Leaving Balmoral we head to Waiau to travel the inland route to Kaikoura. The pass through to Kaikoura was windy, hilly still showing signs of damage from the Kaikoura earthquake of 2016. Overall a pleasant trip through the gorge and one of the many routes we had not taken until now. Arriving at Kaikoura it was warm and we spent two lovely days walking the town looking at the galleries before deciding it was time to move on. While at the NZMCA park we met John and Barbara Kerse, a lovely couple from Rangiora and now keep in touch with them via social media. LookingRead More →

While staying with Harry and Tui, Jude and I have been earning a bit of extra spending money for our trip to Canada. Working for NZ Fruits in the Packhouse is hard out physical work that is focused on absolute speed. Packing kiwifruit into single layer boxes never sounded hard until you have to do it yourself. The fruit comes along a conveyer belt from the sorter and as they come out you check them for softness, damage, labels, double check they are the right size, and after making sure they are straight in the box, you then wrap the fruit and close the boxRead More →

[Feature Picture Of Hackfalls Arboretum by Jude Edge] Its been a while since we have updated our blog but that’s how it goes when you are busy as. But now it’s time for a little change. Working hard out in Gisborne packing kiwi fruit is…. well what can I say… it’s an experience and a half. If anyone says it’s easy money, believe me they have no idea. But work is work and it’s pocket money for Canada lol. With the many days off due to rain Jude and I have taken the opportunities to explore the surrounding areas. Today we visited Tiniroto via theRead More →

Motueka is like a magnet to Jude and I, it has been a year since we were last here and here we are back again. We arrived at the NZMCA Park yesterday (Friday 4th) to beautiful hot weather, just as we remembered it last January. Went down the Main Street and being a Friday it was as busy as, with people everywhere, lots of traffic heading either to Kaiteriteri or over the Takaka hill to explore the Golden Bay area for the weekend or possibly they just got their Xmas leave after working the holiday period. It was a hot afternoon and the walk backRead More →

It’s now day three into 2019 and it’s up early for the hike up the Matiri Valley to Lake Matiri. This involves about 6km of 4WD track before walking 5 km up the Matiri River to the Matiri Hut. This lake was formed approximately 300 years ago and I would say coincides with the last big alpine fault movement that dropped a massive side of a mountain across the valley to block off the river, hence forming Lake Matiri. The first part of our journey was up the Matiri West Bank Road before we got another test for our Suzuki Jimny as the 6km 4WDRead More →

Woke to a fantastic warm morning with another day of exploring the local surroundings arranged by Jude, the first part is the Upper Matakitaki to cross over the Maruia Saddle to Burnbrae where it meets Hwy 65 where the Lewis Pass comes out exits heading west. As per the day before it was what Jude and I considered a easy road which at this time of the year can comfortably be done in a average car… give or take the odd pan strike from one of the very few small rocks that may have strayed from their historical resting place to the middle of theRead More →