Raglan - Home of the world famous left hand point breaks.

Easter is a four day holiday* here, and since we had the weekend off we decided to head out of town. I chose Raglan because it is relatively close to home, and I was intrigued by it's Bohemian Art/Surf culture.


We stayed in the cabooses:

This place offers accommodation in refurbished train cars with a hostel/backpacker/NZ holiday park atmosphere (ie shared bathrooms and kitchen facilities.)

Notice the Easter Bunny. She, along with 20,000 of her closest relatives and friends, lives here year round and thoughtfully provided a dyed hard boiled egg for P since her usual Easter Bunny was not willing to make the 6,000 mile swim to get here.

Also, notice the back of the Buddha sculpture.

If you are not so into cabooses, and you have some sway with the owners, you might get to stay here:

The view from this deck is amazing: (The view of the deck is also amazing.)

You could also stay in the "tipi retreat" for quite a lot more money or just bring your own tipi:

We met some nice folks here and had a quiet, relaxing break. While the shower experience was frustrating at times (scalding/freezing/scalding) and cooking dinner with 30 other people simultaneously is not my favorite sport, overall this was a great place. Best of all none of us acquired head lice which is my new gold standard for rating NZ backpackers/hostels/holiday parks.

On a day trip we visited Bridal Veil Falls: (Not to be confused with Bridal Veil Falls.)

On the way home we went to the Hamilton Zoo and chatted up this chimp:

And now P is off at horse camp and we are back at work. Fortunately this weekend is Anzac Day and my birthday, and I'm off work to boot! More adventures ahead!

Here is P, Flat RJ, Flat Ms Cool Nice, and BlingBling, the horse. Hope y'all have a great weekend!

* Good Friday is a big deal here- the shops close, no one works, and same goes for Easter Monday. B got Tuesday off as well - Easter Tuesday. I love all these holidays! Easter Tuesday?! Fantastic! Can't wait for Anzac and Queen's Birthday Monday!

Waterfalls, Kiwi camping

Getting back to adventures had with my folks...

Rainbow Falls, Kerikeri, Bay of Islands.

We stayed at Aroha Island in Kerikeri - highly recommended. Can't wait to go back and stay for at least a week!

The rest of our nights were spent at Kiwi campgrounds - like KOAs back home, but better than the KOAs I remember from my chilhood. These campgrounds (holiday parks here) are really popular, and offer everything from just a grassy spot for your (enormous kiwi) tent to cottages with kitchens and bathrooms. There are communal kitchens for cooking, BBQs, and plenty of fun things for the kids to do. P loved the trampolines. This campground (Ahipara Backpackers which didn't actually seem anything like what is advertised on the website, but I mean that in a good way) had pukeko running all around, and horses for P to pet. Plus 90 mile beach is a short stroll down the road. A winner!