Mar 28, 2012 - Whangarei Falls

Today’s agenda was to stay in Whangarei and visit the Whangarei Falls. We took a drive to AH Reed Park, which is situated only 5kms from the city center and on the road to the popular Tutukaka Coast. After parking in the car park we started our hike to the Falls. There are paths, boardwalks, a suspension bridge and walkways all along and over the Hatea River and around the Falls. The falls were originally known as Otuihau and have been a very popular picnic spot since the 1890’s. It was so serene hiking alongside the river and through the...

Jan 20, 2012 - Stingray motorway

Two more dives on the Poor Knights. The first was really spectacular. We descended into a huge underwater arch absolutely full of stingrays. There must have been 50 plus, all mooching around and totally ignoring the divers. Pete stroked three of them and they didn't object. The second dive into another arch then swam round the back into the drop off. This time just a few snoozing rays, but plenty of nudibranchs to keep Ali happy. Kingfish and big snappers also present. Then a trip down memory lane for Pete - we camped beside a beach on...

Nov 1, 2010 - Mimiwhangata x2

For NZ labor day weekend Mike and I decided to go camping at Mimiwhangata, a cool beach camp we’d been to once last year. The weather forecast promised the first true summer weekend (and sure did it deliver). This was also our first time taking our boat on a trip so we were pretty excited. With the kayak, fishing rods and surf board stuffed in the car and the boat hooked on the back we headed out for the hours drive to the coast. We ventured out with Mike’s friend Andrew and his family. We dropped Mike, Andrew and the loaded down boats a...

Sep 12, 2010 - Shippies

Oh the first camping trip of spring! We have been waiting patiently for the wind and rain to slow down and the days to get longer so we can start camping again. Last Friday night we slept through howling winds and woke up to overcast skies, 20+mi per hour gusts and rain clouds in the distance. Yet we still piled the sleeping bags in our car and headed north. I was looking for an out (to be honest) but went along and tried not to be a party pooper. The surf was up at Shipwreck Bay in Ahipara, one of our absolute favorite spots. The plan was...

Aug 2, 2010 - The fish of a lifetime

The other weekend Bec and I woke for an early morning fishing mission with my buddy Andrew. Paddling our kayaks offshore (at 6 a.m.) as the sun rose we ventured off Ocean Beach to an unnamed island. It was early and we were tired, but the early bird gets the worm. The day was fine, light winds, not a cloud in the sky. There’s nothing like wearing a pair of shorts in the middle of winter, especially when they’re really short shorts! We fished for a few hours and caught a few decent size fish but nothing spectacular. Becca caught about 30...

May 15, 2010 - Our New House

Okay so this isn’t much of a travel journal anymore. A lot has happened since we last wrote. 1. Most of you know by know that we bought a house 2. …and this weekend Mike bought himself a boat (for his 30th Birthday gift) 3. …and earlier this weekend Mike peed on an electric fence (this was way worse than the time Becca tested the dog’s invisible fence) Highlights of the house Great location close to town (10 mins to work) Awesome views over the harbor Gas fireplace to keep us toasty on cold nights The BEST guest room in New Zealand...

Mar 26, 2010 - Arahoa Bay, Whangarei

We get such an early start in Hamilton that we get to stop for a lazy lunch at a vineyard with a little wine tasting en route. We still arrive in Whangerei in plenty of time to do some grocery shopping before we head out of town along a tiny winding country road for about an hour to where my cousin Geoff will marry Lisa. The night before we have a barbecue and catch up with the family. Saturday morning we have great fun making an aisle along the sand for the bride to walk down with stones to mark the path and a board scraped over the sand...

Mar 11, 2010 - Biscuits

On Saturday I was tasked with helping stand at the NorthTec booth at the annual Northland Field Days to hand out information about courses and answer questions. Field Days is like the state fair. The main audience is farmers and there were lots of tractors. Mike came along and entertained himself watching the lumberjack competition. We had planned to go camping nearby with our friends that night. During the two hour thunderstorm right in the middle of the day, we questioned if that was a good idea. Thankfully it cleared up and we were...

Feb 2, 2010 - Whangaroa Harbor

For the three day weekend (it was “Northland Day” on Monday), we went camping with some friends. This camping was otherwise called Kiwi Bootcamp. Has anyone done a pub crawl on a boat before? Yeah, that’s the kind of weekend it was! On Saturday morning Mike and the boys were up at 5am to go fishing (they caught a few Snapper). The girls hiked into the bay to meet the boat. From there we went to three pubs to relax and enjoy the view. The beer was nice cold too! I’m not sure I’ve played 9 holes of golf all at once before. I definitely...

Jan 25, 2010 - Never a Dull Moment

It’s been months. Way too long. You probably thought I forgot about this little travel journal. There aren’t really any excuses except that life has been busy. December was holiday parties, the start of summer and excitement about my family’s visit. Then they were here and we had the best time seeing New Zealand together. A year is a long time to be away from family but we made up with it with two fun-filled weeks with Nick and Meg and three more unbelievable weeks with my parents. Lots of time was spent together, wonderful meals were...

Oct 30, 2009 - Tahani Visits

First off, apologies but no excuses for not posting for awhile. Life has gotten fuller with the addition of new friends and toys and most recently a visit from one of my closest friends. My best friend from the Peace Corps, Tahani, came out for two weeks with her sister Mimi. Having a friend here was awesome – we talked, read, cooked and did some amazing things mostly close to home. Some of the highlights – fishing up north in Te Ngaere Bay, Mimi catching a great snapper, 20+ dolphins mating in Mahinepua bay all day, horseback riding around...

Oct 29, 2009 - Motorway Hijinx

We arrived at 7 am on Monday the 26th. Just prior to landing we could see the sun rise over the Pacific, the horizon was a deeper red than I had ever seen. If you have ever cut open a Blood Orange, that’s the colour. We landed, got our bags and called the Camper rental company for them to pick us up as agreed. The rep agreed to pick us up at 8 but reminded me that the pick up time was supposed to be 9. I said “Well get us at 9 then”. He was there at 8. Not a good start. I saw him pull up, we introduced and he briefly showed me around the...