One of the world’s more picturesque eateries

Lauded by the upmarket food and travel magazines Craggy Range has been our regular Easter treat since arriving in New Zealand. So last week it wasn’t cheese batches for lunch but rather a long leisurely stroll through the Craggy Range menu. Somehow the food tastes better when you have a fantastic view to admire at [...]

Hello bloggers, back again. Hot foot from Golden Bay. Without wanting to sound smug to all those suffering in the northern hemisphere winter, life in Golden Bay couldn’t have been more golden. We had stunning weather with balmy evenings which made for a fantastic break away. As well as the good weather the location was [...]

Making the most of the holiday time

Being back home from the Wairarapa has been quite a shock. The sun just doesn’t shine as hard on this side of the Rimutakas so back in windy Wellington it would have been easy to hunker down and not make the most of our remaining holiday. Fear not, we’re still making the most of our [...]

Photoblogging: Wellington views from the botanical gardens

The Rose GardensThe Slackers route up the hill! The kiwi Christmas Tree Views across the city from the gardens

Off to the land of my dreams

Part of my dreaming over recent years has been a hankering to grow vines and olives – very cliche I know but there you have it. Before coming to New Zealand I was very excited about the prospect for doing this as one of the finest wine growing regions (the Wairarapa) is about 80km (50miles) [...]

Photoblogging: Martinborough views

View from our room porch door Views across the vineyards to the mountains beyond Olives basking in the clouds!

Photblogging: going botanical

Dad and Shirley would have been proud that we took in the botanical sights of Melbourne. As much as it was where the venue for the evening’s outdoor Shakespeare performance of Midsummer’s Night Dream but also provided some inspiration for our plans for our own garden in Kaitoke.

Photoblogging: Melbourne views just got better and better

Sorry if this photoblogging is getting boring but it’s hard to capture the beauty of Melbourne without stopping at almost every corner! Views of the CBD from the southbank Similar view from the Kings Domain Longer look from the Shrine of Rememberance on the King’s Domain

Photoblogging: a day of culture

On account of the impact of the sun from the Cricket indoor venues were very much in order. There are plenty of cultural sights close to where we were staying we were able to dodge the sun through the trees in Carlton Gardens. Royal Exhibition Hall built for the International Exhibition, 1880. Not open for [...]

Photoblogging: change of plan for day 4

This shows the view we should have been looking at from the MCG towards the city but since the cricket was over we headed off for alternative entertainment. JT taking in the boats at the new docklands area View of the CBD and the other stadium in Melbourne, sponsored by a rival telecom firm we [...]