Anyway, we have just returned from an excellent 9 days away in New Zealand travelling with Mum and Dad around Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula and the Bay of Plenty.
While it was an excellent opportunity to visit some of my favourite parts of NZ, it also provided opportunities to catch up with friends and family, plus for Mum and Dad to spend more time with us (and get to know Jonathan a bit better).
Given the large number of images, I have grouped them into each day of the trip.
Day 1 - Exploring Auckland
The first day was taken fairly steadily as we had a late night flying in from Brisbane (Mum and Dad arrived later afternoon so were a bit more rested than us).
Highlights included walking around the Auckland CBD, checking out the Auckland Art Gallery and ascending the Sky Tower.
(Below): Jonathan fascinated by the departing planes at Brisbane Airport
(Below): Jonathan ready to take on the challenge of a Kiwi holiday!
(Below Shots): Auckland Art Gallery + Mum & Dad reading to Jonathan
(Below Shots): Auckland Sky Tower experience
Day 2 - Devonport, Auckland
We caught up with our good friends Phil and Mandy and their two boys Alex and Cameron in Devonport which is an attractive suburb immediately north of the harbour. We had a picnic, then went to a park after wards of which the highlight being the water activities that Jonathan enjoyed.
(Below Shots): Group shot + family photos
(Below Shot): Jonathan having a blast around the water features
Day 3 - Auckland: Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World + Parnell
The main activity today was Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World which is an aquarium style attraction in the city. We loved the penguin enclosure, plus other highlights included the sharks, squid and colourful tropical fish.
(Below Shots): Coffee at the Viaduct prior to Kelly Tarltons
(Below Shots): Checking out the penguins and other attractions at Kelly Tarltons
(Below Shots): Weatherboard buildings lining Parnell Rd
Day 4 - Auckland: One Tree Hill + Drive to Coromandel
After breakfast in Auckland's One Tree Hill Domain, we picked up our rental car and headed east towards the Coromandel Peninsula. A notable highlight in the Coromandel was a tropical butterfly farm.
(Below Shots): Views from the top of One Tree Hill Domain, and post breakfast walk around shots
(Below Shots): A couple of butterfly species (both South American varieties)
(Below Shot): Quick stop off at an art gallery in the Coromandel
Day 5 - Coromandel: Driving Creek Railway
We spent a lot of today driving around the peninsula (the unsealed roads were hard going). In some regards it was like winding the clock back - a random event was encountering a guy with around 70 pigs as pets running around the place!
But the key highlight was the Driving Creek Railway - a narrow gauge railway which winds up the hill and has become a big tourist attraction.
We also stayed in some cabins very close to the Hot Water Beach.
(Below Shots): Mixing with the wildlife along an unsealed road in the Coromandel
(Below Shots): The Driving Creek Railway + Scenic Views
(Below Shot): Interesting lego style letterbox!
(Below Shots): Hot Water Beach late in the afternoon
Day 6 - Coromandel: Whitianga + Hot Water Beach
Another day of driving around the Coromandel. We stopped at the harbour town of Whitianga in the morning and had morning tea. I really loved this place and Mercury Bay is amazing.
After wards, we went to the Hot Water Beach for a dip - in some places the water was over 60C and very hot. The water is fed from underwater hot springs - you can experience it provided you are there approximately 2 hours either side of low tide.
Later on we hit the road with Tauranga / Mt Maunganui as our destination for the next 2 nights.
Finally we had a lovely dinner catch up with my Aunt Marie and Uncle Ross who live in Tauranga.
(Below Shots): Whitianga and Mercury Bay
(Below Shots): Hot Water Beach
(Below Shots): Taken on the drive to Tauranga
(Below Shots): Mt Maunganui, late afternoon
(Below Shot): Dinner at my Aunty Marie and Uncle Ross's place (Aunt Marie second from the left)
Day 7 - Mt Maunganui (Lazy Day)
We had the day to explore and relax in Mt Maunganui (a popular holiday destination for mostly North Island Kiwis).
After a soak in a salt hot water pool complex underneath the mountain, I decided to ascend the mountain itself - it is around 250 metres so hardly an epic feat, but a good workout nonetheless!
(Below Shot): Mount Hot Pools complex
(Below Shots): Murals along the main shopping street at "the Mount"
(Below Shots): Views from Mount Maunganui
Day 8 - Mt Maunganui
Our last day included a walk around Mt Maunganui with Dad's best mate Pete, then a lunch catch up with his brother Barry and his wife Helen.
(Below Shots): Dad, Pete and Jonathan & walking around the Mount
(Below Shot): Lunch shot - Mum, Dad, Aunty Helen, Uncle Barry, Aunty Marie, myself and Jonathan
Hope you enjoyed the shots - take care :-)
