[Tara Sage]

Come on all you Newbie Kiwi's what are your plans for the long weekend?

We are off to the west coast for a spot of exploring how about everyone else?

I know I am nosey, but nice to know the best places to visit.

[Moorf]

Not really sure what to do... thought about heading back up to Kaikoura for some whale watching - I have a mega weekend planned for Warren's bday (5 and 6th Nov) so have to watch the pennies until then!

Anyone have any suggestions for a quick weekend away for Labour Day - what do the locals usually do?

[Jodie]

Yeah I'd be interested to know what the locals do. There's a folk festival in Welly over the weekend so no doubt we'll be there at some point for a few drinks and relaxing to the music, but any other suggestions?
Jod

[Carol]

DONT whatever you do drive to Taupo without booking first Jodie...like we did the first Labour W/e break!

We thought we were going to have to sleep in the car with two little uns.
Ended up in a poxy caravan for a night....then as luck had it got a motel room off someone who had to do a dash back to Auckland.
But we learnt.....


Abel Tasman is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!
Bit of a long drive for you guys though.......

What about going through Arthurs Pass and going to the glaciers?
Or...... ANY of the West coast really...it is stunning.

Have you seen that roundabout with the train lines going through it yet?
:eek :eek :eek :eek :eek

[Moorf]

Carol - we've decided - we're going to take a picnic to Castle Rock. We passed it on the way to Arthurs Pass the other day and it looks a great place to clamber and walk around the boulders - seemed an almost magical place to me :P and then perhaps we'll brave Cave Rock Stream (and the supposedly huge cave wetas!!).

I am slightly worried though as I did hear mention that we are into "flash flood" time of year?

Perhaps I'll post this elsewhere to get some info - forewarned and all that.

Moorf
:nice1

[veronica]

Pete and I will be working as its the last weekend of the ski season so our last chance to bring in a bit of revenue for a while.....

[Jodie]

Thanks for the Taupo tip Carol. That was one of the options but now we won;t try it!!

We were thinking of heading out to Cape Palliser for the day and going to the seal colony or something. I know theres a seal colony at Red Rocks, but that's just round the corner from here, isn;t it! On a bank holiday weekend, I feel like we should get away and go somewhere different!!

What will you be up to? Any recommendations for 2 new Wellingtonians looking to explore? Don't mind travelling for a few hours. We were thinking of going up to Mt Ruapehu and maybe learning to snowboard!!

You're in Tawa aren't you? Maybe we could meet up for a drink sometime? It'd be good to hear your experiences seeing as you've been here a few years.

Cheers,

Jodie

[Carol]

oooh that would be lovely Jodie!
There is a lovely Thai restaurant in Tawa.....sounds unlikely I know but there IS I promise!!
:laugh :laugh :laugh

Cape Palliser is FABULOUS!!!!
One of my favourite places ever....will post a photo when I find it.

I love the Wairarapa myself.
I just love the whole place.
Especially Martinborough.
Have you heard about Martinborough fair?? First Saturday in February and March. Very cool.
THOUSANDS go!!!
again - sounds unlikely but true!

What are you doing on 6th November Jodie?
Our school is having their annual Lamb and Calf Day..... we get around 4000-5000 through it - it is a fab day.
And once again...sounds unlikely but true!!
:laugh :laugh :laugh

Carol

[Jodie]

Hmmm - I've got to ask - what's a lamb & Calf day then? I assume it's a show of lamb and calves, am I right?? :uhoh Sounds interesting - we'll put it in our diary! Where is it?

And as for the Thai restaurant - I love Thai food so if you want to go for a meal one night (I think I may have seen a Thai place on the Main Street through Tawa - is that the one?) let me know when you can make it.

Sounds like Cape Palliser might be high on the list for this weekend too!

Jod

[Carol]

http://pic12.picturetrail.com/VOL399/2227803/4352134/70545991.jpg

This is the only one I can find Jodie.
Not the best really - but never mind.
THis is me and my little .


Our school is Pauatahanui School - just north of Whitby.
It gets very busy so if you are going make sure you are ready for a walk as there isnt much parking at school.
Yes - because it is a semi rural school many of the kids have their own pet lambs and calves which they bring to show.
All the rest of them bring a pet the day before.

If you want any cheap plants for your garden then this is the place! Amazing value!! Most are just $1 or $2 each.
THe parents spend every Tuesday morning all year round propagating and growing them!
They are sooooo cool!

love Carol

[Jodie]

Hi Carol,

Where was that photo taken? What a lovely view! And the little one's a cutie too.

Might pay a visit to the school that weekend then - sounds quite interesting!

Jod

[Carol]

It was in the pub at the end of the road at Cape Palliser........quite a while ago now.
Chloe is actually at school now!
:laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh


We'd love to see you at school!

[captainxmas]

Would anybody be kind enough to remind us of all the NZ Bank Holidays.

They seem to be coming up more often than the number 11 bus.

[Tara Sage]

We headed for west coast went on fab walk "St James walkway" off lewis pass it was wonderfull then went on to Westport and it rained!!! Saw some seals at the colony and did a spot of climbing over the boulders there and onto pancake rocks and the blow holes, what an awesome sight came home via arthurs pass and lake brunner it was fab.

Not bad for 2 days away, got loads of pics if anyone interested

[bbq]

:wah :wah

wanna be there now!

Great picture Carol

alex

[Dave & Sandra]

I polyurethaned floors :wah :wah

[wilson182]

Oh Sandra, :no you poor thing.


We drove up to Mount Hutt with a picnic. It was a bit damp though so after the sandwiches we went back down to Rakaia Gorge, which is beautifull. Hubby was trying to teach us to skim stones, but I'm sad to say he failed miserably :wah

[Diny]

Rakaia Gorge - what a beautiful place. Hubby and I went camping there about 14 years ago - but the memory sticks in my head.
I'd bought a cracking new pair of walking boots, wore them for the first time when we went on a really long walk around that area. He made me wade across the river (in a shallow part) whilst wearing my new boots. I was really mad at him - convinced they were ruined.

They dried out and my temper cooled down ......... but Rakaia will always stick in my memory. The water looks glacial in parts - really pretty.

Diny