Tramping Abel Tasman

As the fantastic weather continued, we found ourselves heading west to Nelson and the Abel Tasman National Park. Nelson is known for it's fruit growing, wineries and artist community. We spent a night in Neslon before arriving in Kaiteriteri ,which is a small community located just south of the southern part of Abel Tasman National Park. Abel Tasman runs for 51 Km along a coastal path. There are various ways to hike the trail depending on time and inclination. Since we were short on time we decided to take the water taxi route. All day long water taxis run from the surrounding communities to different trail heads and beaches within the park. We chose to do a five hour section, starting at Tonga Bay and ending at Anchorage. It was a wonderful hike and I only wish we would have been able to do the whole thing.

We stayed in nearby Kaiteriteri, and exposed Mark's sister Brenda to a quintessential part of Kiwi life, the holiday park. Mark and I slept in a tiny bunk bed cabin and Brenda in the van. There are no quiet beaches to camp on in New Zealand this time of year. Summer holidays had everyone out in force trying to get the most out of the summer weather. The beach at Kaiteriterisun worshippers, well me not so much

Where in world are we?

Brenda and I heading to the water taxi All aboard the water taxis
Brenda crosses the bouncy bridge A most popular place, the ice cream and sweets stand



Our mini cabin

Piction/Marlborough

Piction is a three hour ferry ride from Wellington. On an overcast day, we boarded our huge ferry, van and all, and headed to the South Island. Piction is a small town located way inside the reticulated waterways of the Marlborough Sounds. Because it is was holiday time of year, the ferry ride was jammed with tourists and kiwis alike. The ride itself was uneventful, but about an hour before docking we entered the Sounds and it was breathtaking. A haven for cruisers, the Sounds is a place you could get lost in for years. We were sad not to have Scholarship in such an awesome place.

After an evening in Piction, we drove about forty-five minutes to Blenheim and the Marlborough Wine Region. Famous for it's Pinot Noir, the region did not disappoint and we had a fantastic day of tasting and buying. Now Scholarship has a bit more ballast in her bilge.

Entering the Marlborough Sounds

On the ferry

On the foredeck as we entered the Sounds
Piction harbour lunchtime!

South Island smoked salmon, some of the best!
Nautilus Winery Happy campers

Windy in Welly

When we first arrived in New Zealand we had planned on living in Wellington. A very cosmopolitan city at the bottom of the world, Welly has a lot to offer. Great and diverse restaurants, old bookshops galore, hiking and gorgeous water views. When we would tell Kiwis that we were moving to Welly they would instantly get a tortured look on their face and say , "do you know it's really windy there?" Well we ended up staying up north in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. The name says it all, and we have plenty of wind here as well.

Back to Wellington. The wind blew the whole time, but at least it was a warm wind this time of year. Not a place for long flowing hair of short skirts. Accompanied by Mark's sister Brenda ,we spent two nights in a adorable holiday cottage right in the middle of the city hubbub. Welly is a very compact city made for walking or biking (when the wind isn't blowing too hard). We were able to hike up to Mount Victoria right from our backyard and even visited the Te Papa which is Wellington's prized museum. A fantastic place full of the art, science and history of New Zealand. Get this, it was even free. Next stop...South Island !
Mark and Brenda mixin' it up in the kitchen A view of Mount Victoria Me swinging with Welly in the background

Mark doing the old "head in cannon" trick at Mt. Victoria lookout

Going South...

After Christmas is was time to get out of Tauranga for awhile and see more of New Zealand. With Mark's sister Brenda relaxing in back of our travelin' van, we set off south. Our first stop was just one hour away in the thermal and adventure city of Rotorua. Rotorua is one of New Zealand's largest thermal areas and is filled with bubbling mud pools and resorts. It is also known to be an adventure destination. Skydiving, zorbing (see past blog), sheep shearing, you can do them all in Rotorua. We opted for the gondola ride and luge. After riding the gondola for a short time, you are then deposited at the top of a hill where you collect you helmet and get in line for The Luge. This Kiwi version of the luge is a like a tiny go cart that your race down a track. Once you get to the bottom, a snail-like(I say this because I got drenched in the pouring rain as it inched up the hill) chairlift brings you back up to the top for another go.

Our next stop of the day was Huka Falls and Lake Taupo, where we spent our first night. Then it was on to Wellington and the South Island.

Sweet Helmets Mark and Brenda ready to rumble
The view of Lake Rotorua from the top of the Luge

A view of one of the tracks from the chairlift

The Huka river is full of hot springs, Mark hopped in to check them out We went to all the nicest parking lots
Well actually, this one had view of Lake Taupo and Mount Ruapehu (you can see the volcano shape in the distance).

Holi-days

My wee little tree

This xmas was already our fourth one spent away from home. Where does the time go? I am never sad to be missing snow and cold and so a white xmas is lost on me. Since it is summer (yay) we started out our day with a fabulous hike up Mount Maunganui, followed by a turkey feast with Mark's sister Brenda, who was visiting from Malaysia, and our friends Tom and Ellen from SV Rasa Manis. Brenda arrived on the 22nd of December and we spent a little time in Auckland before bringing her home to Scholarship. Mark and Brenda enjoying Happy Hour in Auckland Making cookies!
Brenda and Ellen relaxing on deck on Christmas Day Enjoying our feast
Not sure why they painted these poor sheep pink, perhaps it was for the holidays. At least they didn't dye them red!

Bridal Veil Falls

Just a few miles east of the little surf town of Raglan is Bridal Veil Falls. We were delighted to find this oasis among the cows as we took the long way home from Auckland.

A Room With a View

The last few days of my Mom's visit we spent in Auckland seeing the sights and enjoying more great weather. Mark managed to find a Mexican restaurant in Auckland

Mom and I enjoying sunset on our cool balcony High Tea at the Langham

All kinds of fabulous treat to be sampled