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Rotorua: Redwoods Tree Walk
In an attempt to cram as much sightseeing into our holiday as was humanely possible, I had decided that we would spend Saturday evening up a tree. Well, not just one tree but actually a whole bunch of them; in Whakarewarewa Forest. The terrible Indian restaurant in which we had eaten earlier that evening had […]
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Rotorua: The 3D Trick Art Gallery
On Saturday afternoon, we went to Velocity Valley. This adventure park on the outskirts of Rotorua was advertised online as ‘NZ’s most exciting adventure activities in one location.’ They offered The Swoop (a giant bungee swing where you accelerate from 0 to 130km in 1 second), the Acroboat (where you apparently ‘fly like a Ferrari […]
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Rotorua: Whakarewarewa
Ever since purchasing The Penguin History of New Zealand from Audible (that’s Penguin the publisher, not a history of New Zealand penguins as I first thought it to be!) I was desperate to know more about Māori culture and customs. Written by Michael King, The Penguin History of New Zealand is an epic tome full of […]
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Tornadoes and Hailstones and Rain, oh my!
According to New Zealand’s National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), tornadoes are a ‘relatively rare’ occurrence in the country. Well, you could have fooled me. Here in Waikanae Beach, we’ve had 3 tornadoes in 24 hours. And another 2 last week. Granted they’re not the size of the ones you’d find hurtling through […]
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New Zealand Nuance #9: Pharmacies
“But I did request it over a week ago,” you whine petulantly at the man behind the counter. “All repeat prescriptions must be requested at least seven days before they are collected and it is your responsibility to ensure you have enough medication to last until then,” droned them man, almost reciting verbatim the sign […]
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Rotorua: El Mexicano Zapata
After a full days driving (both in the Mini and on the luge) there was no way I was going to throw together a family meal in the little kitchenette at the Regal Palms Resort. So I asked my husband (wearing a wide-eyed expression not unlike the one Puss-In-Boots wears when trying to stun his […]
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Rotorua: Skyline
Skyline is one of Rotorua’s most famous attractions that doesn’t involve bubbling mud or sulphur pools. Located in the charmingly named Fairy Springs just north of the city centre, it comprises several activities, most of which involving going up and/or down bits of the hillside at various speeds and inclines. To get to the top […]
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Rotorua: an epic journey
“Let’s go to Rotorua,” my husband announced one evening. He was standing at the sink with his arms up to the elbows in suds, washing the dinner dishes. I blinked. A holiday? Really? He wants to go on holiday? “Can I just confirm that you are actually suggesting that we go on holiday?” I cautiously […]
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Biscuits
Us Brits think we do the biscuit pretty well but New Zealand have also got an impressive selection of teatime treats. I thought I would share some of these with you via a tea towel I found in the kitchen drawer of our bach. Random, I know but there it is. Ginger Crunch The Ginger […]
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New Zealand Nuance # 8: Rubbish
Just like in the UK, rubbish in New Zealand is sorted into landfill and recycling. Glass bottles must be kept separate and only certainly plastics can be recycled. Both landfill and recycling are emptied every other week. But they don’t have a food waste bin. This struck me as odd as I had considered New […]
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Adventures in Aotearoa
She'll Be Right 