A special birthday for our UK friends on the Coromandel

Bill, Kath & Sheryl on Otama Beach

On returning from Australia, it was a quick turn around in Auckland to get our Bus and car out of storage after 2 months (a farmer’s paddock in Taupaki - a few cob webs and grass!), pack up with supplies and then pick up our UK friends (Kath & Owen) who had flown in the day before, and take them to the Coromandel where Kath wanted to celebrate her 50th birthday.

Our Base in Kuaotunu - very comfy

Princess Kath keeping her feet dry on her birthday 😊

With Bill's birthday only a week later
he was happy to share in Kath's tastings

Our Host at HW Brewery entertaining us with
stories and sampling his Liqueurs 

Much needed refreshments at the Pour House with Sam

I had booked a Bach at Kuaotunu Beach on the Coromandel for us to park up with our Bus for 4 nights to celebrate. When we had been making plans before Christmas - Kath had said she wanted to come to NZ (they both love NZ having had a few trips over the years out here) to celebrate her special day with a swim at a beach and a BBQ.

Well the weather couldn't have been better- we managed to swim every day ( beautiful beaches on that part of the coastline) and had BBQ's 3 out of the 4 nights ( would have been 4 out 4 but we ate out on Kath's actual birthday).

We also managed to fit in two Brewery's and a kayak paddle on the day too - both favourite activities for Kath & Owen.

Her actual birthday, the 17th, was perfect - we headed off to nearby Otama Beach for Kath & Owen to head out in our kayak for a paddle. It was a bit choppy for my liking but they are both confident paddlers so had no issue heading off but staying inside the bay to avoid the choppier weather a bit further out. After a pleasant paddle, it was off over the hills, through pretty Whitianga and onto Hot Water Beach Brewery for some tastings and lunch.

This was delightful. The beers perhaps not overly impressive however, but still welcome in the hot weather feasting on wood fired pizzas.

The added entertainment of the pizza chef humorously touting his own families range of fruit liqueur with liberal tastings and dialect was not to be missed, with us taking away more liqueurs than craft beer.

Can't go past a coffee when it's from a Kombi Van

The perfect setting for Kath's birthday

We moved on to Hotwater Beach proper for a look see, alas the tide not good to have a warm dip, with some punters having excavated huge sand holes to  a depth of 2 metres or more indeed reaching the water table but alas no bubbling warm water.

The Gallery at HWB is well worth a visit with lots of stunning garden art indeed many forms of art. We spent some time perusing this wondering where it could be put if purchased, alas though, not conducive to our current procurement program.

From here a few minutes drive took us to Hahei Beach and the Pour House, another craft brewery run by an English couple and their sons in a lifestyle change they made many years ago and now well ensconced on the local scene working hard enough to have a firm foothold with time enough to still lie on the beach and play in the surf. A quick call to our friends Sam & Pauline yielded a relaxed Sam able and willing to join us for a few drinks, regaling us with some local anecdotes.

After a few beers we headed on to the beach for a late afternoon swim before heading back to Kuaotunu for a well earned snack then bed.

Beautiful sun set over the Hills back toward Coromandel

Our last day saw us heading to a much touted beach, New Chums Beach, and indeed a nice enough beach…. well…. worth a visit anyway and some amazing crashing surf to play and get dumped in albeit emerging with pockets of sand and seaweed. Hope the gravel rash has gone now Owen. The beach is accessed by a charming 30 minute coastal walk, which hordes of people do. Makes it a little more difficult to enjoy a picnic with no facilities or services, so in many sense quite enjoyably remote.

After a late lunch (Pizza’s at Lukes Kitchen, which we had heard rave reviews from around the Coromandel), Owen seemed keen to land a fish. I had secured a second reel so we went over the hill to a sheltered beach where we went and launched the kayak to try our hand.

A little help with one brother as we passed through Ak again!

And a beer with another on A&N's new deck

We paddled into the lee of the headland and got some snags but little in strikes and it was hard to stay put with an incessant gusty breeze and large swell so we moved out of this position and drifted down the beach passing over some better areas which yielded 3 baby brim between us, not to keep and successfully liberated to grow for another day. This was a little disappointing but still the thrill was there and a enjoyable 2 hours spent with the girls keeping a watching brief from the beach.

Also on this last night, Kath & Owen generously gave us each a memento in recognition of our enduring friendship, very generous of them. 

Our 4 days went too quickly and we dropped our bus over the hill at Matarangi for safekeeping at our new friends (Shannon’s In laws) Alan & Margaret’s Bach while we went back to Ak with K&O to drop off at other friends before they flew to Queenstown to carry on their whirlwind 3 week tour. They have the advantage after so many trips this way of knowing exactly where they want to go and the best way of getting there. 

And another beer on Bill's birthday with the third
brother & Wendy after a bike ride

We, after bidding them farewell in Ak, carried on to Wayne & Kate's to spend a night or two, visit Alan & Nicky in their new house which they have finally moved into after many frustrating delays.

Then it was back to Matarangi to up lift the bus, with the added bonus of Shannon &AC in residence but only staying the night not wishing to crash their gig. Lovely catch up.

A quick ride around Matarangi on our ebikes in the morning before we headed once more back to Waihi Beach. Stopping for a refreshing swim at Whiritoa, normally a tricky surf beach but with the westerly winds an unusual calm. W&K were ensconced at the beach whilst G&C were in Aussie celebrating Evie’s first birthday.

And now a chance for  bit of a catch up on chores, work and washing in preparation of our upcoming planned Cambridge Cycle trip. 

Farewell Perth

Elizabeth Quay pedestrian bridge crossing over the Swan River

We had a wonderful last week back in Perth after the others left us - Bill & I staying with Rocky & Daniel once again. Nick returned to his apartment and back to work for his last 3 weeks with McMahon before heading down to Dunsborough to live with Em and start their new life together. Shannon & AC returned to Wellington and back to work for a couple of weeks till their next break up North for a wedding.

Spanda Sculpture (29m) representing ripples of the

 Swan River, linking the Land and Sky at Elizabeth Quay

As Rocky had an extra weeks leave, she joined us being a tourist in Perth and got her father to help with a couple of little jobs she wanted done (after getting approval from Daniel first of course 😉)

Rocky, Nick & Bill looking out over Perth from Kings Park

We caught the train the next day into Perth City (efficient and reasonably priced public transport) and spent the day walking around the city center and it's revamped open spaces that are great family friendly places, perfect for Perth's weather. Rochelle had worked here 4 years earlier ( she works out in Subiaco these days) and noticed a lot of changes in that time. The waterfront is stunning with the Swan River flowing past it from up the Swan Valley.

The DNA Tower in Kings Park

Perth City from Kings Park

 

Lots of lovely sculptures and foot bridges in quite a compact area. Lunch was at Little Creatures which is a favourite of ours (Opening in Hobsonville (Auckland) early February👍) - always an enjoyable way to pass an hour or two

Heading up the Swan River on our Cruise

Sampling of one or two wines & cheese 😊

Walking across to the Brewery from Mandoon Estate

Bill sampling one or two beers!

Crew member George serenading Bill

We had met up with Nick over the weekend at Kings Park to do a walk around the extensive grounds but with the temperature in the 30's it was a bit hot to walk anywhere that wasn't shaded. So after a much reduced walk, we headed back to Nick's for a swim in his complex pool - very nice and refreshing. We worked up enough of an appetite to enjoy a cold drink and a bite to eat at Three Sheets near Rocky & Daniels - just the right distance to walk to. By the time we returned to R&D's we were hot enough for another swim at the local beach where everyone but Sheryl enjoyed body surfing 😖

A little bit of gardening (amazing photography!)

The finished job

Having been away down south before Christmas and then Christmas itself, we hadn't had a chance to catch up with Daniel's parents Cathy & Mark whom we met last time we were in Perth. Rocky organised a barbecue at theirs on our return. It was a lovely catch up with what they had been up to since we last met and for them to catch up with Nick one last time before he heads off down south.
Rocky's keen to do more barbecuing - as she says ... it's in her blood just like her father! Daniel's parents, although both were born in Australia, have very strong Italian customs with their parents being immigrants and pretty much sticking to their traditional ways - so barbecuing isn't a usual method to cook. So it was nice to do a normal Kiwi style of entertaining.

Bill's cousin Mark & wife Fiona

We caught up with Nick after work one evening at his apartment near the city center and walked to the new Optus Stadium, which was officially opened early 2018. It is Australia's 3rd largest stadium, seating up to 60,000 people.  It is built out on a peninsular where people are encouraged to catch a train or bus to events along with the Matagarup foot bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. It's been planned out well along with Camfield Pub providing good food and drinks where we went for dinner.
Our plan was to see the City by lights once the sunset, which it did soon after 7 with no daylight saving in Western Australia.

On our "small walk" out to dinner Daniel 😉

Optus Stadium and Matagarup Bridge at night 😍

Lovely residential area with their own lagoon and Perth City
in the background

And what a beautiful sight it was too with the bridges and the stadium all lit up.
When we visited Perth 2 years ago, we decided then that on our return we would do a Swan River Wine Cruise - and so it was we booked a Captain Cook Cruise which gave us a great day out. Once again we caught the train into the city center and boarded the boat down at the waterfront.


The Captain of the boat gave us a great commentary of the history of Perth and the Swan River right back to the early indigenous Noongar people. We were also offered a selection of white and red local wines to taste along with some local cheeses, making it a very pleasant 2.5 hr trip up the Swan Valley to our lunch venue at the Mandoon Estate. After a pleasant lunch we walked around the estate and visited the attached Homestead Brewery where Bill tried a tasting board, which went down well on such a hot day.
The return journey had advertised live entertainment along with an open bar. So you can imagine how much more vocal everyone was on the return journey and with the "live entertainment" which was one of the crew members singing easy sing along songs - most of us got into the swing of it. The singer kept hitting on Bill - serenading him much to the enjoyment of the other passengers.
By the time we arrived back into port and disembarked, caught the train back to Rocky's suburb and then walked back to her place - we were shattered after a full but very entertaining day out. We would highly recommend this Cruise to anyone visiting Perth.
We caught up with a cousin of Bill's, who also lives in Perth, at a local pub for lunch down at Cottesloe Beach - catching up on Mark & Fiona's news of the past two years since we last caught up.  Perfect spot for a swim afterwards.
On our last night we caught up with Em's parents who also live in Perth, whose company we enjoyed when we were down in Dunsborough and had a lovely barbeque with them along with Rocky and Nick. Hopefully we will see them out in New Zealand sometime where we can return the dinner.

Last day in Perth - it was a sad day!

Our last day rolled around sadly but we had been away long enough to look forward to our return to lush NZ and back into our Bus once again. We spent the morning at the beach enjoying one last swim (or two), returning to Rocky's to finish packing up before walking to Three Sheets for one last meal with Rocky. Daniel swung by before he headed off kite surfing for the afternoon, where he allowed me a final hug. Thank you Daniel & Rocky for sharing your home with us once again. It was 2 weeks the first time, 7 weeks this time, who knows how long next time.....

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for 2019

Finally an updated Family photo 😍
(It's been a while since I was the second tallest in the family!)

On returning to Perth from our 3 week Tiki Touring down south, we had a few days to get organised for Christmas day, including a day to visit Rottnest Island as we had done 2 years earlier on our first visit to Perth. Once again we hired bikes but this time we also had Nick & Daniel join us. Being a

Bill, Daniel, Nick, Rocky and friend on Rottnest

One of the many beaches on Rottnest

Sunday and close to Christmas the Island was very busy with people and boats, but it didn't take long to jump on our bikes and get away from the crowds.
The day started off brilliant and was looking like a repeat of last time but unfortunately a few clouds started building up - so much so by early afternoon we had thunder and lightning. But amazingly between showers it did stay warm enough for swimming. Plenty of little Quokka's to spot and even one snake!

Christmas Day - Rocky, Nick (hidden), AC, Shannon,
Bill, Em and Daniel

Refreshing morning dip

Christmas day was held at Rocky & Daniel's in Perth with all our children and their partners. Shannon and AC flew in Christmas morning from Adelaide where they had been exploring the week previous on the east coast of Australia. Before their arrival, the rest of us (except Em who was at her folks, who also live in Perth) headed off for swim at one of the local beaches. Rocky & Daniel live near Scarborough with it's many beautiful beaches. First thing in the morning is great before the waves build up (just how Sheryl likes it but not Daniel of course!) with the afternoon breeze that always comes in. Which is a perfect place to live for Daniel being a mad keen Kite Surfer / Surfer.

Supervising the Boys

Christmas morning was perfect and with such warm temperatures even by 8am, we were in the water shortly after for the first swim of the day.

Great conditions for Kite Surfing

 Shannon & AC had arrived in their rental car and were settled in ready for Christmas Brunch on our return from the beach. We have stopped the presents now the Kids are earning more than us these days (not that that takes much😆) but still do a Secret Santa gift ($20 value) and the rules for opening / passing / swapping of these gifts vary depending on the Host - and this year it was Rocky's turn to make the rules!! Gosh she is sooooooooooo much like her mother 😄

Rocky soooooo delighted with her Pottie 😉

Consideration for a gift had to be given that 4 of us had to fly back home and Em & Nick very much into recycling - it was a lot of fun. Especially making sure Rocky ended up with our new unused Porta Pottie (see the end of the last blog) - who better to take ownership of it!
More swimming in the afternoon before a relaxed evening with Daniel and Em (& Nick) joining their Italian families for Christmas Dinner.

One of the Margaret River Wine Tour Vineyards
(with Em's parents Leanne & Steve)

The next morning we all headed off down to Em's home at Dunsborough in two cars - well not quite all as Daniel had to stay behind for work as this is a busy period for him, plus he was probably ready for a break from the Tyler's!

Em's lovely home with her extended family

Leanne giving a lesson in pasta making

Beer tasting with AC & Nick

Shannon & AC took Rocky with them doing a little sight seeing on the way and Bill and I travelled with Nick and a car full of gear and food. Em had very generously offered us the use of her home over the Christmas / New Years break, although she wouldn't be joining us for a couple of days as she had commitments in Perth.
Dunsborough is a lovely holiday destination for a lot of people from Perth and has just over 5000 permanent residents. It is a place that is rapidly growing with a lot of new subdivisions - one of which Em lives in. It's on a peninsula that has many beautiful white sandy beaches. And surprisingly that it can be 5 to 10 degrees cooler down there than Perth, which the locals enjoy without that intense heat. Nick's plan is to be living down there with Em by the end of  the month, having resigned from his job in Perth and finishing up mid January. Hopefully he will pick up a job fairly quickly (I bet Em is hoping so too)
Dunsborough is on the doorstep of the many Margaret River Wineries, with many popular Wine Tours, one of which we had planned over our stay. Em's parents Leanne & Steve joined us completing our little group of 9. Along with a group of 4 young women (3 of whom had young children so were having a break from hubbies & kids - I think they may have had a rough day the next day when they were to be back on duty!) It was an enjoyable day out with Wineries and a Distillery.
Over the next 7 days we had many wines /swims /wines / walks / and did I mention wines, of course. The weather was perfect. There was even a lesson in making pasta from Leanne who has Italian heritage..
New Years Eve was spent at Injidup Beach with a bbq and watching the sunset and then back to Em's to see the new year in. A swim first thing the next morning and a bit of paddle boarding was a great start off the New Year. Then it was time for Shannon & AC to pack up and return to Perth airport for their return home and work once again. It was so wonderful having all our children together and finally getting an updated Family photo - it has been a few years. And without terrible short hair cuts Bill & Nick!

New Years Eve

All too soon it was time for the rest of us to head back to Perth as Nick & Em needed to resume work.
Rochelle had generously taken extra leave to entertain her parents, so further enjoyment
and excursions are planned for the following week before we fly back to NZ on the 12th January.

Farewell 2018

Bill mastering paddle boarding in tough conditions!

Poor Bill - all tuckered out 

South Western Australia Exploration

The Gap - rock formations in National Park
 (Parking meters in car parks in remote spots - DOC could learn from the Aussies) 

After a reasonably smooth flight and three films  we arrived in Perth on Sunday 25^th November, early afternoon.  Nick & Emily picked us up from the airport and took us to Rocky & Daniel’s where we are to base ourselves for the next 7 weeks!  Thank you Daniel – hope you know what you are in for!!

Stunning white sands

Hellfire Bay in Cape Le Grand Park
the photo belies the wind.Hence no swimming.

We had three days to have a bit of a catch up with the kids (with Rocky - it was July when we last caught up, and Nick only last month in Wellington when he was over for a wedding) which was lovely even though Rocky has to work. Nick spent the Monday bonding with his father installing trailer lights into his recently bought Nissan Xtrail.  We had a lovely dinner up at Kings Park overlooking Perth on the Swan River.  Perth turned on its charm with a bit of warmth and sunshine, except the evenings are still a bit cool.

We got a few things together over the next few days in preparation of hiring a Camper for the next 3 weeks. We picked up our Hippie Camper which is actually an Apollo van but when it reaches a certain age – it gets bumped down to their Hippie Range.  It’s not quite our Bus but I’m sure we can make do.

We brought it back to R&D’s to pack up using some of their camping gear too such as table & chairs, BBQ and other bits and pieces to make life a little easier.

When I booked the Camper back in August, I went through a broker company  that compares the companies offering what I had requested – much easier and they can compare apples with apples. So I was a little worried what we were going  to get, but it turned out quite functional. 

We planned our first night down at Nick’s "Em" in Dunsborough - 3 hrs south of Perth. It worked out quite well as Nick came down that evening  too and as it happened, we followed him all the way from just south of Perth. What was the chances of that!! Opposite Em’s is a vacant section, nice and flat for us to park up on. N&E had a wedding on at the weekend so Em had friends Nicole & Ryan turn up for it too. 

Em's house back right
Our first nights site

So it was a lovely catch up, seeing  Em’s new home and a chance to see what we still required for our trip. The local Mitre 10 did the trick for a few items and Kings Camping for a Porta Pottie. This little Camper has no bathroom facilities so we (mainly Sheryl) thought a backup plan was necessary. Will let you know at the end of this trip if it was worth the money!

Plenty of wild life in some of the Camps
They are such lovely gentle creatures

Another version of a Camper 😉

Our trip plan was very loose – head south from Perth to the bottom at Port Leuwinn (Augusta) and head across to Albany and Esperance. Unfortunately (or fortunately) there is no true coast road across the bottom South-West of Australia as it’s quite swampy and you have to head back inland a bit before returning to the coast. But the road transverses huge Karri (yes I have spelt these huge gum trees correctly) plantations and as most of the area we passed through is National Parks, these majestic trees line the red roadsides. 

Australia is such a vast country. We have been keeping our driving days short but the distances between locales can be huge(ish for us) - the roading straight and true with little in the way of hills to slow progress. Wide roads with large berms and many pull over parks dotted liberally on the main roads. A pleasure to drive but still, little to break the monotony. We have kept largely to the seal but dirt roads still abound, and though still wide and true can often have very disconcerting corrugations which are simply frightening in an aged camper van. After a couple of these encounters with the van shuddering all over the road like an orgasming elephant we became very wary of what we can and do tackle….

Rural scene up through from Albany to Mandurah

The rental company  assured us we would get 3 days out of our fridge however this didn’t ring true as there is no solar  on these  older models and the batteries are equally aged such that the fridge needs to be on power at least nightly unless you are doing several hours a day driving. As said earlier we are not doing big days driving so we need to be on a powered camp site every night. We did do one night freedom camping but the fridge struggled as indeed we did not being able to shower before retiring so are resigned to staying at camps. There is a fair amount of freedom camping to be done but as in NZ, unless you truly are a hippy camper, you need to have a good set up such as our lovely spacious Blue bus.

Our little home away from home

Bill managed to get me up on the Treetop walkway.
I wasn't that happy stopping taking photos! Not at 40m up!

As usual we engrossed ourselves in the museums and settlers story of the areas we visited. As in our country, the sealers, whalers then the settlers would not have made it with out the help of the indigenous people, and as often the case were badly treated for their efforts. This is slowly being acknowledged and included in the stories. The settlers did have it hard to be fair and the country was harder to tame than NZ in most cases, and that is a pivotal difference between the occupiers, the aborigines who lived "with the land" and the settlers who only wanted to conquer it, which truly never happens, but they sure have tamed it and revel in this mastery of the land..... Beware the caged beast....

Gas BBQ's are provided at all camps and a lot of the
picnic spots - particularly in the National Parks

The layout of the first Fleet to leave for WW1

We also spent a day at the Albany Great War Memorial. A huge ex military compound now dedicated to the WW1,  two great  fleets off over 41000 people that assembled then left this  picturesque harbour, the legions of keen Kiwi and Aussie soldiers (the Anzacs,) heading off to kick the Bocks Bums and be home for Christmas - we all know how that ended, with thousands from both countries never to return 😢 A moving day for us  on the futility and perversity of War. The stories so difficult, the overwhelming fortitude and fear felt by these young people, we hope wouldn't let it happen again !!

Early Settlers were a hardy lot.

The Camps vary and many  remind us of Tukarua from our camping days in Golden Bay. Fairly basic but in good locales and generally clean. There are some bigger ones of national chains but we preferred the smaller ones as we didn't need all the bells and whistles that they were offering. The Camping trailers seen  are amazing - remember the old Mad Comic books  with flibbet flabbit flabba dap self erecting gizmos,…  huge camping tents, kitchens, dormitories , and spaces are created from nowhere.

A little hill to climb - 

The Wheat Belt of South Western Australia

A lot of information on Early Settlers and Aboriginals

And the same to pack it all down ,you turn your back hear a “flibbet  whump” and there its all gone ….looking like an ordinary trailer again. Magic.

Bill measuring a
Tingle Tree

Very necessary head gear in this part of Australia

There appears to be no shortage of water at the camps with every spot having a tap and most camps having sullage points (waste water) on each site as well. Amazing in such a dry fast country – there hasn’t been one shower that was on a timer! There is signage not to wash vehicles but no other water restrictions. Many of the camps with grass (there were a few that only had sand or gravel) were full on watering to have them look good for the coming season.

Aussie campers  have a Given right to drive their 4wd on to all beaches, and interestingly though the country is a tinder box, an absolute right to have open fires at all camps either on the beach or in a camping ground surrounded by other campers.
Some rules are invoked but  most camp stores do a roaring trade in fire wood to feed compliant commercial grade smelter furnaces. Our theory is they incinerate flies and mossies in a 20 meter radius making for an altogether much more pleasant camping experience. You don’t need to go far however to see the ravages of fire and interestingly the National Parks still actively have control burns in many parks to manage the summer risk.

There are lots of  shiny well equipped 4wds  with winches and sand rescue stuff that head onto the beaches seemingly unafraid, disappearing into the distance on the stunning Persil white sands, and  also lots of 4wds that never  get off the grass at the camping grounds. However at most camps the preponderance of campers are large “trick” trailers and caravans towed by large utilitarian 4wd Utes,  many the bigger V8 type. And  given that petrol is a tad cheaper here, with the large distances travelled it still must add up.

Bill and some of his mates😉

We found the beaches along the southern coast stunning with their white sands and turquoise waters, it was just a bit disappointing the temperature wasn't quite there for swimming, although Bill did get one swim in at Cheneys Beach and managed to get a little roasted as well😚. Our favourite pick of beaches were Thistle and Hellfire Bays in the Cape Le Grand National Park just east of Esperance - if we return it would have to be with a 4wd and caravan!

Amazing rock formations (and Lookouts)

But at least with the cooler temps (still early 20's but the breeze felt cooler) it was pleasant for the walks we managed in the National Parks. The bush is so different, not lush like home - dry and scrubby. As we headed back home we came through more productive rural land (The Wheat Belt) which was pleasant scenery but once again travelling along roads that go on forever.

Another beautiful beach at Thistle Bay

As we headed north the temperatures warmed up and we had our last two nights at Mandurah - 1 hour south of Perth on the West Coast. A lovely town full of canals and huge houses. Apparently a lot of Perth Retirees come here. 

Twenty nights and 3,211km later we completed our exploration of this part of Australia - a very small area of it. And thankfully no Roos were hurt in the making of this odyssey.
PS an update on the Porta Pottie will be in the next Blog post 😊

Lovely long sealed roads through
the Tingle & Karri Trees

The South Western shore line - rocks & white beaches