Dunedin - Larnach Castle

There are gems all over this island, and Dunedin holds a great many, we visited so many things while in town... if it was only 10 degrees warmer... there may be more residents, but then you would lose the charm.

We loved the peninsula, driving along the ridges of the landscape amongst the sheep, looking over a harbour on one side and the ocean on the other. Then on the top of the peninsula a real slice of history - Larnach Castle. www.larnachcastle.co.nz

The effort involved in shipping the materials from all around the world in the 1860's is truly remarkable, and the end result, astounding!

The gardens were beautifully kept, and we enjoyed a devonshire tea in the ballroom. A real treat. If you get to this part of the world, make the time for a visit, you won't regret it.

Auckland Skytower Skyjump

AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Ok, now I got that out of my system, let me tell you about the Skytower Skyjump.

Free Fall Base Jumping from 192 metres is not your usual way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and this morning it was not the way I had planned to spend it.

However, this was something I had wanted to do since we got to Auckland, I had a voucher, it was going to expire soon, and the the time.. so it seemed.. was now!

When I arrived, they told me I was going to jump a little earlier than planned as I had arrived so early, this got my nerves going and I spent the next 10 minutes wriggling, shaking and entirely failing to sit still. When I realised that it was going to be a little longer I calmed down.

The guy who got us ready was calm, happy and helpful - gave the little group I was in a tonne of confidence. We suited up, got the harnesses on, then headed to the top of the tower.

At the top I offered for the other girl to go first and observed what she did. When it was my turn I knew they would be stopping me 10m down for a photo and felt good about the checks they did of the harness and gear.

My turn came very quickly. I've been up the tower before, more than once, and even jumped on the glass platforms looking down to the ground, feeling completely safe. Standing on the OUTSIDE of the glass with the wind hitting you and walking along a skinny platform is a completely different experience.

When I got to the end of the platform, I glanced down briefly and instantly felt uncomfortable, so I decided not to do that again. The wind chill factor was -6degrees Celsius, and every time I grabbed the railing for stability, my fingers froze. Oh yeah I knew I was alive!

Then my harness got attached to the rigging, I got told to step forward until my feet were on the edge... oh how everything in my body was yelling at me about how wrong that was to do... and then... on the count of three... Let Go!

Getting off the top was the hardest part. Then, for the next 11 seconds I took in the view, the ground that was coming ever closer and as I neared the large red target I knew... YEAH I've done it.

Exhilarating!

 

 

 

 

Magic Broomsticks Devonport Segway Tour - Video

Here's a video I did of the Segway Tour. So very much fun, even if you don't have a special occasion, just go for the heck of it! They get some real speed up, it's really quite a thrill :)

Magic Broomsticks Devonport Segway Tour!

ok, this is a MUST!!

Magic Broomsticks do a fantastic tourist experience with the Devonport Segway Tour. They are remarkably easy to ride, it's a real in the moment experience, rather than sitting in a bus and looking out the window, and you get training prior to going out!

I saw them once we were visiting North Head as a family, and took a quick photo from the car window. I was inspired!

Now just to find an occasion to warrant such a treat. Luckily my Mum was coming over to New Zealand... and it happened to be her birthday while she was here. So, I had a plan, an event, and made a booking!

We were in a group of 5 people, and while out on the tour, we had people pointing, staring and taking photos, we 'were' the tourist attraction for the day, which just added to the fun! A few people fell over, but not many, and we had fun racing around a park for a while between North Head and Mount Victoria.

Brilliant day out, we all left with the Segway smile!

 

 

 

 

Autumn in Auckland

Auckland really is quite a beautiful city, and the Sky Tower is so prominent it can be seen from all over the town.

I thought it would be nice to capture some of the city for a season and pop it into a video montage.

So, I present to you, Autumn in Auckland!

Great Barrier Island

A break away to nature, Great Barrier Island can give you a feeling of tranquility... as well as some great fishing!

Some of the members of the family went on a 3 day 2 night fishing adventure to Great barrier recently, on a boat that was big enough to sleep on, they travelled out on a Friday, arriving around midnight, and came back late Sunday.

The trip provided some fantastic family memories, the chance to catch the first fish here in NZ and some amazing scenery and sunsets.

When they got back they spent the next day and a half 'rocking' from being on the boat for so long, but thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

If you get the chance to go to Great Barrier Island on something similar, unplugging from technology and taking in some nature makes for a fantastic trip.

And then, Run Around the Bays!

I know, also a few months old, but again worth sharing.

Around the Bays is a 'fun run' with around 70,000 people heading over an 8.4km trek around the Bays of Auckland harbour.

The views were truly glorious, the day was perfect, sunny but not too hot, and the crowds were mind-blowing.

When we gathered at the start line, we literally could not get close enough to it to meet up with friends who were there. Around 200m from the actual start line the sardine effect became intense and we simply had to wait.

Once the starting gun was fired it was a good 5 minutes before we got to cross the start line, the numbers were so thick... and they really didn't thin out until around 6km into the run!

There were some fantastic costumes around as well, I saw Brides, the Flintstones, a full army crew, and some people carrying a large blowup whale. The fastest runner did it in 26 minutes, My husband got in around the hour mark and I was 1 hour 45 doing a fast walk.

Next year, I want to better my time, or take the whole family and do it together :)

Things to do in a City of Sails

Living in Auckland, on Twin harbours, you kinda 'have' to get involved in water activities of some kind, and we have seen and experienced quite a few. We are still debating on whether we should buy a boat ourselves, but with Summer drawing to a close and petrol prices on the rise ($2.16 a litre currently) we keep thinking we should just hire.

So... here are some photos of activities we have been involved in on the water since being here.

Swimming at Long Bay

 

Cruising the Harbour

Getting ready to Jetski

 

Kayaking

 

Windsurfing

 

 Sailing the America's Cups Boats

Walking along the Beaches

 

... and of course... swimming in a fountain :)