Nature at its finest

After picking up our Spaceship, learning how to drive on the other side of the road, & FINALLY making our way out of Auckland we took the scenic route along to the coast to Coromandel. Truly the curviest coast ever and the smallest lanes possible.

While on the drive to we stopped at a road side oyster shack and had some of the most delicious and rather cheap local oysters. After a few more hours of very stressful & beautiful driving we arrived at Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park. Why the long detour on windy roads??? To get to the most incredible natural phenomenon in New Zealand, a beach that two hours on either side of low tide you can dig you own private HOT TUB! Thats right people! After a good 35 minutes of digging Gil & I with two other blokes dug ourselves a hot tub at pm and spent a couple hours stargazing on one of the clearest nights in months.

Feeling relaxed & grateful!

Enjoy some of the beauty

Help X Success!!

 We were lucky enough to spend the last ten days with two of the most lovely hosts (Lisa & Aaron), 1 Coppa (awesome farm dog), 3 rams & adult pigs, 5 cows, 7 piglets, 20 ducks, 26 chickens & an abundance of organically flourishing veggie gardens. 

While on the farm we completed the following tasks:

• snuggle with the piglets

• prepare the garden beds for spring

• cuddle with Coppa

• weeding

• lounge with the cows

• build a staircase out of tires

• rub piglets until they actually tip over

• feed animals daily

After working an enjoyable four-hour day, none of which was in front of a computer, we were treated to some of the best meals of our lives. That's right! Super fresh, from the earth, and made with love.  

If we could sum up our stay in one word it would be confirmation. Confirmation that buying a block of land and being self-sufficient is our ultimate goal for ourselves and our future family (of animals & baby Gils/Jess)

First Sights of the Country Side

Enroute to the Paihia (Bay of Islands) via Naked Bus ( beware there are NO washrooms aboard) 

Auckland was O.K. but the second the bus crossed a couple bridges and we reached the outer city I was instantly awakened. The beautiful countryside was lush with rolling green hills. The sheep, cows, and romantic farm cottages are exactly what I had envisioned of my time in New Zealand.  

After 5 hours on a bus with no toilet (Naked Bus is cheaper than the alternative but not cheaper enough for no bathroom) we are at Paihia, the gate way to exploring the Bay of Islands. Its the most beautiful day of our trip so far and we enjoy a walk around the small town. The next day we had to Shippy's for some Fish & Chips.  

For our last day in the area decide to take a boat cruise around the islands. Our beautiful weather hasn't lasted and the trip is an amended version "for safety" & we are bundled up in our rain coats. With one hours remaining of our four hour trip we happen upon a pod of dolphins of all ages & sizes. For 30 minutes nothing can keep us inside the boat & we enjoy embrace life in the wild.     

   Photos