Taupo & Napier

This week I went to Taupo, Mount Ruapehu visible at the end of Lake Taupo erupted on Tuesday evening, causing rather a lot of excitement, I could see the Laha flow on the top of the mountain.

Then onto Napier, full of beautiful Art Deco architecture

kiwi barbie

This weekend we went truly kiwi and invested in a 4 burner gas BBQ - not as much fun as the old charcoal but great for everyday use

The Taranaki

Last week Jo went to New Plymouth for the first time, not the most exciting town but famous for the amazing backdrop of Mount Taranaki - used in the filming of 'The Last Samurai'. Lucky to see it, it is usually shrowded in cloud.

Spring weekend at a 'Bach' in Tairua

We spent this weekend with a few friends at a typical Kiwi bach in the town of Tairua in the Coromandel. Saturday morning we went fishing.

Our mate Steve passed on some Maori fisherman's knowledge and Mike and Michelle both managed to catch their first ever fishes.


By the end of the session, we had caught a kahawhai each.

Next up was chilling on the deck of the bach in the afternoon sun



Claire relaxed with a well deserved cold drink.

The hunter-gathering continued... At low tide, Steve Mike and Aaron went diving for Green Lippped Mussels in the estuary.

We returned with a full catch bag, stopping off at the rockpools, where we witnessed this octopus devouring a crab.

On the edge of Mount Pacu, we discovered a somewhat phallic rock.

Aaron got stuck into some mussels that evening.

Mike enjoying the catch of the day fresh off the barbie.