First week whirlwind

We've now been here in New Zealand for a week and we've been busy exploring every day. For me, the best thing is seeing my mum and dad again. After a year apart, we've been chatting non stop, filling each other in on what we've been up to and fitting in all those hugs we've missed! They live in New Zealand's biggest city, Auckland, and on our first day here we went north of the city for a walk in the native bush.

We also squeezed in a bit of wine tasting...

and a glimpse of the fantastic views up in the hills.

The sun came out for a wonderful afternoon on Karekare and Piha beaches. Karekare is my favourite because it's incredibly wild and dramatic (it was the setting for the film The Piano). On the top picture you may be able to make out the amazing patterns the sand made when it was blown by the wind. Here's the lovely view of Piha with lion rock, an old volcano cone, sitting on the sand. Can you make out how it got it's name?!

 

Devonport, the part of Auckland where Mum and Dad live, is right on the water so the city centre is just a short ferry journey away. You can see the striking skyline across the harbour.

 

This is Auckland's most famous landmark, the Sky Tower.

 

One of the best things about travelling is the friends you make and we've been delighted to be able to meet up with friends from Central America here in New Zealand. We spent a great evening at Jenny and Mark's fab flat in Kingsland; good wine, good food and good company. Unfortunately we were so busy catching up that we forgot to take any photos!
Kandace, who we met in Tikal, Guatemala, gave us a fun tour of her home country as we went driving 'out west'. Thanks for making us so welcome guys!

 

It's been a great start to our time in New Zealand and the perfect combination of familiar faces and new places to explore.

Rachel x