Xtreme, Yoga, Zoo

X is for Xtreme snow sports.  I took the opportunity to learn snowboarding over here.  Slowly I got the hang of things and managed to look a little impressive as long as I stayed on the beginners trails.  The need to feel more competent and the desire to get to the higher points of the fields saw me share time between snowboarding and skiing – my easier option.  Alas, skiing is now all I do on the slopes but I am glad I can now say I’ve done it.

Y is for Yoga.  Something I had never really had any interest in doing before, but again, a change of scenery made me realise how easy and important it is to learn new things.  A local instructor was starting up beginner classes, so off I went and my body has never felt better.  Stretching and twisting is a lot harder and tiring than it looks.

Z is of course for Zoo.  Without the Zoo here at Hamilton and all of its superb staff and animals, this adventure in New Zealand may have ended long before now.  It’s what has kept us here past our original plan of a year and it’s a place to be cherished forever.

Unknown, Volcanoes, Wanaka

U if for the Unknown.  Everything was such a big unknown when we left Australia.  There was no certainty, nothing solid and all sorts of potential roads to go down – some would be our choice, others would be dictated to us by circumstance.  It was a little scary and possibly even reckless, but it has been exhilarating beyond all expectations.

V is for Volcanoes and this area of the north island is one of my favourites of all New Zealand.  These mammoth natural wonders rise nobly from the central plateau and command your attention from hundreds of kilometres away.  Their beauty is only equal to their mystique and provide a range of activities from bushwalking to skiing in what can only be described as a place of incredible power.

W is either for Wanaka or Wellington as they are both deserving of a mention.  Wellington has always been the favourite of my New Zealand cities – full of charm and fascination it won me over before it had even said “hello”.  Wanaka is a small town not far from Queenstown, but has yet to be tarred with the hype of it bigger sister.  Nestled on an alpine lake with a backdrop of dramatic ranges it was always going to be a favourite.

Queenstown, Raglan, Snow, Travel

Q has to be for Queenstown.  My original visit about 5 years ago left me feeling more than a little disappointed.  I had heard so much, probably too much, about the town and its bigger than life personality only to get there and think it was an empty hulk of a tourist town plumped up by the ‘you-have-to-go-there-hype’.  On subsequent visits though, I fell for the place and most specifically its dramatic location within the valleys of the Southern Alps.

R was either for Rain or for Raglan.  Rain because there is so much of it although I still couldn’t get enough of it.  Raglan because this is where I have spent many hours combing the beaches with Phil and the dogs, being tantalised by the every changing black sand coastline, the huge estuary, the flame red flowers of the Pohutukawa trees, the laid back pace of life and friendly charm.  There are more reasons why I love Raglan on this old post…………….

S is for snow and plenty of it.  Being so close to ski fields gave me change to really indulge in snow sports and I love it, love it, and love it!

T is for Travel as that was one of our objectives when moving here, not only within New Zealand but out to the Pacific Islands as well.  There is no corner of NZ which has not been witness to the Phil and John road show of adventure plus a number of Pacific Islands as well.