North Island part 2

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Christmas with the Fairhursts

Having changed our plans to go to Fiji we jumped at the chance to spend Christmas with friends living in Tauranga in the bay of plenty. Mark, Julie, Charlotte and Olivia (and not to forget Milly the dog) were the perfect hosts, even giving up their bedroom for us as their current extension project was not finished in time. Tauranga is a lovely seaside location with Mt Manganui giving fine views of the surrounding countryside.

We spent the few days before Christmas shopping and resting with a quick trip up the Coromandel penisula to visit the hot water beach for a spot of warm water (make that bloody hot water) bathing.

It was nice to have a Christmas with kids around as it always seems to add to the excitement. Christmas eve saw Kate, Olivia and Charlotte singing carols with the other adults attacking the alcohol fridge. There was the usual early morning rise (first 3am then 6)and ensuing chaos of present opening but all in all everyone seemed to get their fair share of nice presents. Christmas day spent mostly in the pool was novel but this years worst summer in years helped remind us of what we were missing back home.

Alas we had stayed longer than planned and it was with a heavy heart that we had to head back onto the road to see what the south of the north island had to offer.

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Photos

Hobbiton
On the way from Auckland to Tauranga where we planned to spend X-Mas we passed through Matamata, aka Hobbiton.

The beasts asleep
A rare moment of peace and tranquility existed within the Fairhurst household at this time!

The rare hairmonster awakes
Typically found to be extremely grumpy first thing in the morning, once fully awake can cause havoc about the place.

Digging at the hot water beach
Natural hot water springs exist all over the north island. At the hot water beach all you need is a shovel, keen diggers (Olivia and Mark) low tide and you get a free hot water bath! Great

The girls soaking up the heat
Olivia and Kate warming their cockles at hot water beach.

Carols on Christmas eve
Kate supervising the evenings entertainment. (it did take a monetory bride to get them to do it. Kids these days!)

Poor dog is all I can say!
Milly being her usual placid self considering the amount of pulling and tugging she seems to have to put up with!
Quite an amazing dog!