Saturday 12th April 2025 It was another spectacularly beautiful morning. We couldn’t believe how lucky we had been with the weather. Last year we had fine weather but it was cold, windy and occasionally overcast. This year, we’ve had nothing but blue sky, sunshine hot weather and no wind. The boys again went for a… More
Glenelg: Fri 10th April – Sat 11th April Accommodation: AirBnB link here Thurs 9th April The purpose of this trip was to attend the AFL Gather Round for 2025. We attended this event last year, with my sister Colleen and her husband David, and we all loved it so much we that we ventured back… More
Wellington Accommodation: Tue 18th Feb – Fri 21st Feb Tue 18th Feb The direct route for driving from Martinborough to Wellington was 90 minutes but we took a detour via Cape Palliser and the Cape Palliser Lighthouse. We had initially planned to walk the Pinnacle’s Ridge track at Cape Palliser but this was temporarily closed due… More
Martinborough Accommodation: Mon 17th Feb – Tue 18th Feb Mon 17th Feb It was an overcast morning for our early departure from Napier. We were sorry to be leaving our luxurious apartment but we had a 3.5 hr drive ahead of us to Martinborough where we were picking up a 12:45 pm afternoon wine tour. There… More
Napier (Ahuriri) Accommodation: Sat 15th Feb – Mon 17th Feb Sat 15th Feb It was another fine morning for our last in Lake Taupo so the boys were on a final bike ride and Colleen and I on a walk. It was a two hour trip down to Napier and we found our next accommodation easily.… More
Lake Taupo Accommodation: Thurs 13th Feb – Sat 15th Feb Thurs 13th Feb Our first activity in the Lake Taupo region was a visit to the Craters of the Moon where we finally caught up with Colleen and David. The area was an interesting landscape of craters, mud pools and vents of steam. This crater… More
Tongariro National Park Accommodation: Wed 12th Feb – Thurs 13th Feb Wed 12th Feb It was another glorious morning and you will already know, from my previous post, that we started this with a rather eventful bike ride. It was after 9 am before we got away from our New Plymouth hotel and the drive… More
New Plymouth Accommodation: Mon 10th Feb – Wed 12th Feb Mon 10th Feb It was a beautiful drive from Waitomo Caves down to New Plymouth with the last part of the drive being along the coastline. We found our King & Queen Suite boutique hotel accommodation easily but I had a momentary fright when I noticed… More
Waitomo Caves Accommodation: Sun 9th Feb – Mon 10th Feb Sun 9th Feb Our two hour drive down from Rotorua to Waitomo Caves was rather uneventful apart from the fact we were notified by our recent host that Mark had left behind his cycling gear, rather expensive cycling gear at that, in the washing machine. Luckily… More
Rotorua Accommodation: Fri 7th Feb – Sun 9th Feb Fri 7th Feb It was another beautiful mild morning that Mark started with a bike ride and I started with a walk. We were heading down to Rotarua today but were on a bit of a time budget as we had a Rail cruising activity booked for… More