Continue reading »]]> Day 2 was the big day and the weather was glorious with sunshine, the odd fluffy cloud and a gentle breeze keeping temperatures manageable. We had a slow start with breakfast at the cottage we were sharing with Jen & Paul and their little cutie Mathilde. Then we were off to get photos of Sam getting ready at a house nearby in Martinborough.

From there it was on to the Wedding venue and soon after the bride arrived and the ceremony was under way. A poignant and very personal sequence of vows followed and the couple finished with a kiss and walked back past the assembled guests through a shower of rose petals.

We had a full afternoon of photos with groups followed by some fun on a couch set up on the lawn underneath a tree that now had a chandelier hanging from the branches. The bridal party then took a walk to a nearby field of Cabbage Trees and with the addition of some large balloons we got some unique photos.

The amazingly decked out barn was the site of the reception with funny and sincere speeches and then a meal followed by cake cutting and dancing into the night. The happy couple finished the evening by exiting past a forest of people holding sparklers, a fiery end to a fantastic day.

Continue reading »]]> Sam & Jules got married yesterday and we had the pleasure of being at the Wedding and also taking the official photographs. It started with an evening get together at the Wedding venue, Pounui Homestead, on Friday night where everyone got to meet all the guests and get to know each other while having a few drinks and eating Mexican street food cooked on site by El Señor Andres from Las Margaritas. Perfect weather and good company made for a wonderful start to the weekend.

Continue reading »]]> The Adventure Wellington Meetup Group has been a hive of activity over the last few months. We’ve only attended a fraction of the events that have been on offer but the following should give a taster of what we’ve been up to.

First up was an overnight trip to Wellington Zoo. Normally the sleepover is taken up by school groups, this was the first time they’d hosted a large group of adults. We were shown around the zoo during the evening and also were kept busy with a few interesting games. There was time spent creating some enrichment play things for the cheetah and that night we sleep in a room that was shared with hedgehogs, fish and a few lizards (all in enclosures).

The next morning we watched the cheetah interact with our creations and had a behind the scenes visit with the resident lions, which turned into a real adventure when the lions took a close look as the last few people were exiting the walkway that led to the lions den.

Over a number of weeks kayaking lessons were organised with Fergs in the city, anyone who wanted to take part in future kayaking trips needed to attend a lesson. We joined one lesson and had a good few hours getting tips on using the kayak including learning how to exit and re-enter safely while out at sea. We performed out exits and entries in the lagoon in from of the boat house adjacent to Frank Kitts park and had quite the audience from the party taking place in the boat house. I provided quite a bit of entertainment with my repeated failed attempts to get back in, constantly trying to clamber into the kayak and then flipping out in a tangle before getting myself seated.

We took the lesson specifically becuase we had signed up for a overnight trip out to Matiu/Somes Island, kayaking out to then camp overnight before kayaking back the next day. Unfortunately the Wellington weather didn’t play ball and when the chosen weekend arrived the weather forecast for the Sunday was not conductive to safe paddling so Fergs wouldn’t hire us the kayaks. This turned out to be a good call, the wind on Sunday combined with rain to make for terrible conditions. The trip still went ahead, we got the ferry out to the island instead. Some of us camped and the rest stayed in a house. We were greeted by the resident DOC ranger and spent the afternoon relaxing, have a look around the island walking the the tracks, checking out the old quarantine centre and for many getting dinner prepared. At dusk we went down to the shoreline to try and watch the little blue penguin parade as they all returned to the island for the night and then after dark we went walking again looking for tuatara and giant weta.

We woke to find our tent was starting to suffer in the wild conditions and this necessitated a quick exit and pull-down before tidying everything up undercover of a building. Keryn and a few others had also started a jigsaw puzzle and the next day was wet and windy so there was plenty of time to finish it off after we’d had breakfast. We were informed that the scheduled ferries were all cancelled and there was one ferry coming out expressly to transport everyone off the island so at the required time we were all packed up and waiting at little hut by the dock. The ferry journey was quite rough and a number of people took the opportunity for a last adrenaline rush by heading outside to the upper deck and riding the storm.

Our next meetup was taking part in the Great Race, the largest organisational effort for the group so far. An all day race around Wellington culminating in a BBQ at the Dell in the Botanical Gardens, we started at the concourse of Westpac Stadium where everyone was assigned to teams. There were around 120 people taking part in teams of 4 or 5 and we all started with a destination and from there received further instructions, ending up travelling out to Miramar and back in to town completing tasks and solving puzzles along the way. Keryn and I were in a group with Rachel and Gareth and had a good time though some mistakes early on cost us a lot of time. Highlights included Keryn and Rachel swimming out to a platform in a jobbly Oriental Bay, effectively breaking the law by sitting in an old Rover that turned out to be a mistaken clue answer (something old, red and English – what are the chances someone would leave their car unlocked on the roadside, and how were we to know there was a phone box coming up?) and racing around Wellington Airport trying to find a pilot to pose with us for a photo. It was a long day but very fun and we’re looking forward to next years event already (assuming they have another).

Rather smaller in scope was an evening BBQ and walk at Otari Wilton Bush. Tasked with bringing food to share before the walk Keryn and I made pork empanadas with peach BBQ sauce (recipe taken from the excellent food blog Spicy Ice Cream)and Keryn also put together a batch of oatmeal afgan cookies. The food was good and once everyone had eaten their full we had an hour or so walk taking in some large rimu and good trails.

Then there was a trip back out to sea with a fishing charter organised taking sail from the Paremata marina, nice and close to home. 24 of us were taken out with all the fishing gear provided including loads of bait and crew happy to help us all out from baiting our lines to untangling our lines and hoisting our catches into the boat. Some were more successful than others but in the end we all left with a bag full of filleted fish, largely kahawai and snapper with a few other odds and sods in there as well such as gurnard and a large moki that I caught.

Most recently I joined up for a three hour lesson in sword fighting with Peter Hassall at Harcourt Park in Upper Hutt. Peter is an experienced stuntman who has worked on many television shows and movies and he taught eight of us some techniques and skills around using swords. It was all geared towards fighting for show rather than serious intent and Peter laced the lesson with numerous anecdotes and links back to his past experiences. We started with shortened broomsticks and moved on to prop swords and manuka staffs before some one-on-one time with Peter using blunk sprung-steel weapons. We ended with some short choreographed fights that each pair came up with, incorporating the moves we had been shown. Certainty a different way to spend an afternoon.

I’m not sure what we’l be doing next but there is always something new coming up. If I wasn’t on night shift I’d be taking part in a Paddle Boat race this weekend, there are Sailing lessons which look interesting, also paddle boarding lessons, rafting, lots of walks, more kayaking, hacky sack during lunchtimes for the city crowd (which takes me back to the good old days at Waikato University where we did the same), climbing, cycling, running and more. I don’t think we’ll be stuck for things to do any time soon.

Continue reading »]]> Patty and Sam were in Wellington for a week or so for a Hay family celebration and spent some time with us. I took them to Zealandia and drove them all around as we visited people and places. We visited Sue at the Island Bay home of Compassion and had a walk around which included a look at the large allotment style garden hidden out the back.

While Patty and Sam were celebrating with the family Hay Keryn and I were joined by Catherine for an evening trip out to Daisy Bank farm near Martinborough. The More FM Summer Vineyard Tour featured the John Butler Trio, Aloe Blacc & the Grand Scheme, Tiki Taane and Annabel Fay. It would have been a lovely evening if there hadn’t have been a cool breeze taking the temperature down below expected summer levels but the music was good and the whole event had a nice chilled atmosphere. There was also a caravan stall selling South American styled food, empanadas and fresh grilled churrasco beat stodgy burgers and chips every day.

And going back a few weeks my parents were staying so I was also driving around with them. We went out to Makara and checking out the now publicly accessible West Wind Project. It was Dad’s birthday that week and there was cake and a small family get together at Catherine and Paul’s recently purchased Newtown home (plus visited Petone which I wrote about previously here.

This coming week we’ve got Paul, Jen and Mathilde visiting from Brisbane and then we all go back over to the Wairarapa for the wonderful (it will be, trust me) Wedding of Sam and Jules at Pounui Homestead. It’s going to be a full on but fun weekend ahead.

Continue reading »]]> The rest of our Summer holiday was in the end largely defined by the weather. We had Christmas in Whangarei and spent the time with Keryn’s parents and family relaxing and enjoying good food and company. I’m still getting used to the view now the pine forest next door has been cut down (replanting has taken place, so it 20 years it’ll all be forest again).

From Whangarei we headed north to Kerikeri and pitched our tent at the Top 10 holiday park. Over the next few days we explored Kerikeri and the surrounding area. There was a short walk following the Kerikeri river from Rainbow Falls, watching a bunch of guys swimming up to the falls, climbing out to walk behind the waterfall and then gingerly climbing down to swim back.

We drove out to Aroha Island but visited on the wrong afternoon. Is was cool, overcast and windy at high tide and the wildlife on and around the island was do a good job of hiding. Aroha Island did look like a nice place to stay for a while, and I think we’d get more out of a longer stay, camping with the resident kiwi wandering around at night.

Heading inland we took a couple of short walks in the Manginangina Scenic Reserve, getting a taste of majestic native Kauri groves. There was more wildlife to see here and I spotted a tomtit so quickly had the camera out (as quick as I could manage with swapping lenses anyway) only for the tomtit to fly off. Keryn spotted a well camouflaged moth further along the track so I spent time getting shots of this nearly motionless creature living life dangerously in the middle of the path.

The weather forecast for the coming days was looking terrible so we pulled the plug on staying near the Hokianga Harbour, instead taking along loop from Kerikeri up to the harbour and back via Waipoua Forest and Baylys Beach. Our first walk of the day was at Wairere Boulders where we had a good ramble for a few hours. The valley is filled with giant boulders seeming to flow down from the hills, like someone blew up a mountain. We found lots of tomtits and I finally got the chance to get some good shots as we watched a fledgling being fed by busy parents. There was also a shining cuckoo being fed by a tiny grey warbler, too far away for a decent photo but visible enough that we could point it out to some other visitors trudging along the track.

Being a mostly nice day in a holiday period there were lots of people around, especially as we walked to see Tane Mahuta and then Te Matua Ngahere. The sheer girth of Te Matua Ngahere makes it more impressive than Tane Mahuta, and the 20 minute walk also puts off most of the crowds. The kauri here do make you feel small, their massive trunks shooting skyward to dwarf everything around.

As the weather started coming in we had one last diversion to the wild coast of Baylys Beach before heading back to Whangarei and the rain finally caught up with us on the road. We were grateful to be under a roof rather than a tent as the rain settled in for the next few days.

Continue reading »]]> With Christmas approaching we took leave of work early and drove north. Our plan was to spend some time camping in the glorious weather of a Northland summer while also spending a few days over Christmas at Keryn’s parents place. Keryn did mention that she had strong memories of Christmas at home being largely wet affairs, but we figured we’d see what happened. We stayed the first night in Turangi to break up the drive, choosing to again visit the A+ Backpackers (cheap, clean, arriving late not an issue). Next day we stopped in Hamilton and had good Mexican before I bought a wetsuit (always activities that go hand in hand I’m sure). There was more shopping done as we passed through Auckland before the final push towards Leigh and our destination at Goat Island Camping.

The campsite website describes itself as a free range campsite, and that it was. There weren’t a lot of people on site so we had a wealth of space to choose from to pitch our tent. Once settled in we got ourselves dinner and relaxed, taking in the lovely view while the temperature dropped and the cows in the nearby field had a mooing contest (calves running around having the time of their lives).

The next morning we were down to the beach and ready for some snorkelling. There were plenty of fish, though not as many as I recalled from my last visit here (years ago, probably when they were still encouraging feeding of the fish from the shore). Keryn spotted a small school of quid floating in a shallow area near the beach, eight tiny brown squid seemingly suspended in the water.

We took a drive and ended up having a lovely lunch at the quirky home of Morris & James pottery. The food was very tasty and the setting a beautiful courtyard that looked like a piece of Tuscany plonked down in rural New Zealand; all wooden beams, terracotta paving and vines.

Back to Goat Island we took a second snorkelling trip later in the day nearer high tide and found that there were many more jellyfish in the water and the current was much stronger. We did get to follow an eagle ray for a while as it swam over and through the seaweed, stopping every now and again to give me a chance to take photos which was nice. It was quite tiring second time around so we weren’t in the water long. Back up at the carpark the pohutukawa was in full bloom and in the larger trees on the hillside shags were nesting, the fledglings looking just about ready to leave the nest for good.

An evening drive gave us a chance to stretch our legs on a coastal path at Ti Point. The sunset was good, big clouds glowing orange above the fast flowing water. A pleasant view to end the day.

Plans for more snorkelling the next day were ruined by torrential rain. We unfortunately decided to have breakfast before taking the tent down and ended up struggling with a very wet tent in a proper downpour. Heading down to the beach to have a look we found the water now silted up with run-off from the very swollen stream so plans for the day were scratched and we drove north to Whangarei earlier in the day than planned.

Continue reading »]]> Zealandia was unveiling some new Tuatara nurseries on the 6th November with the introduction of a number of juveniles that had been raised at Victoria University. I had been asked if I would take some photos of the release and was more than happy to oblige. Keryn and I were at the visitor centre for opening time and introduced ourselves to Brian and Peter who were organising everyone. Once all the relevant dignitaries had arrived we entered the valley and all walked down to the location of the new nurseries, the young tuatara being transported to their new homes in adapted plastic containers.

There was a small crowd on people in attendance as we heard first from Neavin of the Tenths Trust (Te Ati Awa), then from representatives of Ngati Koata. Brian gave a welcome and background on behalf of the Karori Sanctuary Trust and the final word went to Sean Murrie of Tuatara Breweries (who helped sponsor the project).

Once Sean had cut the ribbon it was left to Sue and Nicky from Victoria University to carefully release the tuatara into the three nurseries, everyone crowding in to catch a glimpse of the little lizards (actually not lizards, but sphenodontia) being introduced to their new accommodation. Most of the tuatara quickly took refuge in the hollows and burrows they were placed next too but luckily a few hardy ones stayed out where they could be seen and admired. Once they were all inside some food was also put into each nursery, moths and small calcium dusted locusts.

Each nursery is quite large and had been prepared with leaf litter, small plants and other typical forest floor material. Depressions were in place so each tuatara could have it’s own area and the hope is that they will burrow through the deep sandy base and over time it might be possible to see the burrows through a window in the base of structure.

Back near the visitor centre on the front lawn Sue had another visitor with her who usually resides at the University. Spike is a male tuatara and seemed quite content to drape over Sue’s arm, quite placid as people tentatively took turns to touch his scaly skin.

It was an informative and interesting visit, hopefully the tuatara will love their new nurseries and lots of people will be able to get a little closer to these interesting animals.

Continue reading »]]> In a rather strange decision we spent Keryn’s birthday weekend at Castlepoint. It was strange because Keryn made the choice (I wasn’t complaining) to take part in a Wellington Photography Meetup Group overnight photography trip, so we’d be spending the weekend with a bunch of people we hadn’t met previously. Keryn did point out that we had basically been doing this for years with birthdays often coming around while we were on trips in far flung countries, so its almost tradition now.

The group met up at the Porirua Train Station carpark and from there we all travelled over to the Wairarapa, stopping in Carterton to have brunch at the Wild Oats cafe. From there we drove on to Castlepoint. We were staying in a rented house, Keryn and I managed to get a room to ourselves which was nice. The afternoon was spent walking around the beach and Castlepoint lighthouse with a later trip back to the beach to catch the evening light and hopefully a sunset. We got lucky with the sunset, dramatic light firing the clouds in orange and purple and reflecting nicely in the water of the bay, though the ever present wind made the photography a little tricky.

We had a BBQ for dinner with shared salads and other bits and pieces. I had bought a cake the day before from Janus Bakkerij in Lower Hutt and this made a good desert. We were then all picked up by a courtersy van and drive to the local pub where we watched the All Blacks beat France in their Rugby World Cup pool match.

The following morning Keryn and I got up before dawn and headed back to the beach where we climbed most of the way up Lion Rock to watch a damp squib of a sunrise. We watched a seal come into shore and found a few more lounging on the rocks. After breakfast back at the house we got a group photo and then started back for Wellington.

we all stopped at the small town on Tinui for a small walk, taking photos of the small church and walking through a craft shop and museum. There was a final stop back at the Wild Oats cafe and then we were heading back to Wellington where I had some time to rest before heading to work that evening. I was tired that night, more so than usual for some strange reason.

Continue reading »]]> For our wedding anniversary this year we had a weekend away at Raetihi Lodge on the shore of Kenepuru Sound in the Marlborough Sounds. A generous deal on one of the deal of the day websites meant we were staying cheap so had a bit extra money to spend on good food and interesting transport options. We took a Friday morning ferry to Picton and then took the float plane option to fly ten minutes from Picton to the lodge. The flight was short and a little bumpy but we had good views, the alternative option would have been two water taxis and a short drive taking a lot longer and only $10 cheaper each way so taking the fancy plane option was an easy decision.

We arrived and were soon signed in and given the room key. It still being early in the season for Marlborough Sounds holidays we were maybe expecting it to be quiet but we weren’t expecting to be the only guests that night. The next night there was another couple as well but it felt like it was out lodge for the weekend and we had a lovely, relaxing time. We got out for a couple of walks, walking along the road to the right on the first afternoon and then taking the road left the next day. The food at the lodge restaurant was very good, the lodge peaceful and our room nice and big. Definitely recommended if you need a weekend away.

The return flight was much smoother, the day still and calm. The ferry journey was also plain sailing and we had a beautiful afternoon arrival into Wellington harbour, the grey clouds rolling away.