Kia Ora: There can't be a better way to see a place than from a bicycle. I hooked up with Bike De-Vine for a wonderful day-long trip. I was on my own and for $60 NZ got pick up and drop off at my hotel, water, map and a route they custom-designed for me to let me get to Te Mata Winery, which was one I was keen to taste at. The day was like all the others have been, clear, cloudless blue sky, brilliant sun and coolish temps. Ideal for cycling. I pedaled through two towns - Hastings and Havelock North, and I feel I have at last mastered the left-hand-drive mystery of the roundabout. I have plenty of cheese left from the previous night's supper, so I bought a local tomato and avocado and ... read more

Greetings blog watchers: I boarded an Air New Zealand prop plane in chilly drizzle last night and landed in the sunny and warm Hawke's Bay region of the North Island. Once again, I feel like I've landed in the travellers' version of hog heaven. The small seaside town ringed by hills filled with homes that perch dramatically all the way up, was all but flattened in a 1931 earthquake. When it was rebuild, art deco was all the rage and so the town is predominately in that style. I'd say 75 per cent of the place is tropical deco - think South Beach on a smaller scale - very little over 2 storeys. And you know me and art deco, people. As they say on Corrie, I'm gobsmacked. My hotel, The Masonic, is a bit of ... read more

Kia Ora from New Zealand! It's been a couple of days since I had a chance to blog - 3 in reality as I lost a day coming here - left Sat. morning at 4 ayem and landed 4 hours later and on Sunday morning. So I am owed a Saturday night that I will never have and plan to chase after it with gusto. So let's rewind a bit to Friday and my last day on Rarotonga. That it started and ended with tears will likely not surprise you. I pedalled out to Takitumu school for the 8:30 drumbeats and it was assembly day. The teachers were handing out trophies for hygiene of all things and the little kids made speechs in Maori that I suppose were about what an honour it was to be ... read more

And now for today's completely unsubstantiated island fable. It seems Queen Elizabeth was here on a Royal visit some years back and one of the corgis got out and enthusiastically introduced himself to the local female canine population. And hence the local stray dog population, which is substantial, features an impressive number of run-of-the-mill mutts on stubby corgi legs. They're quite hilarious. A photo will soon follow........ read more

My plan for Sunday was to head out on the 32km. round-the-island bike trip, stopping to swim and snorkle where the spirit moved me. But the skies threatened and so I packed a rain poncho, which turned out to be a good idea. After an early breakfast, I pedalled about 45 minutes to the Cook Islands Christian Church I'd attended the Sunday before, the home church of my liaison here, the lovely Tai and her sister, June, the principal at Tae Oki Au school. I slipped into the washroom and changed into a long skirt, top and hat - very trad here. The service was hosted by kids from a neighbouring parish - it was switch church day. They did Bilblical morality plays, so charming and unitentionally funny in their seriousness, easily quoting scripture and getting ... read more