Heart Felt

Castlepoint

We spent three glorious days at Castlepoint with Grandma and Granddad.  It was quite windy, but it didn't stop us from exploring this fascinating landscape.

The lighthouse is always interesting and the views are beautiful.

There's a native moth that only resides here at Castlepoint and also a rare yellow daisy that grows wild only in this area!   How special and amazing is that!

Charlie was in fossil heaven, I will share his findings tomorrow.

The kids made friends with the local seagulls by feeding them everyday.

Lots of sand castles, amazing sand art

and scavenger hunts.

(Sadie ticking off 'feather' on her scavenger list)

The sand dunes were fabulous

along with the big tractors that pull the fishing boats in and out.

Castlepoint is a special place, along with it's beauty, wild life and landscape it holds an amazing history.

(Castle Rock in the background)

The Maori name for Castlepoint is Rangiwhakaoma, which translates as 'where the sky runs'.

How beautiful is that?

Wellington

Exploring the City to Sea Bridge

Te Papa Museum is always a favourite.

Charlie was in awe of the raptors

and Sadie had the kids well organised in the

play shop in the Kiwi Corner Store at the Inspiration Station.

Lunch and bottles of Foxton Fizz at Maranui Cafe

A drive around the bays on a summers afternoon is a perfect way to end the day.

Charlie's holiday to Auckland

Charlie and I had a marvellous time up in Auckland.  His first plane ride was exciting and exhilarating.  He shouted out 'Yee Ha!' as we took off which made the whole plane chuckle.

Grandpa met us at the airport and he took us out for dinner.  Charlie said it was the best meal he had ever had.

The next morning Charlie met his pen-pal Billy.  Billy and Charlie share the same birthday, so it was great to finally meet him, his brother Arlo, Gabrielle and Ange.  Billy showed Charlie how to play pinball, he had a great time.

That afternoon we went to Kelly Talton's Aquarium.  Charlie has now added Marine Biologist to his list of career options (which also include Archaeologist, Paleontologist and Vulcanologist)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auckland  is a volcanic area and Charlie was fascinated with the rocks and earth formation.   We went on some beautiful walks.

 

 

 

Saturday was the show 'Walking with Dinosaur's.  It was INCREDIBLE!  

Sunday we visited some local markets and then spent the afternoon at the Auckland Museum.  I love 'old school' museums.

Happy to be home!

Thank-you for entering the Heart Felt giveaway.  I will announce the winner tomorrow.

Fossil prints

Dinosaurs, volcanoes and fossils are still very much the flavour of the month in the Heart Felt household. 

We decided to make our own fossils by using a 'stone' dough mix.  Then we used our collections of shells, stones, leaves, bones and plastic dinosaurs to leave an imprint for our fossils.

 

To make the stone dough for two children you will need:

1 cup of salt

2 cups of flour

1 cup of water with 2 teaspoons of coffee dissolved

Combine the ingredients and mix into a dough.  Roll into balls and press flat with your hand or a rolling pin.  

Press your objects firmly into the dough and carefully remove to reveal your fossil print.

 Leave overnight to harden.

 

Oscar's contribution to fossil making was sticking them to his forehead!

 

It's a little like Christmas here.....we are counting down the sleeps until Charlie and I fly up to Auckland to stay with his Grandpa (my Dad) and see the 'Walking with dinosaurs' show.  

Charlie just can't wait!

Wild coastal flowers

When we had our little family break at the beach, Sadie and I found this glorious field of wild coastal flowers.  Sadie has a little pocket book called 'A photographic guide to wildflowers of New Zealand' and found out that they are called Gazania.   The flowers open during the day creating a beautiful display of yellow and orange and then close up at night time.

Gorgeous. Jxx

 

Waikawa Beach

We have just spent four glorious days at Waikawa Beach near Kapiti Island.  

The weather was beautiful and the children had fun exploring the beach, forest and sand dunes.  The sand dunes and the drift wood were a definite favorite.

 

 

There was an extraordinary light in the evenings, so beautiful.....

 

 

 

 

 

Kapiti Island and the fresh snow covering the Tararua Ranges made an incredible back drop.

 

 

 

And you never knew who you might meet on the beach.

 

 

Staglands

If you are in the Wellington Region visit Staglands in the beautiful Akatarawa Valley.  It's a lovely place to take a picnic (though there is a cafe on the premises).  Kid's will enjoy feeding the variety of small animals, birds and farm animals.  Staglands also plays a big part in conservation work with its captive breeding programs.   For more animals pictures visit my Flickr.

Beauty

 

 

Rabbit hiding from Oscar

 

 

The old bush settlement is a recreation of an abandoned Akatarawa bush settlement giving a unique view of the life led by the pioneers during the early settlement of New Zealand.  Located there, is a wonderful old church covered in moss, lichen and vines.  As you can imagine I could of spent an afternoon here taking photographs of just the church.

 

 

It's a great day out for the family. xx

Lake Pounui

Charlie belongs to the 'Kiwi Conservation Club' run by the New Zealand Forest and Bird.  One of the advantages is that we get invited to conservation walks and trips around the Wairarapa.  On Sunday we had the chance to have a guided walk around Lake Pounui.

This beautiful pristine deep water lake is located on private land under the convenant of the QEII National Trust.  The lake is surrounded by unique New Zealand forest.

 

Our guide Trevor....a seasoned hiker.  His pack looks heavy, but I'm sure it wasn't as heavy as my load.  I had Oscar in my backpack!

 

Charlie listening to Trevor talking about New Zealand plants

Looking up towards a huge Kahikatea tree.

 

Even the farmland was beautiful

 

Fellow tramper showing Charlie something interesting

Little hiker

 

Lucky girl got carried by Daddy some of the way

Our guide Trevor was able to point out special New Zealand orchids, some of them extremely rare to our area.  Some were so tiny you would of walked straight past them or worse trampled over them!

 

Some other interesting finds... 

 
  

 

Sailing

I thought I would share with you some photographs  I took in Picton.  On the foreshore there is a sweet little boat pond.  For 20c you can hire a little handmade model sail boat.  The breeze gently sails it from one side of the pond to other.  It was a very idyllic scene indded. Believe or not the sailor dress was a coincidence, but it did seem very appropriate.  xx

 

Golden Bay

We are back from a lovely trip to the South Island. The children had a wonderful time exploring new surroundings. We spent time in Nelson, the stunning Golden Bay area and Picton.

Our highlights were, 

~ Sailing across the Cook Strait

~ Nelson markets

~ Enjoying wonderful food and surroundings at Riverside Cafe

~ Digging for cockles in the sand at Golden Bay

~ Visiting Pu Pu springs

~ Walk to the arches

~ Drive from Golden Bay to Whanganui inlet and West coast

~ Drive along the Queen Charlotte Sounds

~ and jelly fishing on the Picton foreshore

I took hundreds of photographs ~ if you are interested visit my Flickr for a sample.

Thank-you to all who entered my giveaway.  I used a random number selector and number 4 was selected.  So congratulations to Pom Pom, I know she will be thrilled because she has a new arrival in the family.  Pom Pom, email me with your choice of color, size and motif. xx

Cockles

Listening to the sea

The bach at Golden Bay

Pu Pu springs

Sadie enjoying the view

Walking on the beach

Exploring

The arches

Starfish

Bird watching (or should that be finger watching?)

   

Rock collecting

Jellyfish