Pedaltours Matamata to Rotorua

Feb 17-19 - From Whangamata our tour continued to Wahi and Matamata.  Our overseas visitors stayed on a farm near Cambridge which they enjoyed immensely.  They were treated to good Kiwi food like roast lamb, roast kumera and pavlova.  Four of the group were leaving the tour in Rotorua - it was sad to say goodbye, and I came home by bus, leaving Owen to continue with just three for another week's cycling. 

Gail was sorry to say goodbye to this farm labrador (look familiar?)

It was Gail's birthday when in Rotorua - nine cup cakes as there were nine of us.  We were a bit concerned about setting off the hotel sprinkler system.

In Rotorua on the way to our last dinner together.

Seven keen cyclists - and good friends!

With Pedaltours in the Coromandel

14 February - Our Pedaltours tour group set off from Auckland, with Owen as chief guide and me as an assistant.  There were seven cyclists in the group, six from USA, one from England and one from Australia.  They were a great bunch of people and we enjoyed wonderful weather around the Coromandel. What these photos don't show are some of the very big hills along the way.

Bikes all loaded and ready to leave the city

We drove from Auckland to Clevedon - here they are about to start riding on quieter roads  along the Firth of Thames coast.

A stop to visit the Raupara Water Gardens and enjoy a picnic lunch.

A short walk to the famous Square Kauri

Driving Creek railway

Dinner at Whitianga

Walking to Cathedral Cove

Six of our group at Cathedral Cove

Celebrating Brielle's 6th birthday

12 February - As I couldn't be with Brielle on her real birthday (15th) I came to stay overnight and celebrate her birthday.  Brielle got to open a big box which contained a Sylvanian Family log cabin.  I brought a cake and Cecily had made one too so there were two lots of candles and cake.

One of Isla's favourite occupations - the mini iPad.  She and Brielle are making some great short home movies on it.

A wet Waitangi weekend in the Hawkes Bay

6-9 February -  We spent a 4 day long weekend in the Hawkes Bay.  The main reason for going was a "Sprint the Bay" orienteering event - a series of six short sprint races in parks, streets and school grounds around the Bay.  Unfortunately it rained on and off all four days but the orienteering was still lots of fun.  There was one race each morning and another in the early evening so we had plenty of spare time to visit wineries, go geocaching, visit the new Museum and do some shopping in Napier.

Owen went for a bike ride with two friends along one of the many bike trails in the Hawkes Bay.  They were finding geocaches along the way too.

Only the sparrows were dining outdoors in the rain at this cafe in Napier

The finish area for one of the orienteering events.  The gazebos were appreciated  for shelter from the rain, not the sun!

Umbrellas at the Hastings Farmers' market

Three sunny days in Wellington with Isla and Brielle

3-5 February - Owen and I minded Isla and Brielle while Cecily and Mark were working.  We found lots to do and enjoyed the sunshine. 

The girls loved climbing on the rocks at Moa Point

Yes it was breezy.  We had stopped here to watch a group of dolphins in Evans Bay.

On to Scorching Bay - Cecily came with us too after her work

A morning visit to Chocolate Fish cafe at Shelley Bay.  There was a big collection of small bikes to try out.

This bike had a handle to pull up to do wheelies - Isla soon got the hang of it!

They met two friends from their school

I took the girls to the movie "Frosted" which we all enjoyed, then some time in the city afterwards.  Brielle liked this pig in the Civic Centre

We found a "secret" little playground on Mount Victoria, the girls enjoyed this steep, challenging slide.  They are at the top.  There were great views of the city and harbour from here. Then we hunted down a geocache to add to the fun.

A day walk on Tongariro

30 January - 12 mid-week trampers met to do a walk on Tongariro.  We started with the usual Tongariro crossing, then turned to climb the summit of Tongariro and take an off-track route back to Mangetepopo hut and a short return to the car park.  We enjoyed a bright sunny, calm day with superb views.

Photo taken from the Mangetepopo saddle looking back down the valley we had walked up.

South Crater

Some of our group took a side trip to view the Emerald Lakes

Red Crater and Ngauruhoe

Heading towards the summit of Tongariro

View of Central Crater and Blue Lake.  You can see the steam of the active Te Maari craters rising behind the western end of Blue Lake

Even closer to the summit of Tongariro

Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu

From near the summit of Tongariro, looking down the off-track route ahead

Looking back to where we had been, the summit of Tongariro

Looking down on the Tongariro Crossing track where we had started in the morning - two white toilets can be seen and you may be able to make out the white track crossing the base of Ngauruhoe, climbing to the Mangetepopo saddle

Our route ahead along an old glaciated ridge - easy walking!

At last our 7 1/2 hour walk comes nearly to an end as we reach Mangetepopo hut - what a wonderful tramp!