Arrival in New Zealand...

Finally arrived in Auckland a mere 6 and a half hours late courtesy of Aerolineas Argentinas... that's what you get for an 80 dollar flight! Nonetheless met by Rod at the airport (Rod is Don's brother wh I wored with for best part of two years on the good old EcoBoat project in magically beautiful Ha Long Bay.

Spent our first week staying with Rod and Rosalie on their farm near Warkworth north of Auckland, and what a beautiful place! Had a busy week of tramping preparations, day walks, helping out on the farm, visiting the airfield and visiting the aviation museum at MOTAT, where they've got a Lancaster and Solent flying boats - paradise!

I think one of the highlights has definately been ending the day on a cold night with a few beers in the spa pool outside at sundown and into the starlight nights. But then there was the day helping out clearing the main shed and moving Rod's model T Ford in preparation of a restoration... and general helping out on the farm. Celine used her skills to do some gardening work and made a really good job - one of those things where Celine ever came into the shed it was one of those rare moments of resting and I appeared to be less than busy.

Rod gave us a tour of the farm to show us some of the conservation work he's been doing over the years - mostly focused on reforesting the stream banks with natives and removing invasive species. Also had some excellent short walks (wearing in our new "matching" John Bull boots in preparation for great amounts of tramping when we're back from Rarotonga).

Every day ending with fabulous home cooked food from Rosalie and a roaring fire. Definitely liking NZ... and Vietnam is becoming a distant memory already!