homepage

updates

photos

maps

contact us

for family

We tried to think of an original gift to give Vernon for his special birthday this year, and came up with the idea of taking him to a night encounter with kiwis at the Kiwi House in Otorohanga. So we piled in the car after work on Friday and hooned down to Otorohanga for 8pm when we were taken by our lovely guide into an underground hut and served hot drinks while we waited for the kiwis to come out of the bush for some dinner of their own. They were being fed a bowl full of tofu and livers, they love the tofu, and it was quite funny to see the first bird to the bowl eat all the tofu and leave none for the other kiwi! We saw three kiwi all together, and the highlight was definitely seeing a male kiwi with a white head and chest! After that we headed over to the west coast to Aotea where we rented a holiday bach for 2 nights. Highlights were relaxing, reading, playing games, bacon and egg breakfasts, digging our own hot spring pool at the beach, fish n chips on the wharf and more.

---

Thanks to Air NZ Grabaseat deals we got flights to Gisborne and back for $53 total, way cheaper than we would have paid for gas! This meant that even though we couldn't take much time off work, we were able to spend a few days with Helen's cool cousin Tim, his wonderful wife Louisa, and their sweet-as son Te Kopu. We have already heavily explored Gisborne on a previous trip, so this time we were able to relax and enjoy visiting with family.

---

Helen had a business trip to Dunedin for a few days to meet with Anne from Otago University, who does the same job that Helen does at Auckland Uni. Dunedin is located at the south of the South Island, and it's quite far from our home, so we've never been there together yet. So we extended the trip to include a weekend, and Greg got cheap-o flights to come too. So we disembarked in Dunedin on Saturday morning, picked up a rental car and tore off towards the Otago Peninsula, where we joined a few tours and got to see all manner of wildlife along the coast line, such as very rare Yellow Eye Penguins, NZ Fur Seals, and the Royal Albatross (3m/9ft wingspan). Travelling along the peninsula affords spectacular views of Dunedin and the harbour. During the weekend we also visited our wonderful friends Aaron & Connie and their 4 kids, which was really fun. We also visited the address where Helen's Grandfather grew up, checked out some short hikes to "Lover's Leap" and "The Chasm" (two really cool geological features - see pictures), Port Chalmers (the port where Helen's Scottish ancestors landed in NZ), Larnach Castle, First Church, the Railway Station, and many more new and interesting places including the steepest street in the world! Go on the journey with us - have a look at our selection of pictures.

---

Caroline is a good friend of mine. We've been friends since we were born. One thing Caroline and I have in common is a passion for photography. We both studied it in high school, and Caroline even went on to get a Bachelor in Photography from Unitec. We both have so many fond memories of helping each other with various photo shoots over the years. But after all the studies finished we didn't get many opportunities to take pics together. so last year we decided to plan a roadtrip, and within an hour or so of beginning that photography roadtrip we decided this had better be an annual thing! Last year we went to the West Coast and explored some gardens near Pukekohe, followed by an exploration of the Awhitu Peninsula and the wonderful lighthouse at the South Head of Manukau Harbour. It was a dream day with gorgeous weather, and we really loved the shots afterwards, Caroline even put a few into a calendar she shoots for! This year we went south again, but on the East Coast. We took off from the motorway at Takanini and then followed the East Coast Rd all the way around, until we turned north onto the Coromandel Peninsula, and we went just as far as Thames, where we visited a butterfly and orchid garden. Highlights along the journey included farms, shipwrecks, sculptures, chapels/churches, beaches, and discovering a roadside fire, reporting it to 111, then the fire pretty much completely going out while we waited for the fire truck to arrive, and as if that wasn't embarrassing enough, there were two firetrucks!! Caroline was lucky to be able to hide behind some huge dark sunglasses, but I was all red, blushing cheeks when they arrived! Oh, and let's not forget the huge, yummy icecreams at Pokeno, and eventually Hawaiian Chicken burgers from Burger King, just for old times' sake, it was a bit of a tradition when we were teens! Warning: I got a little artsy with the pics, which I pretty much never do, so I hope you'll forgive me.

---