HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL FROM NZ

Hi all, we are on the road. We had a great but very rainy day at Rotorua. There are lots of thermals - we didn't take in the one of the numerous spas and soak in the mud (kate says yuck) but we did stroll around the 'volcanic playground' and saw lots of action... Kate still says yuck - it all smells like sulphur, however she didn't walk around with fingers shoved up her nostrils like she was in a Hong Kong fish markets!

Rotorua Sulphur steam...
Facial anyone?

Playgrounds are great here:

Mira high up on the spider web...
Kate working her way across..
Cool!

More flowers - they are impressive -really.

The rain persuaded us to move along so we moved on.. to Whakatane. This is pronounced Fak-a-ton-ay.. careful. We stayed at a stunning campsite on the beach in our new 4 person tent. However we quickly realized that folks here don't do camping light.... the average tent has at least 3 or 4 compartments. Paul paced one off at 24 feet long. What a sight that would make on the shores of Kluane! These tents are bigger than most of the rooms we stayed in, in South East Asia! People bring everything - bunkbeds, cots, tables, chairs, barbies, tv's - not to mention copious amounts of beer, all packed into a small trailer ready to roll.

We got to see Glow Warms. We did a little hike at dusk and by the time we were at the glow worm sight it was very dark. They are like tiny LED lights that light up the undersides of bridges, caves, and wet rock faces. It was like seeing the milky way in the trees. It was magic. The kids loved it too. We had to buy a flashlight for our camping adventures here and Kate and Mira were both excited to use in the bush. Late night had by all.

Camping in Whakatane...Okitipi really!

We visited a Macadamian nut farm on the way round the East Coast today. It was just like the one we visited in Hawaii. NZ is similar in many ways to Hawaii, just has cooler temperatures and cold oceans.. and... better wine and ice cream says Paul.

A church and a horse somewhere along our very long day of driving...
So we drove. We had intended to drive and camp at Hick's Bay today but the campsite was not impressive (folks had already started celebrating early in the afternoon) so we decided to use the pending cloud cover to push on towards Gisborne. On route we discovered plenty of no vacancy signs until arriving in sunny Gisborne to find what must have been the last available space in town. Apparently Kiwis like to celebrate the new year by camping (in their really big tents!) . The kids braved the pool - with wetsuits and were happy to use the shower.

So from Gisborne, New Zealand, we wish you all a Happy New Year, 2010. much love sharon

Post Christmas fun in Karapiro

So we had an absolutely fun day on Christmas day. Kiwi friends of Krista and Ray's took us in on Christmas so that we too could participate in a traditional Christmas Barbie (BBQ). Tents were set up in the yard with tables laid out with all the finery and Christmas crackers for at least 20. We had lamb and lots and lots of fresh veggies. Canadians introduced our Kiwi hosts to cooked beets (they eat them mostly pickled here) and Schnitz apple pie - a hit with their son. We all had great laughs and were there for the whole day. There were so many desserts that I thought we were at a community dinner. Mira and Kate took advantage of Kate's new scooter and a borrowed scooter from Deb and John, our hosts, to rip around the drive way. What a wonderful way to spend our Christmas away from all our loved ones.

On Boxing Day, we hosted a 'do' at our cabin in Karapiro. We served ham - the traditional meat served at Christmas time. Paul was in the grocery store looking for the right ham and got some assistance from Delores? Pheobe? Mildred? someone sweet who called him Deary and found the most delicious ham I have ever had "out back" for our first party in New Zealand.

Ray and Ev English (Krista's Dad) at our Boxing Day Dinner on the deck at Lake Karapiro.

We were supposed to pack up and leave our little cabin the next day but instead elected to "go to the beach!" Not a difficult choice given that both the girls got new boogie boards and Paul got a skim board. The waves were perfect and we kept on slapping on the sunscreen and great day was had by all.

Kate surfing onto the beach...

This picture is for Anna - This is Sharon in what is as close to a bikini as she will ever be...!

So the next day we really did pack up for the East Coast/Hawke's bay area. But in true Sharon and Paul fashion, we slept in to 8:30 and frantically clean up and packed before 10am check out. The kids are really good at packing in a flurry and were great help scootering the loads to the car. This is a photo by the way of our new-to-us -use-it-until-we-get-a-hatch-back-for-you-car from the dealer... it is much smaller and we have to shove all our stuff in. We now own a tent and mattresses and pillows and, and, and.... Didn't check to see if it had a spare tire? hmm?

En route to Rotorua, we stopped in Tirau where corrugated tin must be readily available. Here is the information centre and below the wool goods and tourist shop. Our kids are in front, of course.

It has rained the whole time we have been here in Rotorua so we are moving on. Our tent leaks - we knew it would so we are off to the beach in hopes of fine weather - plus Rotorua is only an hour from Cambridge so we can come back to see the sights. It has thermal pool and such but not much fun in the rain. Below is an Zorb - a big beach ball loaded with a person and thrown down the hill. We had fun watching but will not be participating, Vomit Bag anyone?

We were all thinking of Dad all day yesterday and thinking that he and mom must have had such fun here in New Zealand. I am sending love off to all in Cobourg and am sending you a hug.

We are off to Whakane today - not far and will fill you in on more from there. Happy New Year Everyone.

Christmas in New Zealand

Merry Christmas all from Sunny New Zealand.

Santa found us here in our cabin in Karapiro on the lake. The kids are excited and happy with their lot.

We have to talk about our adventures here on Christmas eve.... we packed out of our B&B and moved to the cabin in the early morning... by midmorning our 14 day old new car (to us) was not happy - making really loud groaning sounds and well, smoking. Paul limped it off to a garage - nice guys, who basically told us to bury it. The car salesman, great guy, said "No problem, mate, bring it by" and Paul drove it as far as it would go...half way! Kiwi folks remind us of our Yukon friends and he was picked up very quickly off the side of the road. The people who picked him up weren't even heading to T.A. They drove out of their way to drop him off at the dealer. The dealer gave us a car to borrow for the holidays and we are still rolling! Amazing.

Then we headed to the races. We didn't do as well as last time - we didn't even brake even but we had a great time.

I hope this finds all of you happy and healthy. A very Merry Christmas from us to you... where ever you are. Merry Christmas. s

NZ Santa at the races.... Mira gets a candy.

Last photo of our first NZ car - many more to come?

Only the cow knows where the car was abandoned!

Our Canadian crew at the races:

Connor, Ev, Krista, Lily, Mira, Ray, Kate, Sharon, Paul

Mira with our tree - 1950s tinsel - who hoo!

Kate showing off the tree and the ornaments.

Cabin decorated for the season

Waihi Beach NZ

As part of our new tradition - we are heading to the races on Christmas eve - when in Rome!

Hello all, Another Blog from NZ... we are having a great time. This land is not very Christmas-y, not much in the way of Christmas music and decorations but the kids KNOW that it is just days away.

In the meantime, we had to get out of our B&B this past weekend so we headed to the Waihi Beach on the east coast. We had a unit with a deck the faced the ocean. There was a heated pool and a jumping pillow - see below.

Beach is always a great way to spend hours and hours having fun..

We finished off our weekend with a hike on Mount Maunganui. Kate ran ahead to the summit. The Kiwi Christmas tree are out in full bloom. We hiked through sheep pastures and got close to the wee lambs.

Kiwi Christmas tree overlooking the ocean from the summit of Mt. Maunganui

Our intrepid hikers.

Postcard material? Can you see the sheep?

Cambridge is Home of Champions - lots of very expensive horses. Mira is in her glory.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We aren't having a white Christmas but that is ok. We are happy to have a very different Christmas, this year especially. I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

I was looking at the Southern Cross high in the starry sky this past weekend and thinking of our friend Kathy in Juneau. We send you our best wishes Kathy - take care.

Merry Christmas all.

December in Cambridge, NZ

Greeting from New Zealand!

We have been very busy. We have traveled to both coasts now. On the West coast, we visited Raglin and Kawhia (pronounced Kawhia). The sand is black on the west coast - volcanoes - and the waves are impressive. The kids have been having a great time playing in the surf. We bought wet suits. Don't they look like Kiwis? Raglan and Kawhia are over many a sheep covered hill through impossibly curvy, windy roads. The country side is absolutely amazing. the surf was wild and we had a great time watching the surfers - happy to be on shore. In Kawhia, we dug a pool that filled with hot thermal water, creating our own seaside hot tub. It was lovely and warm. We had to watch out for hot spots - the water comes in so hot that you could burn yourself.
We traveled to Mount Munganui with Ray, Krista and Lily to see the East Coast. The sand is blond on this side of the island and the swimming is better. The beaches are not too crowded yet but summer vacation starts this week.
Flowers - they are everywhere and only come in huge size. Other thoughts? We are now proud car owners and taking advantage of our freedom to zoom about. I am driving now - Kate said I don't do too bad of a job either - Thanks Kate. Roundabouts are everywhere and I am less panicky when Paul is driving - I am not sure he would say the same yet when he is the passenger.

I have to mention that we went to Hamilton for their Santa Claus Parade which was fabulous. We even saw the largest edible float - made of chocolate. Kate thought the parade was great but "why is Christmas now when it is hot?"

We are moving off for the next couple of weeks - going North? We don't know yet but we will keep you informed. ttfn Sharon

Kawhia - this is our hot tub by the sea..

The crew on a hill somewhere in NZ

Surfing the dunes?

Kate and Dora at the Santa Claus Parade

Greyhound Racing is huge here

Santa Claus Parade

Wild Weeds?

Can you see how big things grow here?

Sisters in the surf

Kiwi girls?In their new wet suits.

Kate

Growing up?

Checing out the surfers off the far bluff - it is way bigger than it looks from here.

The edible float - yum

Mira at the Hamilton Gardens

Just goofing around.