The final farewell

Thanks New Zealand!!! We will never forget you! --DJ and Kathy

Olive and Graham's

No, HelpX is not all good experiences... This is a prime example. Kathy is seen here shredding old coffee news papers to use as insulation to stuff in this wall. Simple enough, but very boring, and putting the shredded paper into bags and stuffing them into the wall was very cumbersome... The worst part is that there was a leaky wood burning furnace in this room that basically coughed soot all night. Our bedroom was right next door, and guess what we coughed up all night.... yes, soot. We left the next day.


Trying to get bags of shredded paper to stay in the wall is not so easy...

What a jumble of crap! Kathy and I actually managed to insulate and sheet rock this whole wall by the end of our one day there. One step in the right direction, but it's all that we could take here...

The Pullyn's part 2

We missed Diane and Brent so much after our first stay that we asked them if we could come back and they said "YES"! DJ helped Brent out with building some chicken coops. Kathy and Diane made tinctures on this day.





DONE!

Karangahake Gorge

These gorges were mined for gold back in the discovery days of NZs past.


The gates kept unwanted claim jumpers from getting the stash.


These mines go in and out of the cliff, and give some pretty great views of the gorge!


Wow, it's like the ride in Disney, only this is for real! Where is Indiana Jones??


Um, they both look black in the distance... flip a coin?


after walking 10 min. the blackness continues, guess we'll turn back.


Looking up at the mines weaving in and out of the cliffs.



Mine corridor along the bottom of the gorge.

Paeroa

This soda self promotes as being "World famous in New Zeland" it's been bought out by Coke of course... but it originated in the small town of Paeroa, NZ. The first recipe was just carbonated well water from Paeroa, with a dash of lemon juice.

Cathedral Cove

This place is famous for its huge natural bridge and cool ocean smoothed rock formations.

"The Cathedral" was actually roped off this day with warnings that huge 1000lb rocks had been falling from the ceiling recently! So of course we ducked the rope and ran through it just to tempt fate :)


One quick shot from inside the danger zone!


The oceans art work.


Kathy under a giant stone "nose".


All smiles on this beach!

Hot Water Beach

Where else in the world can you bring a shovel to the beach and dig your own hot tub!?!? Amazing! The unfortunate part is that the tide comes in and inevitably wrecks your tub 3 hours after you dig it (you can only dig in the right place at low tide)... awwww...


Steaming hot water is bubbling up out of the sand in the close foreground of the picture. It mixes with other cold water seeping up through the water table, and voila! You get a perfectly warmish-hot sandy tub!

The 'ol gold mine shaft

We went exploring on the Coromandel peninsula, and found some amazing old gold mine shafts. This trail is hyped up in the guide books for going through a 1/2 km abandoned shaft. Notice DJ's suprise and excitement at finding an old gold hole :)


Here it is! The Collins drive! 500m of pure darkness... and ghosts??


Kathy's not so sure about this anymore...


Ok, how much more creepy could this get?



Well, these rotten old buttresses ought to keep 'er from collapsing! Only in NZ would they let anyone who pleases enter this place!


Is it over yet??


Made it!

Fishing NZ style

Headed out on the high seas!


Josh is ready.


Rods are in the water, just need the fish to bite now.


Josh, reeling in the big one!


There it is! Nice "Cow-Eye" (NZ translation: Kahawai)



Wow Josh, you filled the whole cooler!


Sacha and Cassey (dog) were impressed.



Does anyone know how to clean and filet them...? No, OK, well, we'll give it a shot anyway.


Getting there, notice the table we are using, Brent's new treasure from Rotoiti!


What do you think? Smoked "Cow-Eye" doesn't sound appetizing does it?