Kapiti Island

We visited Kapiti Island on Sunday. Only 50 people are allowed on the island per day, as it is a nature reserve which has the rare status of rat and possum free thanks to many years of conservation efforts. We were taken out there on a boat, and enjoyed the sight of a couple of penguins bobbing around us. Once we got to the island we were greeted by a guide, as well as some cheeky wild Kaka (native parrots) and Weka (flightless bird, a bit like a rail) who proceeded to check our bags for freebies!

We decided to walk up a steep track to the summit, which is 520 metres above sea level. Along the way we encountered lots of rare native birds such as stitchbirds, red-crowned parakeets and weka. We were also visited by a few Kaka, which happily landed on our shoulders ready to unzip our bags! It was a gorgeous day and therefore a hard climb to the top, but we made it and enjoyed lunch with a panoramic view. The walk down was much better, and at the bottom Toni couldn't wait to have a paddle in the crystal clear sea. A seal came by to say hello and that made our day complete. We then got home, had a shower and went to a bbq at a friend's house.. it's a tough life.

These boots are made for walking.

Toni, Karlee and Yohei










After a great Christmas and New Year in Gisborne, we have been busy training for the 80km Heaphy Track, which will be 5 days amongst some of the most beautiful scenery of New Zealand. We have been joined on the last two hikes by Toni's third cousin Karlee and her partner Yohei who will be among the 16 people doing the track. On Saturday we walked around Eastborne, which was pretty tough at the start, but we were greeted by an ice cream van and a beach to dip our feet into at the end!

Lake Rotoiti,

We visited the family batch in Rotorua last year, and this is one of the surrounding lakes, just before the mossies started biting! We had a great time with lots of Toni's family there.

Rivendell

Hi there, well what a weekend! We went for a hike in a regional park on the Saturday, enjoying lunch at the Rivendell site for Lord of the Rings. It was a ridge walk so lots of uphills, but well worth it, hardly a soul around and some beautiful native rainforest and a big swing bridge. Luckily the dense bush held off the blustery wind, although there was a lot of creaking from the massive trees around us!

We went for a walk around Oriental Bay on Sunday - the wind made my eyes water! Then to Moa Point and collected some paua (abalone) shells for Toni's sister Donna to decorate mirrors with, and we met our friend Katherine's Geordie cousins for a good English cuppa.

Off to the family batch by Lake Rotorua next weekend. Rotorua is the home of a lot of geomthermal activity, lots of geysers and bubbling mud.. so we're hoping to fit in a visit to a natural hot pool as well as some kayaking and hiking.

We enjoyed the rugby, roll on next Sunday!

New Zealand Landscapes

In between jobhunting and interviews I've been keeping up my painting, here is my latest one, an acrylic on canvas. It's from a photo I took last time I was here, and was a good challenge, I was up until the early hours painting so great fun! I might complete a set of similar landscapes and try to sell them.. so if anyone's interested or has any idea where to sell them please let me know.

Tui

Wow, just heard a Tui, which is a native New Zealand bird with a really loud distinctive call. Had a look out of the window and hey presto there he was posing for a photo.. not for long though, a couple of minutes and he was long gone! It's great to be able to see them without having to leave your own doorstep.

Exploring in Wellington

Toni's sister Donna is visiting us this weekend so we've been exploring more of Wellington. We went to Te Papa (our place) which is the museum of New Zealand, which is an amazing place. It takes up the space of three rugby pitches and is right on the waterfront. On the top of the building is a sculpture containing a real VDub Kombi and trailer surrounded by painted European tree trunks. As with most museums, you'd need a few visits to get round the whole place properly. We also went up to the Beehive, New Zealand's Government building, and enjoyed the Wellington wind in our hair!

Save the Penylan trees!

Image courtesy of Penylan Trees

On behalf of my friend Graham Sanders, tree-dom fighter extraordinaire...

"Cardiff Council in their wisdom are planning to cut down trees which they perceive as ‘problematic’ for no other reason than health and safety issues, so in one fail sweep for example my road would lose 8 trees, each 50 years old which amounts to 400 years of tree growth. Essentially it’s easier for the bureaucratic idiots to destroy than create and preserve".

Please have a look at the website and if you would like to help sign the petition.. I'd be gutted if it was my street.

10 Downing Street petition
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/penylan-trees

Campaign website
http://www.penylan-trees.co.uk

Facebook group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5136685997

Good on you Graham for speaking out.

Spring is on it's way!

Had a great day out in Wellington today, just ambling around and getting my bearings. The weather was beautiful, t-shirt weather so had a nice walk around Oriental bay, and tried my first Fuel Burger - glad I didn't order chips as well!

It's been 6 years since Toni and I met this week so we bought a fern to celebrate - as you do! Can't wait to watch the Bourne Ultimatum at the weekend, we've got lots of DIY to do as well, so we can finally get our pictures on the wall. Toni just heard a kiwi outside which is really cool! Our local dairy (corner shop) about five minutes away got robbed at gunpoint today which is very unnerving. I'm going to have a drive round for the first time tomorrow and explore further afield and maybe take the fishing gear that Bill and Julz bought me for my birthday.