Taupo Weekend

 School holidays so we spent a weekend in Taupo. Kelvyn and Cushla booked a bach by the lake, and John, Sonya and Charlie came down from Auckland. We also borrowed Carys (left) for the weekend! Friday dinner with Charlie and Olive.

 With John, Cushla, Kelvyn and Sonya

 ....and Carys and Charlie.

 Waiting for breakfast

Saturday night

 Sunday at Debretts resort Taupo in the hot pools.

School Holiday Pottery Class

 With Olive and Evie.

Graduation Day

 But who's Graduating? I think these robes may be a bit big.

D

 Donna about to receive her Post-Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary.)

Easter Holidays

 Snow on mounts Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe. First night in Taupo.

 By the lake

 With John, Charlie and Sonya at Huia, west Auckland.

 The Easter Bunny managed to find us in the Campervan at Thames on the Coromandel peninsula.

 New Chum Beach - voted as one of the top ten in the world by someone or other. I'm sure it looks better when a thunderstorm is not about to break. We got absolutely soaked on the walk back.

 Cathedral Cove. Made too famous by an appearance in the Chronicles of Narnia film Prince Caspian. It looks a lot better before all the tourists arrive - see below.

 Great beach day at Cathedral Cove. We even had a swim. Not bad for the last week of April.

 Glass bottom boat trip. Early morning sun strike for our intrepid travellers.

 See what I mean?

 Pauanui Beach.

 Wentworth Falls Walk.

Birthday Girl

Where did those seven years go?We took Amy and three friends to Splash Planet for the day for a play in the waterslides etc, then back home for Jelly and cake.We We

 Gracie and Eva

 With Gracie, Eva, Laughton and Nana

Christmas Holiday

 Apologies to our regulars for our lack of updates during our month long trip to the south island. To compensate, here are some of the highlights. Dinner at Momorangi on Queen Charlotte Sound near Picton, and the following night with John Sonya and Charlie, Amy's friend from school.

 Walking the peninsula track at Kaikoura.

 Overlooking South Bay, Kaikoura.

Hanmer Springs, New Year's Eve

New Year's Day Hanmer Forest

Quinney's Bush Camp near Nelson

Totaranui, Able Tasman Track, Golden Bay

With Charlie and Sonya on their last night in the south at Totaranui

Toasting Marshmallows

Totaranui Beach

 Wainui Falls, Golden Bay

 Labyrinth Rocks, Takaka, Golden Bay