Tag Archive | Nature

How we came to be honorary kiwis

Today’s post recognises the beginning steps of our life in New Zealand, which ultimately led to the adventures and travels we are now able to make in the Kiwi Blog Bus.

It’s an anniversay day for us.

Three years ago today we got very valuable blue stickers inserted into our UK passports – we were given permanent residence in New Zealand.

We had been here for five months (out of the six allowed as a tourist) and although Sam had a current work visa, myself and the three children were all due to leave the country if our permanent residence didn’t come through in time.

The relief, as you can imagine, was immense.

Especially as we’d already bought a house and shipped over all our personal possessions!

Read More…

New Zealand sunsets part 1

Happy Holidays - April 2007 - Kapiti coast - Sun setting over my children playing on the beach

New Zealand is one of the first places in the world to greet each new day – but for me it’s the spectacular daily farewell to the sun that is much more impressive.

Or maybe that’s just because I witness a lot more sunsets than sunrises.
I’m not an early bird.

Read More…

Free lakeside camping surrounded by some of New Zealand’s best

There is a quiet little spot that’s not far from our home town of Cambridge and we often go there for a day or two to completely chill out.

We can leave home in our bus and in less than half an hour be parked up (for free) at a large lakeside reserve where we can fish, kayak, swim or just relax.

Read More…

Blue toes at Blue Springs

We are very fortunate to have so many beauty spots in New Zealand and coming from the UK I still relish the fact that most are quiet and free with a tremendous lack of commercialisation.

There are free car parks at most of these gorgeous locations and generally there are not any ice cream/hot dog/bucket & spade vans touting their wares (but actually I think there have been times when we could have sold cold drinks or cups of tea from the bus and it would have been welcomed!).

One of my favourite spots (so far) is The Blue Spring / Te Waihou Walkway near Putaruru

Read More…

Falling waters of New Zealand

There are many in New Zealand.
Breathtaking beautiful, many are dramatic and quite spectacular.
Big, small, narrow, wide.
But all impressive in their own way.

McLaren Falls near Tauranga Read More…

Getting historical in an Auckland Regional Park

After our stay in Thames we drove over the tremendously new Kopu bridge (with NO queuing in traffic) and set off around the East Coast Road to the other side of the Firth of Thames.

We drove up to Tapapakanga Regional Park, just south of Orere Point, where we found two wonderfully located
seaview/beachfront campsites …. for tents. Read More…