Tuesday 1 January 2019

Week 52/52 - We Made It!!!!

Another year gone, well nearly it is the very last day of 2018 and me and TOF are heading out to Raglan to celebrate with friends so here is the last week of what happened in my world.


Christmas Day was brunch with Jak and Alex and her family.


Followed by Dinner at ours later that evening with Max and Toni joining us.  We had a fabulous time together, nice and relaxing, just how it should be.


On Boxing Day I went out to Raglan and went with my friend Diane to a Gypsy Fair.  Not how I remember them but that is how things are these days.  Always nice to be out at Raglan tho.


 Mind you, I did rather like Frank the 14 week old Kuni Kuni pig!


Thursday TOF and I armed with the above map/guide took off on a day trip to another beautiful part of our little country.  We could have joined the hordes of tourists lined up to go to the Waitomo Caves.  But neither are us are huge on crowds so we went to...............


A short walk took us into our beautiful Native Bush and the most amazing Limestone Bridge called Mangapohue Natural Bridge.

Another short walk had lead us into Piripiri caves.
 
Then a 10 minute walk in the bush resulted in the spectacular Marokopa Falls.  Each time we were only with about half a dozen or so other people, and all of this was FREE!!


Marokopa was our next stop, beautiful but so isolated.  No shops and couldn't even find a public loo!!

Then to Kiritehere, where rock fossils lay on the beach and interesting driftwood. And thankfully a public toilet, well a long drop actually!! 

The drive to our next stop was often on gravel winding roads but so worth while.

At the very end of a gravel road that was only one land width and slightly crazy at times is the Waikawau Tunnel. Back in 1911 three men using pick axes and shovels dug this tunnel through the hill to the beach, for easier access of their stock to their farm lands. High enough for a man on a horse and wide enough for the stock.

This was amazing and the view at the beach end was magnificent.  Another lovely West Coast beach and we only had 4 other people to share it with, and 1 dog!!

Our drive home took us through the tunnel in the Awakino Gorge and past numerous rock formations and Native Bush.



We had a couple of days just mooching around home before we set of on another adventure. Oh and I added some colours to my hair, some pretty unicorn/my little pony-esk ones!!


As we drove out of Hamilton on Sunday morning at 7am we had low mist.  But it wasn't long before it lifted and a beautiful day unfolded.  We were heading to Mangaweka just under 4 hours away.  TOF decided to take some back roads that took us past Lake Arapuni and another Fancy long drop toilet that again I needed.  Its an age thing!!


Crossing the Desert Road in the middle of the North Island I was happy to see Mt Ruapehu still had Snow on it.  The scenery was for ever changing, no wonder tourists love NZ so much.  I had not been this way for quite some years so it was good to be back.


Finally we arrived at Mangaweka Camp on the bank of the Rangitiki River.  Max and Toni and the dogs were camping there, hence the road trip.


A very relaxing spot indeed and dog friendly.


Homeward bound back through the Desert Road with better views of Ruapehu.  Then into Taupo, well around Lake Taupo first before finding a cafe for a coffee stop.



And on our way out of Taupo we stopped off at the Huka Falls, a bit of a tourist attraction.  OMG so many people!!!  A very fast moving river where you can have a jet boat or helicopter experience but for a pretty penny I would say.

So the last week of 2018 was an adventurous one. 

Farewell 2018
it has been great.

Another 12 months of ups and downs.  We lost some people and welcomed some new babies.  There were health scares, but mostly we all enjoyed a year of happiness and that is a good thing.

As we all welcome in a new year, this is my last post.  I am debating whether or not I will continue to blog in 2019.  I may just blog once a month, who knows, but I know it won't be weekly anymore. So if I go missing you will know why.  But you can find me on Instagram or Facebook.  Just message me if you want to know how.

All the very best to you all for a very happy and healthy year ahead of you.

It's been a blast!!!

 
 

19 comments:

Nancy J said...

Many New Year Greetings to you and TOF!!! I would so like to have a weekly or monthly blog post from you, the news, pics, and stories always brighten my days so much. Mangaweka, not far from us at all.And those back roads are always less crowded. Have a great 2019.

sallyhicks said...

I will miss your regular blogs hugely. They are a joy to browse through and lightens ones day. I am not always well enough to leave a comment but I never miss reading them.
Also I think they are a wonderful showing of NZ for overseas persons. I will miss regular news of Oscar and Big and Toebee and of course yourself.
Love to you all and the best for 2019. Xxx

Kiwionholidays said...

What a fantastic week you guys had and awesome that you share sue,
The scenes always make us homesick but in a great way,cos we come home and do nth and sth so that happens again in March,

I will try and keep up with you but not sure how to do it on instagram etc

CAN YOU please give me a heads up cos I am on a new device and still in the learning phase .

Enjoy your extra stat holiday as we are enjoying fab weather where we are

Take care and please keep in touch or pm me please as to how to get you on instagram etc

Cheers to you all there

Ps love the Manaweka area you all enjoyed and having it pet friendly is Choice

Kiwionholidays said...

Oops meant Mangaweka ..

Bibi Maizoon said...

Happy New Year!
Wow, New Zealand has so much natural beauty!
I'll surely miss your posts but will definitely loook for you on FaceBook.
xox

Polyester Princess said...

Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas! And what a beautiful country you live in. Lucky you! I do hope you keep on blogging, even if I'm already following you on Facebook. Your cheerful, colourful post, your garden, and of course, Toebee's antics always bring a smile to my face! Have a fabulous 2019. xxx

Mim said...

Happy New Year to you and TOF, Sue!

Poppy Q said...

Happy New Years to you and all the family Sue.

Vix said...

Happy New Year to you and yours, Sue! xxx

Beth Waltz said...

A Happy New Year to you and TOF, Sue. We can actually see him smiling on the outside in these photos!
Thanks for sharing the beauty of your country -- and your very special garden! -- with us. I hope you'll find time to post more of your exquisite photos in 2019.

chris. said...

Thanks for sharing the last 12 months with all of us, it has been awesome seeing the old home town and surrounding areas, will miss your weekly blog.
Have just got a phone, but haven't worked out Instagram yet, I'm not on Facebook, Hope you stick with blogging, you have a knack for it.
Happy New Year to you all, and all the other ladies that leave comments on here. Chris xoxo

Ali said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hidden Magnolias said...

If you decided to stop blogging, I will certainly miss you. I love seeing your beautiful pictures and learning about your beautiful country. Trying to find your Insta account but some young thing has your "You can call me Sue" handle.
Take care and best of luck to you.

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