Category Archives: Uncategorized

March 8, 2021 We walked from our home to nearby downtown today. Along the way we passed what must be one of the largest fitness centers in the world. Les Mills was a New Zealand olympian, representing New Zealand in the shot put and discus throw. He was also mayor of Auckland for most ofContinue reading “Downtown, Auckland, New Zealand”

March 6, 2021 Mal’s sister and brother-in-law, Christine and Bill, live on a hilltop overlooking idyllic New Zealand farmland and beyond to Pakiri Beach. Pakiri is about an hour’s drive north of Auckland on the east coast. “Pa” is Maori for village or fortified settlement and Kiri refers to Te Kiri, a local Maori chief.Continue reading “Pakiri, New Zealand”

March 4, 2021 We are still Covid lockdown here in Auckland, so heeding government instructions we walked close to home, exploring our home neighborhood of Freeman’s Bay. It is a neighborhood with an interesting history. First, it has not actually been a bay since the late 1800s when a massive land reclamation project pushed itContinue reading “Freeman’s Bay, Auckland, New Zealand”

March 2, 2021 After dinner, we set out for a walk through Freeman’s Bay and and neighboring Grey Lynn. Adding a tropical feel to the evening were these waving palms. There are many charming small cottages in the area. This one is definitely the most colorful. And this one is one of the most quaint.Continue reading “Auckland, New Zealand”

February 28, 2021 We are currently in lockdown in Auckland due to a recent community Covid outbreak. However, we are allowed to walk in our neighborhood, so we decided to go for an after dinner walk in the nearby St. Mary’s Bay neighborhood, that slopes down toward the Westhaven Marina and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.Continue reading “Auckland, New Zealand”

February 27, 2021 On a perfect sunny day we headed to Tiritiri Matangi joined by our good friend Louise. Tiritiri Matangi (Maori for “tossed by the wind”) is a nature reserve about ninety minutes ferry ride from the center of Auckland. Until the Maori arrived about 700 years ago, the only mammals in New ZealandContinue reading “Tiritiri Matangi Island”

February 22, 2021 Waiheke Island is less than 40 minutes by ferry from the center of Auckland. It is the most populated and second-largest island in the Hauraki Gulf with a permanent population of just under 10,000 and an area of about 36 square miles. Meaning “trickling waters” in maori, it is also a popularContinue reading “Waiheke Island, New Zealand”

February 12, 2021 On an idyllic sunny day we went on a long walk through the neighborhoods that surround our house. We started out walking though St. Mary’s Bay and past the College it is named for. St. Mary’s is a Catholic girls’ high school with around 1,000 students. Established in 1850 it is theContinue reading “Auckland, New Zealand”

February 11, 2021 One of our favorite spots in all of New Zealand is less than an hour’s drive from Auckland. Piha (pronounced pee-haa) is a scenic black-sand surf beach on the west coast. Many of the west coast beaches have dark sands because of their high iron content. It makes them hard to walkContinue reading “Piha, New Zealand”

January 24 – February 4, 2021 Welcome to New Zealand. At the moment, New Zealand is practically Covid-free, so it made sense for us to leave the northern winter and the rampaging virus behind and head to a safer and warmer spot. At the moment New Zealand is only open to its citizens and permanentContinue reading “Commodore Hotel, Christchurch, New Zealand”