Saturday, April 26, 2014

Nice day for a bike ride!

So we had another Holiday here in New Zealand. Anzac day. I enjoyed sleeping in and then decided to go on a bike ride in my neighborhood. It was a beautiful day!! Can't say that I mind a bike ride when this is my scenery!! Welcome to Bucklands Beach, Half Moon Bay area :)








Saturday, April 19, 2014

Hunua Falls and Cosseys Dam Part 1

Easter here in New Zealand ends up as a long 4 day weekend! I had originally planned to go up north for the weekend and do whatever looked fun and exciting on the journey to the north point of this island. Hower, Crystal and I decided that since the weather was rainy up north, (like, to the point that there was flooding and road closures), that we would go see a pretty waterfall!

 So I pulled out my hiking boots and decided it was time to add some New Zealand mud the the Grand Canyon dust coating them! These boots have literally not been worn since I hiked the grand canyon haha...my poor toes needed the year and half rest!



The water is a bit muddy due to the massive rain storm we got the day before, but it is still beautiful!!!






 This view came from a lookout that we hiked up to. The view was worth the short trip up hill!





I learned why this is called the "Silver" Fern....the underside of the fern literally turns this silvery color!! It is a beautiful green on one side and this light silver color on the other. The contrast is crazy!!

It turns this gorgeous brassy color when it dies.












Hmmmm.....Me, water, slippery rocks and my iPhone in my hand...this would usually spell disaster, but somehow I managed to not only stay standing, but take pictures of the creek!! Not gonna lie, I did slip into the water but basically just got wet up to just above my ankles...pretty sure Crystal caught it on video, and I am sure it is hilarious. 













This is us at Cosseys Dam




This is looking down on Cossey's Dam....where we just were!....an hour ago. We passed this runner guy that said the way back was only like an hour and a half, with the first half hour uphill....LIES! It took us over an hour to get to the top of the little mountain I am standing on in this pic! But ohhhhh was the scenery amazing!!!





According to the fitbit, we hiked 7.8 miles and did went up high enough that it thought we went up 134 flights of stairs!!! I'd say that's a good day :0)


I hope there is not some sort of blog etiquette that says it is not acceptable to post 40 some-odd pictures in one blog post haha....especially since I just realized that some of my pics didn't download from my camera so part 2 of our impromptu Hunua falls hike will come tomorrow :)