Reflections

It is 3 weeks since arriving in NZ. It is still a little surreal for me that I am back home. I am seeing NZ in a whole different light. Such a different perspective on things after having been away for so many years and coming back with my family.

The parks we have encountered everywhere are amazing. Such big efforts have been made in even the small towns, to encourage people to get outside are incredible and they are free! We are such outdoor folk that this is of course immensely appealing when we consider where to settle.

Here in New Plymouth the local zoo is free and set right in the middle of an amazing park that holds the annual WOMAD international festival.

“WOMAD – World of Music, Arts and Dance the internationally established festival, which brings together artists from all over the globe. The central aim of the WOMAD festival is to celebrate the world’s many forms of music, arts and dance. Peter Gabriel was one of WOMAD’s co-founders: “Pure enthusiasm for music from around the world led us to the idea of WOMAD in 1980 and thus to the first WOMAD festival in 1982.”

See the link below for who is playing in March.

https://www.womad.co.nz/artists/

Amazing for New Plymouth to have this festival, this will be the 14th year they have hosted it.

The park is right in the centre of the town, so accessible for all.

At the zoo Luca met another Lukah, (spelt differently 🙂 ), who happens to be from Peru but now lives here, they hung out for ages playing and observing the animals.

They light the park throughout, so even at night you can walk through. Below is the amphitheater with the stage sitting in the middle of a lake, the photo does not do it justice, it is pretty cool! People like Elton John, Cat Stevens etc have played on it.

Some scenes from the rest of the park

The DOC (Department of Conservation) has a programme for kids called kiwiguardians.co.nz. It is “an activity programme for kids to learn about nature, earn cool rewards and go on epic family adventures”. Luca is all over it, lots of the parks and reserve throughout NZ are participating in it and we are going to many, perfect!

Yesterday we went to another amazing place called Pukeiti. An incredible space. See the link for everything they do there.

https://www.trc.govt.nz/gardens/pukeiti/

It is all totally free and was donated by a local man and now run by the local council and being constantly expanded.

There are activities for everyone but Luca loved this the most:

Kids Treehouse Trail

“The Kids Treehouse Trail is a free self-guided activity through the gardens using an activity satchel which can be collected from the Rainforest Centre (outside the Founders Café) any day of the week.

Beginning at the fish tanks, the activity cards guide you through the gardens to each Treehouse, where you will find hidden facts and questions. Throughout the challenge, children are also encouraged to use all their senses to try to find signs of the different creatures that live there.”

We all totally got into it 🙂

I think we are going back today, Luca loved it all that much!

Last night after supper, (which by the way was DELICIOUS roast chicken made by Rich in our tiny little cooker),

…..we headed to the beach (2 minutes away) to see the sunset. It did not disappoint….

We have been so incredibly lucky with the weather and meeting some lovely people along this journey. Friday we head down country to the Wairarapa until the 3rd and then it is across to the South Island!!!