Northward bound, Jan 2025

 

Onewhero Domain - the story of the Onewhero
Rugby Club

We had a week to get to our next sit in Onewhero, South of Auckland.  We couldn't wait to get back out in our van and planned to take the west coast road, out in the boonies.

We stayed a couple of nights at a fabulous campground at Tainui Wetere Domain.  It was quite busy and obviously popular, being in the main road.  But the fishing was good enough to peak our interest.

We were told about a short walk around the rocks at low tide to pick a bunch of mussels.  Nekminit ...

Kahawai and mussel Laksa

We spent a night at Kiritehere beach, enjoying some fishing (and catching).

We passed through Marokopa the following day.  It is currently world famous in NZ as the very isolated place from which a guy comes who has been missing in the bush with his three children for two years!

Beaches, beaches everywhere ....

River mouth at Marokopa

We went for a short walk to Waitanguru falls.

Then we spent a night at Te Waitere reserve.  360 degree views of the ocean.  Bliss!

The next night we spent at Onewhero domain.  We love it here.  They are very welcoming to the freedom camping community and the services have been added to since last we were here.  Clare was delighted to find her favourite tea bush in the garden.

Kawakawa

We arrived at our housesit (for friends) feeling refreshed and ready to take the reins of the farm.  Our litter mates couldn't have pleased us more!

Patches

Garfield was only a tiny kitten when we were
here a few months ago

Farm dogs - Hank, Moose, Toss and Creed

We loved taking the dogs out a couple of times a day on fun adventures.

Playing in the creek

Looking for mischief

We also did a bit of hunting which was all part of the plan.

First ever peacock

Even the feathers were harvested

Goat, turkey and peacock

Processing plant

There was also plenty of time for chilling.

Don't let this fool you!  Wee menace.

We next moved just up the road to a sit in Waiuku.  Weirdly, we had no domestic pets at this sit, but we were in the very good company of some fantastically friendly goats.

We also had 16 hefers and 10 calves, one of which we called the vet to as it was not well.  We are pleased to report it made a full recovery.

Clare's brother, Tim, came for a visit.

And Clare popped into the Auckland city to visit her neice and daughter. It was great to be able to indulge in a bit of family time.

New Plymouth, new ground - Dec 2024

 

Mt Taranaki (Egmont)

We decided to book a Christmas sit on the west coast of the North Island as this seemed to be the last place in New Zealand that we had not yet explored.  

On the way over from the Bay of Plenty we stopped and spent a night at the Omaru Falls.

We ended up at a lovely wee sit with two gorgeous kitties in rural Oakura, just south of New Plymouth.

Leo

Thomas (she,her)

It was Christmas so the Pohutukawa were out in bloom.

We had a fabulous view of the mountain from the back yard so we could keep an eye on the weather .... which was terrible!  Someone said that if there is cloud covering the mountain it was raining, if there was no cloud on the mountain, it was about to rain.  Never a truer word spoken in jest.  And the wind!  Don't mention the wind!

We managed to catch a kahawai on the breakwater one day and the cats enjoyed the off-cuts.

James got sick and the cats thought we was just laying around for their convenience.

And they entertained us plenty.

The five weeks went really quickly and it was soon time to leave.  As we were only going as far as our next sit in Inglewood, we stayed the night at the freedom camping spot on the edge of Pukekura Park only to discover that there was a fabulous Christmas light display in the park.

A quick stop at a sit in Inglewood had us looking after two cats, four horses, lots of chickens and a couple of cows.

Four month old Aspen

This old boy only came in at night for a snuggle.
He didn't much like having a little brother!

Ellie, the pony

Jake, such a gentle man

Kindred, a Kaimanawa horse, wild and 
absolutely beautiful

Back to the Bay we go, Oct/Nov 2024

 

Whanarua Bay

We were delighted to be heading back to one of our favourite places on earth, Whanarua Bay to once again housesit for Stanley and his bird friends.

Stanley lives up in the village so we wondered down to the bay itself everyday for a wander around and a paddle.

Indian Runner ducks

James caught some wonderfully tasty crayfish.

Clare made some equally tasty bread.

Turmeric, cranberry and pumpkin seed
Sourdough

We were lucky enough to be invited to a dear friends wedding down in the bay too, which was a very special treat!

We were short term custodians of a mumma Thrush whilst she sat on her eggs.

There is nothing quite like the sun going down on the bay.  We will never get sick of the view.

Next we were back in Matata for an overnight sit for our girls Freya and Kaia.  Poor Magoo had passed away tragically since we last sat for these special girls.

Clare chanelling Kaia

We went from here to another short sit in the next town of Edgecumbe.  Here we were in the company of Tess, Spud and Casper.

It was only a matter of minutes before Casper made himself at home on James's lap!

Then we had a good rumble around on the floor.

We enjoyed the company of these cuties even if it wasn't for very long.