Some more of the Deer Park

Arriving Home

We came back to 'earth' on the 9th April. It was so lovely to feel those little arms around our necks. We missed all of them so much. The last couple of nights we were saying to each other 'only two sleeps, only one sleep' we were so glad to be coming home.

We have spent heaps of time with the kids since being home and took them up to Borumba Deer Park to visit with nonna and Father for an overnight stay. Isaac and Cassid thought it was just fantastic because they slept in bunk beds and could 'chat' as Cassidy says. She hasn't stopped talking about going back there one day. I am sure we will it was a lovely spot. Lyall took Isaac fishing in the morning and they caught a fish which was eaten for dinner that night! Very yummy.

It is so good to be back with them and doing all the 'normal' things in life! There is no place like home!

Holiday over - see you soon

Looked at real estate today.... how's this for the view out of the bedroom?? and even better from the rear deck you see out the window.. Anyone want a share of a great holiday home???? and investment????

One sleep .... Goodnight... xx

Beach fishing

The weather decided to blow up so the idea of going out and fishing was called off. So we decided to hire fishing gear and have a go from the beach - people here say that you can catch fish from the beach.

As you can see Shell is super excited in the this pasttime. We did not get anything for tea - just fish and chips from the shop.....

Here's another sunset for you Kate...
Don't listen to him - it was fun, just looking at the scenery and the lovely sunset - still trying to come up with some idea how Lyall can come fishing here each year............ Two sleeps to go.......

3 Sleeps to go!!

Today is Sunday and we decided to go up to Whitianga (pronounced fit-e-ang-a) to church. It was great - a goup of about 20 or so and so friendly, great worship and good message about was the flood real and why people in early genisis lived to like 900 and that quickly changed down to sub 100....
The pics and just typical new zealand because you can't do a blog without photos hey?? (They were taken today though)

Shell: yep, well Lyall has said it all.....we stopped in the town and had ice-cream, not as good as in Russell!! Church was good and we talked to lots of people about house swapping etc and also one lady and her husband have a 43' boat - I think they are Lyall's new best friend!! And, would you believe it , the Pastor has a brother called Lyall - even spelt the same way. Well it is nap time so catch you all later. Love and kisses xxxx Only 3 sleeps to go!!!

Whitianga, Coromandel Town and beyond ...

We had a bit of a quiet day today - Saturday. So we decided to go for a bit of a drive and see what the country looks like north of where we are staying. A 90 minute drive to Coromandel Town and we went on a train ride for an hour through the native bush. This train has been done by this private guy who set up the lot. He bought the 60acres in 1978 and started laying the tracks, building the train,


building this double decker rail bridge (there are several normal bridges that he had to build),

getting rid of imported trees and planting stacks of kauri trees. He also built these decks that the 'trains' go out onto to turn around.. They stick out over the drop...

He is trying to save all this native NZ flora and fauna on his property by pest proof fencing, removal of unwanted trees and planting of desired ones.

I found my beach.... almost deserted.... great fishing.... protected waters... etc etc etc..



Local inhabitants ....


Check out this sign... What manual does this come out of!!!!

On the way back home at dusk there was this huge pig silloetted against the skyline and I got the photo but we also saw an eagle on the side of the road picking at a dead possum - and when I pulled up it just sat there !! But I did not get that photo!!>:o(

Shell: well we got going late as Lyall said but the drive was nice - we searched for some yummy ice cream like we had in Russell but to no avail. We are going to go to Whitianga to church tomorrow so that will be another chance to buy ice cream.

Glowworms at last!!

Jane and Shell enroute to the 500m long abandoned mining tunnel that the glowworms call home.


If you look carefully you can see the worm. It is about 60mm long and dangles these sticky threads down to catch inquisitive insects that are attracted by the light it shines from its head above the threads. When something gets caught they become dinner...

The light from several glow worms attracting dinner intoo the proximity of the sticky threads.
(You should try taking a photo in the dark tunnel!! This may look insignificant but ......)

A collection of Flora (and 1 fauna) macro shots of stuff we came across during our 3 hour hike to get to and back from the tunnel. The tunnel used to be a gold mine and apparently some gold is still being mined in this area by some small concerns.

4 more days to go of playing tourist and the possibility of going fishing on Monday afternoon to catch a large snapper (I hope).... anyway, we do miss you all back home and we won't really be sorry to get home. 4 weeks is definitely enough to be away.

Shell is curled up on the bed sleeping as I write this blurb all is well with the travelling nomads.

Hot Water Beach & Cathedral Cove

Hot Water Beach.


Very hot carbon dioxide is escaping up through the sand at certain spots on this beach. This heats up the water in the sand to around 60 degrees or so. The idea is that at low tide this spot is just above the waterline, so armed with a shovel you dig a hole about as big as a spa bath and the water that fills up the hole is heated up to about 60 degrees. You then climb in and enjoy a naturally hot spa bath....



The problem was that the tide did not get low enough to allow this to work. We tried to make a sand wall to hold back the tide and allow a pool behind it - but to no avail. The water was a bit warm but too much cold water kept spilling into the pool to allow it to heat up very much.


Maybe we'll get to have another go. We are considering Thurday night at 11pm as the tide is a much lower tide only problem is that iy will be DARK!!



Shell: a ghastly photo of me but my toes were burning!
In the photo below you can see the sand bubbling up - Wouldn't want to put my toes in there!!

Cathedral Cove

This spot is a few kilometres north of the Hot Beach and is such a beautiful place. The water is so clear and the sights so spectacular and so many houses for sale overlooking .... .. . . . .

It is a 40min walk to the actual cove (pictured first) and is only accessible when the tide is below half (or you can't walk through the arch shown in the 2nd and 3rd photo). Nothing much more to say - the photos say it all.

Today was just spectacular - only sorry that Martyn & Jan couldn't share it with us. The views were breathtaking but hard to capture in photos but Lyall has done a great job I think. The walk was a bit hard on the knees but well worth it that is for sure!
.... Glowworms tomorrow.....

Important Message to Isaac & Cassidy...xxx