Beautiful nikau palms growing in a safe reserve on the Kapiti coast. The nikau is very slow-growing. Research conducted in lowland forests near Auckland found it takes 40-50 years to begin to form a trunk and about 200 years to reach 10 metres tall (ref. DoC). These beautiful palms, with rich green fronds and brightly coloured […]
Walks
School Pick-up – the scenic route
Yesterday saw a return of the glowing ball in the sky, minus a southerly Antarctic chill. Since the clocks turned back at the weekend the weather has gone typically unpredictable. One day it is blowing a gail, pelting down horizontal rain and knocking toddlers off their feet, the next it’s warm enough to ditch the […]
Welly Walks the Walk for Christchurch!
We did it! My wonderful friend Meghan, of MNM’s blog, organized a group of around 70 people and we all gathered, in the rain, to walk 10 km around Wellington’s waterfront to raise money for the Red Cross earthquake appeal for Christchurch. Over $2,000 was raised (and if you’d like to donate please click here… […]
New Year’s Day 2011: Starting the Year on a Positive Foot
This morning we made the most of a cooler day, with cloudy shade, and set off on a local walk at Te Raekaikau Point: Te Ranga a Hiwi Track. The last time we did this walk we hoped to find our way through the bush and come out at Princess Bay – but got completely lost and […]
Signing off from the Pennine Way
We’re so proud of my sister (aka Aunty Claire to the girls) who completed the Pennine Way at the weekend, with Chicken Grandma & Granddad supporting her along the way. Chicken Grandma reckons she could write a book on ‘Granny goes Youth Hosteling!’ We have missed talking to them on the phone and on Skype […]
Snapshots from the Pennine Way
My sister is nearing the end of her fortnight walking the Pennine Way (see earlier posts here and here) and I have been thinking so much of her as she strides out each day, whilst I sit in the night time of the Southern Hemisphere feeding Alice. The updates from my Dad have been greatly […]
So proud of my sister!
The Pennine Way updates from my Dad continue… I received an e-mail this morning to say my sister has ran over 24 miles, from Malham to Hawes, with a friend in about 5 1/2 hours! The photo below shows my Dad waiting on the tops near Hawes for my sister (photo taken by Mum). Pen-Y-Ghent […]
The Pennine Way is in my thoughts
Every night, before I go to bed, or first thing in the morning, I get an e-mail from my dear Dad. As I sleep (badly at the moment!) I think of my Mum, Dad and sister on the Pennine Way. My sister is walking the entire 267-mile walk in a fortnight, from the Peak District […]
Autumn sunshine
‘Let’s go for a walk,’ Charlotte said. Saturday morning and the sun was winking down on us with a nod to get outdoors and be grateful. Winter is beckoning, throwing us the occasional warning day of rain and wind, so each day of sunshine is one of grace. Time to put the baking, the board […]
A rugged walk with wild views
It’s been a while since we’ve walked around Breaker Bay. The other week I drove past with the girls and they both asked to do the walk, but I wanted to wait till the weekend and share it with Dan. We like to start at Churchill Park. There’s a children’s playground, toilets and a memorial […]
Traditional family fun on a Sunday
Growing up we always spent Sunday going for a walk (often with a pit stop at a classic country pub) before returning home to a beautiful roast dinner. Well, there’s no country pubs nearby (sigh!), but there is plenty of nature. One of our favourite places for a walk is Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. With the […]
Sounds Magic!
For the first time in five and a half year’s I got away for the weekend and left Dan to run riot with the girls. They had a blast at Staglands and Harcourt Park in Upper Hutt on the Saturday, so much so that they fell asleep on the return – woke at 5.30pm – […]
Makara Beach one Heavenely Easter Monday
Easter Monday we drove out to Makara; a place of wild, untamed beauty and rural bliss. With all the windows wound down fully we delighted in feeling the rush of air through the car as we drove the winding, narrow, road to Makara Beach. The girls faces were a picture of excitement at seeing sheep, […]
When Walking Becomes REAL Walking
Every parent vividly and proudly recalls the day their offspring took those first, tentative steps. A whole new world suddenly opens up to a child (and the parent!). But, when walking becomes REAL walking, of the one to two hour, no complaints, hiking variety, there is real cause for rejoicing. In the past week Charlotte […]