Early Antipodean Days
It's no surprise that it was a long, long flight. The first leg to Singapore was fine, the vague claustrophobia ameliorated by superbly professional cabin staff who refilled my glass with a quite drinkable red wine almost without being asked... If heaven can be approximated on earth, or 30000 feet above it, this nearly convinced this bibulous atheist. The second leg was less pleasantly accommodating ... Slightly surly cabin staff and sharper red wine ... A double dose of vinegar!A surprisingly good sleep at the hotel and slick shuttle bus services set us up nicely for our camper van pickup! Very exciting! It is slightly larger than we had expected but not excessively so ...
After a quick supermarket shop (always a problem for us ... We can only have shopped together a handful of times in 30 years ...) it was foot on the gas and head off a couple of hours north of Auckland to a pretty campsite by the coast in Waipu Cove ...
A small creek separates the site from the sea and one way across is using the hand hauled raft seen here:
Looks like I've morphed into a bird...
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WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd again WOW!
So THAT is where you are ... please keep blogging and I will keep following and commenting from staid urban Europe xxx
Hi there - it's Judy and Co Oxford calling. Don't know anything about blogging (of course) but am prepared to learn to keep in touch with you! Obviously not jealous at all - much rather be here in the miserable damp and cold ... I am expecting amazing things of you and your travels - no doubt you've got a detailed itinerary so do pass it on so I can look it up - Louis & Emily insist you do the Lord of the Rings tourist thing. I worked with a teacher who'd travelled around New Zealand for a year and his photos/stories were amazing - very physically active though. Is there a word limit on Blogs? Is the sea warm? If so, I expect some saucy seaside shots of you and Steve in your glamorous bathing costumes! Have a wild time. Jude xxx
ReplyDeleteFab! and far better than life at UoB!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry didn't get vouchers to you but they will be useful when you get back.
NZ is on my list so will be interested in your route and piccies.
Gill x
where is the sunshine ? I am glad the flight went well, I think your funny bird is a sandpiper at least it looks like one.and as for the other blob in the far distance in thesea, well hard to define really. Love and
ReplyDeleteHi there helpful ornithologist (whoever you are!) ...An?
DeleteYes ... Weather been a bit damp so far although much brighter this morning! Off dolphin-watching this afternoon ... Will hopefully post some photos (probably of blurry shapes in the water)
S.
Thanks for including me in your blog. It sound like you are going to have an amazing time. I look forward to seeing your photos as you travel. My sister lives in Rotorua on the North Island
ReplyDeleteAll the Best
Lorraine x
Hi Lorraine
Delete... We intend to go to Rotorua ... We'll say hello for you!
Steve
Hiya I did sign my name last time but the spell checker added a superfluos 'd', so can we expect you to retunr with Maori tatoo's then, Luke would be impressed. I did hear about the earth quake in the solomon islands but the tsunami was quite small, so I reconded your van would be able tod rive away from it safely. Byee An
ReplyDeleteDamn smell checkers! Yes, tsunami didn't materialise thankfully.
ReplyDeleteSteve
I hope you realised that the most common cause of death in rain forests is falling timber, so I was slightly concerned to see the run in the forest, that could have been lethal. Did you come across any leeches ? always great fun trying to dislodge them. I do log in and use the blog almost as a screen saver for when things get bad I can scroll through the photos . Have a good day An
ReplyDeleteHi Steve.... I have only just realised how to reply, must be an age think, so here I have replied.... is the van comfy? Have a good time Sue Leake
ReplyDelete