Lake Resort Pauanui

... in a few place names, one of them was the roomy bay near where Hei had settled, “Te-Whanganui-O-Hei” the great bay of Hei.

The Ngati Hei enjoyed their wonderful area, with all it’s natural resources until around 1820, when the Northern tribe Ngaphi, swept down the east coast with their muskets, killing and plundering as they went.

“Te Pare” pa was taken first ...

... still tensions? There are imported Pine trees standing next to native Tree Ferns. Now there is a large wave of Asian settlers sweeping down from the North. And where do the Fijians fit into all of this? I really don’t feel I’ve understood all this yet. New Zealand, who exactly are you?

I’m also getting the feeling from signs and things that Hahei has a Macadamia Orchard too. What on earth does a Macadamia Orchard look like? I’ve Got to find out.

We're in North Island now for our last 2and a half weeks of NZ. Got off to a bit of a rough start when we had some car trouble the day after paying $120 to bring our car over on the ferry. Sadly our Subaru broke beyond repair and it was a sad trip to the scrappy on day 1 of North Island! The cylinder-head gaskets gave out and that was the end of the road for XP8587! So we managed to score a deal with a hire-car company who needed their car back in ...

... nicht zu hoch aus und waere mit 2 Stunden ok gewesen, Sandra wollte eher 4 - 5 Stunden laufen und so trafen wir uns in der Mitte, 3 Stunden. Gut, dass wir zusammen gelaufen sind, der Weg war nicht ganz ohne. Es hatte am Vortag geregnet und alles war nass und rutschig und so mussten wir uns oftmals ein bisschen aushelfen und die Hand reichen. Unser Weg ging zum Waterfall Dam und Taravaere Dam vorbei. Wir hatten von allem was, klettern, rutschereien, springend Baeche ...

... it in Raglan and how we really weren't into the scene in Paeroa. We stayed with an elderly couple and worked in their garden. I dug a post hole (finally, I have a PhD designation - Post hole Digger!) and installed a gate for their fence. After Paeroa, Renee went home and I travelled on to Mt. Manganui on my own. I'm running out of internet, so will post about the Bay of Plenty area and my timing following in a blog to come! Hope all is well and you're all enjoying the snow!!

Getting ourselves into Hot Water (Beach) Sunday 31st August We went for a lovely morning walk on the beach with Carol before leaving for Hot Water Beach. This beach was amazing and we both loved it here. We arrived at just the right time, bang on low water and just after someone had vacated a nice hole so saving us from a digging exercise. After ...

... hiking with (yes hiking) asked me if I'd found a place that I'd like to live in. After thinking carefully for a few minutes, I said no. Although I'd been in some amazing and interesting places, none had touched me enough that I cold see myself living there. But that was then.......!!! On Thursday 8th May 2008, I arrived, at what I can only describe as the most beautiful place in the world (that I've seen), the Coromandal Peninsula. I guess everything is ...

Arrived in New Zealand late afternoon - and then took about another hour and a half to get through customs (honestly, it's worse than the US!) We were being picked up at the airport by John (who's an old schoolteacher of mine, so it was weird for a while calling him John to his face!) and his daughter Evelyn (she's eight and bright as a button). They were then taking us to their bach (pronounced ...

'The Coromandel Peninsula - Broken Hills' One of my tasks while in New Zealand is to find places Jez hasn't been to on his previous trips. But, with three NZ excursions already under his belt, this can prove a bit tricky for a first-timer like me. However, the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula is one such area of New Zealand heretofore unvisited by Mr P, and so, with NZ roadmap in hand and a boot full of supplies, we hit the road with a view to 'circumnavigating' the ...

Today couldn't have worked out better. The 'attendees' for todays dive consisted of a young Danish couple taking their 'Open Water' course, and me. So they were occupied by instructor Darrell whilst diver 'Craig' and I went for a 'play'. We ended up having two great dives and a good snorkel at one of the secluded bays there. The Aldermen Islands are actually a reserve so you cannot walk on any of the islands or touch anything for ...