Conor & Ildica's Place

February 8, 2010

Ildica at Castle Hill

Posted by conor at 8:32 AM

Bealey River

Fantastic short tramp up the Bealey River, Arthurs Pass National Park, with Shane, Bernadette, Lauren & Ella. Crystal clear water (albeit cold), warm rocks for rock-hopping, hot sun, good company, what more could you want?

Posted by conor at 8:24 AM

February 1, 2010

Brighton Kites

The New Brighton Kite Day couldn't have been luckier with the weather; mostly cloudless, steady sea-breeze (not too cold), and an amazing array of kites on show too.

Posted by conor at 9:50 AM

Day race towards Spencer Park

Summer finally came through on a weekend, with plans for a race from Lyttelton up to a mark off Spencer Park and back. Onboard were the Trevs, Russell, Dennis, Lindsay & myself. Although the wind died away after we got out of the harbour (and thus an agreed abandonment of the intention to sail to Spencer Park), we had some fantastic sailing in and out of the harbour, under a big sky, and with a few Hectors dolphins for company from time to time.

Posted by conor at 9:42 AM

January 29, 2010

Woolshed Creek Tramp

The kids first "proper" overnight tramp to Woolshed Creek Hut on the Mt. Somers Sub-alpine walkway in south Canterbury. We brought along a couple of extra Sherpas who seemed to enjoy the experience too. Had a little bit of everything, sun, wind, cloud, including a reminder of a) how wet the inside of a cloud is, and b) how quickly the weather can change in the mountains. 5 kms each way, plus 400m of ascent, and the kids did brilliantly, especially Ruairi whose legs are somewhat shorter than everybody else's.

Posted by conor at 9:41 AM

January 22, 2010

Kawarau Bungy

We stopped for lunch at Kawarau Bungy on the way between Te Anau & Tekapo, and watched a few “bungers” (?). The kids were very interested and soon considered themselves expert at identifying potential “dunkers”. Evie seems slightly open to the idea of doing one, so we said we’d give her a bungy jump for her 10th birthday!

Posted by conor at 9:23 AM

January 21, 2010

Summer Holiday Part III

A quick overnight at Tekapo en-route from Te Anau to Mesopotamia.

Posted by conor at 12:38 PM

January 14, 2010

Summer Holiday Part II

Better luck second time round; the weather in Te Anau itself was much more friendly, although one didn't have to step much closer to Fiordland to see a lot of heavy rain clouds. Lots more stuff to see and do, including a Karearea (NZ Falcon, which I’ve only ever seen one other of, and this one was much bigger and more impressive) in the beech forest at the end of the Kepler Track, fantail parents feeding a just-fledged fantail chick on a branch, and the Te Ana-au Glow-worm Caves.

Posted by conor at 10:35 AM

January 13, 2010

Craig Mc's 40th @ Mesopotamia Station

Had a very enjoyable weekend on Mesopotamia Station at the head of the Rangitata River helping Craig McLean celebrate his 40th birthday in some style.

Posted by conor at 8:26 AM

January 12, 2010

Summer Holiday Part I

This year, we planned a tiki-tour down to the Catlins at the south end of the South Island via Dunedin to see our friends Ken & Elly. However, the weather in the Catlins was so miserable (and forecast to remain so) and the campsite so exposed, that we bailed early, and headed to Te Anau instead. Not that the kids seemed to mind. They had a ball camping, regardless of the weather!

Here’s Kakanui, Dunedin & the Taieri Gorge Railway, and the Catlins.