New Zealand 2019

3 weeks in a camper van as a little family of 3. Read more

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New Zealand 2019
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Tamaki Maori Village
February 2, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
This was the location for the main event. Because it was outside and involved walking to different houses in the village to learn about Maori culture it was pretty kid friendly. Most everyone thought Florence was adorable, but no one sat with us when it was time for the feast, they preferred to open up a "reserved table" in advance than force people to sit with us. The food was excellent and it was really neat to learn more about Maori. Florence was very interested in the statues in front of houses, especially in pointing out their bums as loud as she could. And on the bus ride home she tried to sleep on the floor, poor exhausted girl.Read more
Traveler This is so cute!
2/6/20Reply
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New Zealand 2019
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
February 2, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
This was a 45 minute tour to learn about caves in NZ and see the glowworms by boat. Florence was miserable the whole time, screaming and crying. As soon as we exited the tour she was happy, playing with toys, and as soon as we got to the van she fell asleep. It was really awful. Jason tried to cheer me up after with coffee and chocolate covered espresso beans.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Pullover
February 2, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
I spilled my coffee and we pulled over to clean it up. Florence woke up and was delighted to find chocolate (chocolate covered ESPRESSO BEANS) near her and indulged. We figure she ate about 50g.
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New Zealand 2019
Body cafe
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Sunrise drive to Napier with a stop for coffee (of course).
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New Zealand 2019
Lake taupo
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
As seems to be the theme of this trip, our morning drive wasn't going as planned. We were late, our homemade coffee was not good, Florence was awake and unhappy, we needed gas. We had planned on getting to the Napier aquarium for 9am, and to see the penguins be fed at 9:30, but with the way the day was going there was no way we would make it in time. We decided to embrace the change and pulled over for a break at Lake Taupo. Florence ran around and ate strawberries, Jason and I got to be awed by this country once again. Across the water we could see Mt. Doom from the Lord of The Rings Movies.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Hot Water Pool
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Down below our original landing spot, this little pool is known for being extremely hot.
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New Zealand 2019
Drive to Napier
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Just a beautiful drive with stunning scenery.
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New Zealand 2019
National Aquarium
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
The Aquarium! Due to Florence's love of fish we were super excited for this. There were probably only 30 people in the whole aquarium so we were really able to take her time and let her explore. And I got to see some glowworms!Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Napier
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Napier was SO hot. Over 30 and sunny and just stifling. We could barely find shade or a breeze so our time looking out at the water was very very short. Even driving around was excruciating in the heat.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Westshore Inn
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
A fun beer bar we found. They had an incredible selection of craft beers on tap and offered flights so Jason and I loved that. There were toys for Florence to play with and she wasn't bothering others. The restaurant had superbowl on (for Superbowl Monday) and great food and mediocre service.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Tangoio walkway
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
With a very sleepy babe we made our way to this walkway. She slept for 1.5 hours in her bed while Jason and I read and jumped in and out of the river to cool down.
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New Zealand 2019
Te Ana Falls
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Once awake we hiked to this first set of falls. I have no words to describe it. Breathtaking, beautiful, refreshing. In this little cove the water really cooled us down and empowered us for the second part of the hike. Unfortunately Florence remains terrified of water and just kept asking for us to go back to the car.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Tangoio Falls
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
The second part of our hike and nearly all uphill. Florence walked a good portion of it on her own and was only upset when we made her hold our hands or ride in the carrier. The falls were pretty but I think we were underwhelmed after Te Ana. On our hike back to the car we got to see wild goats so that made me happy.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Burger fuel
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
With our whole day delayed again and again, we were very very late leaving our hike. We grabbed takeout at Burger Fuel to try to fill Florence's belly so that she would sleep for our evening drive. The food was great and I got to try a famed L&P drink, which was quite good.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Woodville Ferry Reserve
February 3, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Our first night freedom camping! If I learned anything I would tell others not to try their first night freedom camping at 10:30pm. It was late and dark and took us a few tries to find the right campsite. When we did though, it was fantastic. This was a giant field and everyone staying just kind of pulled into their own little area and set up. There were washroom right near us so that was great, and the stars and sunrise were gorgeous.

Our little Florence slept with her legs in the step - was she trying to escape? Playing in the night? We will never know.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Car sickness point
February 4, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Florence's first car sickness of the trip😔 , poor girl. We pulled over for gravol and advil and listened to a few kids storytime podcasts until they kicked in. The wind was ridiculous, it honestly felt like she might blow away if she got out of the car.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Te Papa Museum
February 4, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 20 °C
Our arrival into Wellington was grey and frustrating. The van was too tall for the various car parks for cafes and breweries and we simply gave up to go to the museum. We had a great breakfast but Florence only survived one exhibit before she was cranky and not listening and we opted to leave.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Krull st play area
February 4, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 21 °C
Our van is making bad noises so we arrived early to our airbnb. While Jason examined it Florence and I went to the play place around the corner. She was delighted to try the slides, even the giant green one.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Wellington Airbnb
February 4, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 21 °C
We ended our North Island leg at a sweet little sleep out in Wellington. The host family have a 6 month old and a 3 year old and they set our space up with books and toys and a crib for Florence. It was just lovely. The address had us way up high in Wellington, which has twisty and steep and narrow streets that made me car sick all the time. Somehow the sleep out felt completely private, and like we were far away from the hustle and bustle. They also had an incredible shower and I felt clean for the first time all trip😂.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Grill Meats Beer
February 4, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 21 °C
After a long nap for Florence we had planned an evening in Wellington proper that would show us all the things we love. As soon as we stepped out of the car it started to rain, which turned into a ton of rain, flying sideways due to the extreme winds. We were soaked within minutes. We ventured first to a game board cafe to pick up some souvenirs and then to this restaurant on Cuba Street.

I had heard a lot about Cuba Street being amazing and full of culture, and maybe it was just the weather, but it seemed like just another street full of restaurants. Anyway, by the time we made it to Grill Meats Beer we were soaked and I was laughing hysterically at how the night was going and trying to convince Florence that it was okay because we can do "brave things". I'm fairly certain the hostess at the restaurant took pity on us and just made space for us to eat. We started at the bar and then moved to a table. The staff were incredible, the beers great and the food fine. Florence ate a whole kiddie plate of fish and chips so that was a relief.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Heyday brewing
February 4, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 20 °C
After dinner we wandered up Cuba Street to this brewery. We had seen one of their beers on a list at a restaurant but hadn't been able to try it. Faced with many many breweries in the area, this was the one Jason chose and I am so glad he did.

It was the sweetest little brewery, clean and decorated well. There was a Reddit meetup happening so it was busy, but full of entertaining conversations. The bartenders were knowledgable so Jason was able to have some great chats. The beers were delicious and kind of amazing so I was happy. And there were little business card type things describing our beers that Florence was allowed to have stacks of, so she was delighted.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Peoples Coffee
February 5, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
We started our last day in Wellington at Peoples Coffee. It has been written up in tons of travel blogs for being delightful and very committed to sustainability. It was good coffee and they are committed to sustainability but it was just also very hipstery and I had to laugh.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Wellington Zoo
February 5, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Oh the Wellington Zoo! Definitely my favourite zoo now. It is a medium size, but due to it being a weekday and rainy and us showing up right at opening we had the chance to have tons of one on one conversations with the zookeepers, they even knew our names and advised us of good things to see within the zoo. We finally got to see kiwi birds, 2!, and they were active and running around and playing and I was just overjoyed. Florence was able to feed the farm animals. The otters were also very active, out of the water and rolling around together.

While we waited for the farm feeding Florence was trying to convince a little boy (17 months) to come play with her and eventually just kept hugging and kissing him.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
Interislander boarding
February 5, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Waiting to board our ferry, tv was center stage. We let Florence watch Baby Signing Time while we organized the car and our carryon and then we all watched the Office while we were lined up. It took about an hour from entering the line up to being on the ferry. Basically immediately Florence dropped her "moo" (cow toy) from deck 8 onto deck 5 and Jason had to go rescue it.Read more
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New Zealand 2019
InterIslander Ferry Wellington ->Picton
February 5, 2020, Tasman Sea ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
We had a really fun start to the ferry ride showing florence around, and exploring. We even had dinner once the ferry was out on the water. As soon as we started out into the pacific, the ferry started to rock fairly violently and Jasmine was feeling a bit under the weather. Florence and Dad enjoyed the view while Mom read a book to keep herself from getting too sick. Jasmine was able to feel ok reading her book, unlike 30 or 40 other people who were not doing so good. Amazing views of both islands on the trip plus a nice sunset as we arrived into Picton.Read more
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