Category: North Island

Summer Delights

On By exploringthelongwhitecloudIn Hawkes Bay, North IslandLeave a comment

Ok. I know I’d said I was finished with blogging. In all honesty, I thought I had. While it was the right thing for that season, the truth is, I miss sharing my adventures with you. And because I get to make up my own rules for this, I’ve decided to take it up again.

My posts won’t be as frequent, I’m not travelling nearly as much, but when I do, I will be sure to take you on the journey with me.

Ready?

‘I’m thinking of taking the kids up to Napier & Hastings for a couple of days before they go back to school. Do you want to join us?’ Well, that’s probably the easiest question of the year to answer. Um, YES!!

So, a few days later, my sister-in-law, nephew, niece and I all pack into the car and head on a little summer getaway before the school term starts.

It’s a whirlwind trip, but we have some fun things planned, starting with berry picking at Ruby Glen Orchard. The sun is shining and we are surrounded by rows of beautiful, sweet, plump berries. Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, oh my! The taste of summer. There is something very satisfying searching for and finding that deliciously perfect sun ripened berry hidden behind the foliage. While there, I also pick up a bag of black dorris plums which turn out to be my best purchase of the day. They delighted my tastebuds for sure! While I would love to have stayed amongst the rambling vines and humming bees, we have the main event to get to, which the kids are really excited about.

Splash Planet.

I am in my early 40s, yet this is a first time visit for me. I am secretly a wee bit excited too. We head in and find a nice picnic spot to set ourselves up for the day. Honestly, I probably would have been perfectly happy to just park up there all day with a book, but I am with little water babies that can’t wait to hit the pools.

I gotta say, the water is quite cool, despite it being a sunny day. But children don’t seem to notice the cold when they are having fun, so in we get. After a little bit of splashing about and exploring, we make our way to the lazy river. It’s like a big moat surrounding the park that gently flows around. Simply grab a rubber ring, lie back, relax as you lazily float around.

It was very relaxing, but after several laps with Miss Lily, I was ready for something else. We head to the indoor pools, and I am pleasantly surprised to find the water heated, so I stay awhile and warm up. I’m quite happy here. I could just hang out here for a while, but I know what is coming next. The waterslides. I can’t say they’re my favourite things, but Master Lachie is already zooming down them, having a lot of fun, so I think I should probably give it a go too. I foolishly start with the Sky Tunnel, unaware that I will be plunged into darkness. I do not like this. Being sloshed about in the pitch black, not being able to see what’s next…no thanks. When I finally emerge from the slide and reunite with Lachie, he asks, ‘Auntie Lani, was that you screaming?’ Yes Lachie, yes it was.

Lachie assures me the other waterslides aren’t as bad, so I bravely give them all a go. My goddaughter kindly pre warned me about one of the slides guaranteed to give you a wedgie, so I was at least prepared for that. My favourite slide though, was the double dipper, which you can ride down in pairs. With the difference in weight, Lachie riding in the front and me at the back, when we hit the water, I ungracefully flip backwards, legs in every direction. It was pretty fun though.

After a picnic lunch we tone down the adrenaline with some more lazy river loops, sunbathing and reading. Then we remember all the other activities on site and manage to quickly squeeze in a train ride and some mini golf, before making a quick exit just before closing time as the heavens begin to open.

After dinner and once the rain has stopped, we amble around the block and through the nearby park. Homes run along one side and as we walk, we are amazed at all the delicious fruit that is abundantly growing in people’s gardens, avocado, passionfruit, berries and stone fruit. I love tree ripened stone fruit, such a burst of flavour. Unfortunately, it’s not something really accessible where I live, we just don’t have the right climate.

The next morning, we manage to fit in the aquarium, mini golf, and an ice cream before our little summer vacation comes to an end. The National Aquarium of New Zealand is located on Marine Parade. It’s another beautiful day, and the sun is twinkling off the ocean. I have been looking forward to going to the aquarium with Lachie. He is a walking encyclopedia for all things sharks. What I hadn’t realized is that the aquarium released all their sharks back into the ocean a few years ago. I was kind of disappointed. I had been looking forward to this experience with him, but actually, it’s a good thing. I am glad they have been released, and there are still lots of other interesting creatures to see. I loved the kororā (little blue penguins) and the pufferfish, but my favorite was the hawksbill turtle. It was so big, but I was captivated by its slow and graceful movements.

Back outside and in the sun, we had a competitive round of mini golf at Par2 MiniGolf on their art deco course. There are 2 you can choose from, the other being their Pacific Pro-Am course. It’s still morning, but already hot and I am starting to melt. What summer holiday would be complete without ice cream? Luckily for us, Lick This gelato is just down the road….


This post is dedicated to my amazing Grandmother, Margo Garland, aka, ‘Granny’, who was my biggest fan and editor. She passed away peacefully in her sleep a year ago today. When I received the call that she was gone, I was watching little kororā splashing about in the surf. And although my heart ached, there was also something quite and peaceful in that moment.

Wellington Chocolate Factory

On By exploringthelongwhitecloudIn North Island, Wellington RegionLeave a comment

I have always had a sweet tooth. I’ve been told I didn’t try my first chocolate until I was at least 2 years old, but it did nothing to prevent me from being a chocolate lover.

Today, Mum and I did a tour at Wellington Chocolate Factory. The first time I tried their chocolate was about 4 years ago and to be honest, I wasn’t really a fan. I was comparing it to the mass produced, super sweet, candy style chocolate I had grown up with from the supermarket. About 3 years ago I went refined sugar free for a year. The one exception being a 90% cocoa chocolate that had about 5-6 % sugar. It was during this time that my palate really developed and I was able to start appreciating the sophisticated flavours that come through in good quality chocolate.

Wellington Chocolate Factory (WFC) is on Eva Street which, in recent years has transformed from a dodgy feeling alley way, to a very popular artisan food street.

When I first step foot inside the building, the first thing I notice is the rich, sweet smell of warm, decadent chocolate. The aroma wafting through the New York Loft style building.

We are introduced to our host Jess and taken through into a quiet room to learn all about the ‘Bean to Bar’ process.

Artisan chocolate, like the ones produced here, are not as processed. They are treated in a way that enhances and celebrates the natural flavours and characteristics of the cacao beans. The ‘Bean to Bar’ practise is becoming more popular now in New Zealand, but WCF were the first to start doing this in NZ. Ethics, innovation, fair trade and sustainability are all key pillars for the company. They work directly with fair trade suppliers, like Trade Aid and the growers to source their beans.

The beans that WCF use are sourced from Central South America (Peru and Dominican Republic) and the South Pacific. Chocolate originates from South America and dates way back to the Aztecs and Mayan times. However, today, about 80% of the world’s cacao actually comes from the Ivory Coast and Ghana in Africa. Sadly, there is a big monopoly there and it does play a part in child trafficking and slavery.

There are many varieties of Cacao trees, one of the oldest being the Criollo from Peru. It has some beautiful fruity tones and this is the one WCF use for their single origin dark chocolate. From the Dominican Republic they source another old variety called Trinitario which is known for it’s earthy, citrus tones.

Just like wine, the growing conditions, the soil, weather, climate, etc, all contribute to the flavour notes and characteristics of the bean.

After harvesting, the beans are fermented and dried. They are then packed and shipped off to manufacturers. It is at this stage that WCF receives their beans.

While munching on our complementary vegan chocolate chip cookies, Jess talks us through the process of how they make their chocolate before taking us on a short tour of the factory to see it with our own eyes.

The first step is sorting. WCF remove any beans that are broken, have holes in them, shriveled or fused together. They are also on the look out for foregin things, such as stones, sticks and string. Apparently WCF have also come across a bouncy ball, lizard skull and a barbie doll shoe in their bag of fermented, dried beans.

Roasting happens next. This is the most important stage. Over roasting will kill the flavours, getting it right will celebrate the natural characteristics of the bean. We get to try a roasted Peruvian bean. It’s crunchy and bitter, but not nearly as bitter as I was expecting. It has a beautiful nutty flavour and I really enjoy this. Pieces of this roasted bean are what is known as Cacao nibs. They are a super food, high in antioxidants, selenium and endorphins.

The cacao nibs are then ground in a stone grinder. This process takes 3 days. Sugar is added at this stage, along with milk or flavours if they are being used. We learn that you can’t add liquid to the chocolate, so to add milk, it needs to be milk solids.

We all gather around the little room, peering in through the glass, watching the grinder mix all the glorious, smooth liquid chocolate. The stuff in here has been grinding for 2 days and Jess scoops up a cup for us to try. It has a very fruity flavour but it’s not very smooth yet. It still needs another day in the grinder to properly mix in the sugar and cacao.

After 3 days, the chocolate will be poured into tins to set. It will keep like this for a long time and WCF are starting to experiment with aging the chocolate at this stage. (It’s starting to sound a bit like wine) Any flavours added to the chocolate are infused into it during the grinding stage. They don’t have the equipment to have chunky bits embedded into it. Instead, if desired, they will sprinkle textured flavours onto the back. (Like the salted caramel brittle, which is amazing by the way!) Once set, the bars are then hand wrapped and ready for sale.

And there you have it. The Bean to Bar process.

But the tour is not complete, we still need to sample the goods. We were able to try 10 different flavours (and I have to say, they were pretty generous with their tasting sizes). From single origin chocolate to a vegan coconut chocolate to collaboration with Scale Grace gin, there was no shortage of deliciousness and innovation. My favourite was the single origin (honestly, I had no idea a plain chocolate could have such complex, interesting flavours) This is the take home bar I choose, but it was a tough choice, the dark salted caramel was also outstanding. Even the coffee one was pretty good, and I don’t even like coffee!

The tour was meant to last an hour but our group had a lot of great questions and we found ourselves there for the best part of 2 hours. It is the most fascinating tour and Jess’ passion and enthusiasm for the products shine through. It is so refreshing to see a business that builds its foundations upon fair trade and sustainability.

We ended our tour with a complementary cup of their hot chocolate and a greater appreciation to the love and effort that goes into making our favourite sweet treat.

A Foodie Weekend in Petone

On By exploringthelongwhitecloudIn Wellington RegionLeave a comment

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how many great things there are to do right on our back door. So this weekend, I’m doing some local activities and having a foodie weekend in Petone. I am booked into a cake decorating class on Saturday morning with my sister in law, and a ravioli making class with my brother on Sunday afternoon.

It’s guaranteed to be a delicious weekend.

We arrive at the Cake it Forward studio eager to get our cake on and learn some skills. We are warmly greeted and offered a complimentary tea or coffee from the cart out front. A great start. We chat with some of the other ladies while waiting for everyone to arrive. Classes are small with a maximum of 6 people, great for learning lots of new things and keeping a casual relaxed atmosphere.

Could you imagine a birthday without gifts? Without a birthday cake to celebrate your special day? I know that I am lucky to have never experienced this, but there are many for whom this is a reality. Cake it Forward was started by Bridget as a hobby but it has grown into much more than that. Wanting to teach her daughter that they have enough ‘stuff’ and that there are others who don’t have a lot, Cake it Forward has partnered with the Angel Tree Programme. Through this programme, she is able to bring some joy and happiness to children on their special day, by donating birthday cakes to children with parents in prison. I also noted that Bridget has adopted and fosters rescue dogs. What a legend!

Today, we are trying our hand at creating a rainbow drip cake. I have made many cakes in the past, so I was surprised at how much I learnt in this class. I was already OK at making cakes, but these skills have enabled me to work to a much higher standard with a professional looking finish. They are simple tips, but make a big difference to the end result.

Over the next 2 hours we watch demonstrations, have hands-on experience decorating our own cake and learn lots of tips and tricks. I quickly realise what a big difference it makes having the right equipment. I love the cake turntable and palette knife, they’re a game changer! Bit by bit we build our masterpieces, stacking the layers, crumb coating and then creating some magic with the rainbow icing. We learn how to create a chocolate drip finish and garnish with our home made chocolate shards.

This 2 hours class was so much fun and the time went by so quickly. At the end of the session, I was able to take away a beautifully decorated, 3 tier cake to enjoy with the family. I love the motive behind this business venture and was glad that I could be a part of it today. I have since made 2 birthday cakes and the skills I learnt have been so useful with these. I am sure I will be booking in for another class soon. I have my eye on a cupcake class!

On Sunday afternoon my brother and I head to La Bella Italia ready to spend the afternoon soaking up some Italian atmosphere. La Bella Italia is an authentic Italian restaurant serving up delicious meals in a casual setting. You will also find quality Italian products you can purchase, from pastas, cheeses, meat and of course gelato. Everything that reminds me of Italy.

The class begins with a glass of prosecco and a large platter of antipasti shared among the group. I love Italian food and this brings back some wonderful memories of eating my way around Italy, especially Bologna, gosh, the food was incredible there! Bellissimo.

After getting our fill of these tasty bites, we head to the tables all set up with ingredients and pasta makers ready for us to use.

We begin with mixing the eggs and gradually adding the flour to make a globby mess that eventually becomes dough. Now the hard part, kneading it until it becomes the right consistency – smooth and elastic. This takes quite a long time and I am pleased to have James with me to put in the hard work. I am a bit useless at this step!

When the dough is ready (after what seems like ages) we let it rest while we clean up our work bench, ready to roll it out. We get a demonstration from the chef and then it’s our turn. Working with half the dough at a time, we put it through the rollers, changing the setting every couple of turns to roll it out thin.

Once we have the right thickness we can add the fillings. There are 2 options, feta & ricotta and a pumpkin one. Yum! We roll balls of fillings and place it on the pasta before folding the pasta over to enclose it.

The last step is to use a pasta wheel with a zig zag edge to cut it. Using this also seals the two layers together so the filling doesn’t come out when cooking.

And that’s it. Easy right?

I have to say, making pasta is a labour of love! But tonight I will be having Italian, made the Italian way.

Exploring Patuna Chasm

On By exploringthelongwhitecloudIn Wellington Region5 Comments

This particular Sunday morning started even earlier than on a work day. Our alarm sounds at 6:15 and by 6:50am we are out the door. The day hasn’t woken yet, it’s still quite dark and the birds are only just starting their dawn chorus. As we head along the motorway we start to see a dash of blush, peeking out from behind the hills. A little early morning mist clings to the land. We are watching the day wake up and it’s beautiful.

Today we are doing a walk at Patuna Chasm. It’s been on my bucket list for about 3 years. Finally we are doing it. Patuna Chasm is in the Wairarapa on private land so you have to book, and it’s popular. It’s also only open over the warmer months of the year, which is why it has taken us so long to do this.

We are on the first walk this morning, departing at 8:30am and are joined by my mother & father in law. We arrive and get ready, it’s a wet walk, some of it being through a river, so we change our clothes and shoes into ones we are happy to get wet and I make sure my phone is in a snap lock bag. Before beginning the walk we read through the safety signs. It mentions that in some parts the river is 1m deep and more. I knew it was a wet walk, but I didn’t realises it was that deep. This is going to be fun. And cold.

We depart punctually at 8:30am on the back of a trailer fitted with chairs. The seats are all wet, probably from the dew last night and I have a very wet bottom before we even enter the water. It’s a bumpy drive out to the start of the walk. I am fortunate not to suffer from motion sickness and actually really enjoy this type of travel. Our driver manages to navigate some pretty tight bends and after about 20 minutes we arrive at the start of the walk. After a bit of a safety briefing we are off.

Around 16 – 18 people are in this group, but we pretty quickly all find our own pace and spread out. The first part of the walk is through native bush. When I picture native bush, this isn’t what I imagine, it’s quite scrubby, but native bush is exactly what it is – manuka, kawakawa and ferns. The bush is peaceful, void of city noises. I can hear cicadas, magpies, running water and the odd bleat from some sheep.

The first part of the track is quite muddy and slippery. I take care not to fall over, while Daniel goes out of his way to slide in it, doing some mud surfing. The track then leads into a steep incline. I am actually surprised how well I manage it. I’m not huffing and puffing to the same extent as usual when I reach the top. We walk along the ridge for a bit before coming to a huge limestone rock that has it’s centre worn away. It looks like a big wave and is very impressive. The rock is smooth and super fascinating, a great place to get some photos.

A little further on and we begin to descend into the chasm. There is a rope to help us abseil down the bank.

When we get closer to the river I notice an old fossilised shell embedded into the rock. I find it fascinating at how much detail is in it and thinking about how many thousands, millions of years it might have been there.

It’s now time to enter the water. The wet part of the walk has begun. The first moment it feels freezing and I wonder how I am going to manage walking in this cold water, waist deep, but after a minute or so it doesn’t feel so bad (probably because I have gone a bit numb.) We walk up the river going slowly, navigating the rocks, some of which are quite slippery. Taking small steps is key. We see the huge rocks of the chasm, washed smoothed, shaped by the flow of water over many years. The rock face in some areas is engulfed in vibrant green moss with water droplets glistening in the light. It is simply beautiful.

It’s not too long before we approach a waterfall. Water pouring down over the rock face and moss in tiers, fanning out into the pool below. The photos don’t do it justice. My mother in law offers to take some photos of me next to the waterfall so I head out, but next minute, without even thinking, I just go and stand right under it. The water is very fresh, but so magical. And I just stand there, getting completely drenched under a spray of cool water.

I feel very alive after that and we carry on with our walk. This time we are going back down the river, towards where we first entered the water and then carry on past it to do the rest of the walk. For most of the walk, the water is below my knee, but one part gets very deep. The rest of my group decide to get out of the water and find a way around the side, but you know me, I just swim through it. I am totally soaked, from the neck down, but I’m loving it. We get one beautiful, precious life and I find moments like this, getting wet, taking the ‘road less traveled’ is what makes life so sweet for me.

We are lucky to have such a perfect weather day. There is no wind and in the patches where the sun manages to break through into the chasm, it’s quite warm. I imagine it could be a very cold walk on some days. We then approach the part of the walk where it starts to close in and get dark. We were told by our guide at the start that it would, and he assured us it was the right way. Just as we start to enter it, there is a big hole in the rock above and light floods in. It’s so bright it kind of hurts my eyes. I also find that the darkness of the chasm and the brightness from above intensifies the colours of the forest canopy. There are so many different vibrant shades of green.

Further in, there is a spot where the only light is coming from some cracks in the rocks above. This is such a unique experience and quite an adventure.

We finally make it to the end of the walk and climb out. We need to walk along the river bank for a while before heading up to the collection point. But there is also an optional swim add on, it brings you out further up the river and then you just walk back along the farmland to the collection point. No one in my group wanted to do this so I begin following them on land, but looking down at the group that has decided to do the add on swim, I just keep thinking, I’m missing out. And so, I join them.

Most of this last part is in water below my knee and we walk through another little cave. This one has some pigeons in it and their soft cooing is echoed around inside. Beautiful. The last part of the walk is where you have to swim. Well, you can walk, it was probably up to my shoulders, but I chose to swim, and it was excellent. I’m glad I listened to my gut that said, go do the swim.

Back at the collection point I enjoy the warmth of the sun on my skin and wet clothes while we wait to be picked up. The drive on the back of the trailer is cold. The combination of wind and wet clothes is chilly, but I remind myself, it’s only temporary and once back at the car park I am in warm dry clothes in no time.

We then make our way to Featherston for one of the biggest burgers I have had from Vixen. Delicious. And it certainly satisfies the hunger created on this walk. Their fries are pretty good too.

Its a challenging walk, the rocks were quite slippery in places and the water deep at times, but if you take it slowly and absorb your surroundings, I am sure you will see it for the adventure it is. You will spend the majority of the walk in the water, I timed about 50 minutes on land and about 1 3/4 hours in the river.

Ōtaki Retreat

On By exploringthelongwhitecloudIn Wellington RegionLeave a comment

I did this trip in December 2022, but have only had a chance to post about it now.

It’s become a bit of a ritual – my annual solo retreat, one that I really look forward to and was really needed at the end of last year. 3 days, on my own, in sunny, relaxed Ōtaki, doing what I wanted, when I wanted.

It was a hot drive up, but I arrive at a little slice of kiwi paradise (there are lots of those here.) My Airbnb host is there to welcome me and help settle me into the cute little studio at the back of her section. I quickly ditch the shoes (barefoot is always better) and climb into the hammock to read my book with a cold drink and listen to the bird song.

I spend about 3 hours here. Reading my book, reflecting on 2022, thinking about what I would like 2023 to hold for me. It is both a luxury and a privilege to be able to do this.

I self cater some nachos for dinner, simple but delicious and enjoy these alfresco. I am only an hours drive from home, but the climate is so different here, warmer for sure, but more noticeably, less windy. It makes outdoor activities so much more enjoyable!

I am not far from Ōtaki Beach, so I head down after dinner to watch the sunset. It’s a large sandy beach that stretches as far as the eye can see, in both directions. The golden sun is starting to slip away behind Kāpiti Island. I go for a walk and let Mother Nature engulf me. I close my eyes and listen. I listen for some time. I expect to hear a car, voices, a dog barking, but nothing. Not even a squawking seabird. Just the rhythmic, soothing sound of the ocean, washing away the stress & busyness of the last few weeks, rejuvenating me.

 I love the slower pace of life you get on the Kāpiti Coast! Why is it so hard to be this still, this peaceful, this relaxed, at home?

Each year, when I book my trips, there is a particular draw card that takes me to that area. When I went to Waiheke, it was for the glamping and wine tour. Marlborough Sounds was for Lochmara lodge, Carrington was about the little log cabin in the country side. My reason for Ōtaki? Strawberry picking. I don’t know where the idea came from, but I decided that for this trip, I really wanted to go strawberry picking!

So the next morning, despite there being a bit of rain about, I head out to Ohau to Shirley’s Strawberries to try my luck. They were open for picking over the weekend, I am hopeful they aren’t all picked out. But it’s my lucky day! I am told they are mostly picked, but to try the first 4 rows. It’s hard to explain how (or why) I was so excited about picking some strawberries, but I was! The staff there were so friendly and the sun even came out.

I slowly wander up and down the rows, I honestly don’t think I have ever seen so many strawberries this size. They are huge! The bright red flesh stands out vividly against the leafy green foliage, making them easy to spot, but I also find, if you rustle among the leaves, there are even more delicacies to be found. It takes me a while to fill my bucket (its cardboard – always nice to see biodegradable packaging) and it’s quite hard work, there is a lot of bending involved. But when I leave 40 minutes later with my tub full of freshly picked strawberries, I am feeling very satisfied.

I drop the strawberries home, sample a few of course, and then head down to the estuary for a walk. It turns out to be more of a beach walk, perhaps I took a wrong turn, I’m good at doing that! Regardless, it’s still enjoyable. I love our beaches at home, they are rocky, wild and rugged, but sometimes you just want a sandy beach. There are plenty of those here, and this one I pretty much have to myself!

Before leaving, I make myself stop and listen again. It’s too easy to just walk or view everything through a cellphone camera. I want to make sure I am taking in as much as I can. So I find some driftwood to sit on and close my eyes. I can hear the roaring waves again. Obviously, I am on the beach, but today, they are competing with the sound of the seabirds and cicadas. I feel the cool, refreshing breeze on my face and the intensity of the sun on my feet through my black shoes. I open my eyes and see a dog, sprinting along the beach, chasing birds, having the time of it’s life.

Before heading back to my Airbnb for lunch, I decide to stop by the local dairy for a sneaky ice cream. It’s a classic kiwi blue dairy, the sort of dairy that goes hand in hand with a New Zealand Summer. I go for a kiwi classic, Hokey Pokey ice cream, in a cone. It’s creamy, delicious and melts quickly!

Back at home I participate in the great Mediterranean practice of taking a siesta. Outside on the grass of course, under the shade of a grapevine. This is bliss. Why is it so hard to do this at home? I watch puffs of clouds twist in the sky and then evaporate into nothing. There is just a bright blue canvas above me. Birds feed nearby, looking for worms and little buttercups are dotted about, their cheeky yellow blooms adorning the grass.

After a couple of hours, it’s time to get up. I can’t stay here all day. Well, actually I could if I wanted to. I love that about this trip. However, I want to get in another walk, so I head to the opposite end of Ōtaki beach this time to do the river walk. The track follows the river, it’s icy blue water looks so inviting, it’s a hot afternoon. I walk for about 3/4 of an hour. I have no agenda, no where else to be, nothing else I need to be doing. I am simply walking for the joy of walking. 

It’s my last night here, so I head to the beach again for the sunset, walking barefoot in the sand, waves lapping at my feet. The water is surprisingly not too cold!  

This has been a weekend of rest and relaxation. Food for the soul. I highly recommend taking a solo retreat!

Also, note to self, I really must put up my hammock, it’s only been sitting in my cupboard, unused, for about 7 years! I am certain I could get good use out of it in 2023.

A weekend in Whanganui

On By exploringthelongwhitecloudIn Manawatu - Whanganui, North IslandLeave a comment

We had talked about doing this trip for a few years, but then work, life, covid, it all got in the way. Late November 2022 it finally happened. A road trip, with my mum, to Whanagnui, to spend some time with my Aunt.

The trip was meant to start with a 2.5 hour drive north, with an afternoon for some exploring. It turned into a hot, sticky 5 hours car ride, in traffic that was barely moving. We arrived exhausted, late afternoon and with no desire to leave our cute little cottage situated across the road from the mighty Whanganui River. After some dinner, we did manage to drag ourselves out for a walk along the river for some fresh air, before heading home to sleep off the exhaustion of the day.

I wake in the morning, feeling rested and after some breakfast, we are ready to take on the day. My aunt arrives and we head out for a day of laughs and exploring.

After a quick stop to a strawberry farm for morning tea, we are off to my Aunt’s favourite place, Bason Botanic Gardens.This 25 hectare garden paradise is just on the outskirts of Whanganui and has 8 different gardens you can wander around. The park was donated by Stanley and Blanche Bason in the 1960’s and is now maintained by the council.

We start our walk with the Homestead Gardens. The old 1900’s cottage still remains and is surrounded by beautiful English style gardens with flowers, roses and herbs. The maintenance here must be high, everything beautifully manicured. It’s peaceful and still with the odd bench to sit down on, relax and take it all in.

From here we head to my favourite place, the conservatories. This area of the park is made up of several glasshouses and conservatories, home to a wide variety of plants. There is also a little bit of info about the Bason Family. I love glasshouses, the warmth and humidity you feel on your skin, the damp earthy smell, the sounds created from the water features and the lush green foliage of all the plants. It’s a delight to your senses. My favourite room was the Larson Orchid house. I don’t think I have ever seen so many orchids before. And such variety. Large ones, small delicate blooms, striped and spotted, yellows, whites and pinks. They really are a beautiful flower.

While thinking about how many more orchids I could fit into our house, we wander a little more around the gardens. You could easily spend a day here exploring or doing very little, like reading a book under the shade of a tree. It would be a great place for a picnic.

Feeling peckish, we decide to head to Rotokawau Virginia Lake, to the cafe for lunch. As we walk across the grass to the cafe, we are approached by a large flock of ducks, who come waddling (with speed) across the grassy lawn straight towards us. They are obviously used to being fed by people. They aren’t shy!

We enjoy our lunch in the cafe and purchase some duck food on the way out. It doesn’t take long before we are accosted by our feathered friends again, but this time we are prepared with food for them.

There is a large lake here and we decide to take the 25 minute stroll along the woodland walk, around the lake. We still have duck food, and they know it, some follow us for a while. There are so many that at one point I stand on one and then accidentally kick it while tripping over it. I try to make a peace offering with some food, but he’s not buying it.

Further on we see some white swans. We have black swans where I live and I see them quite often, but it’s been a while since I have seen a white swan. They are so majestic. Until they honk.

Further on we come across several pukekos. I think they must have been nesting as we managed to get chased by them! Despite the unexpected interactions we had with the bird life, this is a beautiful walk and definitely worth a visit.

After another lovely walk along the river bank, watching the setting sun, our second day in Whanganui comes to an end.

Today we head home, but not before checking out the local Farmer’s Market which runs every Saturday, down by the river. There are food stalls, crafts and other bits and pieces for sale.

We then sit on the river bank for a while, watching passengers board the Waimarie for their paddle steamer boat ride along the Whanganui River. Built in 1899, the Waimarie transported cargo, passengers and tourists up and down the river until the early 1950’s when she had an accident and sank. She then spent the next 40 years at the bottom of the Whanganui River before being lifted from her watery grave and restored to her olde glory once again. Next time, we will be sure to book a trip on this floating piece of history.

Our last stop of our trip is New Zealand Glass Works where you can look around the gallery, but also watch glass blowers at work in the hot shop. It’s fascinating. Starting with a hot blob of glass, artists blow, mold, twist and shape amazing creations. They even offer beginner’s classes, which look so much fun. If you are interested, you will have to get in quick, they book out pretty quickly!

Whanganui is a great place for a weekend escape, perfect for relaxing, but also lots to explore and rich in history. I am sure we will be back again.

Tasting the delights of Tāmaki Makaurau – Part 2

On By exploringthelongwhitecloudIn Auckland Region, North Island2 Comments

We meet Phil a bit earlier today, it’s a 9 am start for this food tour and we begin our culinary journey at Point Chevalier Beach Cafe. No donuts for breakfast today, instead it’s an almond croissant and a peppermint tea. The croissant is flaky and sweet, but not too sweet which is good. I have to pace myself, we have a day of eating ahead of us.

Our next stop is Phillipe’s Chocolates. Here we find a delectable selection of pastries, chocolates and truffles. We are each allowed to choose 4 chocolates to take away with us. Deciding on the flavours is a tough decision, there is a big selection. I will enjoy these later.

After our sweet start, we make our way to Sandringham Village, the Auckland center for Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan food. As soon as I step out of the van, I can smell the spices. The aroma in the air brings memories of our time in India flooding back. Smell is such a powerful sense. On this stop we get to choose a savory snack to sample. I go for a samosa and Daniel selects a lamb roll.

We then head to Sabato, a store importing oils, spices, vinegar, sauces and more from the Mediterranean. Mediterraneans do food so well. Simple, fresh ingredients make the tastiest meals. They understand that food is meant to be enjoyed, savored. Not eaten in a rush on the go. I loved browsing in the store, there was lots to remind me of delicious meals I had eaten in Italy. We left with some spices, dukkah, aged balsamic vinegar and truffle powder. Since returning home I have made fresh pasta by hand and enjoyed eating it with a simple dressing of extra virgin olive oil and truffle powder. It’s not quite the same as having pasta in the hill top towns of Tuscany, generously garnished with slices of fresh truffles, but it’s pretty good.

Our next stop is Soljans Estate Winery. This is another small, family owned vineyard, started by Croatian immigrants and another of my favourite vineyards. On the walls of the tasting room are large, old photos of the vineyard and the family home in Hvar, Croatia. There is so much history in this little room and it’s the only vineyard in New Zealand with 5 generations of family involved. It was much more than just a wine tasting. After purchasing more wines, we head next door to their restaurant for lunch.

Phil has been running tours in Auckland for over 20 years and this is evident in the relationships he has with the families at the vineyards. He has been visiting these places for many years and is greeted as an old friend. It’s an open menu for lunch, which means Phil is paying and we can order whatever we like! This has been one of the great things about the tour, everything is included (except all the wine Daniel is purchasing) It makes for a very relaxed, easy tour. I have gnocchi again and then share a dessert with Daniel.

By now I am rather full and we still have 2 more stops on this food journey around Auckland. We make our way to Kumeu River Winery and Phil shows us around. We see the testing lab (a first for me) and the cellar which is filled with oak barrels, aging all their wines. This place is renowned for their Chardonnays and there are 3 in the tasting line up. A few more purchases are made by Daniel. His favourite wine is Pinot Noir and while he did purchase some, the majority of the purchases were other types. Across the 2 days we tried a huge variety of wines, some that I have never heard of before. That’s one of the great things about wine tours, it encourages you to explore different wines.

Our last stop of the day is Boric Orchard Markets, a multi-generational food market than began as a humble road side fruit stall. Our tour concludes with a New Zealand ice cream from the market.

We had a wonderful time exploring Auckland over the 2 days. Our previous experience of Auckland has always been a quick trip up and back for a concert or a few hours stop over on an international trip. On our 2 private tours with Phil, we got so see so much more. The rural side of Auckland, the wild, rugged coastline and we meet some of the families who have help shaped the agriculture of our country.

Tasting the delights of Tāmaki Makaurau – Part 1

On By exploringthelongwhitecloudIn Auckland Region, North Island1 Comment

In the words of Queen: ‘It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, I feel good, no one’s gonna stop me now’

I leave Daniel sleeping and I head out to explore. We are booked in for a wine tasting tour today, but that’s not till 10:30am so there is plenty of time for me to get out for a walk.

I head to Albert park. I didn’t realise Auckland had so many hills. I mean, the place is made up of lots of volcanoes, but I thought the central city was flat. It’s only a 10 minute walk, but it’s quite the workout. I arrive rather hot and sweaty but quickly forget once I am surrounded by this little oasis in the heart of the city. I am greeted by an old, twisted, gnarly tree that oozes old time fairy tale charm. The birds are singing and the bright blue sky frames the distinctive sky tower.

At the center of the park is a water feature, the symmetry of the area is calming. And the poppies, oh, the poppies, these beautifully formed, spring time blooms are stunning. Their delicate stems gently swaying in the breeze. There is a soft hum of honey bees getting their fill of poppy pollen. Spring is dancing to nature’s orchestra in this park today.

Once I have had my fill of nature, I head back to the concrete jungle, heading to our hotel along the waterfront. But first, I have one more stop to make. On the bus ride into Auckland yesterday, I randomly googled, ‘best donuts in Auckland’. It came up with several results, including Grownup Donuts, a little hole in the wall servery, 2 doors down from our hotel, so I just have to make a stop there. They have a big selection of soft, fluffy filled puffs of deliciousness, but I go for the classics, a plain cinnamon, a dark Belgium chocolate mousse filled one and a custard filled one. With my carefully selected assortment, I go to see if Daniel is awake and ready for breakfast.

    We are collected by Phil from Fine Wine and Food Tours from our hotel at 10:30am. We initially take a wrong turn which means we travel over the Auckland Harbour bridge – something neither of us have done before. It gives us some great views and I am starting to see why it is called the city of sails. There are 2 harbours, lots of bays, inlets and plenty of access to water. We also get some great views of Rangitoto.

    Today we are doing a private wine tour of the Kumeu region. Phil explains that this area was where a lot of Croatian immigrants settled in the early 20th century and began making wine here. It’s not far from the city, but as soon as we leave the motorway, we are in instant countyside. It’s very pretty here, lots of green rolling hills and trees. There has been quite a bit of development in this area, but it still feels rural.

    Out first stop is West Brook Winery. I love the settings at vineyards. They are always so idyllic with their rows of planted grapes and elegant olive trees and this vineyard meets my expectations. We are seated inside and brought 5 wines to taste. We spend some time chatting with Phil and getting to know each other. We will be doing another tour with Phil tomorrow too. While tasting the wines, a little skink pops out from behind a pot plant on the window ledge.

    After Daniel has made some purchases, we head to our next stop, Hellertau Brewery. It was meant to be Soljans Estate Winery, but as we will be visiting there tomorrow, Phil changed the itinerary for us so we didn’t go to the same place twice. This venue is mostly outdoor seating and would be an amazing place to spend an afternoon in the summer, it has a really great vibe. For lunch I choose gnocchi which is sensational. This is washed down with a cinnamon and yuzu non alcoholic wine. It’s quite an interesting flavour, the cinnamon is strong but it’s a delicious drink.

    Our next stop is The Hunting Lodge. It’s a popular spot, a great place for family and friends to enjoy a glass of wine and soak in some sunshine. We try another 5 wines at this vineyard. They only have 2 wines here that are made from grapes grown on site. It does seem quite common for the vineyards here to have a small block of vines and then vines in other parts of the country like Hawkes Bay, Marlborough and Otago. Their home block wines are a chardonnay and a sav aged in oak. After our samplings, Daniel makes another purchase.

    Our last vineyard of the day is Coopers Creek Winery. I think this is my favorite winery of the day. The owner is chatty and friendly, sharing stories of their wine and it’s history. I love boutique places that are family owned. They have a personalized rustic charm and passion that larger places struggle to match. I should note that all of the wineries we visited were relatively small, family wineries, I just particularly enjoyed our visit to Coopers Creek. They have a huge range of wines, their menu list is extensive. We got to try 10, all of which were very drinkable. Daniel makes yet another purchase. Perhaps I should start buying shares in NZ wine!

    Before heading home, Phil offers to take us out to Muriwai Beach, a black sand beach that is home to a colony of nesting gannets. We stop on the hillside to look down on the beach. It’s a breathtaking view. I love our beaches, they are not your picture perfect, golden sandy beaches (although there are some of these) they are wild and untouched and leave you with a sense of awe as you witness the power of nature. It’s a beautiful coastline.

    We arrive back at our hotel, ready for a nap after a day of wine. It’s a quiet dinner tonight at a place called Mezze Bar which serve tapas. I had my fill of wine today so dinner was wonderfully simple, a lemonade and a Spanish omelette, a perfect ending to the day.

    Discovering a hidden gem.

    On By exploringthelongwhitecloudIn Auckland Region, North Island1 Comment

    For Christmas last year, I bought Daniel tickets to see Billie Eilish in Auckland. Since we were travelling up for the concert, we decided to extend our stay to 2 nights and do a little exploring.

    We had an amazing flight up. It was so smooth, it almost made me forget that I hate flying and as I was reading through the Kia Ora Magazine I began fantasizing about overseas travel again, thinking maybe I could handle a long haul flight.

    It’s our first time flying North in a while, almost 3 years in fact. Our holidays tend to be in the South Island which is far less populated and since we haven’t been doing any international travel, it made Auckland feel quite foreign – the size of the city, the height of the buildings and number of people we saw, everything was on a much bigger scale to what we have grown used to in recent times.

    We check into our accommodation, Imagine Beach Road, it was only completed 6 months ago so everything is new and modern. It’s in a great central location too, perfect for our weekend getaway.

    It’s already early evening so we decide to head out for a bite to eat before the concert. I had been planning on going to Saigonz, a Vietnamese restaurant, which was just across the road and had some great reviews. Unfortunately it was closed. So we head out for a wander down to Britomart in search of dinner.

    We try a Mexican place which is full and notice how many people are out and about in town. Probably all heading to the concert, and probably like us, all looking for some dinner before the show. It never occurred to me to book something in advance. We try another restaurant that is also full, but they suggest we try the one downstairs. We look around, a bit confused, and the waiter points to a glass door with no signage. We head down some stairs into a dark hallway and sure enough, there is a restaurant. We ask the host if they have any room and he tells us they have space at the chef’s table for walk-ins.

    So we follow him into a dark, underground, windowless room. We have no idea what type of food they serve (although by the decor I am guessing Asian) and no idea of the price. But judging by the buzz in the room and the number of people, this place is popular.

    We are seated at the chef’s table, a prime spot for watching all the food getting cooked. On the menu I notice that we have arrived at Ghost Street and our waiter explains that they serve sharing plates from 3 distinctly different regions in China. To order, we mark on the menu the items we want and then peg it above us. It gets collected and the items served when they are ready. If we want more, we just mark down what else we want and peg it back up. No one goes hungry here.

    The energy at this place is electric, the vibe is mysterious, the food is fantastic and I am buzzing! What an exciting place to have stumbled across. I love finding hidden gems like this. This would be a great place to go with a group of friends, the sharing plates lend themselves well to this. It’s a bit harder when I am a vegetarian and Daniel is a big meat eater, although, Daniel still managed to share my plates!

    After our hunger is satisfied and my senses delighted, we head to Spark Arena for the concert. I haven’t been around this many people in a while, we are surrounded by 10,000 fans (a lot of whom are teenage girls who seem to enjoy screaming at the top of their lungs.) The concert was amazing though, Billie is so talented and has so much energy. I have no idea how she manages to jump and dance on stage like that and still manage to sing. She has a very inclusive presence and is clear how much she cares for and loves her fans.

    I’ll admit, I wasn’t prepared for the amount of high pitched screaming, and as I settle happily into bed for the night, ready for sleep and resting my ears, I can’t help but feel just a little bit old!

    Exploring New Plymouth – Part 2

    On By exploringthelongwhitecloudIn North Island, TaranakiLeave a comment

    The morning is spent eating birthday cake over cups of tea and chats. What a great way to start the day. The weather forecast isn’t looking too great for today or the rest of the trip, but it’s not raining yet, so we head out for a walk. Dad wants to do the Te Henui Walkway so that’s where we head.

    The start of the walk is where the river mouth meets the sea. I get out of the car and am blasted with a cold, icy wind. I’m thinking to myself, ‘Who’s idea was this? It’s so cold, what an unpleasant walk this will be’

    We spend the first few minutes in the playground, with young and old having a go on the digger!

    But it’s too cold to sit around so we start walking. It’s a nice setting, but the weather is not making it very enjoyable at all! However, after about 5 minutes, we turn a corner and the wind disappears and completely transforms the walk. I am not hating it anymore, it’s actually rather nice. It’s an easy flat walk and I enjoy looking at the layers in the forest. The tall towering trees, right down to the ground cover ferns and seedlings. Moss covers the bare branches and vines drape across the trees. It’s such a fascinating eco system.

    Daniel and I are walking much faster than the rest of the party, we are quite far ahead, but Lachie is on his bike and catches up in no time. The flat terrain makes it a great place for riding bikes. The walk twists and turns, but sticks to the river, we walk under several bridges and then arrive at one we need to walk over. While we wait for the others to catch up, we decide to have a few games of pooh sticks. Lachie selects his stick, I use a large, dried leaf and of course, Uncle Daniel decides to use a massive log that he’s found, it’s at least as tall as him. Lachie’s stick unfortunately sinks, my leaf gets caught up in Daniel’s log, and Daniel declares himself the winner. I love the joy that can be found in such a simple activity.

    Daniel and I have lunch at The Backyard Cafe and take a look around the shops before heading back home. We spend the rest of the afternoon eating birthday cake, drinking tea and taking a dip in the spa.

    One of my goals for the year is to watch some sunrises and sunsets. So, whenever I am on the East or West coast, I am making an effort to do this. And since New Plymouth is on the West Coast, despite the weather, I am down at the beach to watch the sun go down. It’s pretty overcast, but there is a break in the clouds and golden hues are pouring through it. The tide is low, which has exposed a sandy part of the beach. The colours from this patch of gold are reflecting in the wet sand. It’s not your traditional sunset, but it’s beautiful. I also note the vastness of the ocean.

    Looking out to sea, all there is is ocean and sky. In Wellington, we are in an enclosed harbour. The view I am so use to seeing always has land at the other side of the ocean. Its a simple, beautiful reminder of how small we are in this big awesome world.

    The next day is wet, wild and the last full day of our holiday. Daniel is keen to go to the Len Lye Art Gallery so we head there, while the rest of the family go to the local museum. Both great rainy day activities. To be honest, art galleries aren’t really my thing, but it’s still interesting. I like the tall ceiling entrance way and there are some interesting kinetic metal sculptures which we sit and watch/listen to for a while.

    We have lunch across the road at The Public Catering Company I am delighted to find they make doughnuts and their filled focaccia is pretty good too, I highly recommend you check out this place! After lunch, Daniel spends up large at the record shop and I take a wander down the street looking in the home ware and plant stores. They have some really nice shops here.

    We meet up with the rest of the family and head to Bowlarama for some glow in the dark mini golf and arcade games before heading back home for more birthday cake and boardgames.

    Reflecting on this trip, a lot of the things we did, we could have done at home. We didn’t do or see much that was particularly Taranaki, but having those 4 nights away with the family, being able to spend quality time with my niece and nephew was so special. They are growing up so fast and I am grateful that I get to spend the time with them.