Happy Easter!

HAPPY EASTER!!!!

Wishing everyone at home a happy Easter and a wonderful long weekend.  We are enjoying our four day weekend (followed by a three day work week before another long weekend).  As the locals would say it is "sweet as."

The first time I have ever made Bunny Buns all by myself.  They turned out!

 Since our last post we have explored more of our corner of New Zealand.  We are trying to see as much as we can for free within a 1 hour driving radius and I think we are kicking this plans rear end.  We have been south, west, east (as Chris points out only 8min bike ride from the ocean this way), downtown and soon we hope to head north of the city too.

SOUTH

Hanua Falls

After a 40min drive through winding roads and spectacular country side (read lots of sheep) we arrived at the Hanua Falls Reserve.  The road getting there was crazy, so windy and narrow with cliffs on the side.  The best part was the speed limit of 100 although no sane person would even make it up to 70 in the few straight parts.  I have decided the super high limit is so they never need to patrol for speeders.  The curves do that enough.

The Hanua Falls Reserve is a very large park region of pristine forests and wonderful hiking.  We started out on the Massey Trail Loop.  After two hours of pure hills and extreme forest we reached the damn.  We didn't think to cross the damn and therefore did not find the hour long downhill trail back to the car.  Instead we turned around and did the two hours of hills back.  I needed the exercise and it was fun to do, but next time, I will cross the damn.

Hanua Falls from the bridge walking there.

Feeling the water, why did it surprise me it was cold when I went swimming?

The view from the hike.

The view of the reservoir.

See the little Silvereye?

We were excited to go swimming in the pool below the waterfall to cool off after our hike.  We rushed excited to the water, got one foot in, jumped out and realized we had found a small part of Canada so far from home.  Freezing cold water.  Georgian Bay cold.  The spring fed water was also very dark and deep so instead of swimming and risk injuring our numb feet/legs on unseen but very present rocks we had a quick dip in and out.  We were super lucky and had the place to ourselves too, sweet as.

Chris taking a swim below the falls.

WEST

Piha

We were picking up some furniture to the west of the city so we decided to make a day of it and head to the west coast.  We visited the little village of Piha which sits in a small bay with large hills/mountains surrounding it and two beaches within it divided by a giant lock.  The surf coming in here was crazy.  The surfers were having a ball.  Later we found out the film a reality show here called Piha Rescue which covers the rescues the guards have to do here.  Sort of want to watch it now.

View while standing on Lion Rock.

View the other direction.

Near the top of the rock.

Can you see me in red?

Now can you find Chris?

We spent a lovely afternoon walking the beach but we have to go back sometime soon to hike some of the trails in the park land around the village.  Absolutely breathtaking views from here.

A view down at Piha and Lion Head Rock from the road.

Lion Head Rock

DOWNTOWN

Auckland City

Although we have driven downtown we hadn't explored it yet so this we did last weekend.  We found parking at a reasonable price right next to the harbour and explored.  We checked out the America's Cup racing boats as they headed out for a cruise.  For $160 a person we will start saving for that sailing trip, yikes!

Prince William and Kate had a race on these two boats the day before we saw them!

KZ1

I have seen some crazy expensive boats in my life but holy shiitake mushrooms Batman there are some crazy boats docked here!!!!!  They are in the same class as P2 and even a few in higher classes.  P2 was the luxury racing yacht which came through Halifax when Dad and I we visiting.  Never seen anything like it until now, when I found all her sisters, and I think her mother too.  I have included pictures of them for the crazy factor.  If anyone is willing to pitch in we might be able to afford a two hour sail on one, or not.

The big mother!

Crazy boarding technique.

Never seen anything like her, where is my dad when you see something like this.  He would be just as excited as I was!

Imagine Boat.  I think she is the same size as P2.

Chris found a place we can buy a larger lens for the camera and we decided to walk there.  Turns out they don't stock them so we have to order online anyway.  However the walk cost us $120 with the purchases we found along the way.  So $120 gone and no lens yet, oops! Chris found a place they brew their own beer and I found a 60% off sale on a picnic kit for four people (wicked I know).  Now we need to have visitors to use the full capacity.  The backpack cooler worked well for the beer so a win all around.

Beautiful clock tower.

This tiny thing has NOTHING on the CN tower.

We ended that day at our new favourite fish and chips place ($10 each including tax and tip, score!) in Mission Bay.  Chris enjoyed a GIANT plate of salt and pepper squid so more wins all around.

MOUNT EDEN

 On Good Friday Chris and I went to visit Mount Eden, another beautiful volcano lookout point with wonderful views of the city. We drove up the volcano only to reach a traffic jam at the top.  Thankfully Chris was driving because he had to parallel park next to a giant crater.

There is little Tiia Maria (our car) on the other side. I did not realize Chris was taking my picture too, or I would have looked better.

The view of the city and Rangitoto was worth the chaos at the top.

The crater and Auckland behind me.

The CBD and Rangitoto in the distance.

OTHER

In other fun news, look what we found for a great deal on Trade Me:

Our touring bikes and Ortlieb paniers!

We bought these beauties off a honeymooning American couple Sarah and Joel who are heading back to the States with wonderful memories of their four month tour of NZ.  Lucky us, we get the bikes to make our own wonderful memories!  Chris is now putting time in to tune them up and get them ready for our first big trip.  Now we just need money and good weather, soon! So excited!

If you feel like checking our Sarah and Joel's website here is the link:

http://www.oscarsonadventures.blogspot.co.nz/

Come visit us when you get the chance, we can't wait to show off our house and the wonderful city we are currently calling home.

Happy Easter everyone!!!

Love,
Chelsea
xoxoxo

p.s. We miss our hotel buddy Jasper. He was climbing in the windows causing such a fuss.