Tramping in the orongorongo

We went walking this weekend to the Boar hut, in the Rimutaka range along the orongorongo river; a short hike for 2 hours along a pretty decent track and along the river to a DOC hut.  

Eduardo crossing a river!  I followed shortly afterwards.  Not pleasant but we were metres from our hut so safe in the knowledge we could dry our shoes out pretty quickly

The Boar Inn, our home for the next 24 hours; run by the department for conservation (DOC), this is one of the most basic and smallest; sole occupancy for $25 a night.  two bunk beds, running water, a loo, and a big fireplace.   So simple, so relaxing.   

Eduardo cutting wood!  Looking very happy! A PIS for those who can guess the acronym!!

Our $25 a night hut 

Reading my Wilbur Smith, drinking fizz and warming my damp toes by the fire. 

Glamping food; steak, beans and steamed veg!  

The view. 45 minutes from the capital.  not dalston. 

Taupo ( back two weeks)

We didn't get a day off for the royal wedding but we do get the Queen's birthday off, every year, and we headed up to taupo, right in the middle of the north island; the adventure holiday capital, here you can bungee jump, white river rafting, and of course trout fishing!  

The mighty Tongariro

We went for walks at the craters of the moon! 

Eduardo caught his first trout!

And on the journey hone we swung off the main road to look at some insignificant river that was stunning with the light reflecting off the white cliffs.

Ed spent most of the weekend fishing and I went for a few walks and horse riding, it rained non stop!  But apparently that is normal in Taupo!  

New Zealand - weekend pursuits.

So this weekend we are off to the Rimutaka Range, about 3/4 hour from Wellington.   We'll walk for a few hours, cross a river (we have to cross it before 3pm because it could rise quickly after the forecasted rain!) and walk to the Boar Inn; it has a fire, a tank of rain water, a pit loo, bunk beds and a fire, all ours for $25!  We'll stay there, lit by candle light, play chess, read our wilber smith's and eat Eduardo's gourmet camp cooking and walk on Sunday.  We hope to return to wellington early afternoon but it will depend on how much the river rises!  The helpful guys at DOC told me to take enough food for Sunday just in case we get stuck there!
 




 DVD of Rimutaka Forest Park

Australia invading New Zealand!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6p3xlCnSjc&feature=related

Tonga, part 2

And we arrived at Fa Fa Island Resort where we spent a very relaxing 5 nights. 

The beach outside of our Fale

 

The Fale

Day Bed.  

 Morning visitors!

Tonga! Part 1

For our Easter break we travelled to Tonga; only a few hours from New Zealand.  We stayed in the capital for a few days, drove a battered jeep about seeing the sights. Lots of Churches, and as it was Easter, nothing was open on the Friday.  Roads were deserted; restaurants, shops, petrol stations, all shut.

After driving round in circles along roads dappled with huge craters, we found the whistling blowholes.  V cool http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJiXAC7Xves

Tonga is not a rich country and behind this extraordinary natural sight was this dilapidated hotel. 

We stopped at this deserted beach to test the water temperature.  Perfect!  

On Sunday morning we hopped aboard a boat and headed for Fa Fa Island Resort.

And there it was.

Camping in the Wairarapa

We are rather behind so here is our update from a month ago. 

  Our furniture was due to arrive the following weekend and we took advantage of the still warmish weather to go camping and hiking in the Waihine Gorge.   It is our new favourite place in the Wairarapa.   The campsite was deserted, very basic.  Run by the department of Conservation.   We arrived Sat am, set up the tent, and went walking for 5 hours, cooked a delicious dinner and watched the stars come out.  Not the warmest of nights; we thought it dropped to about 10'c, but we were glamping and were  fully prepared with soft pillows and self inflating camping mats!   

View over the Wairarapa

Some fishing spots

No fish though!

Our tent!