I have updated a few more pics tonight on my photo album site. We have had a busy Sunday, after a very luxurious lie in - I didn't get out of bed till gone 8am almost unheard of. We are lucky here no dog to walk and paper delivered every morning, so stay in bed and watched Fifi with the kids before getting up. yes they have some good TV that we recognise:
weekdays 6.55am Pingo Show, 8.55am Bob the builder, 9.10 In the midnight Garden. Weekends thomas on saturday morning and Fifi on Sunday morning. Other than that we have to put up with naff Disney channel.
Anyway we are trying to convert myself and the kids to porridge. It was a very cold heavy frost this morning - so porridge is good. Long way to go with the kids though.
We then went to Upper Hutt Maidstone park and had a tramp - walk into the bush - fairly tame walk as they go, but great to see the kids getting exercise and fresh air! We then discovered the big playground there. Josh was impressed with the skateboard park. They had loads of great stuff and a flying Fox - aerial runway. Amazingly Josh went on it - 3 times and loved it!
We then had lunch at the motel - yep tuna mayo sandwhiches...
Sunday is a good day - park free in certain car parks in central welly. So parked at the civic centre and walked across the main square and bridge to Te Papa (museum). They have some great things there and did a few odd bits and the poisonous creatures exhibition - who do it for kids to solve! We restrained from popping into Mac's Brewery for a quick pint - this time.
So thats our Sunday.....
I guess I have some catching up to do.....
We have been in Lower Hutt now a whole week, NZ less than 2 weeks after arriving on the 26th June. We flew in to Auckland and collected a campervan in winter - Yes we expected them to be laughing at us mad Brits (Poms)- but found rather quiet a few doing the same.....
We drove straight Rotarua. We spent 3 nights there and visited the Kiwi Experience - a conservation program where they rescue eggs from the wild, hatch, rear and release them. Apparently Kiwi's are naff mothers, father hatches them and once they are born they are on their own. Only about 5% in the wild currently survive. They think the numbers are halving every 10 years. Also went to Rainbow Valley Springs - Rainbow trout farm and nature reserve - Gosh they are big fish....
We also dragged the kids for a walk around the town centre thermal park - lots of hot water springs and mud pools - wiffy according to the kids. Oh and boring..... I wanted to do the spas but it was cold and saffy had developed a rather impressive rash - the non descriptive viral rash... So that was out.
Another day we went to Te Puia. a Maori reserve which now is a tourist place where they perform the formal welcome ceremony and a 40 min cultural show of singing, dancing and of cause the Haka. We then have a guided tour and shown around the Thermal park they have - lots more wiffy mud pools and 2 geysers (not geysers!!!). It was a cold day so nice to sit on some hot rocks!!!!
We also had a drive out the Blue Lake and Green Lake. Loads more to do but some not with kids or certainly older kids.
After that we drove along a lovely long staight road past pine tree forests to Lake Taupo. Great if you are into water sports. Lovely village - they are all pretty much small town American look to them. From there it got very hilly and windy roads though the hills/mountains to Hawks Bay area and into Napier.
Ok it is winter and blowing a gale but looked very much like any out of season seaside resort. The campsite was great and that wasn't just because it has wifi!!! We had a drive about the net day - couldn't see much of the charm in the wind and rain... There was a small aquarium that the kids loved - plenty more to do - like the museum - but 3 restless kids dictated not this trip!
So I dragged them to the Mission Winery (vineyard) instead. At least we managed to open a bank account and get that sorted.
From Napier we drove straight down to wellington, fair old hack but a nice drive. getting used to a campervan was not that bad. I enjoyed the driving to be honest.
So here we are. 1 week on and I have hopefully sorted out a house for when our container turns up in August, sorted my self out with a car - I got my Subaru!!!!
What else, made in roads to getting Josh into school and Kea's (Beavers). Will start on pre-schools next week....
The kids are on their winter break at present - they don't go back till 16th July. So another week before I can get Josh into look at the school.
What am I getting used too still:
top loader washing machines,
being winter when my body thinks its summer - the change to short days is scary!
Hot dogs being battered sausages on lollipop sticks!
Not having and proper ham or pork products.
Cadbury's Chocolate tastes so funny - different. So does the nestle stuff too and coco pops.....
Pasta sauces and Ragu etc being soo sweet and sugary
The Fish - fishfingers etc are all hoki - yuk. Tarakihi is much nicer but more expensive - ask for that at the chippy.
The weetabix is just not the same.......
Supermarkets are all meat....
at least they have plenty of wine......
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