Blogs from Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 6

So, back to the blog - your private inside information... My journey from Ruabon to Heathrow was somewhat fragmented, but got there in the end (a reflection of life maybe). Despite getting to Ruabon with only one minute to spare until timetabled departure, the wait there lasted nearly half an hour - 28 mins to be exact. The delayed ttrain then proceeded, not at great speed as one would image, rather the opposite - we had gotten (is that a real UK word?) behind a slow train which stopped at EVERY stop between here and Wolverhampton and I can assure there's hundreds! Give the dear ticket man his due, at various stages of the journey he would come and give me updated train options as each one became invalid due to time expiration. At one point ... read more

We're finally into our first farm job! Actually its with an "organic" family who's building a resort and spa and need help with everything, but its mostly just painting and stuff for now so its all good. They're a dutch couple with four kids and have a very nice house and a beautiful property. It's only a mile out of Kerikeri, where we've been camping for the last two nights. It'll be nice to sleep on a bed. The weather is really weird. It'll be pretty cold at night, and then hot in the morning, and then cold in the afternoon, and then it'll rain for a few seconds, etc.... Makes hiking around exciting. We'll try to get some pictures up soon. We haven't really taken many yet. The scenery hase been awesome, but there's too ... read more

Busy city executives think they have it tough with their breakfast meetings, client luncheons and post-work squash sessions but I too know the trauma of a hectic schedule. This week I managed three activities. Yes, three! I feel light headed just thinking about it. And all of this whilst still working in the gardens, shifting enough gravel to pebbledash Barry White! Well, he is a bit smaller now. First up was my trip to Russell, New Zealand’s first capitol and a mere hop, skip and a jump down the bay from Kerikeri. Also known as Kororareka (meaning “sweet penguin”, though there was not a chocolate biscuit to be seen), Russell was originally a Maori settlement before the Europeans arrived. Before you could say “successful racial integration”, the town was full of sailors, whalers, whores and other ... read more

We flew out of Sydney on Easter Sunday, headed for the green green grass of home! After 2 weeks of relaxing, eating, drinking, hanging out, the next 2 weeks were to be a bit more full throttle :-) We arrived in Auckland to a typically cloudy day. Nothing like the perfect blue sky we had just left. But that's why it's called "Aoteroa", Land Of The Long White Cloud, ah? We were met by Paul and Maryanne at the airport, who very kindly lent us their car. We quickly visited Sarah, Nick, Tonia, Dave, Georgie and Theo, before heading back to Paul & Maz's for Hells Pizza & Stella's with a few mates. Next day Mum and Dad picked us up and drove us to Wellington. Stayed with Nana, applied for my Visa extension, saw Mel ... read more

Kerikeri Our final cycle ride in New Zealand took us into Kerikeri from Mangonui in warm sun and cloud. We just found Nature's Orchard on the main road just before committing ourselves to a steep hill, phew! We found ourselves with a nice self contained home with a swimming pool just outside the read door. It was cool though but we managed a little swim. We then found ourselves an Astra sedan into which we could fit the separated bike. We then went to Pahia from where we went to Urupukapuka island including sailing through the Hole in the Rock and having dolphins swimming up to us and under the boat. Thrilling. The island was empty allowing a lone walk for the day. And then it's back to Auckland as the weather is not hot.... read more