Last days in Taupo - Saturday 11 - monday 13 feb

On the beach at lake Taupo

On the road

hugh on the chairlift at Whakapapa

Our last lunch with Sinead - at the Red Barn cafe outside Cambridge

Last supper at Oreti Hotel, Pukawa Lake Taupo

Hugh in a Taupo biscuit

On Saturday morning we headed down to Whakapapa village in the Tongariro National Park. This is one of the 2 main skiing sites on the North Island and being summertime, they use the cable cars and chairlifts for sightseeing instead of skiing. So we took 2 chairlifts up to the mountain top at over 1700m altitude over lunar-looking volcanic landscape - the rocks were red or black. We had a very nice lunch at the skyline restaurant with superb views. We arrived home where Matt prepared a smashing lamb chop barbeque for us. Sunday we had a quiet day with another lovely swim in the lake - although Nan and Rick played their 12th and last round of kiwi golf - for 20 euro each! We had our last meal of the holiday at the Oreti lakeside hotel and restaurant - what a magnificent setting watching the sun go down over lake Taupo. She wasnt there to enjoy it, but Sharon: thanks for that one (her birthday present to me!!). Finally, my lasting impressions of this vast gorgeous place is the huge variety of attractions, the open air facilities and most important of all the lovely, friendly and most helpful people you could wish to meet. Mind you, we had 10,000 earthquakes in NZ since september 2010 and we missed them all (or didnt feel any). I am writing this from Auckland airport (love the technology). Kia Ora my friends (goodbye in Maori) and see you soon, Martin and Norrie

Huka falls, Orakei Korako Hidden Valley and Rotorua, Feb 10

Friday was a marathon day. We set off at 9am in two cars for Rotorua, stopping en route to see the Huka falls. This is an incredible waterfall where the Waikato river pushes through a narrow gorge. The water was a very surreal deep blue colour - something to do with the incorporation of air bubbles into it according to Nan. Then we stopped at Orakei Korako or the Hidden Valley - where you take a small ferry across a lake to see a thermal valley covered in boiling pools, hot springs, bubbling mud, walls of sulphur (stinking of rotten eggs) and calcium. The place was covered in a deck platform which you could walk over - it took us about an hour. there was even an aladdins cave, which is apparaently one of only two similar in the world. Our next stop was at Te Puia, a Maori cultural centre which also had more geysers, hot pools and even a kiwi house where we caught our first glimpse of the shy kiwi bird. The highlight of the day however was the Maori concert, where a hundred or so visitors were welcomed into the Marae (meeting house). At the beginning they wanted to elect a chief to act on behalf of the visitors and i was the chosen one! The attractive MC for the concert was a Maori maiden who introduced me to the proceedings, showing me how to do the Maori "Hongi" greeting - two nose to nose kisses while shaking hands. Of course i went for the third one! She pushed me away and said "later when these people are not looking". Then the head warrior came down from the platform wielding a large weapon and dressed in the full Maori warrior gear (grass skirt, feathers in his hair) and covered in tattoos. I had to stand ahead of the crowd and stare at him eyeball to eyeball while he did a welcome dance but it looked like an attack from where i was standing- the sword came within inches of my nose. I then had to walk forward to accept the welcome offering of silver fern leaves. When that was done, i was to lead to whole group into the meeting house, which meant that myself and the gang as special visitors were given the honour to sit in the front row. I was then called up onto the stage as chief to have a Hongi with the maori men - needless to say i wasnt trying the third kiss this time. The show that followed was a demonstrration of the Maori performing arts - brilliant dancing, chanting, juggling and lovely harmonious singing. Sinead captured a lot of the show on video which we will add into this blog ASAP. (keep checking!). It was a great day, entirely memorable, and Sinead, Nor and myself managed to find a local hotel to finish it all off with a nightcap. We are going there on sunday night for our final meal. Thats all for now folks

Huka Falls

Lake Taupo Feb 8-9

Wednesday we played golf at Taupo Tauhara club. It was a nice friendly place, played better than before. The golf here is very good value - 4 green fees, bugg and one golf hire was only 90 euro for the lot. Grand spot.  Off then to thermal springs to soak in 40 degrees water - much needed after the hot day. it was a huge thermal resort and Rick - bloody eejit - decided to go way up and come down head first on the waterslide. it scared the shit out of him and when he hit the water he thought the pool was bottomless. Back to Matt, Sinead for a bbq of simple burgers, salads etc, all polished off, the show stopper was my own idea of bbqd onions and tomatoes thrown in. Thursday we spent the morning at the beach - a beautiful sunny day - and the lot of us swam in Lake Taupo for the first time. Bit chilly at first but then very refreshing once you were in. In the afternoon we golfed again - this time at the country club of Taumaranui. Lovely course. greens a bit slow. Rick had 36 points. Back home where Sinead had spagetti ready for us which we again ate outdoors on the deck in the evening sun. Afterwards we played poker (rather taught them how to play) where a pair of kinds mysteriously kept appearing under my arse till sinead spotted me :)

Leaving Wellington for Lake Taupo Feb 7

Our last night in Wellington turned into a bit of a party - we had a farewell at Jo and Francois's place, fantastic. We were fed pork and lamb on the bbq and even sang a few songs. They were a lovely friendly couple and it was a fitting end to our time in Welly. Tuesday morning was Hugh's first day back at school after the summer holidays and although we were leaving for Taupo that day, we managed to fit in a visit to his school and to be there for the Powhiri - a welcome ceremony for all the children and families to the new school year. The kids were singing songs in Maori and dancing on the stage - brilliant. Then we hit the road for Lake Taupo - a 5 hour drive north. The scenery en route was magnificent - interspersed with huge fields of cattle and sheep. Then when we started driving through the volcanic plateau, the landscape was like nothing on earth. On the last leg to the holiday house there were even jets of steam rising out of the side of the hill, real indicators of the geothermal landscape below. The house on the lakeshore has spectacular panoramic views. Sinead and Rick and the kids had a swim in the lake that evening - they said it was warm but i wasnt tempted yet! Nan cooked a lovely fish dinner and we finished with pancakes. everyone was tired after the long day.

 Singing for Sinead's pal Jo

Emily, Nan and Nor on the deck at Jo and Francois' place

 Powhiri at Hugh's School (Muritai)

Last week in Wellington, Feb 1-7

We arrived back in Wellington after our south island adventure. Glad to be "home" again after the 7 nights on the road, and to eat home cooked meals. Thursday Nan and Rick played golf at their adopted club Boulcott and then on friday we all played together at the Royal Wellington course. The course is over one hundred years old in a magnificent setting with huge mature trees, currently under some reconstruction but still fantastic. Rick nearly had a nasty accident. he was getting a lift on the back of our golf buggy. He fell off flat on his back - what a fright. He's nursing a sore back since but still stiff upper lip old chap. I played a bit better but still haven't put any bets on! Friday night we enjoyed some further kiwi hospitality at Chris and Ian Sliperss lovely house in Days Bay. Saturday was the big day - Sinead's party so it was a hive of industry getting everything ready. Nan and Rick's experience in catering for numbers paid dividends as they were a fantastic asset in the party preparations. Crowds started arriving at 7 and by 8 the house was packed - luckily the rain stopped after drizzling all day. Mainly Sinead and Matts age group. The style and glamour had to be seen. The buzz created by the crowd and the DJ was great. you can see some pictures at http://youtu.be/v4y49UkMSXQ
We ate barbequed venison that Matthew had shot and delicious ham - it all went down a treat.
Sunday was a non event for most of us, except for Nan and Rick who showed us all up by having the energy to go golfing (although they said they played shite). . Today sinead took us to wellington up one of the cable cars for views of the harbour. Kids had great fun on the slides and trampolines.Huge range of kiddies attractions. Nan and rik again golfed.Off to dinner to one of sineads pals this evening and tomorrow the 1st leg of the last part nth to auckland for 6 days at lake taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand, and at the heart of the geothermal area so we are looking forward to more hotpools, feeling a bit sad already.

Sinead and Emily on the Wellington Cable car

 Myself with Hugh and Emily on the cable car

 Action down on Wellington waterfront - by the kids playground

 Wellington harbour waterfront

Hugh on the bungy trampoline

Kaikoura and Blenheim Jan 29 to Feb 1

Monday turned out to be a stunningly sunny day but very windy and we had a false start because our whalewatching trip was cancelled due to the stormy seas. So we had a good day checking out the local seal colony and the local pool, while Nan and Rick battled the pacific winds yet again on the Kaikoura country golf course, fair play to them. We dined at a picnic bench on Armers beach, watching the sun go down as we tucked into fresh crayfish, prawns, scallops, whitebait and crayfish fritters and a couple of nice glasses of wine to wash it down. Definitely one of the most memorable meals of the trips so far. Up bright and early tuesday to try again for the whalewatching – and the water looked glass-calm which augured well. HA! 3 hours of incredibly deep swell, and being bumped across these high waves in pursuit of the Sperm Whale (yes thats what its called, and not surprisingly with testicles that weigh 500kg each!!). Sinead, Norrie and the kids were all a bit green... But it was all worthwhile because after a few false starts (rushing across the sea to catch a glimpse of the whale and getting there just after he had dived under – where he can stay for an hour!), we eventually got what we came for: an up close view of this magestic creature. He stayed at the surface for quite a few minutes, blowin 5m spouts of air and flaring his giant nostrils (big enough to sit a child in – who tried it I wonder?). Then slowly his back and long tail appeared and the tail fins appeared above the water before he took his dive under again. Magnificent. Back to shore and when all finally recovered from the seasickness we hit the road again – this time for Blenheim, centre of Marlborough wine region. Sinead's lovely friends Chris and Barb Barton hosted us in their gorgeous garden for afternoon tea and then looked after Hugh and Emily while we adults hit the vineyards. As far as the eye can see there are vines growing here – with the odd orchard or olive grove interspersed. Sauvignon blanc is the big product of this region and we even go to visit the vineyard where the wine was made that we had served at my 70^th back in November. Finished off the day, and this excellent South Island leg of our NZ adventure, with a lovely family meal (chauffeur bus service to and from – cant beat that!!). Back to wellington now - we are on the ferry across the cook straits, via the Queen Charlotte sound - more incredible scenery here. Nan and Rick are having the usual English cup of tea and he is writing his daily postcard to his grandsons Joe and Sam - he hasnt missed a day yet.

 New Zealand Fur seal

Ems with seals

Seals on Kaikoura peninsula

dad and Hugh with the seal

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Martin Rick and Nan on Kaikoura peninsula walk

 whalewatching

 Cook Strait Ferry trip