MAY - Family. Off to New Zealand to visit Mum, Christine, Murray and Neville for eleven days.
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| So great to see Carl and Kim while visiting Mum. |
While over here we took a drive up to Puhoi where we visited the Cheese Factory for lunch. A beautiful setting overlooking the local area and tasting the great food before back to share the cheeses with Brad and Christine over a bottle of wine.
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| This is Chino - Christine and Brad's new puppy. In training at the moment. |
We also drove around to Wade River Road which I had never been to the end overlooking Okura beach where I went with my family and Uncle Des's family on the back of the tractor and trailer and Stillwater with all the boats moored.
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| Wayne sat a watched this guy load his boat by himself and reminisced of the time he and Kevin (both drunk) went fishing, caught heaps and decided to come back early. Got the car stuck in the mud with the boat and trailer on so the car got drowned!!!!! From this same boat ramp at Arkles Beach. |
I'm so cranky, I did the whole blog for May and was not on the site properly!!!!!!!!!!! So here I go again!???
I loved visiting the old farm where I grew up on and visited cousin Sheryl and Neil now living back there overlooking the area.
We took time to travel down to spend the night with Murray and Sue before taking a look out at Raglan where I haven't seen before. On our way out there Murray suggested we drive to Bridal Veil Falls so yes, well worth the 261 steps to the bottom platform and view them.
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| A truly amazing place. |
Christine and Brad had explained where they stay while out here at Raglan so after a small cruise through the township we crossed the bridge to the caravan park and strolled back from there into town for lunch before heading out to Wainamu Beach.
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| Today was not a great day for the surfers out there - no wind, no real surf but looking very tranquil. |
ROTORUA for two days so we decided to visit Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village which has been welcoming visitors for over 100 years. Firstly we had a geothermal hangi lunch before watching the cultural performance and then strolled the paths amongst the thermal streams and pools.
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| Yes Wayne - we can see your Maori heritage! |
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| Not a large group but well worth it as they performed all forms of Maori songs and poi's as well as the haka. |
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| Pohutu Geyser Lookout |
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Korotiotio means Grumpy Man hence the face on Wayne.
This is the most volatile spring gushing super-heated water to the surface. |
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| Steam Box Hangi - where our lunch was cooked. |
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| Wayne remembers as a child watching the Maori children diving off this bridge for pennies that tourist's threw into the stream. |
We strolled the foreshores of the lake. It was pleasing to see more tourist attractions there.
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| Always someone here feeding the swans and other birds. |
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| While driving around Rotorua we came back to this Commercial Travellers Club where we stayed overnight with Brad and Christine some years before. We strolled up this tranquil beautiful valley with Christine and Cloe. |
Heading back up to Auckland we decided to come back through Matamata or now known as Hobbiton.
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| Matamata's Information Centre where one can catch a tour bus to see around the farmlands Hobbiton's dwellings. |
I just love travelling through the lush farmlands around Waikato so have to share some photos of this area before we leave our Land Of The Long White Cloud and head back to family.
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| Kaimai Mamaku Ranges with clouds surrounding their peaks. |
Mothers Day we went over to Craig and Kylie's to share breakfast together with Jayden and Madi before watching Jayden play league in the afternoon.
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| Yes, Madi has broken her wrist in the same spot as 15 months ago. |
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| Both teams recognised their MUMS today. (Jayden second from left) |
Our littlies Stevie and Alex are just a pleasure to be with. Their fun, laughter and antics are adorable. We love to help Loretta and Steve walk them to school and early learning Tuesday, Thursday and Friday's. Great exercise for us oldies!
