The distance to family is one big drawback of living down here, so I was very grateful to be able to partly reconcile this fact when my mum, sister and niece came for a visit eight months ago. Talking, writing, skyping is never enough to truly explain your life down here. We went for a … Continue reading Family family family and Tora Tora Tora
A quick update: We were just having a little one week holiday, in Ohiwa. With a beautiful setting next to Ohiwa Domain, and an ocean beach and a huge tidal inlet right outside the door, this must be one of the nicest campgrounds we’ve been to. But maybe it was just that we actually took … Continue reading Ohiwa holiday
A few people have asked me what it is like to be in the bus in winter. To be honest, it can be a struggle and feel like waiting out the dark and cold days. But it also has it’s perks, like chopping firewood, and being warm and cozy inside when it’s howling outside. That … Continue reading What we did last winter
We’re on the road for one and a half years now. Living in New Zealand full time again, I notice how easy it is to get used to its amazing countryside. When ‘the nature’, as the Germans say, ceases to blow you away on a daily basis, it’s crucial to treasure the small things. It’s meaningful … Continue reading The beauty of small things
A couple of months ago we’ve arrived in Wellington, and this is what it felt like: We have been looking forward to this moment for a long time. Finally in Wellington, WITH our new home. Two nights at Russell Terrace behind the zoo and now we’ve moved to the South Coast. And what shall I say? … Continue reading Wellington
Now here’s another blast from the past post, I’m sorry. Frantically trying to catch up with the months. Pretend it’s late March and summer is drawing to a close. Half a year after climbing over the Haast pass to dive into mild climates, spring, summer and beachiness, we’re heading over to the NI. Hard to … Continue reading Nelson summer life
Hello, everybody, and sorry for our absence in the last couple of months. We’re catching up quickly, but here’s a little retrospective first. Nearly half a year ago now, our camera had fallen out of the top shelf, while driving through a curve and it has been broken ever since. Last week we finally replaced it … Continue reading Fantastic Mr Fox River
I have been having this internal debate for the last few months about which of the two bays I prefer: Tasman Bay or Golden Bay. They both mean beach, the elements, tides, and now summer, to me. Our summer started a week before Christmas and has not stopped yet. I think I can get used to … Continue reading Summer to behold
We arrived in Golden Bay four weeks ago and followed the road right up to Collingwood. Sleepy and laid back, it is situated on a tiny tip of land separating the mouth of the Aorere River, in the Ruataniwha (“Taniwha’s den”, or, even scarier, “Two Taniwhas”?) inlet, and the calm waters of Golden Bay. There … Continue reading Colling Woods and Golden Bays
Growing up, it seemed like all of Christchurch migrated north to Nelson and Golden Bay for summer. Having now spent 3 weeks in the area, it’s easy to see why. It has rained for half a day since we’ve been here, the roadside stalls are packed with summer fruits and berries, and the real fruit … Continue reading Summer migration
Something about the area around Punakaiki makes your blood fizz. Paparoa National Park is wild and lush and feels like an adventure waiting to happen. In fact, our time in Punakaiki even started with an adventure. A couple of weeks prior to our arrival, we’d detected a small gas leak in our bus, which meant … Continue reading Adventures in Paparoa
I have never lived here, but getting to Punakaiki always feels a bit like coming home. We’re in and around Punakaiki for almost four weeks now and upon reflection there’ve been new insights. Today I thought about all those people passing through this most amazing of all places, staying for a night, glimpsing its beauty, … Continue reading I have never lived here
I made a knife today, and I liked it! From a strip of steel to an actual, friggin’ knife! A little course in Barrytown, with forging, cutting, grinding and polishing. Awesome. Half of the Westcoast must have one by now, and if not, do check out these nice guys from Barrytown Knifemaking.
A couple of weeks ago we were in Okarito. A little nugget at the West Coast, it has been a thriving gold mining town in the 1860s. Population quickly rose to 1200 or so, but only 18 months later it was all over. I tried to imagine the industrious busyness walking down the main (only) street but couldn’t … Continue reading Okarito
Aaaaah, the West Coast. It seems we did have to go the long way around, to finally arrive where we knew we’d love to be. And facing winter in Southland may have made it all the nicer to arrive. It felt like layers and layers of cold and darkness were peeled off us in an … Continue reading West Coast, here we are!
We’ve had the most blissful few days. Four days ago (really only four?), we drove north out of Wanaka, heading towards the Haast Pass to cross over to the West Coast. At the top of Lake Wanaka, we pulled into a Department of Conservation campsite to spend the night. Having stayed in well-groomed Holiday Parks … Continue reading Four nights in the wild
After our Queenstown “on holiday” week (no work… well, not much work, baths every single day, going to the loo inside. LUXURY!), we upped sticks and drove to Wanaka. For whatever reason, this little town seems to sit in the eye of whatever nasty weather pattern is currently hitting the region, so we’ve enjoyed beautiful, … Continue reading Wanaka
After three months, through winter, Liberty has withstood the test of time and we have moved past the novel feeling of life on the road. Romantic notions of frosty days, woodfiry nights, homebaked bread and an overall gypsy vibe have become reality for us. This is now our life. Despite this, or maybe because of … Continue reading A week in Queenstown
This week I’m grateful for: I’m also grateful for the jobs we’ve got chugging along at the moment. I hadn’t tried it before, but working from home is pretty great. It is entirely possible to combine family and work, and actually get things done! My last thank you this week is to Shannon, whose words … Continue reading Weekly Gratitude #6
Ironically, I’ve often found travelling quite hard work. I find myself disappointed as a tourist because I am an outsider – I don’t have a local pub (no matter what Lonely Planet recommends), I can’t meet a good friend for a chat at my favorite cafe and I don’t know where to find people doing … Continue reading Becoming Arrowtown locals