Palliser Bay

Yesterday we drove down to Palliser Bay to see the sights on the southern coast of the north island. So different again!  Very rugged and isolated.  God has created a world with so much beauty!

First we hiked up to view the Putangirua Pinnacles from the top.  We went on a beautiful walk through the bush and then were rewarded with a view of the pinnacles.  Reminded us of the hoodoos near Banff but different sand/rock.

Anyone recognize this from Lord of the Rings?  Here's the scene from the movie.

View of the ocean from the top - the camera didn't seem to be working all that great yesterday so you can't really see it on the picture but we could :(

On the way down again.  Cool trees!

View from the bottom

Taking the river bed on the way back

These were so beautiful!

This was so strange to see.  At least a km from the ocean up the river bed were these rocks with shells embedded in them!

Next we stopped to see a colony of seals.  Amazing!!

How many seals can you spot?

This curious fellow came right up to us - so cute!

Such rugged coastline!

And at the very end of the road where it feels like you're at the end of the world is the lighthouse. The pictures don't do justice to what it really looked like.

251 steps up!  Can you imagine living up there?  Built in 1897 and had someone living in it until 1986.

A view of the bay where all the seals were

So high up!  Not sure why I put myself through these things when I'm so afraid of heights.  The view is worth it I guess!

These beautiful flowers were everywhere!

And because that's not enough pictures here are a few from our drive ;)

Washed out road.

There was a tiny little fishing village there and they use these tractors to pull the boats in because there isn't a harbour.  The fishermen made it fun for all the tourists :)

Around "home"

Our first week in Masterton with the Kloegs was a good one!  

The Martinborough fair, church, meeting lots of people, Mt. Holdsworth, playing in the creek, dinner with new friends, horse rides, rainy days and some school work done, a baby bunny, lots of tears, new shoes, deer...

Sunday morning chats with Mrs. Kloeg

Playing in the river after a short hike

Anneke started it!  ;)

Anneke's face...

Game on!

Haha!

 The girls all got a little ride on Monday night - pretty special!

Sophie found a baby bunny on the lawn.  She was very worried about it and we convinced her to tuck it under the hedge and hope its mom came to get it but it died.  We had lots of tears the next day as she struggled to figure out why the mom didn't come and wishing she could have fed it etc...  Emotions run strong in this girl!

She buried it in the garden :)

We visited the deer in the deer park in town.  Seems so funny to have deer behind fences when you're used to seeing them only in the wild.

It was a lovely week!  The Kloegs have now left for their holiday and we kinda miss them, although I'm sure they're happy to have some peace and quiet  :)

Off to Masterton

Last week Friday (Feb. 3) we drove down to Masterton where our next "home" was/is.  It was a gorgeous drive with lots of changing scenery.

Mt. Ruapehu

Mt. Nguruhoe - Mt. Doom in Lord of the Rings

Outside the Military Museum on the Desert Road (Sebastian once again is escaping the picture!)

So many hills!  They look like little bumps but make for very windy roads!

This was taken as we were driving.  The posts weren't actually crooked but the camera captured them that way.

We did about 430 kms, which is a much longer day than when you do that many in Canada!  With all the windy up and down roads it's a long trip at much slower than 100kms speeds.

Our hosts, John and Anneke (nice name!) Kloeg, own a bakery/cafe here in Masterton.  We were treated to dinner there and have had a steady supply of breads and delicious desserts - so spoiled!

We had no idea that "Let's meet John at the Bakery" meant the best place to eat in Masterton! :D

Yum!!