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Tuesday, 29 September 2026

2026 January - February - Totaranui

Refreshing swim at Anapai

Cards and chocolates on a wet day

We headed over to Totaranui mid-January to stay four nights in the Doc hut with Diana and Graeme. We took our Bus, Diana her motorhome and Graeme in the trusty Ute to sleep in the hut. It was nice on our arrival but sadly it rained all the next day and night. Forced relaxation. Between showers we managed a couple of walks around the camp which was pretty busy at this time of the year. With strong easterlies, the water taxies had fun getting their clients on and off the beach. There was plenty of Qwerkle and cards.

A bit of excess water at Totaranui

At least the Ute was kept dry 😂

When we woke the next morning, we were a bit flooded in, but at least it was a sunny day. Graeme & Bill tried a bit of fishing, but no luck. Diana's American/Canadian friends turned up later in the day. More cards were played.

The next day was another beauty, so we all headed over the hill for a walk to Anapai and a swim. Except Graeme who looked after the fort. He made ceviche with the only fish caught - a gurnard, which went a long way in this dish. Our Bus fridge was playing up so we used the inside fridges, fruit and vegetables in the laundry fridge. Unfortunately, this fridge only ran on freezing - frozen fruit is quite delicious, especially grapes. The lettuce, not so good! More cards that night, with the Canadian cleaning us up.

Water Taxi's attempting to land

Our last day was beautiful as well, which last days tend to be. We said goodbye to Diana, Margaret & Bob, and took our time heading home. Called into Anatoki to catch some salmon. No luck, which we have never experienced there before😒. Happily, they sold wine and salmon pizza's!

Beautiful Totaranui

We got back to Nelson in time to celebrate Bill's birthday the next day.🥳

Happy Birthday
Bill 🍻

Camping Totaranui with V&T

A week later we headed back over the hill to have 4 nights camping at Totaranui once again. Us in our bus, Gman in our tent, and Vicki & Trevor in their tent.

Took Graeme's torpedo once again. Weather looking great 🤞

The Trusty Ute with the fishing gear & Fishermen

Plenty of swims, and fishing but not many fish 😞. But we had plenty of food with us, so it wasn't an issue. Plenty of time for reading. The camp was very crowded being Nelson Anniversary Day and before schools returned for the new school year.

Nibbles while waiting on the fish to come in.

Time to head back home and get the house organised to leave for Australia. Graeme to stay on at the house caretaking. 😊

The Boys trying to catch a salmon!

My activity was more relaxing 😉

Sunday, 6 September 2026

2026 January Rainbow / Molesworth Adventure

Stunning views through the Molesworth Station

We headed off mid-January when there was a window of perfect weather to travel to Hanmer through the Rainbow Station and return through the Molesworth Station the next day. It had been a few years since we last travelled through here. With Graeme staying, it gave us the motivation to get organised.

The Three Stooges head off to Hanmer 😉

From Nelson, we headed up to Lake St Arnaud. First stop a coffee at the lake much to Bills chagrin. It also gave the Boys the opportunity to compete in a duck farting competition into the lake. The road from St Arnaud through the Rainbow station is 112km to Hanmer - very scenic and the stunning weather showing the valleys at their most photogenic.

The competition at St Arnaud!

This part of the trip was the shortest day of the two-day drive - just over 3 hrs driving from St Arnaud onto Hanmer. The road was built in the 1950's for the high - voltage power transmission line to supply the Nelson / Tasman Region and the Buller District with electricity. No longer a maintained road, requiring 4wd.

We headed through the Beech trees in the Wairau valley and up over New Zealand's highest publicly accessible road's pass - Island Saddle (1,347m) and out through to Lake Tennyson. Lovely camping spot, but not on this trip. This is where the Clarence River begins. We headed past the scree covered mountains and tussocks to Hanmer. The scenery is very rugged through here.

It was a relaxed evening in Hanmer, dining at the local - Fire & Ice Restaurant & Bar. The town not too busy. A pleasant end to day one.

We got on the road reasonably early the next day to return to Nelson on the longer leg of the trip (6.5 hrs) through the Molesworth Station. The Molesworth Station is New Zealand's largest farm, a high-country cattle station. Māori travelled through here in the summer from the East Coast to the West Coast. The road is a connection for Nelson/Marlborough with North Canterbury.

We headed up the Clarence Valley and into the Acheron Valley, leading onto the Awatere Valley and the Molesworth homestead. Perfect spot for our late lunch / picnic. Again, another stunning day. The photo's hopefully show it all.

Another great trip with the Suzuki performing well once again.

Lunch spot - day one.

Can't get enough photos of the Suzuki 😁

Student Bridge over the Acheron River

Lunch spot day two. Molesworth Homestead.

The historic suspension Hodder Bridge

The Dynamic Trio

The rugged beauty of the Clarence Valley

The Awatere Valley

Wednesday, 12 August 2026

2025 December Christmas in Nelson and a Nicholas Family Reunion

Some of the next generation of Nicholas's
(Nicholas, Cameron & Luke and families missing)

Our first visitor (helper) to arrive for the Christmas gathering was brother Graeme. He was able to help out in the gardens and distract us with bike rides and visits to local drinking holes. We managed a couple of card games with Bob & Diana on wet days. Cut down a couple of branches off the Redwood Tree for our Christmas Tree, and a couple to give away at the bottom of the driveway. Rocky & Daniel with Lenny were next to arrive - Lenny's first Christmas in New Zealand 💖

Merry Christmas🎄

Family were coming from Australia and Switzerland and locally (Auckland, Omokoroa, Waihi Beach, Tauranga, Wellington and Riwaka), for Christmas and to see the New Year, 2026, in when we would all gather at our place. Our last big gathering of the Nicholas's was Rochelle's 30th back in 2018, at Claire & Graeme's at Waihi Beach. Unfortunately, Nick & Em and the Girls wouldn't be making it with only recently visiting NZ in October. Oldest brother Wayne & Kate's six children and families were all gathering at Simon and Nicki's for Christmas Day, while we were having a quieter one at ours with Rocky & Daniel and Lenny & Graeme. Shannon and AC and Chuck arriving in time for Christmas Dinner

W&K and Family at Riwaka

Boxing Day was out at Rabbit Island. We packed our now repaired Bus (thanks for the help Daniel) up and took it out there as a support vehicle with oven and hot water. Perfect venue for lots of energetic teenagers. Some were brave enough to swim, although it wasn't that hot a day. The little ones and big ones all enjoyed the day out there.

Nail's day and Coffee

WhatsApp was great for everyone to keep in touch with the various activities over the days leading up to New Year's Eve. Visits to beaches around the area. Various cafe's and restaurants. And it wouldn't be Christmas without a visit to the hydro slide and bumper boats. Bike rides here and there.

Lunch at the Grape Escape

Graeme's Abby & Ben did a surprise arrival from Australia, with their kids Evie and Charlie, before the New Year event and were able to reconnect with cousins once again. It was lovely trying to recreate some family photos of the past, but sadly without Amy, Nick, Cameron & Luke. Brother Allan & Nicky arrived in time for the gathering after having Christmas in Christchurch. The weather played ball most of the time for outdoor activities. New Years Eve was predicted to be a wet one but thankfully didn't ruin the evening and with umbrella's and gazebo's we had a large area covered. Luna is the eldest of W&K's grandchildren and was amazing at keeping all the children entertained and under control.

Rabbit Island

We used neighbours and motels to help with the overflows of people; Bill and I were in our Bus of course. Alan & Nicky in their own motorhome. We even put our 39-year-old family dome canvas tent up incase an extra bed was needed. As sad as it was, this was to be the end of an era for the Family tent. It was time to say goodbye and let another family take it over for hopefully many more happy summers. It was put on Trade Me and sold the next day.

Brothers and the Sister

After New Year's Day, the families started heading off. Some to see more of New Zealand. Others to head home. We had a few more days with Rocky, Daniel and Lenny before they returned to Dunsborough. And Shannon & AC and little Chuck left soon after. It was back to Darby & Joan and sidekick Gman.