H is for Hardys Bay: a morning walk from Killcare

The routine at The Nest@Killcare is a gentle rhythm. Its starts with coffee and a rusk on the top floor veranda with it's wrap around views of Killcare and Putty Beaches. We watch the sunrise and marvel at the shape and colour of the clouds.

A walk comes next. This morning we ambled up and over the hill into Hardys Bay, looking at the birds around the exposed mangrove banks, the boats were so picturesque in the early light of day. A flat white at The Fat Goose was a treat too.

We picked up fresh bread and headed back to the house for breakfast. All this before 9am. So lovely.

H is for Heat: a Collared Sparrowhawk comes for a drink in the garden

A remarkable birding moment in Inel and Guy's garden here in Cowra.

It was 7pm, still very hot, the temperature gauge had gotten to 40 degrees at about 4pm. The bird landed in the plough-shear birdbath and even though it was cautious, the need for water was stronger. We had amazing views as it lifted and cooled its wings.

After some research the ID was confirmed as a 1st year Collared Sparrowhawk.

R is for River Red Gums: trees of Australian watercourses

An old twisty River Red Gum

Our afternoon drive along the Lachlan River here in Cowra was a study of the majesty of the river red gum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis.

These trees are huge, over 35 meters high and diameters as much as 3 meters. Their trunks are varicoloured and twisted, with hard durable reddish coloured wood. 

The trees tolerate both flooding and droughts!

The old limb hollows and broken branches make perfect nesting spots for galahs, sulphur-crested cockatoos, little corellas and various other parrots. 

As we drove up to Phillips Crossing, which is an historic spot near Cowra, we disturbed the corellas and cockatoos. The noise was fabulous as they squawked and complained and flew off.

Refuge from the heat, Inel in the Lachlan River

The river red gums along the Lachlan River

J is for Japanese Gardens: Cowra, New South Wales

A morning visit to the Japanese Gardens

The summer heat is fierce here in Cowra so a gentle morning walk around the peaceful and beautifully manicured  Japanese Gardens was a good way to start the day.
We were rewarded with some good birding too.

B is for Birthday: with Inel in Cowra, Australia

Inel's birthday, Cowra, Australia

A rare and special moment, we are all together to share a glass of champagne with Inel on her birthday, in Cowra, Australia.

A photo we all love from twenty five years ago!
This was taken in Inel's flat in Alexander Road, Pietermaritzburg in the late 80's.

S is for Sisters: secrets and surprises in Sydney

Doreen, Inel and Sharon, all in Sydney at the same time

Inel and Doreen kept their secret for 6 months, Doreen visiting Australia!

All the planning and co-ordinating, tickets, visas, airport runs, and I had no idea. So when Fred and I arrived yesterday in Sydney from Wellington, eventually working out to make our way to Express Pick-up outside of International Arrivals, Inel just rode in.

I could see Doreen in the front of the Ute but my brain was definitely not processing the information, my jaw dropped and we all squealed and hugged. So wonderful.

We have two weeks together, what a special treat.

F is for Farewell: leaving Wellington

On the move, next stop Australia

M is for Martinborough: olive oil, wine and good food

Gorgeous day among the vines.

Our last day here in New Zealand and what better way to celebrate than sipping wine with good food and a view across the vines. Martinborough, about an hours drive from Wellington across the Rimutaka Range was fabulous today, sheltered, hot and languid.

We were heartily fed and entertained by our hosts at Coney and the Ragtime Riesling crispy and delicious.
Thanks Shawni and Craig, the stay has been special.

Lunch at Coney Wine Estate.

K is for Kashmir: meeting the Burmese kitten

Kashmir, Shawni and Craig's cat

This morning we met Kashmir, she is a Chocolate Burmese kitten and at the end of March will move in with Shawni and Craig in Ngaio. Dear little thing.

T is for Tuatara: a 'living dinosaur' in New Zealand

Yesterday we saw our first Tuatara at Nga Manu Nature Reserve along the Kapiti Coast.

Called the "Living Dinosaur" here in New Zealand, the Tuatara is an ancient survivor from a group of reptiles that existed 255 million years ago. The only one left in the world and endemic to New Zealand. Not very big, up to about a kilo, but they live for over a hundred years.

We will have to try see them in the wild next visit.

Bushwalk through the swamp forest at Nga Manu

S is for Six Barrel Soda: a new flavour Sarsaparilla

A fresh burst of favour, foodie find in Wellington. A contemporary business.
Sarsaparilla soda, new for me, root beer, liquorice and vanilla.

S is for Shopping: finding a creative designer

Happy with my purchases!
Lou from Stichbury along the Wellington Waterfront makes colourful clothing. And an excellent recovery after giving Fred the wrong parcel...

D is for Days Bay: a ferry ride from Queens Wharf, Wellington

A sky and seascape that pleases!

Weathered and worn and very beautiful

Wellington from the sea is special, so we hopped onto the East to West ferry to take in the views and to have lunch in Days Bay across the bay from Queens Wharf.

The day was fine, some interesting cloud formations, a slight wind and the sea a little choppy as we crossed the bay.

With dolphins playing in our wake!

We trundled around Days Bay, found our lunch spot and had a gentle few hours away from the city.

Nice.

East to West Ferry, Queens Wharf to Days Bay

F is for Flag: New Zealand flying a possible new flag

In March New Zealand will have the final referendum on the choice of their country's flag.

Either to keep the original flag or this new one.

We have gotten very fond of the new option, strong colours, the silver fern dominant and it still harks back to the old flag, connecting history but looking forward.

S is for Solace of the Wind: Wellington Waterfront bronze

Solace of the Wind, Wellington Waterfront

The 2 metre high bronze of a man perched on the edge of the beautiful waterfront as he leans into the infamous wind is a Wellington icon. The sculptor, Max Patte, said the view and the feel of the wind soothed his soul and inspired him. It continues to inspire and delight.

K is for Koru: the unfurling fern frond

I have watched this koru unfurl over the last few months. The massive fern is a feature of the forest view from Shawni and Craig's deck here in Ngaio.

There is something very beautiful about the koru. The spiral shape of the unfurling fern frond is deeply symbolic for the Maori, it represents new life and growth, and is widely used in art and design here in New Zealand.

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W is for weather: a perfect day in Wellington

Wellington snap-shots on a perfect summer day:

• General Practioner Bar, a grand old 1902 building on Willis Street that was constructed for Dr Henry Pollen. I was also told by a local that it had some good years as a brothel too. Now the burgers are delicious!

GP - lunch stop in the CBD.

• Homes on the Mt Victoria slope are textured, multicoloured and a visual treat floating above the Boat Sheds and Marina.

Mt Victoria homes float above the boat sheds.

• A calm Wellington Bay, the ferry coming in from the South Island, the Oriental Bay fountain and Fred and I lying back on the grass keeping cool.

Oriental Bay Fountain with Ferry.

• Boats in the Marina with the CBD of Wellington in the background.

Chaffer's Marina.

N is for Nairn Street Cottage: a cottage museum in Wellington

A child's toy from the Nairn Street Cottage.. What a story it could tell.

I am so mindful of the era of settlers around the world in the early to mid 1800's given all the ancestral research I have been doing on both my 1820's English settler family as well as my 1850's Dutch family.

So we popped into Wellington's oldest cottage located along Nairn Street in Mt Cook. It was built in 1858, from a pre-cut kit, by the settlers William and Catherine Wallis. What makes it's story interesting is that the home stayed in the family for three generations. The grand-daughter of William then made an arrangement with the City to preserve the charming wooden cottage and its lovely ramshackle garden with herbs, vegies and fruit trees that would have sustained the family over the century.

I loved the toy, from the first generations of Wallis', on wheels, faded, worn and 'up-cycled' with braid offcuts - a sheep or a cat? Not sure.

D is for Dominion Post: daily dose of Sudoku

How I have enjoyed picking up the Puzzles page from the local newspaper, The Dominion, while having a fall white in a Wellington Cafe.

The quiet time on the bed tackling the 3 Sudoku's and the Code-cracker is so nice.

K is for Kaka: the gang came for apples this morning

An early morning surprise visit.
A noisy, boisterous gang of Kaka's flew onto the deck here at Shawni and Craig's home in Ngaio demanding attention and treats.
Delightful.

T is for Tongariro Alpine Crossing: the 19.4 km done

We made it! the gang on the track.

We left the volcanic zone and golden switchbacks and entered the final stretch, the forest.
The downhill started to hurt. Uneven sections of stairs for about 3km! Achy knees for all. Shawni was strong the whole way but found this stretch monotonous. But the end of our 8 hours was close and suddenly we arrived at Ketetahi Hut.
The tramp was done. Well done Fred, Craig and Shawni.
The transport arrived and we headed back to Adventure Lodge and Motel.
Exhausted and so amazed to have completed the Crossing, not for nothing called New Zealand's best one day hike.

 Mangatetipua Stream, the track finishes through a forest.

T is for Tongariro Alpine Crossing: the long descent

Time to descend

The long descent started. 

The switchbacks through the golden tussock slopes were a breather, I could get into a rhythm and walk, so the kilometres started to melt away.

The views across to Lakes Rotoaira and Taupo were special too.

At times there was a slight incline and my body would complain, but in the main this was a less demanding stretch of the crossing.

Beauty in the detail

Golden tussock slopes

Shawni and Craig on the switchbacks

Lake Rotoaira from the switchbacks on the descent

C is for Central Crater: Tongariro Alpine Crossing

From our lunch stop at the Emerald Lakes we traversed the Central Crater which is a dramatic drainage basin rather than a true crater. These images looking back along the track to Red Crater are stunning and as I sit here blogging, it feels mythical already. What a hike!.

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Quiet, sacred Blue Lake, an acidic water body