The Adventures of Nico & Ash

Bay of Islands

2011-05-23T20:22:00.002+12:00

A beautiful start to the Day

2011-05-23T20:17:00.002+12:00

Nico and I went fishing to the Bay of Islands. It was an exciting trip out to catch Kingfish.We had a slow start but we didn't go home empty handed :-)

2011-05-23T20:14:00.001+12:00

Blush

2011-05-23T20:06:00.003+12:00

I love the colours in this photo...

???

2011-05-23T20:02:00.002+12:00

I have no idea what this fish is called. The captain says it's spines are poisonous. He did mention the name but I when off to get my camera and forgot to ask again.

My first Kingfish

2011-05-23T19:43:00.002+12:00

I had to throw this back because it was 2 cm's too short :-(

Dory...

2011-05-23T19:30:00.002+12:00

Nico caught this John Dory. This is a wonderful tasting fish. Lovely texture and goes well with lemon and garlic butter. Yum...

Kingfish

2011-05-23T19:20:00.004+12:00

This powerful monster almost pulled me over the side of the boat twice!! Yes, twice. It was such a struggle to get this fish out of the water that Nico had to help me. What a thrill...

A Fun Gi

2011-04-22T16:01:00.002+12:00

Full Moon

2011-04-22T15:58:00.002+12:00

Strangely enough, half way across the world in South Africa, my niece and nephew were howling at the moon this very night :-)

Goodbye Auckland...

2011-03-25T22:56:00.002+13:00

... Hello Waiheke !!
On the ferry out of Auckland, on our way to Waiheke Island.

Motuihe Island

2011-03-25T22:53:00.001+13:00

Yes, this is a very small island. If only I had a few million dollars to spare.

Matiatia Bay

2011-03-25T22:50:00.001+13:00

Matiatia Bay

2011-03-25T22:43:00.003+13:00

View of Auckland City

2011-03-25T22:38:00.001+13:00

Peacock Sky Wine Tasting

2011-03-25T22:35:00.001+13:00

Peacock Sky

2011-03-25T22:26:00.002+13:00

Established in 1999, Peacock Sky Vineyard comprises almost three hectares of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines and smaller plantings of Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
Their Chardonnay was my favourite and I don't particularly enjoy wines.

Onetangi Bay

2011-03-25T22:22:00.002+13:00

We had lunch at this bay and as you can see, the view was breath taking.

Rotoroa Island

2011-03-25T22:16:00.003+13:00

View of Rotoroa Island

2011-03-25T22:12:00.002+13:00

Man O'War Bay

2011-03-25T21:55:00.002+13:00

2011-02-04T23:03:00.002+13:00

2011-02-04T22:55:00.001+13:00

Turquoise

2011-02-04T22:49:00.001+13:00

Huka Falls

2011-02-04T22:43:00.004+13:00

It's hard to find words to describe how beautiful this place is. The water, the trees...

Huka Falls

2011-02-03T23:12:00.001+13:00

2011-01-06T21:26:00.004+13:00

2011-01-06T20:19:00.004+13:00

2011-01-06T20:14:00.002+13:00

2011-01-06T19:58:00.002+13:00

Hanua Falls

2011-01-06T19:29:00.003+13:00

Lake Wakatipu

2011-01-05T10:27:00.003+13:00

2010-11-07T16:05:00.001+13:00

Nico on the slopes

2010-11-07T16:03:00.001+13:00

View from Treble Cone

2010-11-07T16:00:00.002+13:00

Treble Cone Beginner Ski area

2010-11-07T15:57:00.001+13:00

Lake Wanaka

2010-11-07T15:50:00.003+13:00

2010-11-07T15:44:00.002+13:00

The DJ

2010-11-07T15:39:00.001+13:00

It was COLD.

2010-11-07T15:37:00.001+13:00

Twilight Skiing

2010-11-07T15:32:00.003+13:00

This was not as cool as one might think. If you're a beginner, stick to the beginner field at night. I didn't fall once, not even twice :-)

View from the Sky Lift

2010-11-07T15:29:00.001+13:00

Nico and I

2010-11-07T15:26:00.001+13:00

Head in the clouds

2010-11-07T15:22:00.003+13:00

View of "The Remarkables" from Coronet Peak.

Coronet Peak

2010-11-07T15:19:00.001+13:00

Beginner's Ski area.

2010-11-07T15:11:00.002+13:00

I hung out here alot :-) It was my second time on a ski field. I really sucked at it.
Nico passed the beginner stage a year ago (On his 1st day at Snow Planet in Auckland). He's usually on the middle mountain ski area.

The Remarkables, remarkable isn't it?

2010-11-07T15:10:00.001+13:00

View from The Remarkables Ski Field

2010-11-07T15:07:00.001+13:00

Evening view of the mountains from our hotel.

2010-11-07T15:04:00.001+13:00

Sunset from Coronet Peak

2010-11-07T15:01:00.003+13:00

Lucas Creek, Our Back Yard,

2010-11-07T14:50:00.001+13:00

Droplet

2010-11-07T14:47:00.005+13:00

Mahurangi Bay

2010-11-07T14:39:00.002+13:00

2010-11-07T14:31:00.004+13:00

2010-11-07T14:18:00.003+13:00

My Birthday Flowers :-)

2009-09-27T20:43:00.004+13:00

Thank you Babe (Nico)

Thank you Dominique and Dewald

Another hole in the wall

2009-09-27T20:35:00.000+13:00

Victoria Look Out

2009-09-27T20:32:00.002+13:00

A short walk

2009-09-27T20:31:00.000+13:00

Weta Cave - NZ Movie Production Studio

2009-09-27T20:18:00.009+13:00

Hell Boys Gun

Lord of the Ring Troll

Gandalf and Shadowfax

Nico and Gollum

Orcs

Te Papa Museum - Funky Car

2009-09-27T20:16:00.001+13:00

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa - Colossal Squid

2009-09-27T20:10:00.005+13:00

Wow!! I saw a documentary on this squid on NGO a while ago. I was so amazed at how huge it really is.
It's decaying though, quite nasty stuff. If you're ever in New Zealand, go check it out.

Botanical Garden

2009-09-27T20:04:00.007+13:00

Botanical Garden

2009-09-27T19:59:00.003+13:00

Dockside

2009-09-27T19:58:00.000+13:00

Ball on Wires

2009-09-27T19:55:00.004+13:00

Very interesting art.

The Capital City

2009-09-27T19:19:00.002+13:00

It's a long way down.

2009-08-12T20:00:00.000+12:00

Perfect.

2009-08-12T19:58:00.001+12:00

The Rescue Hero's

2009-08-12T19:57:00.002+12:00

The two of us...and the snow cone.

2009-08-12T19:55:00.002+12:00

2009-08-12T19:54:00.001+12:00

...

2009-08-12T19:53:00.000+12:00

Halfway to the Top

2009-08-12T19:50:00.003+12:00

Big Snow Cones

2009-08-12T19:50:00.001+12:00

Jus' Chillin'

2009-08-12T19:48:00.000+12:00

My Favourite Picture

2009-08-12T19:46:00.001+12:00

I am so proud of this picture...

A picture of both of us...

2009-08-12T19:44:00.001+12:00

:-)

All Smile's

2009-08-12T19:43:00.000+12:00

Snowboarding

2009-08-12T19:40:00.002+12:00

Nico, sliding down the mountain casually.

He looks quite at home on that board.

I was on the ski lift by the way.

Looks like a painting

2009-08-12T19:38:00.000+12:00

Me !!!

2009-08-12T19:33:00.003+12:00

In this picture, you may notice that I am having a chat with my skiis.

And I finally got both of them on and went on my way.

I fell a few times.

Snow Machine's ???

2009-08-12T19:31:00.001+12:00

I didn't imagine these would be needed on a mountain...

Until I saw a few people smack into a rock that was sticking out of the ground.

Up 'n up we go..

2009-08-12T19:30:00.000+12:00

Snow white

2009-08-12T19:26:00.003+12:00

Nico ready and kitted up for a day in the snow.

This is Happy Valley Ski Area at the lowerest part of the mountain.

Entrance to Mount Ruapehu Ski Field

2009-08-12T19:21:00.002+12:00

(S)kiwi Bird

2009-08-12T19:19:00.002+12:00

Hahahahaha. We took this photo on our way to the lodge at Mt Ruapehu.

Really funny.

The Bridge

2009-08-12T19:15:00.002+12:00

I really like the look of this bridge. I made Nico stop so I could take this pic.

I wouldn't want to be hanging off there though.

Piriaka Lookout

2009-08-12T19:12:00.001+12:00

Spookers

2009-05-23T19:00:00.003+12:00

This was the funniest evening ever!!! Dewald was hysterical. He screamed loudly,

He laughed with fear and almost cried and then he screamed even louder.

The ghouls chased him around because he was such an easy target.

Our Shack

2009-05-23T18:51:00.005+12:00

Ash's Gear

2009-05-23T18:49:00.002+12:00

Nico's Gear

2009-05-23T18:36:00.004+12:00

Nico at Snow Planet

2009-05-23T18:32:00.003+12:00

Nico and I took a liking to playing in the snow and decided to get gear.

He took up Snowboarding and took up Skiing. - It's tons of fun.

Pink Dog

2009-03-24T22:39:00.004+13:00

This pink dog was made for me at our team picnic. I wanted a bunny rabbit,

but another little girl copied my idea.

Susan in Marital Bliss

2009-03-24T22:36:00.002+13:00

She looked so lovely...

Susan's bouquet

2009-03-24T22:33:00.003+13:00

I had this bouquet make for Susan's special day. I thought it was quite pretty.

A Glimpse of our back yard

2009-03-24T22:24:00.005+13:00

The decking with the soccer net is our neighbours back yard.

Creepy

2009-01-05T23:48:00.003+13:00

Finally we went to Hobbiton.

The tour cost $58 (NZ Dollars) per person and we really expected alot

more value for money, which was just not there.

I recommend that you only go to Hobbiton if you're a HUGE LOTR's fan.

Hobbiton

2009-01-05T23:43:00.002+13:00

I like this picture. On the top left side is Bilbo's home.

It was the biggest home in all of Hobbiton.

I must confess that I wished that Hobbiton looked like it did in the movie.

But as you can see, it wasn't. The props were all pulled down and sent

to Wellington to either be shipped back to Hollywood studio's or be destroyed.

I hope not the latter.