Re-connecting with New Zealand

After spending nearly 6 months in Queensland Australia I was keen to get home.

I had booked to go to a 4 string music festival months ago up at Kawhia in the North Island and  therefore spent some time getting Clowning Around #2 out of mothballs and ready to go.

But first the Waimea Menz Shed were showing how to make boxes and other knick knacks at the Mitre 10 garden event.

These three women had no trouble knocking up their boxes without men’s help.

Very good with hammer marks, but I don’t think they even noticed.

Another Menz Shed event. Helping provide food for 160 KTM riders who were on a off road and on road rally around the top of the South Island

We couldn’t get the borrowed barbeques to work so we rushed to get our own home barbies which did the trick.

Now fresh off the Ferry and intending to parkup where we usually do, at the Evans Bay free parkup, but unfortunately the WCC has made the area smaller and therefore it was full, so I headed out towards Miramar and found a much better secluded spot in Shelly Bay.





Part of this area had been gifted to the local Maori Iwi tribe as a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, and is still awaiting development.

The city art galley (with the big hand on top) and the city library to its left is under refurbishment. The artificial grass, that you see in the lower corner, is a lunchtime soccer pitch which is a terrific idea. And yes I did feel like joining in!

Another of our favourite spots is Ngatitoa domain in Paremata, which is an easy drive north from Wellington City

Onwards North to park at the mouth of the Patea River, which as you can see, is a black sand beach.

These murals are in Whanganui, I think they are all new since our last visit a few years ago.

Murals give a vibe to a place and add art and colour...I do my best in that department!

That’s all for this NZ Blog, 

Next, Dawson Falls, Hollard and Pukeiti Gardens, and New Plymouth.

Till then.

Stay safe, have fun, and be creative.

Jimu & Christine.

OZ Blog #22 The return to the Motherland, New Zealand!

The last two days in Cairns just to show the transition back to New Zealand, I walk past the Wicked Campers Yard and am happy I don’t fit that demographic anymore!

Although even in my flaky youth I wouldn’t have done it this way because I was a backpacker with a huge backpack.

Down on the waterfront I was impressed by this sculpture.



No idea what fruit this is called, its not being eaten by anything so probably not of commercial value.

Brisbane airport shuttle from the Domestic terminal to the international has 100% electric buses, this must be a thing of the future.

Today international flights have wi-fi available on the plane and I was therefore able to post one of my OZ blogs from 30,000 feet, which is quite a feat!

The North Island comes into view...doesn’t it look green.

North towards 90 Mile Beach.

The Auckland Harbour Bridge.

We did a large loop to the south east taking in Rangitoto Island.

Obviously at low tide!

Yup New Zealand comes into touchdown...isn’t that green so peaceful.

While waiting in the queue for Customs, I spotted this notification of New Zealand’s dangerous and exotic pests, somewhat different from where I’ve been.

The very next day I was doing some clowning at our local RDA where Christine volunteers, which brings my OZ blogs to a natural end.

Here is Christine on duty leading the way with the pony rides, a very popular event on the day.

The timed wooden horse event was fun



Gymnastics on a horse, this team came all the way from Golden Bay



A special equestrian trained horse from Motueka did everything but talk.

Here is Spice...it was his job to mark one of the squares to seal the raffle winner...it was number 5.

So that is the end of another successful adventure in Australia, all in Queensland.

We are all set up to continue next year...hopefully we’ll get out of Queensland, but meantime New Zealand is wide open for more adventures.

Many thanks for viewing our OZ blogs.

Till then stay safe, be creative and have fun!

Jimu