Whatever the weather
I read in the news today that here in New Zealand we have apparently just experienced one of the warmest Aprils on records.
(April’s record breaking sunshine. )
I must admit we had a pretty crappy summer this year but I can vouch that Autumn has so far made up for it.
New Zealand is supposed to have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons – but the weather can be very changeable and we often get four seasons in one day.
As in this well-known kiwi song by Crowded House…
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Marvellous nature at Mangapohue Natural Bridge
The Kiwi Blog Bus recently took us to a magical location where we were not only awed by the amazing feats of nature but well and truly gobsmacked by it.
I’ve already said the road from Waitomo out to the west coast is simply stunning, read magnificent meanderings to Marokopa, but the highlight of the scenic trip has got to be a stop at Mangapohue natural bridge.
A short stroll on a riverside boardwalk takes you along the Mangapohue Stream through a steep limestone gorge and into the remains of an ancient cave system.
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Magnificent meanderings to Marokopa
A 50km drive out west of Waitomo will lead you through an amazing limestone landscape to the historic west-coast fishing village of Marokopa.
We recently took the scenic route from Waitomo Caves (after we had stayed at Woodlyn Park), and I was blown away by the views along the way.
The road twisted and turned as New Zealand put on a good show of its rugged character and I could not stop taking pictures through a somewhat fly splattered windscreen. Read More…
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Alexandra Redoubt: One of the Waikato’s most historic places
Quite often I get asked what I miss about not living in the UK anymore, but I’m not a whingeing pom and don’t begin to rhyme off a list of groceries.
I’m a very happy honorary kiwi, however if pressed on the subject I would have to say I miss the history and the architecture of old buildings.
And I especially miss castles.
But… I have to reinforce that I totally love the old New Zealand buildings.
I love the colonial style of many towns and buildings here and really enjoy visiting and learning about historic places.
So although it isn’t a castle I was very happy to visit Alexandra Redoubt which is listed on the NZ Historic Places Trust and is one of the best preserved earthworks of the New Zealand Wars.
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Relaxed in Raglan
Today we ventured out in the Kiwi Blog Bus for a day trip to Raglan.
It’s the last day of our Easter school holidays and we felt the need to get out in the bus for one last holiday trip and enjoy the gorgeous indian summer we are having.
Raglan is a small town on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, about 50km from Hamilton. Read More…
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Free and fabulous in Tairua
There is a small car park overlooking Tairua harbour where, in an attempt to manage freedom camping, the local council have allocated two free overnight spaces for self-contained campervans.
Earlier this week we were lucky enough to get one of these much prized parking spots for the night.
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Down at the beach… are you sure it’s Autumn?
Part of our recent trip away involved a night at Whangamata in the beautiful Coromandel.
We stayed overnight in an avocado orchard (an NZMCA POP site) which we have visited before, and then went into town for a spot of shopping and to visit the beach.
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Woodlyn Park – truely a unique attraction
It’s fair to say that we do see some unusual sights while driving around New Zealand in an old Japanese school bus, but down in Waitomo we were a little bewildered to see a very large boat placed in a field near a Bristol Freighter plane and an old railway carriage.
We went to investigate.
Woodlyn Park also caught our eye as there was a large roadside sign saying Free campervan parking.
How could we refuse? Read More…
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A stroll around Pirongia Village
This is a selection of photographs taken around historic Pirongia in North Island’s Waikato during our visit there this Easter weekend.
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Kiwi Blog Bus
Campervan tales from New Zealand
The Kiwi Blog Bus - campervan tales from New Zealand 