Kiwi Christmas No.3 (with special guests) Part 1!

The final countdown may be upon us (more on leaving NZ soon) but over the last month we've managed to fit in a lot of fun times. Mainly due to the arrival of Katie and Jamie for four weeks over Christmas and New Year!

Airport pick up - excitement all round!

We were both keen to show off everything NZ has to offer from day one. Unfortunately, the first weekend our visitors were here, NZ decided to show off its very worst weather - also known as torrential rain and gale force winds for two days. Luckily - we had booked a bach in the Coromandel, which whilst not 100% watertight did allow us to stay holed up inside whilst having a monster catch up over drinks.

First bubbles of the trip -
France's finest (Moet) - can NZ compete?

Reprising Westlife's chord changes

Attempting to leave the village of Hahei - easier said
than done when driving through fords!

So, that's probably enough about that weekend. Not an auspicious start to the supposed kiwi summer...

After fitting in a quick week of work whilst Katie and Jamie kindly drove Carrie down to the South Island for us, Matt and I boarded our private jet (OK, not quite) and popped down to Blenheim.

About to board one of Air New Zealand's smaller aircraft

Some of you might remember reading about our last two visits to the Marlborough wine region. If you don't - the following should cover it, just with the addition of the best two people we know to taste wine with!

Starting as we mean to go on at Brancott Estate

My sister with me in New Zealand - super exciting!

Matt with his co-bro enjoying a pre cuddle giggle

The only way to travel between the vineyards

Time for a sit down (and some more wine)

Vollbrachts + Vines = Smiles

The summer had arrived, and the holiday really had started. A quick game of tennis later and the van packed up with a few bottles for the road and we were off to our next stop...

Us all impersonating Katie's finger wagging - she claims
she didn't after hitting a cross court winner. We disagree

Where else could our next stop be but beautiful Nelson - home of Kiwi mates Mark and Janelle, mini mate Emmett and new addition Archie (M&J's Jack Russell). Matt and I popped by to their lovely new house for a barbie and beers, whilst Katie and Jamie got settled into their rental campervan.

Emmett doing a perfect impression of his dad (minus the beer)

Brekkie on the beach just outside Nelson

Our next destination - the Abel Tasman. This was our third Christmas in this beaut spot and we had a cracking few days.

Team Cope/Vollbracht - best spot in the campsite

A spot of kayaking

A bit of swimming

Some cheeky bum grabbing from Jamie

A bit more swimming - this time in a refreshing stream

The rejuvenation of the Christmas punch

Keeping tabs on the wine list
and Christmas points

Christmas lunch, courtesy of Matt's awesome barbequing skills

Tucking in

Thoroughly refreshed we were soon heading down the west coast with a mammoth drive getting us all the way to Okarito Lagoon.

Fish and Chip stop in Greymouth

Sand fly ridden Okarito - only one
thing for it - build a massive fire!

Followed by a quick stop at Franz Josef Glacier...

Franz Josef waterfalls - spot Matt -
he's diddy for once

 And Moana's world-famous-in-NZ white bait fritter stall

YUM!

Before we knew it, we were back to the land of the enormous mountains, crystal clear lakes and hiking opportunities a plenty.

Matt admiring the view

We fitted in a couple of awesome walks whilst in the Wanaka/Queenstown area - first up, Roy's Peak (scene of Matt's nudist moment last year). Thankfully his pants stayed on this time.

We can't get enough of this view!

Happy hikers in height order!

This was only the warm up though - with the next day seeing a return visit for Matt and I to the Routeburn track... to be blogged soon!

The Beautiful Far North of the Coromandel

I'll keep the words brief on this one folks because I reckon Matt's photos don't need much introduction...

Labour weekend can be a mixed affair weather wise but we were determined to chase down the sunshine to get our Kiwi summer started so headed up to the very Far North of the Coromandel of the weekend, to explore an area accessible only by gravel roads and home to some stunning scenery.

The gravel road stretching ahead into the distance

This is the life!

One of the beaches en route to our campsite

Great Barrier Island in the distance

The end of the world (or at least this part of it)

Blue sky, blue sea

Hope you're all still enjoying these!

What a spot to park up!

Carrie in her element

An evening stroll

And a day hike along the coast

I know I wear this t shirt a lot -
but it sums things up pretty well!

He let me take one photo!

More gorgeous scenery!

Just one more...

Suffice to say, we loved this little corner of New Zealand, a blissful few days. And a good 'recovery' weekend to prepare Matt for his first cycle race of November - the K2 (billed as the Southern Hemisphere's toughest one day cycle race). Of course he absolutely nailed it, completing the savage 190km of ridiculous hills in a speedy 6 hours 45 minutes. My marathon wasn't as successful the next day (injury has meant a rather non existent training programme) - but a brilliant two weekends all round and a good warm up for things to come!

The big 3-0!

Oops! Where have the last two months gone? Things have been a little busy over here in Kiwi-land which has left us a little behind on the blog. Official complaints have been received so in the spirit of keeping our fans (my mum!) happy here's the first of a little spring series - our 30th birthdays!

Mine was back in September followed swiftly by Matt's in early October. We'd decided we would surprise each other with weekends away to celebrate the special occasion, starting with mine on a rather windy and bleak Friday afternoon! Matt whisked me up to one of the North Auckland regional parks (Shakespeare) which it just so happens is very near to the ferry to one of Auckland's extra special attractions - Tiri Tiri Matangi Island - a predator free wildlife reserve teeming with native bird life.

Excited to have guessed what is in store for my birthday!

Friday night dinner. No one is coming round,
we just had four bowls between the two of us

Up early on the Saturday and after a rather rocky and wet crossing we landed on the island where we were greeted by a micro climate of sun and blue skies (nothing like the weather on the mainland). Not being bird watching aficionados we didn't really know what to expect but were treated to more birds than you can shake a stick at! And some lovely walking and scenery too.

A lovely plump kereru (wood pigeon)

Not a pukeko it turns out, this is a takahe

A different view of the iconic volcano Rangitoto

Walking off the edge

Ferns

Frond unfurling

A pair of beachcombers just chilling

The very noisy tui

Returning to the campsite and a chance to model my birthday presents, including a lovely new scarf and VERY posh sunglasses from Matt. Bring on the kiwi sunshine!

Just two short weeks later it was my turn to surprise Matt. I had planned a bit of a nostalgia tiki tour, returning to some places we had visited previously and really enjoyed, with an extra special surprise thrown in at the end.

We kicked things off with a visit to the Karangahake Gorge, home to a gold mining complex at the turn of the century and still full of tunnels to explore.

More use for our matching head torches!

Darkness and light

The tunnels are now mainly home to these delightful creepy crawlies - the weta.

Educational hand to illustrate the size of these critters!

Having fully explored the gold mines and fitted in a rather wet hike, we hot footed it to Mount Maunganui where we rewarded ourselves with some lovely craft beers and a meal courtesy of Matt's grandma (birthday treat!). Thanks Grandma Cope, we very much enjoyed!

Yum

Carrie at the bottom of the 'Mount'

The next morning we both headed out for some exercise along the sea front before I navigated us to ... Cambridge of all places. Now this Cambridge isn't exactly like the British version. Let's just say its a small town with... well not much happening. Except the recently built Avanti-dome - a full sized velodrome just waiting for Matt to tear it up!

Matt was super excited, and to add to the surprise of the occasion on arrival in the car park we were greeted by Matt's cycling partner in crime Jody (and Hannah, my spectating partner in crime). Both boys enjoyed an hour's introduction to track cycling including a teensy bit of racing (pretty nerve wracking to watch!)

Starting out on the apron

A bit of leaning

Definitely worthy of a montage!

Back to the campsite and it was time to crack open some drinks and head out for a party night.

The only photo of the night,
I will leave the rest to your imaginations!

Before long it was time for the weekend to end, and a final goodbye to our twenties. Thanks for rounding it off with us Hannah and Jody and to everyone for their lovely messages. What a decade it has been!