CHECK THIS OUT....GOOD ON YOU GUYS !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKO9JLicpKs

Winners of the Heaviest Marlin in the Whakatane Fishing Tournament 2012

139.2 Kg

caught on 24kg fishing gear

Well done David! Great work the two of you to bring this winner home.

A once in a life time accomplishment David, or maybe this is just the start.

A big good on ya, Percy, I know how thrilled you are, a wonderful experience.

Vacation Over...2012 here we come!

Looking through photo albums can be a little ho hum I admit.

I recommend a quite flick through, if anything catches your eye, check it out. tee hee

I've added links to many photos so you can check out some of the places we stopped and played.Remember to click on the photo to enlarge.

New Zealand is such a beautiful place,

Unspoilt, a diamond in the rough, and yes.....very, very quirky.

We played the tourist, visited many places, had lots of experiences, and at no stage did we find crowds or waiting lines.

What a gem ! Lets keep it our secret. shh...

Percy vs The Jet Ski......

Liam steadying Percy as he attempts to start the Jet Ski.... All looking pretty good so far.

Drifting, drifting...still trying to start the jet ski.... further & further he drifts.

Um....are you ok mate?


Well that's embarrassing.....

So pleased it was not me.....kids don't need much encouragement to have a friendly joke at mothers expense.

The Jet Ski Roars into Life.....

Jamie and Liam were interested in getting the jet ski going after repairs.

We all tagged along to help

Finally it spluttered into life and Jamie took it out past the boat ramp area.

Who's next?

Back at the Lake...

A B

C

A Just caught Percy as he and Duncan biked to the shop - around 4 k from bach

B Ryan and Jamie wanted to water ski. Percy offered to drive the boat

C This shot shows how high the lake is, our little beach has totally vanished this year

Back at Lake Rotoma

Back from tripping around the North Island. We gathered at Kevin and Fliss's bach for a meal with all the cousins as well as seeing Lisa and Robert Mexted [percy's cousin]

l - r Lisa & Sandy; cousins learning a new card game; foods on!

Whakatane Heads

Last year we had to battle flood waters to even get near the head of the Whakatane River. We waded through water, even saw a floating porta-pottie....nice. What a difference 12 months makes. Although this day was overcast, the views are always memorable.

http://www.whakatane.com/attractions-activities

Kiwi Fruit Anyone?

The Giant Kiwi Fruit at Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, NZ

The kiwi fruit industry has been suffering from a serious fungus found to be killing the kiwi fruit vines. A new more resistant type has been developed, Kiwi 360, a yellow coloured fruit, which is proving to be successful.

http://www.kiwi360.com/

Ross & Lindy's 30th Wedding Anniversary Party

As they say timing is everything, we were so lucky our annual trip to NZ coincided with Ross and Lindy's 30th Wedding Anniversary celebrations at Te Puke.

Held at the Underwood's beautiful home at No/- 1 Road, Te Puke.

The weather was just perfect, sunny and quite warm. The view over the valley spectacular.

The property showed a very active family of 5, tennis courts,

boat, spit roast, huge split level deck, & hot tub. Although I only knew a few people, Percy was able to catch up with long lost friends.

Wonderful to see Frosty & Jen James again after more than 10 years.

Percy and Ross have been friends since primary school at Nukuhou North Primary, all through Auckland Uni. These two, no matter how long it's been fall right back into their last conversation as though no time has past at all.

That's friendship!

More of Tirau....

Poppy's Cafe, too cute. Not sure about the fallen tree.. Who doesn't love a huge Pukeko or 2.

The Things you see...on our way to Rotorua

We noticed while driving through Hamilton en-route to Tirau a roadside sign 'Famous Corrigated Sign Company" hmm interesting I thought. Then what do we spy.....

http://www.tirauinfo.co.nz/

This is much more than mere signage... so many photo ops I had to get Percy to turn around so I could snap a few more, what a fun little place.

[click photo to enlarge]

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves.....

Percy, Duncan & Julia stepped up

to help Wendy & Norman bring in this paddock of hay before nightfall.

I was so proud of Duncan, he and Percy hung in there, loading the two trailers of hay, then unloading them both back at the barn.

Who needs a gym....right Duncan !

[click photo to enlarge]

Kelly Tarltons Undersea World

Goofy Penguins !

Kelly Tarltons has been one to Auckland's top tourist destinations for years. Named after the founder, and naturalist, Kelly Tarlton. You step on a moving pavement in a glass tunnel surrounded by mostly sharks and other large sea creatures. Step off to a great penguin exhibit, along with a interesting hand feeding stingray show. As well as all the usual local sea life exhibits. All this has come about by converting Auckland's old sewer system into a world class aquarium. hmm that's the ultimate recycling.

http://kellytarltons.co.nz/

Auckland....... heading south again

Flying shots as we cross

Auckland Harbour Bridge

Heading south to stay with Norman and Wendy

[Percy's older brother]

Every city has a sky tower of some sort. Auckland's looks very 'thick', that was the general consensus.

[click photo to enlarge]

Kari Forest - Heading back through Auckland

How awesome are these trees
Hundreds of feet tall and many centuries old

You could see why Captain Cook preferred to use Kari tree for his masts. They are so straight and we are told 'like iron'.

Pockets of Kari forests are found in the north of the North Island of NZ, all are protected.

Paihia and the Waitangi Treaty House

http://www.waitangi.net.nz/

As we enter the Waitangi Treaty House.

Terribly English, beautiful gardens, quails in the garden beds, rabbits at the lawn edge.

Maori Meeting House

Carved totems from all the Maori nations that took part in the signing of the Waitangi Treaty line the walls of this wonderful meeting house.

Tui

Heard but rarely seen. This cheeky fellow was sitting right by an elevated walkway, quietly watching us as we were leaving. You can just see a white patch of feathers on his chest, it looks like a curly bib. A very melodic songbird.

[click photo to enlarge]

Bay of Island, New Zealand

We stop at an island on the way back from Hole in the Rock. Enjoyed a snack and looked around the area, relaxing and enjoying this peaceful haven.

Hole in the Rock Trip......from Paihia

We past a school of bottle nose dolphins, very special, then headed out to an island miles out at see.

We get closer and closer, yes he is driving the boat through the hole, the boat feels very big in such a very small hole.

We made it! Still looks a very small hole in a very large rock. Great trip.

[click photo to enlarge]

Day Trip to Paihia

While we were at Paihia we took the ferry across the bay to Russell. A darling little village nestled in a sheltered bay.

Russell is in the Bay of Islands area, famous for it's unspoilt natural wonders.

Lunch Gourmet Burgers for the guys, and Thai Prawn Salad for us gals, yum!

A little bit of souvenir shopping. We picked up a nice little painting of the area by a local artist and some Jade for Julia.

Bubble rides look interesting. You are tethered to the beach by long straps, good idea.

Huge fig tree planted by settlers in the late 1800's right on the foreshore.

http://www.russellnz.co.nz/russell-history/