Malcolm and Lovat visit.

Bay watch!

On lookout

Brothers.

ba

Malcolm the hunter!

Hole in the rock.

Dune surfing.

More fun.

Hughie, me and the inevitable bear!

Pacific Ocean right, Tasman Sea left, me centre.

Cape Reinga, a long way from anywhere.

The rest of the picture.

From the coach speeding along 90 mile beach.

So nice to share our little paradise. Having come from such a dreadful winter on the east coast, as well as a painful operation we feel they were ready for this! The weather has been kind and we have managed some new trips. Lovat was a little overenthusiastic on the first day, walking into Russell and back. It is a lovely walk, partly through a nature reserve and up past the historic flagstaff, but a lot of up on a hot day and a swim as well was quite tiring without recovering from a back operation. Waitangi day on Sunday and a ferry across the estuary to watch the war canoe paying it's tribute. A nice walk around the treaty grounds and house and back in Russell to hear the 21 gun salute from The New Zealand Navy. Next day Malcolm Vincent and I went out on 4 reel without Lovat who had a good rest whilst we caught supper. 2  mako sharks for Vincent, both nearly landed and snapper for us all as well as a tarwhine for Malcolm. Perfectly filleted and onto the BBQ for supper after a lovely swim for us all on Long Beach. More Bay of Islands from the sea next day with the cream trip cruise to the hole in the rock, a first time for us although this is our 3rd year here. Perfect weather and everything as hoped for - dolphins, seabirds, fish, penguins and fantastic views. We stopped for a picnic lunch and swim before going to the hole in the rock and a lovely cruise home. Kerikeri for a walk at the stone house on Wednesday, visit to the falls and some shopping made a lazy day before a very long tip to Cape Reinga on Thursday. 6.30am start shocked us all but the comfortable coach with songs and amusing anecdotes from our guide and driver, Hughie, made us all very relaxed. A coffee stop to look at ancient, giant kauri trees, dug up from a swamp, then a fantastic drive along 90 mile beach to the cape. At the end of the beach the coach went along a river bed to get back to the road and we stopped for some dune surfing - fantastic! Down steep, high dunes on a body board. Cape Reinga was beautiful, with perfect weather (again) we looked down on the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and The Tasman Sea. We planted a manuka tree overlooking the cape in memory of Pat and Alan, The place reminded me of them and their tales of their visit to New Zealand. Back for a relaxing drive home with more maori songs and stories and a nice walk through a kauri forest as a break on the way back. A meal at the fishing club in Russell finished another lovely day.   A quiet weekend enjoying the sunshine and swims with good BBQ's, a good walk to the whale station for 'the boys' and birding for Lovat.

Another island and another cyclone

Out of action!

Our lovely blue bay.

Blue trevally.

Too young to board!

The suit was wrong - nothing to do with the body!

Poor Knights.

Snorkelling through a cave.

Dolphins bow riding.

Our fishing spot but not today.

Cyclone Wilma hit us friday night with 24hrs of rain and very strong winds. We were cut off from Russell for a while by a fallen tree and landslip. The whole of Northland was cut off from the rest of NZ by floods and landslips on route 1 the lifeline to Auckland. Another jigsaw finished but at least no worries about water for the rest of our stay as the tank must be full. A trip to Kerikeri showed the extent of the damage with landslips and evidence of recent floods all the way. The river walk at stone house had great logs left up in the trees 30ft above the normal river level and the Haruru falls reminded us of Niagra for the speed of water going over the top and the spray above. Our lovely bay turned yellow from the landslip wash and other debris and there were few boats risking a collision with the many large logs being swept out. Monday was calm and sunny and we risked a booking on a trip to the Poor Knights Islands for Wednesday. Drove to Tutukaka for the 40min crossing then snorkelling in the clearest water we have ever been in. The Islands are a nature reserve with no landing and the marine reserve around them with the clear water place them in the top 10 dive sites in the world. The weather was perfect with calm, sunny conditions. Huge shoals of trevally on the surface could be clearly seen and dolphins played in the bow wave for most of the crossing. The only nesting place in the world for Buller's shearwaters, who migrate from the arctic, and flocks of storm petrels gave us a wonderful bird display. We snorkelled with shoals of demoiselles, trevally, large snapper, marblefish, blue mau mau, and sponges all set with wonderful background colours. Both had a go at paddleboarding and managed to stand and paddle the boards! A quick trip round the gannet colonies of the Squires pinnacles on the way back finished a fantastic boat trip. Too tired for a proper meal even when we got home but what an amazing day.

Holiday within a holiday

Helen guides the boat in at Sandspit.

Boat unloaded, Phil rows back.

View across Schoolhouse Bay from the deck.

Old copper mine.

I don't know why I am crying!

Preparation of the birthday breakfast.

Sunset from Phil and Helen's batch on Kawau.

Trev, Dorita, Bron and Helen eating the birthday breakfast. 

We swam round this.

Our lovely NZ friends Phil and Helen invited us to stay for a long weekend at their batch on Kawau, an island about 1hr north of Auckland. We met them at Sandspit where they launch their boat, Sir Reel, and 20mins later we are unloading the booty at their jetty. People have to walk the 180 steps up to their spectacular erie but the luggage goes on a winch. The batch must be in one of the most enviable sites in NZ. with views across to the mainland one side and to schoolhouse bay on the other, completely secluded with the night sounds of morepork, tuis, and wekas as well as sightings of the wallabies,  descendants of the escapees from the governor Grey 'zoo' at his residence on the island. The water around Kawau is a most wonderful shade of blue/green from the hint of copper in the water from the deposits in the island making the views even more mesmeric. Our first day was a mainland trip with Dorita, Helen's lovely mum, to some of the nearby beaches. We visited their first batch at Omaha after a picnic by the river at Matakana then went to the marine reserve at goat island for spectacular snorkelling. Saw my first 'school' of large squid with their huge eyes as well as lots of large fish and rays. Wine tasting at a local vineyard on the way back continued during the meal that evening. Trev, Bron and Shaun arrived the next day to celebrate Shaun's birthay on Sunday. Phil took us fishing and the ONLY catch of the day was a whopping nine and a half pound snapper caught and landed by me! Another good meal with lots of laughs and a hilarious game of charades. Off to snorkel round a wreck the next day followed by a stroll on another part of the island and view of the old copper mine. Boules before dinner but sadly Bron slipped and twisted her ankle. Another good evening despite that. Shaun's 16th birthday spent quietly after a huge cooked breakfast . Phil, Trev and Shaun caught another 2 (small) snapper to add to the fish plus fry up in the evening. Back to Sandspit early Monday morning for a scenic drive along the coast past Manganui Heads and Langs Beach. Barely saw either through the torrential rain and arrived back in Tapeka after a shop in Wangerai unable to see the house through the warm mist. Rainy catch up days until weather settled again by Thursday. A dramatic sub plot to the whole week was Matt's  month long secondment to Brisbane for training. He arrived Monday, was evacuated from his office Wednesday, from his apartment Thursday finding himself in the midst of the worst flooding Brisbane has ever had. He got back in his flat Saturday with power but no lift, not good on the 14th floor, and was told Tuesday that he was going back to Auckland Wednesday! He did make his first sale amid the turmoil and earned his first commission. Well done Matt!

First week of 2011

Kayaker for supper?

The new David Bailey?

Bear and I at the 2nd largest kauri.

Orca invading our swimming space

I felt a little strange!

Is it the Nile? No Hokianga harbour.

Matt joined us in Tapeka on the 2nd and we all went fishing from the rocks. Matt and Vincent successful but not a bite for me. The water quite clear for snorkelling and saw sting rays, small squid, and some largish fish as well as different types of starfish. Got quite brave about snorkelling from the rocky beach with lots of seaweed. Had a day trip to the west coast and Hokianga harbour where we found the slowest service bakery in NZ, 40mins for 3 panini, as well as a lovely harbour entrance looking like the banks of the Nile with huge sand dunes on the other side. Walked to the 2nd largest kauri tree in the world where a woman had decided to have a breakdown and a poor policeman was trying to persuade her to make an effort to get back to her life again, preferably without him carrying her back to the distant car park. Walked into Russell seeing a kingfisher nest in the bank and listening to the 'buzzing' babies inside. Had a delicious meal at Sally's. Matt took lots of photos with his new camera, all so good we gave up photos until he had gone. Also got soundly beaten at bananagram, rummikub and yahtzee. Had a whole day walk to Whagamumu bay stopping at the old whaling station for a picnic lunch and swim. Lovely spot and hope to do the quite testing walk again with Malcolm and Lovat. Matt got the coach back to Auckland from Pahia after an early birthday BBQ, very sad to see him go but an exciting year ahead of him. The next evening we noticed boats milling around, usually a sign of something interesting, spotting orca! a pod of 5, 4 small and one very large just offshore. They ended up just into our swimming bay by the platform chased by kayaks, a paddleboard, and small inflatables. They were well into our daily swim route, quite shallow and surfacing very near the boats. Once out of the bay they rounded the headland and appeared off our rocky beach. I googled orcas in the bay of islands and got horrific pictures of them killing dolphin by tossing them up and breaking their backs before eating them. The kayakers and paddleboarder might think twice about a repeat encounter. We shall certainly be very wary when swimming. Tame-ish moreporks just outside that evening saying 'morepork, morepork' and tuis in our tree during the day. Had also had parakeets and a kingfisher as well as wekas and quail in the garden. The tall ships race to end the week with just about every sailing boat in the Bay of Islands going past our deck. Had lovely BBQs for food and just a great start to the New Year.

Happy Christmas 2010 and New Year 2011

Bear helping me with the turkey! Bearfoot cooking!!!!!!

Matt joined us up here on Christmas Eve and we had a very Happy Christmas day, Matt spear fishing, caught a crab, and me catching a kahawai with my new rod. The fish had to go back for luck, we did have plenty of food, and the crab was 'hibernated' in the fridge and liberated (soul only I suspect) the next day. Played bananagram - a great game and enjoyed turkey and trimmings with cake and mince pies, just like home. Matt left for a week to go diving whilst we had a lazy time giving our backs a good rest but swimming every day. Weather not fantastic, showers and cloud but warm. Walked up Flagstaff Hill at midnight to see the New years fireworks over the bay. Started 2011 with sunshine and a swim, a really perfect day with a slight breeze to keep it cool. Matt due back to spend the rest of the week with us before he heads off to Brisbane for a month of training. Confirmation of Malcolm and Lovat's visit and a meeting with Phil and Helen - the next 8 weeks will go very quickly. Sitting on the deck in the sunshine watching a tui calling to it's mate and saw a lovely kingfisher on our way up from the beach. Have a resident weka in the garden, think we heard a kiwi in the night and have a family of californian quail coming for breakfast most days. Had local oysters for our last lunch in 2010. Vincent absorbed in his biochemistry and physiology, my ukelele playing improving and finding time hard to come by to keep up the blog - how did we ever work?

Back in Lovely New Zealand

Sunset at Tapeka on our first evening

Good flight from Nadi to Auckland, car for 3 months at 34 dollars a day, and off we go to quest on hobson. Nice room but not as near Matt as we hoped. Reunion!!! He looks so good, well and smart and taller.. may be I have just shrunk. Lovely japanese meal but our backs still playing up so benches difficult. Job sounds bizarre with the comings and goings in the office, more like a soap opera so wait till tomorrow. Book tickets for The Messiah. Mixed feelings - so happy to see Matt but really upset about Betty, such a lovely person - did not know about Matt's MA and very proud of him - emotions all over the place. Sleep well and go to a real supermarket with realistic sizes and good quality food. Shop till our backs give in then off to meet Matt for meal and concert. He is very tired, can hardly keep awake, the office sounds chaotic. Move to Quest on Cintra as too noisy on Hobson. Matt comes up for meal and more relaxed, boss was given notice to move this morning and regional manager taking over. Proper training in Brisbane next year and if it all goes belly up he is on a 2 month notice contract. Backs still bad but head for Phil and Helens on Thursday for another great reunion. Meet their Matt, a lovely young man, and all go for meal to local restuarant. Meet again for lunch Saturday with the 2 Matts and go to an indoor ski slope! Great location as weather not good but manage a wet walk on the beach after. A lovely day with lovely people! Farewell meal in apartment Sunday, tips with rain all day and Matt does not join us. Leave early Monday stopping to see Helen who is lending us some things for the house. Good drive to Wangerai, stop for lunch and a shop arrive at Russell to collect keys from Lesley about 3. Home... Tapeka! Next 3 months no packing! Sun shining and water warm. All our things left ftom last year here and a lovely sunset. Both feel good although still back twinges.

Fantastic Fiji

Inter island transfer, The Yasawa Flyer

The luggage arrives

Vincent wants one too

I want a sea plane!

Our bure on Octopus

With Karon and the bear

paradise!

Set off from Hannah and Matt’s at 5 am Monday morning for what should have been a 6 hour flight to Nadi in Fiji. Told there was a tropical storm that could turn to a hurricane. Delayed start then landing in Samoa on the way to be sure we could continue. Very bumpy flight and only breakfast provided! Ended up in the hotel 14 hours after getting up very hungry. Room at the Westin, Denarau very, very cold on arrival. Turned air con off and went for much needed meal. Returned from meal to find room awash with condensation. Had to change rooms , the last thing we felt like! Next day found our way round the resort on the bula bus and had good lunch at the marina. Walk along the beach and swim at the Sheraton we begin to feel human again. Taxi to seaplane next morning for a glorious flight over the reefs and islands to get to The Yasawas. Picked up by boat from the plane and taken ashore at Blue Lagoon Resort,  Nacula, to our bure.  Modern and clean with outdoor shower. All food included with welcome food and drink. 4 nights here with lovely coral reef off the beach. Take boat trip to deeper reefs in the lagoon and see amazing variety of coral. Meet Karon from Brisbane and enjoy chatting to her and other visitors from all over the world. Time passes very quickly and off on the Yasawa flyer for a two and a half hour boat trip to The Octopus Resort on Waya. Small boat transfer again and older, native built bure on the waterfront. Need mosquito net as not insect proof. Another fantastic welcome with many new people and some old friends arrivinf during our 5 days. Delicious food and entertainment every night. Sadly our crabs did not win the crab derby but our team came 2^nd in the Quiz night and we won a bottle of champagne. Vincent tried his best in the “clever” round but did not really get the hang of paper stone and scissors! Beach snorkeling very different as steep edge to the reef. Saw oriental sweetlips and lots of different damselfish as well as dragonfish and big puffer fish. Coral as good as the barrier reef, smaller but more variety in a small area with the advantage of shore access. Leave as weather is changing and have the resort boat to take us back to Nadi. Dreadful journey, skipper is determined to keep schedule despite heavy swell and know what the Torbay powerboat race must feel like. Bouncing down the waves every 30 seconds perched on a seat with only our backs to brace the shock and our hands gripped tight to the rail in front to stop falling off. People in the back soaked with spray and sick - at least we could keep our eyes on the horizon. One and a half hours later we arrived, so shaken we could hardly stand, the girls behind had been so sick they had to change their clothes. Back to the Westin and another change of rooms because the safe did not work! 3 nights to recover, not enough as we could hardly walk for the damage to our backs. Had some nice trips to the marina and enjoyed a lobster meal. Nadi airport a joy, smiling immigration officials, still very efficient, US customs should send people to learn good practice!