Because of my love of hiking, I wanted to share this enjoyment with each of my four grandchildren.  So as each one turned twelve, taking them on one of the great walks was a real joy.  Spending six days alone with them was so precious. It allowed me to get to know them as individuals. Hopefully it is an experience they will never forget.  The challenge of packs on their backs. The camaraderie in the huts. The breath taking scenery. The delightful taste of dry pita bread, cheese, salami and pickle washed down with warm water from a water bottle which had been in a pack too long. Yum!!!! Yum (I don’t think so). 

Samuel was the first. We completed the Milford track A beautiful 55 kms track with majestic mountains being reflected back in the clear mirror like lakes. There were others family members with us so he had quite a lot of company however he still had to carry all his own clothes etc.  When reaching each hut, other hikers would include him in card games which was  fun for him and gave him a variety of companionship.   

The tree which the cave was named after ( photo from Eden Gardens, Auckland, New Zealand)

With my heart in my mouth, I entered the Nikau Cave. This amazing limestone cave is situated in Waikaretu a farming area of sheep and cattle, out towards Post Waikato. Nine of us, from Auckland, Paeroa and Hamilton had chosen to complete this adventure together. While still at the Nikau café, situated about one kilometre from the cave, helmets and torches were handed out to the group by the owner of the café who was also our guide.  Both of these proved to be invaluable. In places the ceiling of the cave was low and because you were focused on where to put your feet on the slippery rocks you sometimes missed seeing the little hard, jutting piece of rock, just at head height. They gave you a nasty shock when your head connected with them. The torch was also imperative. Sloping down many metres underground, the cave was in complete darkness. The walk would not have been possible without these little water proof treasures.

It was a clear, crisp spring morning when Heather, Prue and I met Yvonne at the Blue Lake car park – the four of us very excited to be together.

 (The Blue and Green Lakes are 12 kms from Rotorua township).

With lots of laughter, packs adjusted, we were off around the Blue Lake, which would later include the Green lake, a brisk wind biting us when we hit exposed areas.  Runners passed us frequently as there was a 36 hour endurance event being held.  Runners were completing as many circuits of the Blue lake as possible over the specified time. Some looking bright and chirpy and others looking as if they were querying their sanity when they agreed to this. (A feeling I have often experienced!!)

The sunset was spectacular, with kite surfers silhouetted against it.

This was late February – a Saturday evening and we were enjoying the last of the summer . A group of all ages clambered onboard the Wahine Moe at 6.30p.m. heading  off for a fun filled sunset cruise  around the Raglan harbor.

 Once a briefing had been given the bar was opened and the fish and chips in newspaper were handed out (Yes. Just like the old days.) These are ordered before you get on the boat and were nibbled on , as the beauties of the top part of the harbor  appeared. Narrow little inlets making the imagination take over as to where they led to. No time explore this time but maybe another. Amazing rock formations which have been shaped by the battering of the sea over many years.

The skipper, who was born and raised in Raglan talked about families who had lived there, or were still living there, happenings which had occurred  and what may happen in the future.

If you have a spare Saturday or Sunday over the summer I would definitely recommend this trip. Fun. Beautiful.

A very long line snaked down the main street of Bluff as we left the café where we had just had coffee. It was only 10 a.m. but 6,000 visitors were expected at the Oyster Festival and this collection of very happy tourists were just a small percentage of those.

There was a family of three generations in front of us in the line. There was grandma and grand dad, who had always had the Oyster Festival on their bucket list. Daughter and partner who had hired the large van so everyone enjoyed all the travel together. Lastly there were late teenage children with accompanying girlfriend/boyfriend. It was really lovely to see how they enjoyed each others company and also looked after the “oldies

Another beautiful summer Sunday morning. Far too precious to waste so headed off to Sanctuary Mountain at Maungatautari. “This is an ancient vibrant, pest free forest, alive with native wildlife such as birds, skinks, geckos, frogs, bats and insects” I read on the brochure.

A 47 km pest proof fence encircles this acreage, protecting the many rare and endangered flora and fauna. It is divided into two sections. One is the Te Tui a Tane southern enclosure and the second is Tautari wetland and tuatarum. The visitor centre onsite provides tickets, information etc.

Nervousness in case I missed the shuttle to the start of the Tongariro Crossing had me checking the clock every hour on the hour. I gratefully leapt out of my little bunk bed at 5.45 a.m, hurrying into my hiking gear, knowing my adventure was starting. This was the day the 19 km Tongariro Crossing was to be conquered again.

Just because “the driver” had been a student at Pakuranga College about fifty five years ago, didn’t mean that the land layout, which led to Half Moon Bay, where the Waiheke ferry sailed from, had remained the same.. After quite a few “it’s just over this hill” followed by “oh no. It has all changed. That road wasn’t there” we screamed into the marina about 7 minutes before the ferry sailed. The navigator wasn’t any better trying to use the GPS) Not a wonderful start to, what turned out to be a very enjoyable three days on Waiheke Island. (“The Driver” is a great travel companion. Very keen on checking out all nooks, crannies and possible roads available – or not available.)

It is dark. It is 4.30 a.m. The alarm has just gone off. Tom (my 12 yr old grandson) and I are being picked up in Hamilton, by the Road Cat shuttle at 5.20 a.m. to catch the plane to Queenstown from Auckland. The start of our very exciting four day freedom hiking trip of the Routeburn Track.

Checking in was seamless but for some bizarre reason I believed our packs had to be bubble wrapped so for many precious minutes the night before Tom and I had wrapped and sellotaped our big packs, only to be looked at by a very bemused check in person, asking why we had done that!!!!