Bits n pieces.

Mt Ruapehu, largest ski area.

Aaaah yes, home sweet home. This is our drive past our fave. area in the north island, the central plateau. Infortunately no time for fun on the mountain this trip.
This is Mt Ngauruhoe which was Mt Doom in LOTR.

Mt Maunganui.

Isaac thinks he is a monkey.
Catching up with Michelle's bro Nath and family. We also caught up with Michelle's dad, and some kiwi friends that we met in Perth.

Michelle's old hometown!

Catching up with Dave Holmes in Hamdog.
Visiting Derek in Gisborne.

Kuku beach!

First destination was 10 days with Michelle's mum and Graeme down in Levin, milking cows, playing lots of card games, and enjoying Kuku beach.
Mum and Graeme.


You can see the foothills of the Tararuas behind Michelle.
Dave particularly liked this find.

Dave and his sister Naomi who was real choice and drove down and picked us up for a road trip back to Pukekohe.

Reintegration into the NZ bush!

So after being in the country for about 48 hours we headed bush to reaquanit ourselves with what we had been missing for the last 2 years, the kiwi bush.
Dave's photos of moss on a fence.

Sweaty us after 2 days in the Tararuas, good old winter mud and cloud and cold!
That thing on the hill behind Dave is a cow!
NZ tramping doesn't always involve cows, but this one does thanks to the farmer permitting access.
Washing up!

Gorgeous rain forest.


Shelob's web.

Farewell Fi and co

Farewell Richens! Well after having left Aussie like 6 weeks ago we are finally updating our blog. These were some of our final moments in Brissy with Michelle's sister Fiona and family.

Ben and his barrow full of kids.


We will miss these two little bundles of noise and giggles!