don and bonnie's 2015 New Zealand adventure

Unbelievably, these two months have flown by and it is our time to say goodbye.   Bonnie and I have been so thankful for God's good graces in being with us throughout our travels.  We have experienced His wonderful creation both in the beauty of the land, but more so in the wonderful Kiwi folks who have been such gracious hosts. We are especially grateful for Mark, Mike, Susi, Katy, James, Lorraine, Rick, and Sue as well as our many other occasional hosts throughout our stay.  Without you our trip would not have been so rich and memorable...... Mark Mitchell, our wonderful host Orchard crew extraordinaire! Our extended New Zealand family Mike, Susi, Katie, and James Our new friends Rick and Sue Sanders who hosted us in Timaru  Lorraine Hagen--Thanks for making our Nelson visit so enjoyable

This is our last day before returning to Auckland as our trip draws to a close.   We are so fortunate to have booked a day trip on Dive Tutakaka to the Poor Knights Islands.   It is described as the perfect trip, and it is; but for some of our boat mates going out was anything but!   A big swell, winds and quartering sea made the boat trip more like a saddle bronc ride that went on, and on, and on.....Thankfully Bonnie and I kept it together and were ready to snorkel as soon as we anchored. A marine reserve since 1981, Poor Knights is recognized as one of the top dive destinations on the planet.   The fish life is abundant both in variety and size of fish schools, including blue Mau Mau, travelle, snapper, and blue nose.   Diver's can actually enter an underground cave entrance and surface inside the cave where there is an air pocket.  Our trip included snorkeling, paddle boarding, and kayaking followed by a cruise along the islands and narrative of th...

Stone store at Kerikeri.   Built in the  1830's as a Weysleyan mission  We’ve experienced continued rains from the tail end of a cyclone and the air is so humid our gore tex coats can't "sweat"!    No worries since it is warm and tropical.  We spent a quiet Sunday morning wandering the streets of Kerikeri including  a stop at the oldest stone building in NZ.  Designed by a  Wesleyan missionary and built in 1819 by an Australian convict, it served as  a trading station, post office, and  supply depot for the mission.  It is now a museum and gift shop.  During our visit in ’81 the whole estuary was destroyed in a tropical storm. Buildings, boats and all.  There was even a large sail boat left 20 feet up in the trees after that cyclone, but the store remained intact. Today begins an exploration of the Tutakaka Coast and the port of Whangarei.   We’ve enjoyed some beautiful hikes along the headla...