Sep 4
Playing a spot of catch-up: Back in summer we went to Queenstown for a long weekend. As I recall the reason may have been that Mike wanted to go mountain biking but my memory is a bit shite to be honest and in any case, you would never have to twist my arm to go to my favourite part of NZ. Read more
Back in March we shot up to New Plymouth for a family thing. With fairly low expectations for getting out and about outside of that, the weekend delivered way more than I thought it would. For one thing, I had no idea this unassuming coastal city contains a treasure trove of street art. Read more
Something a little more real time… this weekend is the CubaDupa street festival in Wellington, centered around (and inspired by) the lively and diverse Cuba Street. The festival debuted last year to replace the Cuba Street Carnival which had been absent for a few years due to lack of funding. We popped along for a couple of hours yesterday to join the rest of Wellington in soaking up the occasion.
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When friends of yours have a place in the Coromandel, one of the country’s best loved holiday destinations, the obvious thing to do is arrange a group weekend away. Logistics were a bit tricky but where there’s a will there’s always a way! Read more
It sounded stormy. I peeked out the curtains and saw that it was. Goodie. Read more
While we were having a relaxed couple of days on the beautiful Tutukaka coast, others were scurrying around completing last minute wedding preparations and trying to second guess what impact the cyclone was going to have. Read more
A family wedding in March meant we ‘had’ to take a long weekend in Northland, aka the Winterless North. With expectations of sunshine, sparkling waters, a fancy event and the chance to see a new part of the country, we’d been looking forward to it for months. Read more
It’s a bit shameful that it took me until last summer to complete one of the best day hikes in NZ if not the world. But with its stunning landscapes and enough challenge to make me feel like I’d conquered something, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing was well worth the wait. Read more
As the Anzac Day dawn service commenced yesterday at Gallipoli, a reciprocal commemoration began in Wellington at the Atatürk Memorial.
Located on a Miramar Peninsula clifftop, it is a powerfully symbolic site chosen for its resemblance to the Gallipoli coastline. Consequently the Chaplain remarked that being here was the next best thing to being there, 17,000kms away. As I heard this from the fringe of the packed crowd, unable to see any of the ceremony, I realised he was right.
Apr 2
The First World War centenary commemorations are gathering much steam here especially in the approach to ANZAC Day later this month. Back in August, to mark the start of WW1 and very close to where NZ’s declaration of war was made on 5 August 1914, a Field of Remembrance was created in the grounds of parliament.
tall tales 