Our New Zealand Trip (Part One)

David and Kedesh van Heeswyck

We are not long back from our trip to New Zealand to attend this lovely couple's wedding. After watching 3 of his sisters marry, my brother David has now had the joy of doing the same to his lovely bride, Kedesh. It was a lovely ceremony and reception (very exciting to be there); the bride was beautiful and natural, and David looked very smart in his ivory suit. Congratulations again, you two!!!

My parents, newly marrieds, her parents

We took over 500 photos on our trip, but I was annoyed at myself to find we had forgotten to get good shots of the girls with their grandparents and various aunts and uncles. Noted for whenever we next get the opportunity! It was so nice to be 'home' with my family again.

Craters of the Moon, Taupo

We spent 5 nights in Auckland, and then headed south for Wellington to see my good friend, Kim. We broke the long journey with a couple of nights in Taupo.

Taupo Top 10 Holiday Park where we stayed

It rained the day we had in Taupo, but armed with an umbrella and jumpers, we went out to explore anyway. We went to see the Craters of the Moon - a geothermal walk. Then we went to see Huka Falls - where the Waikato River "which is normally 100m wide, is squeezed through a 20 metres wide gorge and over a 20m drop". It was amazing to see the power of that water.

Craters of the Moon and Huka Falls, Taupo

After two nights there, we left rainy Taupo and continued South for Wellington. We drove along the shoreline of Lake Taupo; through low cloud and windy (whine-dy) roads; and learnt why the Desert Road is called such before stopping for lunch in Palmerston North. We became a two car convoy as Kim joined us on our southward journey from there.

Leaving Taupo

(To be continued....)