Russell

After arriving back on shore we visited the historic town of Russell, we caught the car ferry across and drove around and spent a while just wandering the streets and visiting the different old buildings included the Christ Church which was the oldest church in New Zealand.

Overnight Cruise on the Ipipiri at the Bay of Islands

From Whangeri we drove north for an hour in the pouring rain to Paihia where we set off on our overnight cruise. We were lucky we left when we did as the area had 280mm in 36 hours and the road we later drove up was cut in several places for 24 hours.

Lots of silver head wrinklies on the cruise so mum was in her element, and the rain eased of so we could see something! The waters were very calm and we had a lovely time. In the morning we were able to go ashore by tender to Moturoahia Island where James Cook had landed. Unfortunately they had counted everyone who went ashore very carefully so was unable to leave mum behind with the resident caretaker who evidently sails his boat and mows his lawn naked! We got to see some dolphins as well!

Whangeri Falls

It was a wet day but we managed to get a fair bit done despite the rain! We visited to the Whangeri Falls and did a 30 minute walk which gave us a lovely view of the falls and the forests. We visited another park where we did a walk that took us up over some of the forest and saw some magnificent kauri trees. We wandered through some shops along the Town Basin- a little complex of shops set along the waterfront in the city. We did a lovely coastal drive along the Tutukaka coast and had some lovely fish and chips by the beach and fed the seagulls. We had a lovely dinner back at our B&B and enjoyed a walk around the gardens afterwards to try and settle down the lamb shanks and creme brulee! It is a tough life for some!

New Zealand With Mum

Since taking mum on an overseas trip a couple of years ago, I practically had to drag her, the travel bug has bitten and she has been at me for a while to take her on another overseas trip- anywhere she could use her passport- you have to get your moneys worth, so that is why we are in New Zealand!

We arrived on Friday night and stayed near the airport- mum was like a kid in a lolly shop! They had a pillow menu so at 11pm we rang up and requested some lavender pillows! It must have been a good hotel as the even had a torch for you to use!

Saturday morning we caught up with my friend Barbara- we were exchange students a few years back in Year 11, and then she was my bridesmaid, we have caught up a number of times over the years but it was lovely to spend a few hours with her.

We then headed north of Auckland to Whangeri where we are spending two nights in a Bed and Breakfast.

Enlighten Festival

Canberra has a new festival called the Enlighten Festival where they have a number of the national buildings all lit up at night. Bill and I meet Bindi and Simon and the kids and had a wonderful night enjoying the buildings and wandering around enjoying the atmosphere! The buildings looked spectacular. It was a great night.

High Tea at the Hyatt

Took Amy and Bindi out to the Hyatt for high tea this week to celebrate my sister in law's 40th birthday. It was a wonderful spread and we had a wonderful afternoon being very indulgent.

The Murrumbidgee at Tharwa

After Pt Hut we visited Tharwa where the river was the fullest I have ever seen it. Normally at Pt Hut it meanders along and you can see the sand bars that seem to block it, they would have been metres underwater today!