Our little adventure.

Wow! After 8 months of cold, wet weather, we finally experienced what summer can be like here in NZ. K had a 5 day weekend, so we decided to take one last driving trip of North Island before he graduates. (of course we still have 3 weeks after to do more traveling elsewhere) It must be the most unplanned trip ever! We hadn't booked anything, or decided where to stay for each of the nights. We just knew we were heading north toward the East Cape, north of Hawke's Bay, to see the coast, and get some beach at View Larger Map">Gisborne. The final decision was made after this internet-savvy mummy had checked the weather all over NZ, and found that the sun was only going to shine in and around Gisborne for the whole weekend.

So we packed the bags, the kids, some food into the car, and off we went. We had driven up SH2 many times, and have stayed in Napier 3 times in the last 8 months (yes, we love Napier). This time, K had heard from his friend about Havelock North, which is just 1 hour south of Napier (3.5h from Upper Hutt). As we drove into the town, we both agreed that we'd stay the night here. It was the prettiest town we'd seen in NZ so far, with a nice village centre and cool cafes, and even a big playground! We were also won over by the big spa bath in the motel we checked-in to. Too bad we arrived late, and didn't get any pics of the place. 

The next day, we contemplated staying another night to soak in the atmosphere of this chic town. We'd noticed how much better dressed the people were. Even the mummies chasing after their kids looked better dressed than most of the kiwis we've seen in the Wellington area. (we later found out that it was a tiny version of Auckland with the more well-off professionals living there) It was the best place for K and I to do the thing we love... people-watch! But we decided we wanted to push on and explore more. 

After some people watching, coffee drinking (not me of course), shopping and a stop at the playground, we headed north to Gisborne.  After an unexpectedly long and boring 3 half hour drive, we found a beach-front motel in Gisborne, facing the pacific ocean. This was a 'real' beach to me, as previous ones we'd seen here either pebble beaches, or with rocks and waves which made it too dangerous to swim at. The sand here was fine and clean. Though the water was much to cold for me to venture further than knee-deep, K managed 2 swims and did some body-surfing. The kids just loved the sand, and could sit there for much too long, digging with just shells they found on the beach. 

On our morning walk

After seeing how much the kids loved the beach, we decided to stay another night in Gisborne, and forgo driving up the coast of the East Cape, which would have been a 6 hour drive to get to the next decent sized town to sleep at. We were blessed with really good weather throughout the weekend, at times getting abit too hot, especially being in a car whose a/c is broke! It must have been at least 30 degrees in the car! We just wondered how we'd get used to the heat and humidity back home... After leaving Gisborne, we drove back south to Napier. K decided to drive via the coast into Napier, and we found Port Ahuriri! It had pretty quaint shops, seafood joints, and to top it off, a beautiful hotel with a view! It didn't look like much on the outside, but K decided it was time to pamper us and himself with a luxurious hotel room! (as compared to staying in motels and motor lodges!)

Monday, we drove back home to Upper Hutt. It was a great relaxing holiday for me, thanks to daddy who helped with the kids, giving me time to read my book, or just to chill/stone at the playground while he watched them. The girls were also very well behaved, except for some tiffs at the playground. It was a rather liberating way to have a holiday, not needing to worry about where we'll be going, which place we'll be staying at, or whether we would even have a place to stay. We had agreed that if we didn't find a place, we'd just drive on till we found one. Interestingly, it was one of those holidays where K and I talked a lot on our drives, sought each other's opinion and concerns, and didn't have a disagreement throughout! Wonder if that's the way holidays should be done, as little adventures! 

We know that the Lord has brought us here to build stronger bonds together as a couple, and as a family. I thank God for that, as I can see how things have changed for the better. Personally, I think I have come to accept the role of a SAHM much better than before, also coming to accept that I don't need to be earning my own money to play a big role in this family.