Picton

2012-01-12T08:31:10Z

You know how they say that God has a master plan. Well, I think that the campsite we first stayed in in Taupo was part of that master plan to get me to South Island in this caravan. I am no clean freak by any stretch, but I don’t particularly like other people’s germs. So if giving me the Taupo camp facility tricked me into thinking that that was the kiwi standard, it worked. The first camp site was by no means fancy, but the facilities were so impecably clean. That is worth five stars to me.

So arriving at night at our campsite in Picton left me comfronted with a sobering reality. It wasn’t horrible, but the campsite just wasn’t as nice as the last one. It lost me at the chanky (is that a word?) bathroom. I decided to not even search for the kitchen facilitates. I figured the next morning we’d go out for breakfast

Fortunately Picton delivered that.

We woke up to a bit of an overcast morning, but decided to walk into town nonetheless. We took a shortcut from the campsite and tried our luck at a boat cafe. Unfortunately it was closed so we went and found the downtown area. It was small, but cute. After a great breakfast we decided to give visit the Edwin Fox Museum. On our way we passed a great little park. I took a page out of Jenny and Sarah T.’s book and we let the kids have a good play. They loved it.

We then went to check out the museum. It left something to be desired. It seemed to be a mom and pop operation which is cute, except by the look of it the boat that we were to tour was in horrible condition and the museum tour started with a 40 minute movie. Forty minutes? I was less worried about my kids surviving the boredom than I was my husband. We decided that it was best to give it a pass. At the moment my kids think museums are cool. I didn’t want to tarnish that impression.

After heading back to the caravan park we packed up and started on our way to Kaiteriteri.

Proof that it can be a rough ride…

2012-01-12T08:14:39Z

You’ll find these all over the ferry across the Cook Strait.

From Taupo to Kaiteriteri

2011-12-29T07:43:46Z

We knew our time in Taupo was a stop through more than a visit. Living so close, we always feel like it’s more of a weekend destination spot. SOOOO, after a night in the caravan park we knew that we’d be on our way to Wellington.

The plan was to arrive after dinner and park up at our friend’s sister’s place. The plan. We have a lot of those in this family, but they often change, as they did that day. An hour into our drive my very clever husband suggested we call to see if there was availability on that evening’s ferry to Picton. I did. And there was. So, from that point on my husband was a maniac trying to make sure we made the last ferry. Maniac you ask, yes. Stop so your son can pee? Why would we do that, don’t we have a water bottle he can pee into? Yes, we do, but no we’re not going down that path!!!!! We pulled over.

Lunch? Do we really need to eat lunch? Can’t the kids wait until we’re on the ferry at 5:30? No, they can’t, but lordy did we run in and out to get their food.

Honey, I need to use the toilet! Can’t you wait? No I can’t? But, I did.

Funny, but we made it to the ferry 2 hours early. Yep. That’s how we roll. Manic craziness on the road to then sit around with only non-vegan friendly food around. Thanks babe. But, it was all good. We got on our ferry and made it into Picton by 9:30. Kids were good thanks to their devices and the views were spectacular. But more importantly no one vomited. That people is a big deal. I have heard so many nightmare stories of the Cook Straight Crossing that I feel as though New Zealand gave me a gift today.

Pictures, photos, images….

2011-12-29T07:27:26Z

They are forthcoming. We are experiencing technical difficulties.

Truth is, my darling husband did not get me the mac I knew I would need, yep need, for this trip, so I am working on the ipad, but I can’t load photos onto wordpress, so we have to work off his computer. It has just been more than enough to function as a caravanning family these past few days. The idea of doing one more thing might lead to the crumbling of our family structure, so we’ll wait another day. Better to be a happy family than an updated family blog. XOXO

Lake Taupo ~ DeBretts Campsite

2011-12-29T07:20:55Z

The drive here was quite easy thanks to the 1) relatively short distance, 2) the route suggested by the ever lovely Denny W. and 3) my husband’s careful driving.

On our first day on the road I am reminded that I much prefer traveling by car in New Zealand to Australia. Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE Australia. The beaches are world class, the cities are spectacular and the cool beach towns like Byron Bay still call to me. But hell if you don’t feel like your in the armpit of Australia when you stop in little towns in between. I know, that was just so rude. But it’s not the people, they’re always gorgeous, it’s the food.

I live for my family and three little things that come every day called breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ask my husband. I don’t miss meals. So when we travelled in Australia it was a real nightmare when we’d arrive in, or drive through a town that did not have good food options. It don’t need to be fancy, not at all. Byron Bay Kebabs, top notch, Bojangles Pizza in Narrambool, excellent, but so many of the other places I drove through had horrible food. What’s even worse is when the food is sub-par and terribly expensive. You know things are real bad when I opt for McDonalds rather than the local eatery. Well, New Zealand, one thing that you have shown me to be the case more times than not, is that I can count on good fare, at a reasonable cost and if it’s early in the day, someone will make me a beautiful cup of coffee.

Another aspect of many of the small towns that I have driven through is that there is an artisan culture. Whether it’s honey, cheese, wine, you name it, someone has raised it to an art form. Shops are visually pleasing as out their wares. Much nicer than many of the Australian shops filled with souvenirs made in China. Yes, New Zealand has its fair share of Chinese junk, but you can always find a beautiful piece of art anywhere you go.

Okay enough of that rant as I am feeling bad. As I said I love Australia and a few of my favorite people on this Earth are Australian. Forgive me. Also, to be fair, I have not been to Tasmania and since so many of my favorite Australians are Tasmanians, I have a feeling that things would be different there;)

Now our day’s highlights:

My daughter, the often timid child, decided to try out the water slide here at the campsite. I had been honest with her that I didn’t think she’d like it, but she tried it and LOVED it. That, was the highlight of my day.

Another funny thing was when Nuno, while stuffing his face with watermelon, declared that he wishes he was a snapper. I asked why and he responded that then he could eat anything….We learned the other day that snappers are the scavengers of the sea. I love it when there’s evidence that they’re learning while on holiday.

Lastly, kudos to my husband. He did incredibly well to 1) organize the purchase and international delivery our most fabulous caravan and 2) plan this trip. It’s been all him. And no matter how it goes, great I am sure, he’s done the work and deserves our thanks…So honey, thank you.

And We’re Off…

2011-12-26T19:50:17Z

A little before 8 am on Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, my husband, my kids & I head off on our South Island adventure. As we head out on the open road none of us, save my husband knew what to expect. As he reminded me this morning, I am the ’second American bird’ he’s taken to South Island. The first time he went to South Island was during high school with his friends Paul W. & Carol. That time it was the three of them, a station wagon and a tent. This time…I reckon will be a bit different.

Our first stop today is Taupo. It’s a geothermal spot in the North Island that is very conveniently located about half way between Auckland and Wellington. We’ve been here before and it’s lovely. The campsite where we’ll be staying is the Lake Taupo DeBretts site. Perfect as it has hot as well as normal pools and a huge water slide. It will also allow is to practice staying at a campsite. Our other option was to park outside a friend’s house, but on our first night I did not want to use our caravan’s toilet…people, I need time to acclimate to this caravanning thing.

Cruising

2011-12-20T19:05:05Z

After a crazy few weeks of packing, end of year activities, Christmas parties and farewells….(okay and tennis too), we are now just sitting in our bums at my friend’s bach (North Island kiwanese for summer home, in South Island it’s call a crib). Originally it was supposed to be me, her and our kids, but when the weather turned bad and her son was invited to a mate’s birthday party it became a family getaway for us. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my friend Cherie. She and I always laugh our arses off when we’re together. And our kids get along beautifully. But these past few days have been a gift like no other. It’s actually given us a taste of what it will be like on our caravan. Kinda…

To get a true taste of what that would be like, we would have had to jam all of us and our stuff into one room and used that space to cook in too. So no, this bach is not even close to the roughing and toughing it we will be doing in our ‘luxury’ aluminium box, but we have had to relearn to live and work together. My darling husband got to experiment with working remotely with the kids and me in his space. To his credit, he has not barked at us once. Were the roles reversed I think I would have lost it once or twice.

The first day we got here I was so tired that I let the kids go off and play with knives, but by day two we set the travel rules: no television and kids only allowed devices for 1/2 hr at the end of the night. It’s been magic. Yes, my son did drive me crazy with all the noise (talking, singing, mumbling, humming) he makes, but other than that, it has been SO good. We have talked, laughed, and reconnected. I have been impressed with my daughter’s wit and it has given me great pleasure to see evidence of how my son has grown up this year. It has been so nice to just be, just be a family.

It’s nightime, the kids are in bed with their books and I am sitting here on their deck, drinking a glass of red, typing away and I can hear the ocean in the background. It’s magical. Thank you K & C!!!

Gypsies

2011-12-20T06:04:16Z

While discussing storing one of Nuno’s toys…

Nuno: But mom, what if we don’t come back to this country?

Me: The plan is that we will come back here in a year.

Lana: The plan right now, but that can change.

Me:….kid has a point

Here we go again… well almost.

2011-12-20T06:52:02Z

Almost a year ago we arrived in New Zealand. The agreement was that my husband had 365 days to convince me that New Zealand was the place for us. If he did not accomplish that mission, then the deal was that I could get on a plane with my children and head back home. He could follow us if he wished, but the kids and I did not have to stay.

Well, that bloody school we sent our kids to did the trick. Yes, we have lovely friends and of course our family is great, but we have great friends and fabulous family in the States too, so that doesn’t help us make a final decision. But that school. Damn that school! It was just so wonderful that it made the decision for us.

So here we were with a decision made, but something was still missing and people that something was 1) my dad and 2) ‘Portugueseness’. Yep. Missed the old man and also felt that my kids would be missing out on a whole aspect of my culture that I alone could not pass on to them. This is where my brilliant husband comes in. He suggested we move to Portugal for a year and have one other little adventure before we FINALLY settle down. I couldn’t book the flights fast enough.

So here we are. We have moved out of our house. Everything is in storage (thank you Gran & Grandad), tickets are booked, kids are signed up for a distance learning program (fingers still crossed they’ll opt to go to the local school) but first, yes first, we are going to tour South Island, NZ. We bought a super light caravan. My friend Leanne refers to it as the ‘aluminium box’ and my friend Sarah reckons she got car sick just walking unto it. But I will remain positive and channel all the energy of the caravaners who came before us. Good times ahead!!!

Tuesday Playdates

2011-09-22T01:42:04Z

Every Tuesday Nuno has soccer practice at his school. Since my husband coaches & I help get the boys out of their uniforms and into mufti, neither one of us is available to pick up Lana. However since the schools are affiliated there is a taxi that brings girls over to attend the after school program and Lana just hops on that.

When soccer is done, we more often that not load our car up with kids to drop off. One of those kids is a friend of Lana’s, let’s call her Thalia. She comes over to our house and hangs out so that her mom who works at the boys’ school can attend a weekly staff meeting and get some work done. Thalia is a pretty cool kid and she and Lana normally busy themselves with all sorts of fun activities. Even still both my husband and I were quite surprised when this week the girls decided to practice their violins. Which they proceeded to do for an hour. I think I may have heard my husband mumble ‘geek’ under his breath. But the fact of the matter is I know he is very proud of his little girl.