Finally into Australia

Sunset in Perth

Rocky & Nick happy to see Dad 

 As the time drew closer for our trip to  Aussie, I was becoming more anxious that it wasn't going to happen. What with Covid cases increasing in NZ (dreading another lock down) and weather conditions delaying flights (Fog)! But thankfully none of the above happened. We had a lovely week isolating on our way to Christchurch at Marfell's Beach and then into Christchurch to store the Bus & Car for the next three months.

First celebration with Rocky at N&E's🍷

Rugby watching with Nick

Bill in his happy place at Nicks 💕
And no Graeme - the Aussies aren't using him as
a bike rack 😆

Kindly Helen & Ralph put us up for the night before flying out to Auckland to catch our connecting flight to Perth - with only an hour between flights, I was a bit concerned about any delay but it all flowed well and we flew out just after mid day with a fly time of over 7 hours then an hour to transit the border controls we were as the Aussies often say "tuckered" when Rocky & Nick met us on arrival. Having driven up the 3 hours from Dunsborough - our home base for the next three months. It was soooo wonderful to see them after two and a half years. They drove us back after we stretched our legs from our 7 hour confinement and had a bite to eat. And a little nap in the back of the car during the trip back down the coast . Nick dropped us off at Rocky & Daniels and headed to his home. It had been a long day with us up at 5:30 am in Christchurch and though 4 hours earlier in Perth it was after 2am NZT when we finally got to bed .

Pizza time with Em & Daniel& Rocky

R&D are currently renting but have bought a new home which they move into next month. Exciting👏 And Nick & Em have already moved into their new home, so it was lovely to have dinner there the next day/night. Also sadly to watch the All Blacks loose to Ireland. But great pizza's Nick 🍕. Nick has generously offered us a loan of his Toyota FJ a brutish 4wd concept vehicle for us to get around in while over here. Hopefully we can afford the fuel (being only marginally less expensive in AU)- may have to swap with you Rocky 😉. At least with Rocky working at a Winery (Swings & Roundabouts) and Nick at a Brewery (The Beer Farm) we can at least afford the drinks!

Two Dinosaurs & Rocky on her birthday

Our first week has been low key, just getting familiar with the area once again - Dunsborough is at the base of a peninsular with a population of only 11,000 residence but lots of holiday homes so trebling the population over summer - lots of beautiful beaches and walks (which we are hoping to do over the coming weeks). Met Daniel's sister Carla & friend Sally who popped down from Perth for a couple of nights. Celebrated Rocky's 34th birthday one day and out for dinner the next just to ensure we celebrated plenty - definitely a dinosaur theme going on (Rocky just doesn't seem to be getting any older ). We gave her & Daniel a breadmaker,  Rocky being celiac buys very expensive and not great tasting bread. Also we thought we'd benefit from making our own bread while here just like home.

Weather has been cool/sunny and showery

With N&E living only around the corner, it's very handy to be able to catch up and see each other, particularly with Baby only 6 weeks away now. Em goes on maternity leave at the end of this week and her parents arrive from Perth for a couple of weeks too as there are a few celebrations to celebrate. More on this in the next Blog.

House building is quite different to NZ
(Toilets are the same 😂)

Early morning walk with N&E

Climbing into the Brute

Winter Solstice and preparing to travel to Australia

Winter Solstice Nelson 

Front row at Kaiteriteri

We are into our last few weeks in Nelson before we start our journey south to fly out of Christchurch  to Perth early next month. Parking up for a very wet couple of nights at  the AMP Showgrounds wasn't that exciting in the mud but very handy to visit Joan and catch up with a few people in Richmond. Plus renew my Drivers licence which was due to expire in the month. It all happens in July 😉.

Our morning view at Kaiteriteri

Meeting up with our old neighbours out the back at Tahunanui Dr was a chance to hear what Kateriteri Camping Ground had to offer motorhomers over winter as they have been the Camp mangers for the past 8 years over there. So we booked in a week and really enjoyed our stay. We parked right on the road frontage to the beach. I never thought we would want to stay here as it was always so busy but this time of year was perfect. Fellow Camper/Kayaker Diana came and joined us for two nights to test her Camper out before departing Nelson for some winter work down Queenstown way. Good check on the hotwater bottle!!

Lunch at Toad Hall with Diana

We had a couple of bike rides - one day into Motueka on the Great Taste Trail, 37kn return to Toad Hall, hardly using our electric as the day was so cold we needed the ride to warm up. Lovely lunch but not warm enough for me for a Rose but Bill thought it good enough for a Stout. We also had a ride over to Marahau. Another cold day but on the road which was pretty quiet and no wind made it an easy ride. Sadly not much activity here this time of year so we returned to the Bus for a late lunch.

Motueka Inlet

Kim & Dennis had us up to their Managers Quarters which was quite good to see the set up they have there. We can understand why they are enjoying their weekends back in Nelson away from the camping ground as there isn't much privacy. Stunning daily views though from their residence & Kim's office. Dennis is a pretty good cook cooking Diana and ourselves a lovely roast dinner and learning more on the history of the Kaiteriteri Board and they way Kaiteriteri camp and beach is managed and operated. Diana had been on the board 20 years earlier with her association with Doc. Small circles we mix in.

Kaiteriteri Beach

Another day while with Diana, we walked over the track to Stephens Bay / Tapu Bay where we hadn't visited for a few years. We use to do this track with the kids when they were small - it has improved over the years. So have the holiday homes! With the farmland turning into a subdivision, some stunning homes / holiday homes are being built. Amazing views.

The weather wasn't too bad for our week and managed daily walks when we weren't riding. Also caught up with Simon & Nicki for a meal at their home just being down the road in Riwaka. And a lovely lunch with Jenny & Martin before they head off to the UK and getting their new motorhome to bring back to NZ. Lovely spot/camp K&D - you were right, we were pleased you suggested we come and stay. We will return another winter sometime.

Breaker Bay

Annabelle & Bill collecting treasures 

Back to Tahunanui Drive, this time parking up at the bottom of our drive which is wide enough to pass the Bus and not be in the road for our Tenants. Bit noisy road wise and being the highway. But we could cope for a few nights. The timing was fortuitous as the Tenant mentioned a problem with the en-suite  floor. Bill checked it out and sure enough there was an issue with the floor and a leak from the shower. Fingers crossed it is now fixed enough till our return home in February.

Winter parked up at the bottom of the Drive

Celebrating Winter Solstice is a must in my diary and lovely to celebrate with V&T on their deck (even if we did freeze Trevor) - beautiful sunset too.We picked up the last bits and pieces from Tosswill, including the kayak and putting that back on the car after two years, along with the bikes. Our new Tenants moved in at the end of that week. They have signed a tenancy till the end of January 2023, where we will try the market once again. Hopefully the Tenants enjoy our property as much as we did during our past two years staying here.

Celebrating Winter Solstice with V&T

An evening with John & Denise in their new home in Richmond for the night gave us a break from the bottom of the drive and a different outlook over Nelson. Great catch up as always.  And a night in Tasman enjoying the renovated home of Pippa & John with Annabelle. Our last night in Nelson was a catch up with Ian & Trudy before leaving town and seeing Joan again. She is doing well at Ernest Rutherford and although her memory has got shorter, health wise they are looking after her well. 

Joan enjoying a meal out in the Bus
at Rabbit Island

A couple of nights at Fran's also before leaving Nelson gave Bill the opportunity to put up her new fans in the bedrooms, which after last year's hot summer, the Family told her she needed. Now there will be no hurry for them to leave Fran 😊. We had  such a wet day (again), perfect for installing fans and me finishing our accounts and getting them emailed to the Accountant. Another job done! And then it was out with the red wine and the cards & Tri-Onimo's - a new game to Bill and I which we really enjoyed once we got our heads around the game. Now to buy it for the Bus! Loved it Fran.

Domestic bliss in Fran's kitchen😉

We're now ready to head off to Australia to catch up with Rocky & Nick and Partners after two and a half years of Covid keeping us apart. And hopefully see our future Grandchild at the end of August. 🥳🎉