Tag: explore

Pub on Wharf, Queenstown. By Toby (age 9).

Pub On Wharf is a pub in Queenstown. It’s name serves a purpose, because, guess what? It is a pub, on a wharf! There is a kid’s menu, but who would order from the kid’s menu when there is AMAZING Beef Wellington for only $20. It’s a complete bargain! Perfectly, cooked medium fillet steak meat (delicious!) wrapped in bacon and perfectly crisp pastry. Mash potato lies underneath the Beef Wellington, with green beans on the side. To make things EVEN better, there is deliciously rich gravy! We have been to Pub On Wharf 4 times and each time I make sure I order Beef Wellington.

img_1220 If you want a run around or want to burn off some energy, Pub On Wharf is the perfect place to go because of the massive lawned area right next to the pub while Mum and Dad enjoy their drinks from an outdoor table with a superb view of Queenstown!

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Moeraki Boulders (by Toby, age 9)

img_1011I hope you enjoy my recount!

Chapter 1

I had a long sleep but my brother started tickling me so that woke me up. After that, we got dressed and had breakfast. We also did other stuff like brushing our teeth etc. Then we set off. It was about 3km to the boulders. We got to one point where we asked a lady where the boulders were.

Chapter 2

To make a long story short, she told us where the boulders were and yeah..

Chapter 3

There was a hill but it was down so it was easy to get down. My dad spotted a seal which was sadly dead. So we walked to the actual boulders and we climbed up them because they were mostly underground… After that, we went to the cafe and we had to wipe our feet on a fancy broom thing.

img_1012Chapter 4

I ordered a pie (obviously) and an ice cream. My brother had a pie and a hot chocolate and an ice cream. My brother offered me a marshmallow and so I quickly took it before he could get it back. (You gotta do what you gotta do!).

Chapter 5

So, we started walking back and you know that seal that dad spotted? Well someone nicely put a cross next to it. He must have had a peg on his nose because it STANK! We were at our camper van and we were packing our stuff away going to the next campsite, when people started talking to us!

Chapter 6

There was a young, cute, fluffy dog that came up to me and I started stroking the dog. When I smelled my hands, they smelt like the ocean. The end.

 

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How to keep the kids from going crazy on long campervan trips!

 

We’ve covered 1929kms over the last 9 days of our trip- that’s a lot of hours on the road! For our kids, that’s a lot of hours raised to the power of 10! So how have we kept them from going crazy?

  • Make sure you have plenty of fuel on board and take brief refuelling stops – fuel for their stomachs that is! We have clearly brought a couple of hobbits along with us. Although we feed them hearty breakfast and lunch, they seem to need second breakfast, elevenses, morning tea and afternoon tea!
  • For trips of 3-4 hours+, plan a stop or two for them to break up the journey and run off some energy. A decent playground, a beach, a picnic spot.
  • Have decent music playing. It’s harder for them to moan when they’re singing along to their favourite tracks.
  • If it keeps them sane, it keeps you sane. On previous trips we’ve taken a DVD player so that the kids can watch movies on the long journeys. This time it’s iPads. It’s the only time that they have unlimited access to their iPads, but it works.
  • We weren’t expecting this, but since I’ve been blogging about our trip, the boys have decided that they should too. Who’d have thought they’d have wanted to write during their trip?! We’d tried encouraging the boys to keep journals on previous trips but their interest soon evaporated. Although a blog is similar to a diary/journal writing, – blogging potentially has an audience and therefore a more tangible purpose. This purpose, it seems, has unlocked their enthusiasm to write, edit and publish!
  • Finally, if all of these tips are starting to wear thin, draw the curtain between the front cab and them and turn the music up loud.  See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil!
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The Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest

 

We’ve been to Rotorua countless times and yet somehow never heard of, let alone visited this place.  Even as you drive into the area you feel a sense of calm that this place exudes.  The visitor area is beautifully laid out and the visitor centre helps you to decide what walk, cycle trail or experience is for you.  Even the toilets are sympathetically designed to blend in with the environment.

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Walks range from 2km to a whole day 34km tramp.  We only did the smallest walk- Redwood Memorial Grove track- an easy 2km forest walk but we’ll be back to experience the cycle trails for sure.

For a unique perspective of the native undergrowth, visitors can walk the Redwoods 553 metre long Treewalk reaching up to 12 metres above ground via its 21 suspension bridges traversing the forest. At night, the forest walk is transformed into a magical, lantern-lit wonderland. Illuminated by infinite colour spots, feature lights and 30 bespoke lanterns, courtesy of world-acclaimed designer David Trubridge, the Redwoods Nightlights is a beautifully unique nocturnal experience.

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Okurukuru Winery, New Plymouth

We were recommended this place and were so glad we we took the advice.  For self-contained vehicles it is completely free to park overnight providing you dine here and wine-tasting is optional… don’t mind if we do!!  The meal was sensational- if you’re spoilt for choice (as I was) I recommend the “Coastal Prime Beef Cheek, Free Range Pork Belly and Te Popo Lamb Rump served with Kaitake Vegetables, Oven Baked Potatoes and Jus” – in other words, trying it all!  The wine tasting of  Okurukuru Pinotage and Rosé (on-site crafted) plus  a selection of wines crafted at the winery’s other property situated in Marlborough are generously poured for $10 for 4 tastings.

The restaurant has stunning wide ocean views.  The outside area is perfect for sitting outside on a sunny day and even better for children to run around and enjoy the the play area.  Even better, you get to continue appreciating the views from the comfort of your camper and there’s even a cute picnic table and benches to use.  We’ll definitely be back!

https://www.okurukuru.co.nz/

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