Friday today. Today was a day of travelling from the Coromandel to Taupo.

L&P bottle in Paeroa

L&P bottle in Paeroa

During our road trips we have seen some interesting Kiwiana: including a ginormous L&P bottle and a giant sheepdog in Tirau. We have seen loads of stunningly beautiful countryside. And a few landslips “slips” caused by Cyclone Cook.

Today we broke our journey at the Goldfields railway station in Waihi and had a return journey in an open topped train carriage, pulled by an diesel train engine. The children particularly enjoyed it as whenever the railway line ran along side the road, all the cars and lorry drivers would toot and wave.

Bay of Islands

Apr52017

Posted in Beaches • Geology • Mountains • North Island • NZ • Travel • Weather

Bay of Islands

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Anne here again…

Wednesday today.

And we have dodged heavy rain showers all day. But the scenery on State Highway One through Northland was absolutely spectacular. Far more hills and scoria cones (we think) – whatever a scoria cone is (I married a geologist) – than I expected.

And now we are sat in the loveliest apartment,  with the most spectacular views of the Bay of Islands, with balcony doors open listening to waves crashing gently on the beach.

And the best bit…We are here for three nights.

#betterthanworking

Deserted Lang's Beach

Apr42017

Posted in Beaches • NZ • Travel • Weather

The rain came, and it was torrential

By

Anne here…

Now it is raining … torrential rain in massive showers! It isn’t a surprise. We missed cyclone Diane that caused so much havoc in Australia. But caught the heavy bands of rain that followed the cyclone. Home from home. Much better weather is forecast in a day or two. And at least now we have picked up the hire car, we can shelter in the car.

We’ve left Auckland, heading North. Over the Auckland Harbour Bridge – fab views of the waters around Auckland. The rain hadn’t started at that point! We didn’t come this way at all 3 years ago. So all new sights.

Heading for The Bay of Islands with a few stop offs at little beaches along the way.

The featured photo at the top of this post is Langs Beach. Not a soul on it!

Apr32017

Posted in North Island • NZ • Travel

Just arrived

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Anne here… YIKES AGAIN. We really are here again. What a privilege and a pleasure,  on so many levels,  to be back in New Zealand.