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

Made it to New Zealand! Christmas Day number two vanished and having put the clocks back in America, they were accelerated forwards on the next flight so that the sun next rose to begin Boxing Day 2014. Not sleeping some where between America and NZ Auckland airport is right by the sea so made for… Read more