catching up

OK, so that last post was almost a month late.  Thanks for sticking with me and checking back.  It is fun to see how many people are reading the blog.  Again, I really am doing it more for a journal for us... but it certainly is more motivating when I know others are reading it as well.  And,  that brings me to ask.  I would love to know who the readers are in some of these different countries (as I can see on my stats page the locations my views come from). I would love to know who in Iran is reading? and where is the Isle of Man is?  how about Russia, South Korea... or any other exotic location.  I love learning about new places and meeting new people.  If any of you want to tell me your story, email kjbroberg@hotmail.com.   Thanks again.  

Grandpa and Nana in da house..woot, woot. Holiday, week 2.

hail to the chief - the in-laws arrive!

Week one of holiday ended on Easter Sunday night.  We arrived back at the house around 8:30 pm and tried to get everyone to sleep as we had a very special day the next day.  Not only was it Easter Monday and ANZAC Day (two national holidays falling on the same day this year), more importantly, Terry (Brett's dad) and his wife Bonnie were arriving from the states.   Of course, couldn't quite give them the welcome we wanted.  Once again it was raining for our visitors.  And, because it was two national holidays, no stores were open, and seeing we had just come back from holiday, not a whole lot of food in the house.  

very exciting.. of course, look at the weather

Still, it was great to see them.  And the kids were overjoyed!!!  Of course, we got more goods from the states - more deodorant (as the NZ stuff sorta sucks), a two year supply of dramamine, some Crystal Light,  a new razor scooter for Phoebe... and more.  And, the best part, they packed it all in a large cooler, or as the kiwis call it, a chilly bin.  I sort of half kidding asked for one of these. We really wanted one but just couldn't make ourselves pay 100$ for one here.   I told them if they needed extra room to pack they could just haul it all in one of those.  How awesome are they for hauling a cooler across the world for us?... pretty awesome I'd say.  

So, yes, it was raining again.  And, the whole forecast for the week did just not look good.  Uggghhh.  I couldn't believe it was happening again.  Really, it was nice before they came, and we have now been on another stretch of really nice sunny weather.   I am afraid to have more guests.   Anyways, they were really good sports about it and we spent some days by the fire and watching the angry sea and the pouring rain.  We did have one nicer day and it was Brett's day off.  We took off to one of our favorite "hot spots", the Morere hot springs.  Of course, after driving two cars 45 minutes, we arrived (to more rain) and to find out that those torrential rains we had had the previous days had flooded and washed out the thermal pools.   NOT FAIR.  So, back to Gisborne.  We did get to eat some fish and chips at the beach and have a nice stroll, though.  And, then, I thought we might need to take a little road trip away from the howling wind.  So, a couple days later, we set off for the trip through the gorge to Rotorua, where there was a forecast for sun.  The trip was lovely and enjoyed by all.  I must have been excited to get out of town, as I just recieved my first ever speeding ticket in the mail.  I was caught by a speed camera on my way out of town - oh well.

Off to Rotorua again.  As you may remember this is where Jenna and I had a little getaway to.  This time, I did almost all different new stuff.  And it was a lot of fun again.  We went up a gondola and did some luge rides down a hill.  Walked through a redwood forest.  Hung out at the lakeside park with the kids, and one day there were amusement rides and activities for them.   Introduced Terry and Bonnie to Indian food and loved watching them enjoy it.... they may be as hooked as we are now.  Of course, had to take the kids to the bubbling mud pools.  How can bubbling mud sound so cool?  And, a stop at some thermal pools (a fourth location for me).  This time you could hike up to where the boiling water is coming out of the ground... very cool (actually, hot).

And, then, even though it seemed like they had just got here, it was time for them to go.  They were headed to Sydney, Australia for a couple of nights and then back to Sun City, Arizona.  Felt too soon, but we were again grateful that they got to come visit and we could show them our new life.  Thanks again... and we miss you guys!

headed back to Gisborne after our drive to the hot springs

The hill hike over Wainui

pit stop in the gorge on road trip to Rotorua

Nana and her new I Pad.. we couldn't get her to put it down.  Actually she was using it as her camera too.

Weeeeee!

Phoebe and Brett on the Luge in Rotorua

Our cautious ones taking it easy after going for their rides

Our adrenalin seekers who went back for more (and to look for the flip-flop Liam lost on the chair ride)

smooches

stolling in the Redwoods

water coming out of the ground at boiling temps... then cooled down and used at the Waikike Thermal Spa we went to. 

boiling mud pits in the morning 

pony rides in the park

Liam learns to drive on the other side.

Holiday!

Busy, busy, busy.... these last few weeks have been very "full on" as the kiwi's would say.  Liam and Phoebe had a two week break from school (the week before and after Easter) and not a minute was wasted.  The first week we took off for a South Island adventure and the second week we had some V.I.P. visitors... Grandpa and Nana Adams.  This week has just been getting back to normal... finally to the point where I feel like I can blog again.  First, I am going to have to report on our travels to the infamous South Island.

For those of you who don't know, New Zealand is comprised of two main islands (and a third smaller one).   The North Island, where we live, is most populated, but the South Island is more of a tourist destination.  All of New Zealand is considered very beautiful, but people say the beauty of the South Island is one of kind.   As we still wonder in the beauty outside our window each morning, we were very excited to see what else there could be.  And, I have to say, we were not disappointed.

Our itinerary for this trip was pretty daunting.   I don't even like having itineraries for vacations, but, as we are finding out, you kind of need them when traveling over the holidays in New Zealand.  My idea of a vacation now is usually vegging out on a beach, reading a book, and soaking up the rays.  I left my days of touring back in Europe in college.  But, now that we live on a beach, and have a fabulous new country to explore, I didn't mind so much the thought of getting in a car and just traveling, seeing, and even getting caught in some of the tourist traps.    However, I was very nervous about the amount of actual travel time that was involved (as, if you remember, the kiddos have not been handling the long car trips so well).  I had originally planned for us to do a portion of the trip by train, ending in Christchurch and flying home from there.  The same day I thought I had figured it all out, yep, the big earthquake happened and I had to start the planning over.  So, this is what I ended up with.

Sunday... leave Gisborne on 7:00 am flight to Wellington, arrive 8:00 am
Tuesday... leave on 8:45am ferry to South Island (3 hours), ferry was late, didn't arrive until 12:30.  Pick up rental car and drive 2 1/2 hours to cottage outside of Nelson.
Wednesday... drive another hour and take 45 minute water taxi out to Abel Tasman National Park.  Return to cottage by same travel distance.
Thursday.... leave cottage, drive 4 1/2 hours to Greymouth (however stop in Buller Gorge makes it into a 7 hour trip)
Friday... leave Greymouth for ANOTHER 4 1/2 hour trip to Kaikoura!!!  this time a stop in Hanmer Hot springs turns it into a 9 hour trip!!
Saturday.... Kaikoura (Kelly wakes up at 5:00 am to swim with dolphins, otherwise we just kick back)
Sunday... Leave Kaikoura for a two hour drive to Piction, get on 3 hour ferry ride to Wellington, and then to airport to wait for the hour flight back to Gisborne.  Arrive home at 8:30 p.m..   Terry and Bonnie to arrive from the states the next morning.  Not sure who is going to be more tired.

Um, yeah, not sure what I was thinking.  I thought it was crazy at the time, but again, that dang earthquake screwed up my plans.  As it turns out, it was a lot of fun.  And, the kids did not complain at all.  Many of times, after hours and hours in the car, Brett and I would just look at each other, dumbfounded.  And too afraid to ask why? why were they being so good?  Maybe it was because they were so tired from everything else.   The scenery was pretty amazing.  It is hard to drive when you just want to pull over and take pictures all the time.  That definitely added some time on too.

Highlights of the trip included:

Wellington -  riding up the cable car, and then walking through some amazing  botanical gardens back down into the city centre.  watching the kids do some of there own New Zealand Extreme activities (mini bungy on a trampoline).  The ocean walk. (and that was all the day we arrived)  The Te Papa Museum on the second day.

The Ferry Ride.... going from the North Island to the South Island thru the Cook Straight and into the Marlobrough sounds.  Spectacular.

the sounds

Our cottage in Mapua.  Complete with two llamas, highland cattle, and a yellow lab named Rocco.  And, the best, fresh pressed apple juice I have ever had.

view from the cottage

a dog name Rocco, perfect for the little one's missing our black lab Rico

Taking a water taxi out to Abel Tasman National Park.  Breathtaking beaches, wonderful hikes... a true treasure and one of favorite places so far.  Perfect day.

Aqua taxi ride 

Split Apple Rock

dropped off on this beach... paradise

pre hike swim

Phoebe decides she really does like the ocean (maybe because there are not such huge waves here)

Hiking to the next beach.  They did awesome on a one hour hike!

views on the hike

our destination.. Anchorage beach

chilling out and waiting for the aqua taxi to pick us up

Buller Gorge...  Walked over the largest swingbridge in New Zealand.... heart pounding.   Supa-manned back over the gorge (head first zip line, laying on belly... ran and dived out over it - very fun - but the swing bridge was more scary)

walking the swingbridge back over... a little more brave this time

Mom diving head first over the gorge

I'M FLYING

Driving down the West Coast... ONE OF THE BEST COSTAL DRIVES EVER!.. can't even describe!!  Stop at Pancake rocks.  Just plain cool.

The West coast

Pancake rocks

Hanmer Hot Springs.  Beautiful little tourist town. Warm fall day.  Reminded me of Colorado.  Fun, but busy water park and hot springs.    Photographed by Christchurch Press Newspaper with Phoebe in pools, they were doing an article on all the people from Christchurch escaping on holiday.  Thought we were from Chirstchurch, seemed disappointed when I said we were not.  Took our names just in case they used our photo.

Kaikoura -   Next day found photo on FRONT PAGE of newspaper... BIG PHOTO.  cute of Phoebe, not me.   BUT, had one of the best experiences ever when I got to go swimming with wild dolphins.   Went on a 5:30 dolphin encounter tour.  They take you out into open sea, looking for pods of dusky dolphins.  No sonars are used.  They do not entice the dolphins with food or anything.  They let you jump into water with dolphins and let them interact naturally with you.  AMAZING. Dolphins were swimming and jumping around me.  We found a pod of 50-100 dolphins before the sun even came up.  Watched them play with an incredible sunrise in background.  Will never forget it, ever.   Kaikoura is another beautiful city, situated with snow capped peaks, and tons of sea life... seals, whales, dolphins, birds.  Very cool.

Arrival in Kaikoura

seal

Liam and the seal

And, one more beautiful drive up the east coast of the South Island so we could get on the ferry, and then the plane.  Can't wait to go back and do the southern portion of the South Islands.... next time we are taking more time, and, a campervan.