Another OZ adventure coming up... so here’s the last update from NZ.

In two weeks we will be heading over the Tasman again to Queensland.

I have recently got back from a trip to Wellington and Whangaparaoa delivering our old Toyota Coaster up to relatives near Auckland to use as accommodation, if and when they build a new house at Matakatia Bay.

First stop after going across Cook Strait was helping my brother to finish some of his house repairs and refurbishments

 (an ongoing process for some time...Bro).

This gave me the opportunity to visit the Terracotta Warriors Exhibition at Te Papa.

 I was most impressed, photos below.

This was before BC, ...  the Artistry and skill is amazing.

The whole collection was only found in 1974 when two Chinese farmers were ploughing their land.

Te Papa have only a very small part of the collection.

The whole collection includes figures, warriors, chariots and horses. Estimates from 2007 were that the three pits containing the Terracotta army held more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses.

That is some incredible work and art, all to go with the first Emperor of China, to keep him safe in the afterworld when he died, which was over 2,000 years ago.

Back to the here and now in NZ. I helped my brother finish off some more of his upmarket shed mezzanine, and we added fancy handrails. We also added wood surrounds, but I forgot to take the finished job photos .. but he was well pleased.

After a week in Otaki, I headed north up through Taranaki towards Auckland, taking the slow way up the East coast, north of the Naki and noted some lovely little spots to return to on our next northern motorhome trip. Places like Mokau, Piopio, Te Kuiti, driving through non stop past Waitomo Caves, which looked  a serious tourist trap and onto Taharoa and Kawhia. Some photos below.

The Saturday market in Hawera, had this lone Busker ... there is a good gelato Cafe in town and yes I did partake, in spite of it being a rather cold day!

Black sand beaches north of Mokia at a place called "Three Sisters" at Tongaporutu

Onward North and inland to Piopio, a nice little town where all the streets are named after NZ native birds.

Piopio is the name for the native thrush, which is now extinct.

 This sculpture set into the bank below the school is such a nice touch!

As is this local farmer’s mailbox

 I went to the Cosmopolitan Club (Pub) to chat to the locals...they didn't seem to mind my attire.

The very friendly chatty Maori barmaid had never been to the South Island and am sure she'd be a hit down here.

This is the famed King Country.....famous in my book as the home of Colin Meads.

 This is a tribute to "Pine Tree Meads" in the main street of Te Kuiti.

Legend has it that he ate barbed wire for breakfast
and I believe it!

Kawhia on such a beautiful day, I'm told it's a really jumping place in the summer.

It certainly was on this day.....

The Roadhouse cafe has an old bikes fence...incase you needed some parts!

 Auckland traffic starts looming up ahead.....

 The final destination for Clowning Around on accommodation duties

 with perhaps a few local jaunts for the rellies to escape the joys of building.

 A morning stroll around Whangaparaoa reveals this sign 

which I'm told was necessary because people were literally stripping the bay of cockles. 

This is how I got into the Shakespear Sanctury Park which has a predator proof fence.

I got in from the beach at low tide

I presume the predators can do the same???

For the more gentle folk... the recognised way in!

Oh what a Picture ...  what a picture ... stick it in the family Al...Bum

While having a family meal in Orewa I managed to juggle my way to getting the younger generation away from their iPads and tech games 

 I was so pleased to see they instantly grabbed the balls

when I stopped, and were once again back in conversation.

Well done Charlie and Oscar!

So in mid May we will return to Queensland, get our rig (car and caravan) out of park and start heading North to whereever we want. I will be installing a new Chinese diesel heater, fitting a stone guard skirt on the Ranger and other little mods and improvements, before heading up to Bundaberg for the caravan’s first service. Then it's another "Clowning Around" adventure in Oz.

Watch this space.

Stay safe, be creative, and have fun ...that's my motto!

No worries Mate!

Jimu and Christine