Blogs from Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 18

Seriously...for those of you that may have thought about coming here, stop thinking and book your ticket. Just one town/city/location makes is all worth it. Currently, I'm in Napier. The Art Deco city of the South Pacific. It's beautiful. Sits right on the Hawk's Bay and the beach is magnificant...not a sand beach, but black rock and sand...I think from the earthquake that happened here, but not entirely sure. I don't have much time to write, and I took a tour of wine country today...so I'm a little bit tispy...sorry for any missing/misspelled words, but really it should be expected. The wineries here were great. Several wines at each one. I was with a local guide and we had some unique access to the wineries. Bought another X-mas gift (John, get excited) and a little treat ... read more

Ever since I became friends with ngaire I wanted to visit vist her hometown. It is something about going home with someone, when you really understand them as a person. Plus, getting out the hussle of welly is a good thing- NZ hometowns are where the cultural immersion really happens-in my opinion. Welly is such an international city- with ppl from all over the world. hastings, rather, is a genuine NZ town. purely kiwi. just what i was looking for! Hastings is a small town of around 40,000. It is in the middle of Hawke's Bay- a region on the eastern coast of the North Island. It is most known for its great wines made on the regions many vineyards. :) We caught the Intercity bus at 7 45 am. I woke up- and realized Ngaire ... read more

Big news! Got woken up by Lucy the pregnant sheep bleeting and making very strange noises, she was due at any moment and after a few hours out pops a brand new Lamb. My mum was very proud and Lucy has bonded well although think the lamb has got her under her little hoof as she won't let here out of sight for a few moment to eat, think she will be a very skinny Sheep soon if she doesn't calm down. Very cute, name yet to be decided, we think it is female as no winkle seen. Ta ra for now. Gem.... read more

Rang the next door neighbours (Lance and Karen) today who own the surrounding farm consisting of 1400 acres. They had previously offered to take us for a day on the farm to see the sites and help out, so off we went at the crack of dawn! We came accross a sheep having difficulty lambing twins which unfortunately did not survive but thanks to a half an hour struggle by Lance (the farmer) and Gem, the mother is now doing fine (i was just taking pictures and urging encouragement from the sideline as a true guy should do!?) Fantastic experience, got completely covered in mud but learnt the invaluable art of mustering cattle through gates and answers to those questions only known by farmers like whats a hoggit? and how hard can a cow pat really ... read more

To those who have been keeping up with our "adventures", I have been slow in reporting on the ladies night at the local pub on friday night. Okay, let's just say even I was shocked and appaulled by the antics of NZ strippers, they would get sued in England for things they did. I can't even describe the women, my mother being top of the list. My reserved mum got dragged up on stage and had to spank a strippers arse!!! I will have to apologise to everyone that I was laughing so hard I did not get a decent photo to post on the site. I will just end by putting it as an "experience" I never wish to repeat, seen it, didn't do it and the t_shirt stank! By the way the troup were ... read more