Whakatane - July/Aug 2023

 

Ohiwa Harbour entrance, in all her beauty

Arriving back in Whakatane, our home away from home, we just had time to catch up with friends, romp with their dogs on the beach and recycle our gear in the van to fit with the next few weeks of housesitting as we got ready to leave New Zealand for six months.

Our first housesit was at Ohope Beach where we would care for a gorgeous gaggle of two dogs and two cats.

Knox watching dogs Bumble and Cooper with
Sunday in the background, ignoring all

We loved the dynamics of them all, being totally relaxed around each other.  This is not always the case when cats and dogs mix in the same household.

Both cats would come for our morning walks around the harbour with the dogs, sometime requiring us to double back the way we came so that we didn't end up roadside with a cat in tow.

We romped around the beach and Ohiwa Harbour every afternoon enjoying the sunshine and the dogs pure joy at being out and about.

We were all equally happy to hang around the lovely house.

The two gingers

We had a week between sits so decided to lax out at the bach in Whanarua Bay.

One of our favourite views from the front door

We didn't get out in the kayak but caught more than enough fish off the beach.

 

It was great to be able to take an old mate fishing too

Next stop was our last New Zealand house sit for a while on the outskirts of Whakatane.  From here we could see the Ohiwa Harbour where we were walking the dogs from our last housesit!

We were charged with looking after Coco and Gypsy on a large block of sheep and five cows.

James and Coco connecting

Gypsy engaging in her own way

Each day consisted of a lot of relaxing around a walk to the gate and back, which was quite a way and took longer than it should with slow-coach Coco in tow.  Not to worry, we have plenty of time.

The cows were always curious to know what we
were all up to

You ain't seen me, right

Our walks to the gate were important for keeping an eye on the stock also.  One day we discovered a lamb had been born and its mother didn't want to know it.  We carried it home and nekminit we have found someone, through the home owners, to come and take it for hand rearing where it would become a pet lamb at one of the local schools.

Bruce's new mummy

We were visited by the neighbour's dogs on more than one occasion.

Play dates!

Clare continued to make yummy bread.

Focaccia for a friends birthday

And James went out on a few metal dectecting jaunts.

Then there was always plenty of time in the evenings for a snuggle with the doggos

The sun continued to shine and the sunsets were amazing.

Next stop ............ The UK!