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New Zealand 2020

January - March 2020
  • Cindy and Daryl Brown
Our winter getaway, with Kirsten time bonus! Read more
  • Cindy and Daryl Brown

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  • Cindy and Daryl BrownTravelerNew Zealand 2020
    1

    Back to Down Under

    January 9, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    A long travel day transports us to warm weather, lush vegetation, longer days and hanging with Kirsten!
    Our next New Zealand adventure begins (we could get used to this place!) with a walk and lunch beside Maitai River in Nelson, and a hike up to the Center of New Zealand. What views! Each time we come here we understand more why our daughter chooses this as her home. After a short nap to manage the jet lag, a superb dinner at East Street Cafe...totally funky vegan locale. Day one extraordinaire!Read more

  • Cindy and Daryl BrownTravelerNew Zealand 2020

    Cycling the 'Great Taste Trail'

    January 10, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    We love New Zealand. We love cycling.  Add to that... blue skies, wine tasting, cheese factory, ice cream...well, say no more 🤩!

    Fabulous day cycling Tasman's Great Taste Trail.  Along the ocean, through the Waimea estuary (over excellent boardwalks), fertile agriculture plains, vineyards...crazy number of different environments.   

    No lack of wine here! And ice cream made with real fruit blended in right before your eyes. Covered 45 km from Nelson to Rabbit Island (pine forests, beaches that rival Long Beach!). Shuttle ferry to Mapua -- cute with a Capital C!  Boutique gift shops with local wares, cafes, brewery, more ice cream,  recommended fish and chips. We chose the brewery 😋.

    Weather is gorgeous. But as Kirsten says... "It's always nice in Nelson".  With all that fresh air, sleep will not be a problem tonight...😴.    Read more

  • Cindy and Daryl BrownTravelerNew Zealand 2020
    Nelson Farmer's Market
    Kirsten's trusty steed...Award-winning Neudorf WineryNelson Cathedral

    Check out the area

    January 11, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Start the day at one of New Zealand's best markets. Another beautiful day to sample mini pancakes, check out local produce and crafts, wander around with a coffee.

    Then a drive inland to Moutere. Couple more wineries (nope, not boring yet!), lunch looking out over the hillsides, at the oldest pub in NZ (not sure it's verified by Guinness, but we'll take them at their word!).

    Fabulous dinner experience!! Cod and Lobster is one of the best restaurants we've been to. Gin cocktail to start (next to impossible to choose from the humungous list!). We'll be mixing some at home with a sprig of rosemary 😋. The food, service, attention to detail all exquisite.    Read more

  • Cindy and Daryl BrownTravelerNew Zealand 2020
    Fishing by Nelson's marinaFirst golf game in New ZealandLakes resort gold course, Pauanui

    To the North Island

    January 13, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    After an action-packed start to our trip--thanks to Kirsten's superb tour guide services 🙂--we bid farewell to Nelson with a walk along the river on a windy morning.  Short flight to Auckland, we picked up our rental car and started our independent adventure.

    Couple days in Pauanami, on the south end of the Coromandel peninsula.  Timed it just right for the end of typical holiday time for a lot of families over Christmas and summer school break. First golf game in New Zealand today.  Nice course, good and challenging,  with lots of water.  Decent, but not stellar scores...enough good shots to keep us coming back. And we tied!...not that we're super competitive 😉.

    Chicken on the bar-by. Lovely warm weather,  with a nice breeze to keep it comfy.  We're watching the weather back home...drive safely and stay warm!    Read more

  • Cindy and Daryl BrownTravelerNew Zealand 2020
    4Beach chairs do the trick
    Comfy quarters. Deck, TV, roomy.No excuse not to stay fit while away.Taking one for the team...Typical scene by the beach.

    Settling in to 'The Mount'

    January 17, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    3 days in our place in Mount Maunganui. Checking things out, getting set up for life over the next 2 months. Our 'home' is very comfy... whew 🙃! You never know for sure when you book it online from halfway across the world. Nice outdoor patio (yes..to enjoy the warm weather...with apologies for those back home in the snow right now ❄️). Located on a bit of a busy strip so not the quietest, but not too bad. About 10 minute drive to Mount Maunganui town with more than enough restaurants, shops...and cruise ship customers (ok to be a bit distant from that scene...pros and cons).

    Signed on to a golf course ⛳ 5 minutes away...one round in, next one tomorrow.

    Signed on to a gym 2 minutes away, or a 13 minute walk. Extremely well-equipped. First workout today--some super fit dudes 🏋️‍♀️...and dames!
    Cozy coffee shops ☕ not in abundance for our after-gym tradition. The big mall across the street filled in today, but a couple of bikes (which we have a bead on) will solve that for next time.

    Save the best for last...the beach 🌊!!
    A 2 minute stroll from right beside our place. More amazing than we could ever imagine. Sandy, long, super for walking, fun to watch the surfers 🏄and boogie boarders. Amazing 😲.

    Settling in...think we'll be okay 😁 🙏    Read more

  • Cindy and Daryl BrownTravelerNew Zealand 2020
    1
    Our New Zealand transport...bikes and a PriusDB tuning up our bikesFlat white and muffin after the gymLots of golf views in our near futureLots of beach views too...

    Think we're settled.

    January 23, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Not much new to report, which must mean we're settling in to a routine here in the Mount.

    We got some used bikes which Daryl tuned up for us... so now we can avoid traffic congestion (yes... even here in Paradise 😜) and get to our coffee and muffin after the gym 💪 ☕.

    First walk around the famous Mount Maunganui - an extinct volcanic cone (sure hope they're right!)! Base walk is 45 minutes...good warm-up for the summit climb later ⛰️.

    Cindy found a line dance group 💃 so can stay in practise while we're away. A fun, dedicated group she found out 3 hours later!

    Weather's been great, we're getting to know the area and did I mention...the beach is fabulous 🌊!!
    Long walks, sit watching the waves and surfers, read a book, snooze, go for a dip (close to shore given the healthy surf). Count our blessings🙏!    Read more

  • Cindy and Daryl BrownTravelerNew Zealand 2020
    Mural at Whaktane museumTauranga historic village...ready for Chinese new year1Ah the struggle! Especially with these awesome cafes!Great to hang with Kirsten

    Explore the Area

    January 25, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Kirsten here to visit...drove up from Nelson, taking the Picton-Wellington ferry which is much like our BC ferries except it's a 3.5 hour trip and about $200 for a vehicle.

    Drive to Whakatane, an hour south. Town opposite White Island where the tragedy happened recently with the volcano erupting while tourists visited the island. We could see the white plume still in the distance..awful to know there are still two bodies not recovered. Whakatane is a cute town with a great museum, awesome views (as usual!) and a couple of delicious stops for flat white, long black and yummy bakery goods (again...as usual!!)

    Next day it's into Tauranga (we're staying in a close suburb). Historic village..cute shops, old style retro buildings. And another great cafe! Then to McLaren Falls with a nice little hike with more views and lovely environment.    Read more

  • Cindy and Daryl BrownTravelerNew Zealand 2020
    Top of the Mount marker.
    We're up there!Careful with that step back 😲We worked up a thirst...Dip in the ocean.

    We Climbed the Mount!

    January 26, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    We Climbed the Mount....with Kirsten's encouragement of course.  It really wasn't bad - gravel path, well groomed, stairs at the steep parts.  And the views!  As Kirsten says..."You can't NOT climb the Mount!"

    After, a visit to the weekend market, then a reward at the Rising Tide brew pub 🍻. 

    Back home, a little dip in the ocean before dinner.  Not too hard to take...    Read more

  • Cindy and Daryl BrownTravelerNew Zealand 2020
    Another great biking day
    Popular swimming hole1.1 km long!Stay upright Cindy!What's a bike day without a wine stop?This place gets lots of use!

    Hauraki Rail Trail

    January 27, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Another excellent biking day with Kirsten...this is becoming a habit!

    Hauraki rail trail - we rode Waihi to Paeroa -  so many different landscapes.  Through the Karangahake Gorge, past old gold mine sites, pastures, through a tunnel 1.1 km long (!), along the Ohinemuri river, Owharoa waterfall, side hikes, swimming holes and... the requisite winery estate 🍷.

    Very popular, especially this long weekend celebrating Auckland anniversary day.  Bikes were great...but that didn't stop Cindy from falling down (such a rookie!)  While at a snail's pace on the gravel path.  No harm done...pride hurt more than body 😖.  Now I'll remember that the right hand brake is for the front wheel here...    Read more

  • Cindy and Daryl BrownTravelerNew Zealand 2020
    1Windows Walkway...peek out of old gold mine tunnels
    Kirsten explores one of many tunnels.See anyone you know?Historic pumphouse, for dewatering mine shaft

    More Biking Day memories

    January 27, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    More pics of a super day on the bikes. There are 5 different sections of the trail, so could be a multi day trip...keeping in mind for future.

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