Out of bed, into the shower then straight round to the next door neighbours, for a glass of new year champagne and strawberries! The barby was fully loaded by the time we got there and before long we were tucking into bacon, ham, sausage, eggs and pancakes – washed down with a few more bubbles!… Read more

Started off the last day of the year with an exploratory walk around our new neighbourhood. Within a ten minute walk from the house, we were down by the river that flows through town. Although we were on the edge of the houses and only a minute from the road, we suddenly found ourselves in… Read more

A jam packed day of hiking, surfing, shopping and swimming! We spent it over on the white sand coastline of the east (the west is a darker volcanic sand). Mt Maunganui town was our first port of call and not for the first time, we were again amazed at how and why so many people… Read more

Had a splendidly leisurely start today involving a long sunny breakfast of pancakes and fresh fruit. We spent the bulk of the day by venturing out to sample some of the North Island rock climbing. It took about forty five minutes to drive to an area of volcanic rock that is considered to be home… Read more

Christmas surfing! Took a day trip out to the west coast to surf at the world famous ‘Raglan Bay’ today. And what a splendid place it is! It was an interesting drive of about an hour to get there through green rolling hills that are part grassland and part wooded. The forested valleys contained all… Read more

Our bodies still feel a bit disoriented from the travelling. Have had a really nice day though: movement has been slow, and the day gently interspersed with food, drink and sleep. Last night we had the most amazing introduction to New Zealand. Our neighbours took us over to their daughters family for dinner. After an… Read more