Tag Archive | Family

Hello again

So SO many apologies are owed to my long time committed readers of this blog.

I abandoned you.
I’m sorry.

The belated news is that just over a year ago we actually sold the Kiwi Blog Bus 😦

We were all sad to see it go after having many happy holiday around New Zealand and enjoyed the wonderful convenience of travelling in a bus / campervan.

However – we were still travelling, but in another direction.
We moved to a lifestyle block.
We are the very proud owners of a tiny two bedroom cottage on an acre and a bit of prime NZ land.

Slowly but surely, aided by funds from the sale of the Blog Bus, we are doing up our do-er upper with the addition of some KiwiAnnison favourites: a huge veggie garden, a tractor shed (full of tractors!), a paddock for the miniature horse, a field full of Christmas trees and chooks… etc….

So for all those that may be interested in following the tales of our “Kiwi Good Life” – you can now do so via the new blog I have started 🙂

And for Kiwi Blog Bus fans – I may still dip in here and write up a few travel stories from the good old bus days, or just general NZ travel tales I think you may just be interested in.

I won’t finish with a goodbye as hopefully this is the recommencement of something that lots of you will stick by my side on.
See you soon
Vicki

Summers hols continue – Bay of Islands

So we’ve skipped to night 4 at Paihia, Bay of Islands.
(Night 3 was beachside at Pataua, Whangarei Heads, when a blissful day playing in the water was followed by a noisy rain squall rudely interrupting our sleep at 5am).

The day got off to a wet start and we travelled up to The Bay of Islands with low cloud, no views and my disappointment looming.
However Read More…

Well, that was Christmas – Hello summer holidays!

Just a brief post as we’re almost ready to set off on our New Year trip.

The Kiwi Blog Bus is stocked up and groaning under the weight of all the Christmas leftovers.

The togs, towels & jandals are loaded. The body boards are strapped to the roof.

We’ve purchased a Read More…

It’s Christmas Time…

##Misletoe and wine##

or… Pohutakawa flowers and beer!

I wish all my fans and followers the most happy of Christmases.

I hope you get a little something from Santa that brings a smile to your face and that you get to share the special time with close family and friends that are dear to you.

Here in New Zealand, Read More…

A little bit of Coromandel and lots of Christmas spirit

It doesn’t always take a long break or a visit to distant shores to recharge your batteries.

For me it took two nights away in the Kiwi Blog Bus this weekend with a little shopping, lots of food, a Santa parade and lots of doing nothing in the shade of a pohutakawa tree.

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Read More…

A long holiday weekend of many parts

We have a public holiday in New Zealand today; Labour day.

To be quite honest, I’m not sure what the history of it is but all I care is that it gets me a day off work and we got a long weekend to go away in the Kiwi Blog Bus!

For the first day we travelled to one of our favourite handy FREE spots: Ferguson Park, Otumoetai near Tauranga.

I relax the minute we drive into the park. Read More…

Relaxed and refreshed at Firth Tower, Matamata

Situated just a few kilometres out of Matamata, Firth Tower Reserve and Museum sits above the town with extensive views of the surrounding countryside with the Kaimai Range towering in the distance.

Read More…

Dare I tell you about Simpsons Beach?

From the Kiwi Annisons Archives:

There is a beautiful sandy beach in a stunning Coromandel bay surrounded by rolling green hills, where you can camp just a stones throw from the water’s edge (and I do mean that literally) and the payment for this paradise…
Just $5 a night.

Read More…

Hamilton Gardens: a collection of paradise and more

Staying local again this week, I shall take you on a trip to Hamilton Gardens – the Waikato’s most popular visitor attraction.

Indian Char Bagh Garden, Hamilton Gardens

Locals and tourists alike throng regularly through the many themed areas, gardens and collections, all open free to the public.

We are lucky enough to be able to visit the gardens on a regular basis; for dog walks, Sunday strolls, Jazz festivals, picnics and more.

In particular we enjoy Read More…

The official medal chart (Kiwi Blog Bus style)

In the spirit of the Olympics ….

(or just because I cannot think what else to blog about today!) this post is about the best of The Kiwi Blog Bus and the winning entries to date.

The positions for most popular post:

Gold medal goes to Waterworks: surely the best fun you can have with recycled objects?! Read More…