Happy New Year!

To be honest, new year's eve was a bit of a non event. Everyone was tucked up in their bed. The next day we made the long drive to Makarora. En route we stopped at the Franz Josef glacier. Impressive and impressively touristy. Almost exactly at midnight (central European time) we took this picture.

We wish all our friends and family all over the world a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

A rainy New Year's Eve

The last day on 2017 and it rained constantly. We found refuge in a charming little cinema. It was packed: all fifteen seats were filled!

The film, Ferdinand the Bull, was very cute.

Hokitika

Saturday 30 December and we had a relatively relaxing day after the driving yesterday. So instead of visiting Punakaiki and the Pancake rocks we headed inland towards Hokitika Gorge, crossing the Swing bridge there. Then we went around isolated Lake Kaniere , stopped at the spectacular Dorothy falls and finally headed into Hokitika for some ice creams, yum!  So all in all: a day on which the kids had a lot of opportunity to throw rocks into water...😋

Traveling from Richmond to Awatuna

Friday 29 December and a traveling day: about four hours from Richmond near Nelson to our next temporary home, Mont's Cottage in Awatuna. On the way we stopped to visit a seal colony. Check out the beaches and remember it's high season! Incredible!

Pelorus Bridge: waterfalls and one cold river

Thursday 28 December and we visited the Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve. After an hour's walk through a dense forest we found the two waterfalls. They were no more than trickles as they haven't had much rain recently.

After hiking back we went for a dip in the beautifully clear but very cold river.

Kaiteriteri: sun, sand and factor 50

Kaiteriteri is a lovely little beach resort with golden sands and clear water. After splashing around in the sea, we went on a short walk to capture this view.

You really have to be careful of the sun out here. Our lilly white European skins would frazzle in a minute without the factor 50.

Merry Christmas everyone!

We had a wonderful relaxing day in Te Kauwhata with Esther, Rodney, Colin, Corina, Phia, Sally and Dough. And Lizzie the dog of course. Opened presents, played on the Wii, went to the playground and enjoyed a lovely meal!

And: Oma Phia had all her four grandchildren in one place around her!

Te Whakarewarewatanga O Te Ope Taua A Wahiao

Christmas Eve and we visited the living Maori village of Te Whakarewarewatanga O Te Ope Taua A Wahiao. A fascinating tour of a village built on geothermic ground. There was also a demonstration of typical Maori dance, including the famous haka.

After that we returned to Te Kauwhata for Christmas with the family.

Rotorua day 2: thrills on a teatray

And today we went on a luge: tearing down a mountain on a plastic teatray!

The kids loved it! And so did we.

Rotorua day 1: kea, sheep and farm dogs

Arrived in Rotorua, a town renowned for its volcanic mud pools and sulphurous smell and visited a nature park with indigenous flora and fauna. After that we visited a sheep farm show where they demonstrated sheep shearing, cow milking and sheep hearding.

Chilling out in Te Kauwhata

After yesterday's busy tourist schedule, today we're taking it easy at Esther and Rodney's. Went swimming in the local pool.

In the afternoon, Esther's daughter Corina and her boyfriend Chris arrived. Tomorrow we're all off to Rotorua for a few days. Looking forward to it!

From Hong Kong to the land of the Kiwi

We left behind the weird and wonderful Hong Kong with the Chinese posing with human size plastic figurines, unicorn cakes, fanciful jewellery (including a golden R2D2!) and funny notices.

After another uneventful flight on which some of us did manage to get some sleep we were picked up by Esther and Rodney, who drove us home to Te Kauwhata. Still slightly jetlagged we ventured out in our massive 4wheeldrive to do touristy things in the area: we visited a Kiwi House and the glowworm caves of Waitomo. Sadly, we were not allowed to take photos at either of those, so you just have to believe us... and we went there in shorts at 24 degrees 😋

Hong Kong day 2

Feeling human again after a decent night's sleep. Nice weather: sunny and 17 degrees. 

Took the Star Ferry to Hong Kong island and visited the park with great views of the city.

Now having lunch in the park before leaving for the airport.

Hong Kong and Harry Potter

Arrived safe and sound in Hong Kong after a long but thankfully uneventful flight. Top of the list was a visit to the Harry Potter themed Café 9 3/4.

Waiting to board at Schiphol airport

So far so good. No delays. Everyone's fed and watered. Ready to fly!

Best of both worlds...

Just a week to go and we get suprised by the snow! We had such fun!
It started on Sunday, turned into chaos on Monday and luckily today it is slowly melting away.

Meanwhile, it is 19 degrees and 72% humidity in Hongkong. Hamilton reports 23 degrees and ☀️, New Zealand, here we come!

2 weeks and counting...

While all around us in the Netherlands the children are counting the days until Sinterklaas and in Germany they are lighting the first candle on the Adventskranz, we have been counting down the weeks until our departure. With only 2 weeks to go it is getting rather exciting! We cannot wait!