1. marahauwatertaxis.co.nz, which
allowed us to do a four-hour walk
and see the rest of the coastal
park – penguins and all – on a
boat, which was perfect.
After a few days down south,
we headed to Picton where we
boarded a conventional ferry that
would take us to the North Island
(www.bluebridge.co.nz) in only
three hours.
Multiple ferries leave at all hours
during the day, there are comfy
sofas, a cinema and no delays,
despite the minor storm we hit.
It powered through and we even
arrived a tad early. No fiddle
faddle, no fuss. Just good, old-
fashioned efficiency.
W
ellington saw us drinking
richly-brewed coffee and
making a quick pit-stop at
the Te Papa Museum which, if
you’re going to do one museum
in NZ, is the one to go for. It’s
the national museum and is
highly interactive and engaging.
We stayed just off buzzy Cuba
Street in a quaint weatherboard
cottage. Wellington is famous for
its coffee, so caffeine enthusiasts
get some serious satisfaction
here. We drank heady cocktails
at The Library (thelibrary.co.nz)
where old books lined the walls
and velvet booths made for an
intimate evening of family natter.
Sea salt and caramel fudge
Martini, anyone?
We spent a night among the art
deco streets of Napier, where we
visited the oldest winery in NZ –
the Mission Estate. At only $7 for
seven tastings (about £3.20) – we
certainly weren’t complaining.
Next stop was Lake Taupo, where
we completed the mammoth
22km Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Excruciating and beautiful, it’s
an experience I’ll remember for
the rest of my life. At one point
it felt like you could be walking
through the deep, red craters
of Mars. The air is thin and the
scenes go on for miles and miles.
It was totally epic. We soaked in
natural hot springs, cycled the
lake shores, gazed at towering
waterfalls and spent our evenings
gazing out at the blue waters
from another beautiful Airbnb
property.
The next day we mastered the
art of caving in the infamous
Waitomo Caves. Luckily, we
didn’t encounter the giant eel
that resides under the waterways.
Eddie can get a little inquisitive
at times, I hear… Thankfully he
was feeling shy that day.
W
e wanted to show my
parents Hamilton, which
has been our home for
the past six months. It was great
to be able to take them out in
our temporary home-town and
dine in our favourite Mexican
restaurant, aptly named ‘Mexico’.
Margaritas to die for and hot
sauces galore. My vibe. The
Coromandel Peninsula was up
next, where we walked to the
beautiful Cathedral Cove and
watched surfers on Hahei beach.
This place, although remote, is
something special.
Our last stop was the Bay of
Islands. We stayed in Paihia,
which is the perfect launch pad
for island trips, helicopter rides,
paddle boarding – whatever floats
your boat, or, in our case, your
stomachs. Three weeks in, we
were sporting considerable wine
and steak babies.
We visited Urupukapuka Island a
few times, where you can explore
to your heart’s content and
lounge in one of several sandy
bays. Very similar to Herm, in
fact. Less-chilly swims involved,
however.
It was almost time for my parents
to leave. We had an hour left in
Auckland and in the indulgent
spirit of the holiday, we treated
ourselves to an ice cream (giapo.
com) and reminisced on all the
good times had by all. End as you
have been doing all along, I say.
Love, the kiwi bird.
‘I believe when
life gives you
lemons, you
should make
lemonade...
then try to
find someone
whose life has
given them
vodka, and
have a party.’
Ron White
GUERNSEY PRESS
THE WEEK 3GUERNSEY PRESS
2 THE WEEK
kiwi bird
We walked the deep
red craters of ‘Mars’...
but missed giant eel
EddieSix months in New Zealand
and our Kiwi Bird is well
and truly settled into life
in the Land of the Long
White Cloud. And when
her parents drop over
from Guernsey, Jessamy
Baudains has a three-
week tour lined up. On
the agenda: deep emerald
lagoons, long sandy
beaches, mussel-picking, a
‘Mars’ trek, cocktails... and
the occasional penguin
S
OMEONE told me the
other day that I ‘have a
real zest for life’.
Zest? All that
immediately sprang to
mind was oranges and
lemons, but in all seriousness and
upon a tad more deliberation,
this really touched me. Because
shouldn’t an appreciation of life
– and all that goes with it – be the
ultimate goal for us all? ‘Yeah,
yeah. Easier said than done.’ I
hear you. But bear with me.
The way of life in New Zealand
has truly got under my skin. I’ve
slowed down. I now take the time
to scrunch my toes into the sand
and gaze up at the stars with a
glass of wine, without constantly
checking an electronic device
or watching the clock. I love the
culture and scenery out here,
from the vast green landscapes
and the overzealous crickets to
the uncensored morning radio
and cheery Kiwi accent.
I think over the last few years
so many of us have stopped
properly processing the world
around us because we are often
experiencing it through a lens
of sorts – be that a smartphone,
television or computer screen. I
was on a dolphin watching tour
recently up in the Bay of Islands,
and while I took a few photos at
the beginning, for the remaining
half-hour I simply observed
the beautiful creatures in their
natural habitat through my own
eyes, rather than through that of
a camera.
This is incredibly important.
I’m a keen photographer, but
what I can’t
stand is seeing people stuck
behind a device – never genuinely
experiencing the moment. Do you
really need to video that firework
display? No, my friend, you do
not. It will look 10 times better in
the sky than on your screen a few
days later.
Stop and look at the beauty
around you. After reading this, go
outside and just walk or sit for 10
minutes without looking at any
technology. Soak up the now. If
we all had a zest for life, the world
could be a much better place I
believe. Too much downward
gazing leads to ignorance (and a
hunched back, for that matter).
Not ideal.
I
think it was my parents who
instilled this ethos into me. Min
and DD, as they have come to
be known over the years by family
and friends, are perfect examples
of this attitude. Like anyone,
they’ll be the first to admit that
they have their foibles, but it’s
their positivity that has made
them such good role models.
They love to travel and always
go the extra mile to make people
feel special. They are 99% of the
time the last ones up at a party,
dancing the night away and
drinking raspberry cosmopolitans
into the night. They support and
encourage, whether that’s in
pursuing our careers or helping
anyone who’s had a rough day.
My dad is still running half
marathons and my mum can still
do a headstand. Now that’s mettle
for you.
They recently came to visit Dave
and me and boy did we make
some memories along the way.
For three weeks we explored the
beaches, vineyards, cities and
lakes of New Zealand.
Our first stop was Nelson in South
Island. I flew down a few hours
before and waited outside on the
high viewing gallery to see their
plane whiz by on the runway. It
was identical to the old Guernsey
airport arrivals lookout on a
summer’s day – blustery and hot,
with a perfect view. After long
hugs, we piled our bags into a tiny
rental car and set off to our first
Airbnb house (we used Airbnb
most of the way). With a private
pool and a stunning view out to
the nearby bay, we thought we
had died and gone to holiday-
home heaven.
We picked our own mussels along
the shorelines of Stephen’s Bay
and gathered pears from our
garden for an early evening feast.
The next day saw us hiking part
of the Abel Tasman National Park
coastal track, where we passed
over swing bridges, paddled in
deep emerald lagoons and ambled
along vast, white sandy beaches.
For anyone visiting South Island,
this is a must.
We did the ‘Ultimate Abel
Tasman Experience’ through
The Emerald Lakes on the Tongariro crossing.
Caramel, tarte tatin and peanut
butter-flavour ice creams from
‘Giapo’ in Auckland.
Jessamy as she begins the seven-hour Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Shells collected from Stephen’s Bay
in South Island, near Abel Tasman
National Park.Idyllic Urupukapuka Bay.
Dolphins in the Bay of Islands.
Jessamy with her parents, Min and DD, and fiance Dave.
Dave and Jessamy in the central crater of
Tongariro crossing.
Urupukapuka Bay.
Near Paihia, in the Bay of Islands.
Saturday 5 March 2016 Saturday 5 March 2016