Today we headed out of the estate for some art, wine and oil! Our first stop was Rototawai, a tranquil landscape & restored homestead located in the rural setting of the southern Wairarapa: a family property made available to the public to enjoy a private collection of art, a unique landscape and historic home. We …
Day 20 – April 19, 2025 – Wharekauhau Country Estate – Artisan tourRead More »
Day 18 – April 17 – Travel to Warehauhau Country Estate We left Wellington late in the morning on our way to Wharekauhau (forry-ko-ho) Country Estate. We arrived at this beautiful place just after 1:00. Set on over 5,000 acres of private land, it commands spectacular vistas of the Pacific Ocean. The lodge is a …
Day 18 & 19 – April 17 & 18, 2025 – Wharekauhau Country EstateRead More »
We had a “day at leisure” so we decided to go to Zealandia. Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne is the world’s first fully fenced urban ecosanctuary with an extraordinary 500-year vision to restore the valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to pre-human state. Set around a picturesque reservoir, Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne …
Day 17 – April 16, 2025 – Zealandia, bird sanctuaryRead More »
After breakfast in the hotel lobby, we returned to our room for a facetime call with the kids and grandchildren. They were all at Ben & Chloe’s in Brooklyn, so we got to see them all. While we travel and keep pretty busy, we still miss everyone back home! We left the hotel for Queen’s …
Nothing planned for today. We are on our own. So, after spending 40 minutes on the phone with my bank to get them to clear my ATM card to be used to get cash, we went down for breakfast then headed out for a walk about. Though situated between several mountains, and having some hills, …
Day 16 – April 15, 2025 – walking around WellingtonRead More »
April 12 2025 – travel and arriving in Wellington Not much happening today. Got picked up about 10 am for drive to the airport. Our driver, Tony was exceptionally helpful in getting us situated. At the airport in Wellington, Robert picked us up. Gave us a brief tour of the Capital and 3rd largest city …
Day 13 & 14 – April 12 & 13 2025 – travel to Wellington and a tour around townRead More »
We started the day in the Breakfast room, which is actually an auxiliary kitchen right next to the actual kitchen where the staff creates their amazing food and confections. Today was surprisingly busy as we only expected to do a half day tour of the city and then relax. Christchurch is a very walkable city …
Day 12 – April 11, 2025 – Christchurch – a city rebuildingRead More »
Today we started out early as we had to get to the marina for a cruise through the Akaroa Harbor. Akaroa is a charming French settlement on the Banks Peninsula. The name Akaroa is Kai Tahu Māori for “Long Harbor”. The drive was about an hour though farmland and breathtaking landscapes. We stopped at a …
Day 11 – April 10, 2025 – Akaroa a day on the waterRead More »
Today was an active day. We started out at 9:00AM heading toward Arthur’s Pass National Park. It was about a 2-hour drive. Along the way we stopped first at a site that is meaningful to the Mauri as a spiritual site. This area was underwater several million years ago. Uplifted by the tectonic actively. The …
Day 10 – April 9, 2025 – Walking trails at Arthur’s PassRead More »
Up early to pack for the next leg of our trip. Breakfast then meeting our driver Sue for a 5-hour drive north. It was raining as we left, but we noticed that there was snow in the mountains! You could see a line where the snow ended, and the rain began below! We stopped along …
