New Zealand - Auckland

This was our last day in New Zealand. I woke up to some seriously burnt feet, ouch!

While we packed up ready to make our journey to the airport the children had a nice time out in the sun with Pops.

Josh and Rachael headed out with Mama and Pops while Aaron and I took Joseph and Rebecca. The entire trip we spent following each other but today we were taking separate journeys on our 3.5 hour drive back down to Auckland. It was so nice for Josh and Rachael to have their own time with Mama and Pops. They checked out the local book store, visited a chocolate factory(i think) and had some delicious authentic New Zealand Ice Cream in Orewa.

We first loaded up on all the recommended goodies. Throughout our trip we made sure to try all of the recommended foods from our New Zealand friends. Thinks such as the good 'real' cream and jam donuts, kumara chips, steak and cheese pies, Perky Nana's, Cookie Time cookies.... It was all great!

Before leaving KeriKeri I wanted to visit the Bay of Island Honey Shop. They have the largest beehive in New Zealand, possibly in the whole world, that people can actually have a guided tour inside. I still wish that I would have done it however bees were swarming everywhere.

There was a big shop inside and factory where we could watch them with the honey comb. I could have spent loads of money on different product but I settled for some honey skin care products and lip balms. I have been moisturizing my face with the bee balm and I love it.

This trip was so crazy and fast past as there was so much we wanted to see and do in such little time. We definitely had our ups and downs, including a police infringement from making an illegal u-turn we had no idea wasn't allowed. Oops.  

A couple more random photos of the money in NZ and mango white chocolate logs. Those were a new experience!

We too stopped in Orewa like Mama and Pops but somehow we missed the awesome ice cream place. Instead we found the park on the beach and spent some time there while having lunch.

I think the birds have been fed too often by humans, they were very friendly.

Views of the Auckland skyline from the freeway back into the city

Both Aaron and I really wanted to visit Mt. Eden. It is the highest volcano in Auckland city at 196 meters high.  At the top you have a stunning 360 degree view of the city, harbour and suburbs.

These pictures do not even begin to show the true depth of field here but looking down into the 50+ meter deep crater had my stomach turning a bit. If you look closely at the pictures below you can spot people walking around the top of the volcano. They look like ants right? 

We only let Joseph exit the car briefly as there were no railings and he was glued to Aaron the entire time. We were all feeling a bit uneasy but it was such an incredible sight to see.

Later that evening we met back up with Mama and Pops at our hotel and walked to some local shops for dinner before retiring for the night. We were up and off to the airport at 4 am the next morning to catch our early flight back home.

The picture below sums up how our flight back home went, everyone was exhausted.

What a wonderful experience we will always remember.

New Zealand - KeriKeri

Our last stretch of road northward was about 2 hours. On our way we stopped at the family owned Kawiti Caves. We took a guided tour through the lush rainforest into the caves where we journey underground dodging stalagmites and stalactites to see the incredible glow worms.

I don't know how to describe the intense darkness that filled those caves, all I could think of is this scripture "And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could fell the vapor of darkness" 3 Nephi 8:20

I cannot imagine how awful and scary that 'vapor of darkness' would have been for those people lasting 3 days after Christ died. 

The brief darkness we experienced in the caves was intense yet luckily we had torches to lead our way and the beautiful glow worms above our heads.

The glow worms brought a sense of peace to the darkness, they were beautiful. It was like looking up at the stars at night and gazing into the milky way. 

The beginning of our tour

The entrance into the caves (no cameras allowed past this point)

On our exit up and out of the caves and through the forest back to our cars.

As we made our way to KeriKeri where we would check into our accommodations we briefly stopped to see the world famous Hundertwasser Toilets. These toilets are the only project in the southern hemisphere by the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and was his last project before he died. Many tourists come by bus just to photograph the toilets.

Stop number three was at Parrot Place. The kids are still talking about this part of the trip and keep asking when they can get birds of their own.
We encountered many different birds and had the opportunity to hold and feed them.

Loved finding exotic flowers everywhere

Our big ending highlight to the day was our Parasailing adventure that took place in Paihia around the Bay of Islands. 

 Here we are on the boat, adrenaline pumping getting ready to fly.

 Joseph was so upset that he couldn't 'fly on the kite' because he was not five yet. He still talks about getting to fly on a kite when he turns five. He will probably hold us to it if he remembers then.

Up, up and away! Aaron, Rachael and I were first to go!

The views were spectacular as well as the colors. I still cannot believe how high we were. Just look how small the boat was in comparison to my feet.

Views from the sky

Coming back down for a safe and dry return onto the boat.

Next up, Pops, Josh and Mama

Did I mention this is New Zealands highest parasail at 1200 feet?

It was seriously incredible.

What an exciting day we sure had. After returning to our resort we took a walk down to a fish and chip shop where we had our first crab sticks. They were delicious.
Everyone was exhausted and ready for bed.

We got a kick out of the sign below. In the USA they call them carts, in Australia and England they are called trollies and in New Zealand they are called trundlers. 

New Zealand - Whitianga

Our trip to New Zealand with Mama and Pops was spectacular. 

We had very many interesting 'moments' but we will leave those for our own journals :)

Instead I will provide an overload of pictures.

Early morning flight and we were on our way to Auckland.

Peering out the windows at the lush green colors.  

Leaving before breakfast and arriving after lunch we were desperate to get some needed food.
Quick stop, rental car pick up and we were on our way to Whitianga. There was so much to look at and the colors were incredbily vibrant.

It took us just over 3 hours to drive to our accommodations and when we arrived it was nearly 8:00.  Desperate for food Mama and I headed to town in search for something, unfortunately for us everything closes very early in these small towns. We lucked out and found the only place open selling an array of noodles and rice.

The next morning we woke to the beautiful views below.

I took Rebecca on a walk down the local town to the food shop to gather some things for breakfast and for our busy day ahead. It was a lovely quant town.

Gathering everyone together we set out on food to explore the little town. The small local shops are so much. 

After a quick bite to eat at our condo we set back out on food on a 5 minute walk down to the wharf for our Glass Bottom Boat Tour. 

The sights and colors were exquisite. 

Below are views of Shakespares Cliffs and Cooks Beach

An amazing blowhole off Cooks Beach

Josh loved all the time he got to spend with his Pops.

Cathedral Cove is where they filmed parts of Narnia: Prince Caspian. 

Along our tour a scuba diver went missing and all boats were called in to help search until the coastguard arrived. The flooring on the bottom of the boat was pulled up and we peered out through the waters below in hopes of spotting the diver. Unfortunately we had no luck and never heard if she was found. 

At quicker speeds we breezed through Champagne Bay on our way to Orua Sea Caves

Orua Sea Caves were enchanting. The water was literally a sparkling turquoise color and incredibly clear.

It was such a fun small tour with so much to see.

There was this guy on our boat that looked a lot like Hugh Jackman.

After the tour we stumbled across these awesome bikes. All eight of us climbed aboard and headed of in giggles as we worked to maneuver the thing together.

Seriously SO much fun. Lots of laughing, crying and a few 'oops who's driving this thing anyway' moments.

We rode down a small side road along the bay and found a lovely spot to stop for a quick break before heading back.

Our first official day in New Zealand turned out amazing. It's always such a task keeping 4 excited kids happy and content but looking back luckily we can easily forget the 'hard' moments and remember the 'incredible' moments.

Mama and Pops bathed the kiddos and made dinner while Aaron and I walked to The Lost Springs. This natural luxurious geo-thermal hot springs was the most incredible hot springs i've ever been to. There are no words to even describe it's beauty. 

We swam through caves, relaxed in different pools, waiters brought us smoothies and we climbed to the top of a fake volcano and sat in the hottest pool with running waterfalls. 

It was a wonderful little get away. 

On the walk from our accommodation to The Lost Springs we went through this amazing garden. The flowers were beautiful. I ran back with Mama and my camera in hopes to capture the beauty but the gates were already locked. We did however see these calla lilies.