Where have we been???

In March 2020 we set off to see family in New Zealand with a plan to also go to Canada later in the year …..BUT ….. Covid struck. We were in NZ half way through our month holiday and our airline tickets were cancelled and borders closed. Where better to head to in NZ but back to the Bay of Islands to wait out this pandemic. At least we could watch the boats bobbing around in the bays.

Opua, BOI view from our Airbnb

Like everyone around the world during Covid we were locked down with restrictions. Felt like jail for a while….

The NZ winter was slow to arrive; lucky for everyone we had beautiful weather into May. Winter did arrive, our first in 7 years. Ok … so we didn’t have snow but for us it was cold as our blood had thinned from living in the tropics. Beaches were empty, paths full with people exercising but many a beautiful sight to be seen. 

walking the docks for our lockdown exercise
Haruru Falls, BOI
Lots and lots of walking
Taipa Beach, BOI no one around
Yes we are going crazy!!!

Lucky for us New Zealand seemed to get things under control quickly so we were able to move about the country and see family and friends again. Alas I wasn’t too good at taking photos but did get a few with friends.

one of the many catch ups with my parents
Catching up with sailing friends in Auckland
Aussie friends in NZ …only at the Auckland zoo

By July we realized we were staying in NZ indefinitely, as borders were not opening, so decided to make the most of things what with summer fast approaching. We decided we needed a project to keep us occupied and bought a cargo van with the aim of  building a camper van to travel the countryside.  I have one handy husband who along with my Dad, John, did all of the work.

And so the build begins….

1. CAD design (cardboard assisted design) for planning the build
2. Electrical wiring and cutting the roof for a skylight and fan
3. Insulation, shower, fan
4. Support walls, framing, vents in roof
5. Painting lots of pine boards at our Airbnb. Thanks Cam!
6. Roof and walls thanks to the help of Ts father John
7. Building begins on cabinets / chairs
8. shower and kitchen going in

Our Final design complete and ready to roll.

2 months after starting the build we hit the road heading to the tip of NZ; Cape Reinga to start our NZ road trip. 

Now this is the life…..
Cape Reinga, top of NZ
The Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea currents meeting – we went through this in Seismic Wave in 2017 & 2018
Admiring the boarders on the giant sand dunes at Cape Reinga
Pre Xmas enjoying the beautiful weather NZ has to offer at Shakespear Regional Park

After spending Xmas with my family we bee-lined through the centre of NZ down to Wellington, the Capital.

Taupo above the Waikato River
Wellington Cable Car and views over city
Wellington beehive (NZ Govt resides)

We had a fabulous day crossing the Cook Strait on the Ferry from Wellington to Picton ready for New Years.

Arriving into Picton, top of the South Island on the ferry for New Years
Picton – people arriving to hear the music on the waterfront for New Years. Great Location for it.

Meanwhile we got news of flooding in Queensland from friends looking after Seismic Wave. Glad we had someone watching over her. No major leaks aboard so a bonus.

the deck in front of the dock is flooded where Seismic Wave is….

Buying mountain bikes was a bonus as we could head out and do some of the many trails along the way and get some exercise. Our drive through the South Island went from Picton through to Nelson, over to Hanmer and down to Christchurch. We then travelled to Lake Tekapo, Queenstown back to Wanaka and through the Haast pass to the West Coast and through to the Abel Tasman.

On a bike ride in the Marlborough Sounds with the Cook Strait Ferry passing behind
Boat ride up the Kenepuru Sound to The Portage for lunch
With our friend Glen, at a rest stop, on one of the many Nelson mountain Bike parks
On the St James Cycle Trail in Arthurs Pass
Three Creeks Vintage Garage in Burkes Pass
Lake Tekapo church with incredible views
Lake Tekapo sheepdog memorial to honor all those canines that farmed in the high country
Lake Pukaki looking over to Mt Cook in the distance
Queenstown jet boating with Skippers Canyon Jet – awesome!
The Willow at Lake Wanaka
One of the many stunning waterfalls on the Haast Pass to the West Coast
Views to the glacier at Franz Joseph
Hokitika Beach driftwood Art
Cycling at Lake Hayes
Stunning camp grounds on the West Coast
Punakaiki pancake rocks
Kaiteriteri cycling

Great trip and still lots to see… In February 2021 Brisbane borders reopened to NZ so we decided to take the chance and see if we could return to the Gold Coast. We really need to get back to return to the boat and our things. We stored the van with friends and headed to the airport never sure if we would make it onto a supposedly booked quarantine free flight.

Heading to Auss

11 months later it was touchdown in Queensland with line ups at the airport to check our temperature and travel declarations. We made it back with no quarantine requirements just a Covid test on arrival and negative results back the next day. Perfect!

First job was to thank friends at our marina who had watched over, cleaned and started Seismic Wave for us while we were gone. We were surprised how well she looked inside after not being used for nearly a year! Joey and Gary were awesome!

Secondly a haul at The Boatworks for a hull clean and general maintenance. 

The Boatworks – very professional outfit
out on anchor in the Broadwater relaxing after the work

Thirdly; celebrations…

Out celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary, in Australia

What’s next …. a few jobs and then who knows …. Covid is still here and travel internationally is somewhat limited. The NZ /Auss travel bubble has just opened so that’s great news.

Cheers from the Goldie!!

Cruising North to the Bay of Islands, NZ

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The Bay of Islands, recognized as one of New Zealand’s most popular summer destinations and you can see why with its natural beauty. We had travelled NZ by car previously so it was time to see it on Seismic Wave.

Vista from Russell

Rare Bay, Whangaroa Harbour

Dukes Nose in Whangaroa

There’s lots of islands with lots of beautiful anchorages, incredible scenery, dolphins in some of the bay’s and nothing is ever far away, so for us it was a great cruising ground. Even managed to find some nice anchorages with no one around.

Whangamumu Harbour an old whaling station with good hiking

A stunning vista from Robertson Island

Cavalli Islands bay anchorage

The weather while here in Feb/ March was cooler than we expected, a little drizzly at times so got some good boat washes and with the odd cyclone remnants pushing through they added to the excitement. YES Cyclones and here we thought we were getting away from all of that! The La Niña weather pattern apparently is a hint that Cyclones are common here in NZ and while we were here had 3 blow through. Who would have known.

kayaking near Deep Cove

All up we were able to get outdoors and enjoy some good weather; kayaking and hiking but alas the colder water here kept us from swimming.

Kayaking a river in Whangaroa Harbour

The Department of Conservation has put in lots of walking tracks, which is a fantastic way of getting out for some exercise and seeing the countryside. Most days we would get out and find a track which was typically sheltered from the sun meandering through the bush so you got to see lots of native plants or stunning coastal views. A couple of our favorites were:
Cape Brett Track from Deep Water Cove (2hours 10min one way to the Cape).
This track traverses through the bush (so shade) with stunning vistas all along the way with steep cliffs and rocky bays below.

Looking back at where we had come from

Brett at the Cape Brett lighthouse

Urupukapuka Island Walks
An island out near Cape Brett which has various tracks to different bays all of which joins up so you can do a loop to see beautiful vistas of neighboring islands and the stunning coastline.

Paihia to Haruru Falls (1 hour 15 min one way)
An easy track from the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to the waterfall follows the Waitangi River so is nice and flat and in the bush with plenty of shade. Haruru means “big noise” and you understand why when you get to the horseshoe shaped falls at the end which are rumbling. Wish we’d kayaked up the river, which some people were doing.

Haruru Falls the only falls in NZ with a horseshoe shape

There’s plenty of tourists abound enjoying the area as well. Cruise ships anchor off Russell and provide a spectacular view and help the economy here. An incredible
view one morning of the top of a cruise ship.

After the fog cleared it was the Queen Mary II in town

The R Tucker Thompson looked like a great way for tourists to see the bay’s

Getting food provisions was very easy. Russell and Paihia had decent grocery stores so we could stock up with fresh produce and both towns are easy to wander around and enjoy the views. Eating out is always a treat and we had a few celebrations so did venture out.

– Duke of Marlborough in Russell was a treat and very popular as its on the waterfront and so a really nice location

– Russell Boating Club has an excellent roast on Sunday’s and great entertainment care of the locals. We could have seen Belinda our sailing friend here for sure singing away.

– The Gum Store Bar & Grill in Totara North after a hike along the Wairakau Stream from Lane Cove was a surprise with lots of memrobelia of the earlier era here. The fast water taxi ride back to Lane Cove was a treat.

– Parua Bay Tavern out near Whangarei Heads with its spectacular views over the bay and good food – can’t forget fresh NZ scallops from a friend Max who we’d met in Aitutaki, yummo!

We had heard about the Twin Coast Cycle Trail from Opua along the old railway and tripped upon it one day when out hiking the trail between Paihia and Opua. Will have to do his next time as its right up our alley.

Before we knew it it was time to head back around Cape Brett and the Famous “Hole in the Rock”, which the tourist boats drive thru, and back down towards Whangarei for our haul out.


Heidi & Bevan our windsurfing friends from Tonga arrived at Whangarei Heads on their sea kayaks to catch up for the long weekend, so was great to see them again.
Has been fun enjoying the northern bays but for us we’ve come a long way and we want to see more of NZ next season so it’s time for a rest from sailing as winter is arriving here. We’ve got a few boat projects planned so time to be hauled.