Back to Auckland

On 5th January - After i had been to the hospital (i am allowed to fly :-) ) We went up Mount Eden. Its actually a volcano. The views were amazing. 

Later, we were going to the restaurant at the top of the Sky Tower, but a man was going to jump off it so we weren't allowed into the Sky Tower. We waited 10 o 15 minutes, but the man didn't get down, so we went to the waterfront to find a restaurant. I wanted to go to Kermedec restaurant because I couldn't remember what it was like when we went before. Me and Lara had fish and chips like we did before. After dinner we went back to the Sky Tower to see if the man was still up there. He wasn't. The tower was open so we got to go inside to have a look. We travelled up to the deck in a lift with a glass bottom. Mummy was too scared to look down. When we got to the top we could see all around Auckland. It was 'awesome'. 

Smelly mud

From Wellington we drove to Napier. It was a 3-4 hour drive. I quite like Napier but I did get bored. We found our campsite by the sea. Lara and I splashed in the sea. After that we got dressed to walk to the Elephant Winery. There was good food there. We walked back to our campsite. We could hear the waves from our bed.

Outside the Elephant Winery

Inside the Elephant Winery

The next morning we drove to Rotorua. On the way we stopped at Huka Falls. Daddy told me there was 20,000 litres of water going down the waterfall every second. Enough to fill 5 Olympic swimming pools every minute. It was amazing how fast the water went down. 

Huka Falls

When we got to Rotorua we went to a Maori village, built between the thermal pools. There were hot mud pools - stinky, smelly mud pools. There were boiling water pools. The pools were so hot the Maoris cook their food in there. They can cook 5kg of rice in 5 minutes. Mummy like the pool called the champagne pool. All of a sudden tiny bubbles would rise to the surface. 

We also saw a show. Real Maoris acted out the songs, dances and war dances of the Maori people. We had our photo taken with them. 

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As soon as we got to our campsite we went in the swimming pool. We were so hot and tired after all that driving. 

Windy Welly

On New Year's Day we caught the ferry back to the North Island.  It was very windy on deck so we had to go inside.

Very windy on the Interislander

On the 2nd, Daddy went to see the North Island croquet championship and we went to Te papa museum in Wellington. I really like the Game Masters section and also making 'Tentacals' - our own giant squid- on the computer. We can visit him again on the computer or iPad. We spent the whole day there and then went on the Wellington Cable Car to the top of the botanical gardens. We had a wander and a play on some slides and flying fox zip wire then walked back to the train station. Wellington is called Windy Welly and it really was windy. Lara nearly got blown away. Finally, we got the train back to our station where daddy was waiting for us. Me and Lara ran to cuddle daddy. 

Inside a whale's heart at Te Papa

Happy New Year 2013

Pictures from the fireworks in Picton harbour last night.

I had a swim in the pool this morning, now we are off to catch the ferry to the North Island.

On the road again

Saturday morning we woke up by the lovely lake and then went into Tekapo to have breakfast. I had sausage, bacon, homemade baked beans and bread with maple syrup. It was delicious except the bread which mummy ate. We stayed at the cafe for ages. Mum and dad wouldn't move. After that we drove Akaroa, near Christchurch. It was another long drive. We arrived just before the swimming pool was closed so we went for a swim. It was freezing! We then walked down the hill into town and had dinner.

View to Akaroa

Swimming pool at Akaroa campsite

The next next morning we fiddled around in Akaroa and then mum went to swim with dolphins and Lara  and I stayed with dad while he played croquet. I really wanted to go with mum but dad and I decided I had better not just in case I was poorly. Mum and I were sad, but mum says we will definitely go another time. I was excited for mum though.

We rushed to see mum and in the shop we got a picture book of mum swimming with the dolphins. Before we left we had fish n chips sitting onthe jetty. They were the best fish and chips and it was fun being on the jetty. 

From the bay in Akaroa

We're in Picton now to see the fireworks for New Years Eve. 

Lake Tekapo

On Friday we got up early and drove to Lake Tekapo. It was a four and a half hour journey. We finally arrived just in time for lunch. We had lunch on top of a mountain called mount John. The views were amazing and so were the hot chocolates.

All the way along the road into Tekapo there were big bunches of flowers. Mum told me they are called Lupins. They smell really nice too. 

There was no room at the campsite so we had to go to another place but it was horrible. Mum and Dad said we definitely weren't staying there. On the way back to the main road there was a place looking out to a lake - that was beautiful and very quiet so we stopped there. 

Lara and I caught up on some Strictly Come Dancing that Dad had recorded for us while Mum and Dad sat outside drinking wine. 

The wildlife of Dunedin

Beating daddy with my brain 

On Boxing Day Dunedin was the coldest town in New Zealand. It was 15 degrees. We went to a museum. First we went into a science play area bit. There was a game where you had to blow a ball into a basketball hoop. There was also a bit where you had to sit down and relax with a special headband on. By relaxing you can move a ball into your opponent's goal. Lara beat me, but I beat daddy. 

Then we went into a forest bit where the butterflies actually land on you. To make them land on us, Uncle Nick told us to rub some butterfly food on our hands. 

Here is a picture with my favourite butterfly on me.

This is my favourite butterfly

Also on Boxing Day, we went to see the Glow Worms. We walked into the forest near Uncle Nick's house and had to wait until it was dark. Little lights appeared all around us. It was amazing but I was very tired because it was very late. 

On Thursday 27th we went to a swimming pool by the sea. We all went in except daddy and Grumpfer. There was a small pool and big pool filled with salt water. In the afternoon, we drove to the end of the peninsular to see the Albatrosses. They were very big. I looked through Uncle Nick's binoculars and saw some seals on the rocks nearby. They were sunbathing. 

Later on Thursday, we drove back to the same place to see the Blue Penguins. They were going across the beach beside us, back to their nests. The Blue Penguins were scared of the sea lions and so swam quickly to the shore and waddled up the beach. I liked this better than the Glow worms.