Trip to Christchurch and Northland

Trip to Christchurch and Northland - Christmas and New Years 2012-2013

Hi there! First post Woot!

Here are the details of the latest trip Kate and I did while we had 2 weeks off work.

West Melton and Christchurch

We flew down to Christchurch on the 24th of December and we were there until the 2nd. John's place is lovely. (Video link below of a tour if you were interested)

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByJhlgfTvFbxOXJVYngzem1jM1E

Here are a few other pictures:

Sunset in the park across the road. 

Northern side of the house. 

Weather was great most of the time, just a few days where it was raining.
Christmas day involved a large breakfast of bacon, croissants, smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels eggs, strawberry's, pavlova and loads more. Defiantly filled the tummy :D

While we were there we caught up with Grandma, Gran, Steve, Anna, Eleisha, Davin and Corey. Kate's sister Diana has a one year old who is just delightful. She kept us entertained most of the time as she was also staying with John at West Melton. Most of our time was spent relaxing, time seamed to go by way to fast though! We got Jakob a small helicopter and after playing around with it, I just had to get one my self, bigger of course :DWe went to Ashburton on the 28th to visit Kate's friend Christina and her we ones. Was nice to catch up with them

John received a few loads of soil so I spent a bit of time helping him out in the garden moving things around and making the garden look nice.

We went to Coes Ford one of the nice days for a paddle - Kate and her family when there quite a bit when she was younger and its quite a nice family holiday spot. 

Spent new years day hanging with Corey windy and not great helicopter weather in the park near his house...

On New Years Eve we went to a friends house in Bishopdale area for a few drinkies to bring in the New Year. Was a good night and good to catch up with some old Burnside people who we haven't seen in a long time.

Northland

We arrived back in Auckland on the 2nd of January after our plane was delayed for 3 hours but that was OK because we realised before we left for the airport. We then drove to to Kerikeri on the 3rd, weather wasn't that flash so we just relaxed indoors which was fine with us.

On the 4th we drove to Cape Reinga. Here is a view on the spot where I popped the question. Not a bad view eh? Sorry about the poor stitching of the photos. My camera failed me at the time...

A view from the top

A better panorama from down lower

Kate at the light house

Me at the light house

The happy couple 

After Cape Reinga we made our way south (obviously) first popping into Tapotupotu Bay, we went sand boarding near Te Paki. We then stopped in at Pukenui and then Motutangi Kauri Museum for a coffee where they had some great stuff nice paintings and carvings and a stair case made of a hollowed out Kauri tree!

Pukenui

Carving at Motutangi Kauri Museum

Onwards to Ahipara where we stayed the night at the Ahipara Bay View Motel.

Ahipara Beach

Ahipara Beach Panorama

On the Saturday the 5th we made our way to Kaitaia as Kate's sore back had set in the previous evening so we spent a few hours in Kaitaia at the hospital (after hours GP) and also getting supplies.

We then hit the road again with Kate drugged up. We went to Cable Bay, Coopers beach and had lunch at the Mangonui Fish shop. Doubtless Bay is absolutely beautiful and would love to go back there sometime.

Cable Bay

Coopers Beach

Mangonui Fish and Chips

We then took the long way home going past Matangirau stopping in at Mahinepua Bay, Taiaue bay and Matauri Bay. These are all just little bays but very nice, surprising amount of people in Taiaue Bay considering it isn't that close to any major cities.

Mahinepua Bay

Stones at Mahinepua Bay

Taiaue Bay

Matauri Bay

After Matauri Bay we come back to KeriKeri where Cheryl and Don invited us to join them in Russell for a Hangi. Don and Daniel had been out all day on the Bay of Islands Regatta. They were a bit tipsy when we arrived and ready for some good times. The Hangi was good and Russell and Paihai were fantastic.

Here is the route we did from Ahipara on the west to Russell on the right, all in one day.

Route from Ahipara to Paihai/Russell

Kate On the Boat From Paihai to Russell 

Rainbow Falls in Kerikeri

View from Chery and Don's Place

The Lovely Ring 

The next day it was all over and we drove back to Auckland taking SH16 to avoid all the traffic.

We had a fantastic time and we didn't get to do everything we wanted to do so we will definitely come back as I know Don is keen as ever to show us some great spots around the Bay of Islands and we are keen to learn. Summer isn't long enough though.