New Zealand Trip

Our last event for our busy summer was a trip to New Zealand to visit my sister and her children.  I have been contemplating this trip for about a year but it became a now or never kind of thing as next year Katie will be in school so unless we go in our summer - their winter - it would not be viable.  Katie really wanted to see Belle and it would be great for all the cousins to meet as the last time was when Belle and Katie were 16 months old and so they can't remember.  After Googling the NZ school holidays (Belle started school on her 5th birthday) it seems ed that October or Easter would be the only options.  I didn't want to go in their summer holidays after Christmas as that is prime ski season so after talking with Naomi, it seemed that the October holidays would be best.  It was all a bit closely tacked onto the end of all our other manic summer plans to be honest, but as I have only done this to myself, I shouldn't complain.  So after manic searching for flights etc I finally booked to leave on Sunday 30th Sept on Singapore Airlines:  Munich - Singapore, Singapore -Auckland, stay overnight at airport hotel as we landed at midnight, then next day Auckland down to Paraparaumu.  I gulped as I pressed the "Book Now" option on the computer.  It's so much money.

So, with a total weight of 25kg - much of that to leave in NZ, we set off on our adventure.  Oh and before I continue, Matt wasn't coming. Just me and the kinders!  I have to say the flights were great.  The kids were great, the inflight entertainment they loved.  They were happy to watch Disney Junior, Bugs Bunny and Dora the Explorer over and over and over.  And I was glad of my top investment of children's headphones that were comfy and didn't slip off their ears (until Alex managed to break his on the way home!) The much wanted Trunki was borrowed and I cursed it - except for the mad dash through the airport on the way home where is was a godsend to pull Alex along.

We arrived at midnight in Auckland after a good couple of flights. Nice straightforward transfer at Singapore, no waiting about.  When we got to the budget hotel at the airport no one wanted to sleep even though they were so tired.  A couple of hours was had and then we were up to catch the 8:30 flight to Paraparaumu.  It was a tiny plane but the sky was clear and so we had magnificent views of the coastline, Taranaki and Mount Ruapehu all still snow covered.  Katie thought it was wonderful to see a volcano.  We were at the back of the plane and as we landed at the tiny airport the kids saw Naomi and the children waiting behind the fence.  It was all very exciting and we got off, collected our luggage off the trolley and jumped in the car to go home.  Naomi has a 7 seater so we could all fit in nicely.

The whole 2 weeks was thoroughly enjoyed by all the children.  They all got on really well and was very easy entertaining them.  I had said to Naomi that there was no need to do anything special as they would be quite happy going to the beach as they are a 5 minute drive/20 minute walk away.  The weather of course was very changeable, being spring, but that didn't really bother us.  We are happy to go to the beach whatever the weather.

We had a bit of a pirate theme going on as we had a pirate entertainment thing in the scout hut to go to which was good fun and so we bought pirate dress ups and that kind of continued.

In short we spent a lot of time at the beach, a day in Wellington where we went to a great kids theatre production about seasons and then the Tepa Museum which they loved and we didn't even see a fraction of it.  We went to Staglands which is an animal place in the bush.  Then there were the lovely playgrounds and a great bush walk when the weather was a bit rubbish, and just playing in the garden and at home. They were all as happy as anything.  In fact Katie's favourite thing was playing in the garden. Alex said his was going to the beach.

Now I was thinking about New Zealand and comparing it to here and although I love the scenery and the outdoor life there,  I'm not sure I'd want to live there.  Before when I have been there, we have always travelled around and I think it is a fantastic country to travel in, but to live there feels quite isolated and constrained.   I mean there is lots to do on the doorstep but it's quite difficult to travel further afield and this is where it is so easy in Europe.  I like it in some ways. 

It was also nice to get back to a proper solid house.  I know there is a high earthquake risk there but the houses feel like tin shacks - especially when it is raining. There is no double glazing but the windows are big and feel like they could easily shatter and all the walls are so thin.   And the heating is rubbish.  I think I have become spoilt.  But then, it is more economical to live in a better built and insulated house, surely?

I  did sprain my ankle after 4 days which was a bit of a pain in the neck but could have been a lot worse.  Even so, I felt we weren't moving that much.  Although the area is pretty flat there is a total car culture. We are used to walking and biking a lot more and I noticed the lack of moving quite a bit.  It is so suitable for cycling but not many people seem to.  In fact my ankle aches more now as we have stairs here and I am more active. 

I'm glad we went to visit Naomi and the children.  It was so nice for the cousins to meet and play and spend time together.  Not sure when it will happen next though. 

Playing on the beach