A Goanna, A Birthday and Work!   Myall Lakes Sightings Another trip to Myall Lakes presented us with some incredible sightings, but not many pictures. The goanna, otherwise known as the monitor lizard was a fantastic find. Like the crocodile, they have been in existence for millenia, and are to be found in a multitude […]

A STORM!   Awakened to the sound of howling winds and winches grinding, it was with a rush – or as much as one could in the conditions – that I hastened upstairs. The storm, I discovered, had struck with ferocious vengeance.   Cliff was at the helm, Bob on the starboard gennie sheet winch […]

Day five of what was proving to be the ‘slow boat to China´, the waters were slightly improved, but not much.   For the first time since the last sail car had broken, the boys were able to substitute the main’s top car with one from below. Repairs completed, the sail was raised and set […]

On arising from below, Bob and I were greeted by the sight of rolling hills, the leftover result from those overnight squalls. Grey skies were brightened by the rarity of the brightest of rainbows as the sun fought to break her way through the clouds’ dreary domination. On undertaking the daily sail check, one of […]

An uneventful night led us into morning and by daylight – about 7am – we were almost opposite North Cape.   To our relief, the early hours had brought with them a return of the wind at a workable 11 knots and our beauty was holding steady, so once more it was possible to conserve […]

Bob and I had been in New Zealand since early February and thanks to long delays in completion of the paperwork for registration and renaming of Saliander to Australis 1 – the result of  having to physically post documentation – in Australia, plus the outbreak of Covid19 and its level four lockdown in New Zealand, […]

Orokawa Bay, Bay of Islands: New Zealand   Out in the bay trawling the line for a meal of fish to feed the hungry hoards, out of the blue a massive disturbance in the water ahead caught my eye. Two black fins, three, then four gracefully pierced the surface as their bodies rounded, then disappeared […]

Having returned to Paihia, a dinghy ride into the township to stock up on fresh food led us to the local Countdown: how shopping had changed in a few short days! A Covid reducing Level 4 lockdown in New Zealand meant  a guard stood at the shop entrance. A minimum of ten people were lined […]

The Corona Virus was taking hold in Auckland and the regions south of the city. Now at level four restrictions, a quick motor into Paihia for a restock. The last of our condiments purchased, it was time to find a more comfortable anchorage – the ferries and boat traffic make the Paihia mooring a little […]

Awaking to grey skies and misty drizzle, with the Corona Virus taking its deadly hold on the world and practically all services closing down as New Zealand’s Level 4 shut down took place, the decision was made to up anchor and head into the shops to restock. By doing this, we could continue our exploration […]

Despite having travelled Norway, remote volcanic islands and more, this New Zealand landscape is the likes of which there is no real comparison for.   Rugged, jagged outcrops atop the peaks towering high above created a time for amusement as we, like children, identified shapes within.   Rocky outcrops burst forth from the uneven seabed […]

Moody, rugged, and awe inspiring from the water, the landscape altered at every turn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpyRIUTI39Y     Dolphins played. Whilst we moved, taking that perfect shot as they burst forth from the water was practically impossible. On arriving at our destination of  Urquharts Bay, the picturesque landscape so suited to the saga of the hobbit […]

A second visit to Mansion House in Kawau Bay was undertaken this morning. Anne was dying to experience dining on coffee and cake whilst sitting in a cafe once more. What a disappointment she received upon discovering the café closed on arrival. Peering long and hard through the window, we eventually sighted a sign notifying […]

The most peaceful of nights behind us, a relaxed morning was spent in the cockpit enjoying ‘just being’. Lunch dined upon whilst a hungry duck or two hoped for a morsel, the dinghy was lowered and the four of us having boarded, off we motored around this idyllic waterway. First, though, was the maust take […]

After spending a month and a half working on and preparing Saliander in Half moon Bay, the long-awaited day had at last arrived when an 1120 departure found our new beauty exiting the Half Moon Bay Marina. Sunny skies brought with them a light variable breeze and calm flat seas as we navigated the channel […]

I have never owned a mortar and pestle, determining the expense just not worth while. On my exploration and rearranging of items within the cupboards, I came across one hidden in the space below the oven. Vibrantly bright in colour and large with two handles jutting out from the side, I chose to leave it […]

The lovely ex owners left an array of items that somewhat eased the pressure of commencing life on our third home and this was much appreciated. Items such as sheets, towels, cooking implements and work tools meant there was no requirement to rush out and make purchases other than for food during the first few […]

A trip becoming acquainted with the outer region of Ōtorohanga was the day’s agenda. First destination was the delightful Aranui Cave region, named for the Maori, Ruruku Aranui, who discovered this beauty. If fortunate, you might even sight the grasshopper like Wetta, or if dark enough the glow worms that live throughout. We didn’t undertake […]

This morning Bob and I took our first break since arriving in New Zealand. Packing clothes for a couple of days, we piled into the car and undertook the three – hour drive southward to the country town of Ōtorohanga. It was here that we caught up with some friends we met on our travels […]

We’ve gone and done it. Purchased a new yacht! A Tayana 55 with a 20m mast and good water line: she averages 8 – 9 knots. Now we have the best of all worlds: a caravan for Oz, a boat for Europe and the Med and now a boat for Asia and the Pacific! The […]