Taha’a and Ra’iatea
Coral. According to the dictionary, it is “a hard stony substance secreted by certain marine coelenterates as an external skeleton, typically forming large reefs in warm seas.” Honestly, that just does not sound like something I really want to … Continue reading Taha’a and Ra’iatea
Rangiroa
Another day, another atoll. Such beauty surrounds us! This was a very exciting entry into the lagoon at Rangiroa as it is the narrowest one yet With a pod of dolphins to guide us in, the pilot steered us in … Continue reading Rangiroa
Fakarava and the Blue Lagoon
Island paradise. We have all imagined it…the soft white beaches, the bluest of waters with palm trees slowly waving in the light sea breezes, coconuts mysteriously appearing with little straws in them….. As we left Tahiti, the waves became … Continue reading Fakarava and the Blue Lagoon
Tahiti
We arrived at our resort, Marava, after a 5-hour flight from Auckland to catch a quick and beautiful sunset. Our room is overlooking the largest infinity pool on the island and it looks like it connects to the lagoon. Most … Continue reading Tahiti
Surfing in New Plymouth
New Plymouth is a coastal town and we finally had some good weather to actually see the coast. The sand is black here due to the volcano, Taranaki, that hovers in the background over the whole area. The mountain reminds … Continue reading Surfing in New Plymouth
Picton to Wellington and the Ferry
Night here is complete. The darkness envelopes you like a warm, soft blanket you might hide under as a kid. The only lights are the headlights on your car, showing you only what you need to see and the winding … Continue reading Picton to Wellington and the Ferry
Whale Watching in Kaikoura
The morning dawned…dark and stormy with gale force winds. Today was our one day in Kaikoura and we had hoped to go whale watching. We did not have any internet and so we were unsure if the cruise had been … Continue reading Whale Watching in Kaikoura
Abel Tasman and the Seals
Our first full day here dawned bright and sunny and since we had booked a sailing adventure today in the Tasman Bay, we were excited to get going. Just a short drive down the road, our sail would take us … Continue reading Abel Tasman and the Seals
Ruby Bay and Nelson
After traveling far and wide, and doing something every day, we decided to take it easy today. Yes, we relaxed and enjoyed our day here at the Vineyard. (I did enjoy writing that!) We are just a block from the … Continue reading Ruby Bay and Nelson
Kina Beach Vineyard and the Schoolhouse
It is no secret that we like good wine. We have stopped at vineyards here in NZ that have truly changed our minds about NZ wines. And there is no going back-we are hooked! When an opportunity came up to … Continue reading Kina Beach Vineyard and the Schoolhouse
The Traveling Squirrel 