Monday 3 March
It was overcast and colder today (how variable it is here!) After our usual dog walk we went to the City and spent quite a while in the Museum of Wellington, City and Sea which is a great museum - a second visit will be needed another time to see all we wanted to. From there we went to the Civic Square and into the Town Hall and Michael Fowler Centre, which, among other things, are venues for musical entertainments. We had lunch in the cafe in th.JPG)
e library (yes, a cafe in a library!) and at last managed to get inside the Cathedral Church of St Paul's (old St Paul's) - our previous three attempts having been foxed by a wedding, another wedding and a funeral. We also visited the NZ equivalent of a cash and carry and bought a Timberland soft bag to use for our trip to the South Island (for which we have since discovered we paid around £35 less than if we had purchased it in the UK). In the evening we had a great dinner at Shed 5 on Lambton Quay - one of my many NZ meals including scallops and prawns.
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e library (yes, a cafe in a library!) and at last managed to get inside the Cathedral Church of St Paul's (old St Paul's) - our previous three attempts having been foxed by a wedding, another wedding and a funeral. We also visited the NZ equivalent of a cash and carry and bought a Timberland soft bag to use for our trip to the South Island (for which we have since discovered we paid around £35 less than if we had purchased it in the UK). In the evening we had a great dinner at Shed 5 on Lambton Quay - one of my many NZ meals including scallops and prawns.Sunday 2 March
Today the weather has been lovely again and we walked the dogs in the Botanic Gardens. Three of Keith and Wendy's children (Mark, Jonathan and Sarah) and their families (all of whom live locally) came to lunch - a barbecued salmon - a great success with lots of time spent in the garden. The four dogs - Belle, Rosie, Bilbo and Ruby - also enjoyed themselves. The list of delicious NZ wines we have drunk gets ever longer.
Today the weather has been lovely again and we walked the dogs in the Botanic Gardens. Three of Keith and Wendy's children (Mark, Jonathan and Sarah) and their families (all of whom live locally) came to lunch - a barbecued salmon - a great success with lots of time spent in the garden. The four dogs - Belle, Rosie, Bilbo and Ruby - also enjoyed themselves. The list of delicious NZ wines we have drunk gets ever longer.
Saturday 1 March
We all enthusiastically walked half way up Mount Kaukau this morning - it was a steep climb - not at all like the Vale of the White Horse. Afterwards we had lunch in the Astoria in the City and visited various places of note including the Cathedral, where there was an art exhibition taking place) and Te Papa, the national museum. A trip to the New World supermarket was no less interesting. We also called in to see Mark (Wendy and Keith's eldest son), Nikki and Sam who live in a vast old colonial house, also in Khandallah. The weather had been very pleasant up to then but the heavens opening and the late afternoon and evening brought heavy rain which was badly needed as it has been very dry here this summer. However, it meant we had to drive to Taste, a nearby restaurant, which would otherwise have been just a short walk.
We all enthusiastically walked half way up Mount Kaukau this morning - it was a steep climb - not at all like the Vale of the White Horse. Afterwards we had lunch in the Astoria in the City and visited various places of note including the Cathedral, where there was an art exhibition taking place) and Te Papa, the national museum. A trip to the New World supermarket was no less interesting. We also called in to see Mark (Wendy and Keith's eldest son), Nikki and Sam who live in a vast old colonial house, also in Khandallah. The weather had been very pleasant up to then but the heavens opening and the late afternoon and evening brought heavy rain which was badly needed as it has been very dry here this summer. However, it meant we had to drive to Taste, a nearby restaurant, which would otherwise have been just a short walk.
Friday 29 February
We joined Wendy walking the dogs in the bush on Mount Kaukau immediately behind the house before all going to the Karori wildlife sanctuary where we saw a tuatara and several native birds and insects. We lunched afterwards in the Rose Garden at the Botanic Gardens and went to the cable car museum before taking a stroll along the waterfront to Oriental Bay. The dogs disgraced themselves by consuming 14 chicken legs during our absence!
We joined Wendy walking the dogs in the bush on Mount Kaukau immediately behind the house before all going to the Karori wildlife sanctuary where we saw a tuatara and several native birds and insects. We lunched afterwards in the Rose Garden at the Botanic Gardens and went to the cable car museum before taking a stroll along the waterfront to Oriental Bay. The dogs disgraced themselves by consuming 14 chicken legs during our absence!
Thursday 28 February
Not such a good flight as our first because a baby decided to scream for most of the journey! The flight from Auckland to Wellington wasn't a lot better - same baby sitting immediately in front of us this time. However, Keith and Wendy met us at Wellington airport and took us along the scenic route around the harbour to their beautiful home in Khandallah on the outskirts of the city. The house is white brick and wood in the arts and crafts style with interior to match and a delightful English garden all around. We were warmly greeted by their dog Belle, a Labradoodle, and their son's spaniel, Rosie. We enjoyed excellent NZ wine on their patio and ate our dinner (NZ lamb shank!) out there.
Not such a good flight as our first because a baby decided to scream for most of the journey! The flight from Auckland to Wellington wasn't a lot better - same baby sitting immediately in front of us this time. However, Keith and Wendy met us at Wellington airport and took us along the scenic route around the harbour to their beautiful home in Khandallah on the outskirts of the city. The house is white brick and wood in the arts and crafts style with interior to match and a delightful English garden all around. We were warmly greeted by their dog Belle, a Labradoodle, and their son's spaniel, Rosie. We enjoyed excellent NZ wine on their patio and ate our dinner (NZ lamb shank!) out there.
