Traditional Backyard Maori Hangi on Christmas day 2018. Click picture below to access gallery…

It seems for (at least) Friday 8th December 2018 and Today, Saturday 9th December 2018, Air Vanuatu (NF) Flights that use the De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft have allegedly all been cancelled. Who the flip knows when they will be back in Action. Known locations affected include (but NOT limited to)…

• Craig Cove, Ulei (Ambrym)
• Paama
• Tongoa
• Norsup (Malekula)
• Lamen Bay (Epi)
• Dillion’s Bay (Erromango)

Upon arrival to Craig Cove Airport on Friday (Yesterday) Morning, The agents in contact with Air Vanuatu head office keep announcing ever later estimated arrival times and relayed excuses from Head office from Mechanical Failure to the weather as reasons for the delay. After 2 hours of delay, ended up ringing Air Vanuatu Head Office myself, but they kept referring me back to the agents on the ground who in turn were similarly frantically via phone trying to get a grasp of the situation from Air Vanuatu Head office.

At about 4 hours after the flight was supposed to arrive, the agents announced that the flight had been cancelled and suggested that the next flight out of Craig Cove would be on Tuesday 11th December 2018 (Too late for me). Ended up calling a private charter flight to get us off of Ambrym allowing us to return back home to New Zealand as scheduled on the next morning.

Reviewing the flightradar24 upon finally returning home this Afternoon (As scheduled), it was revealed that all flights using De Havilland Twin Otter had been cancelled… Continue reading “Air Vanuatu Domestic Twin Otter Flights Cancellations” →

Hikes undertaken for weekend 29th – 30th September. As per usual, click photos below to access the gallery and trip report for each.

Ananui falls from Franklin Road end…

Wharekirauponga Track…

Lynch Tramping Track has already shut sadly.

 

Extended weekend spent in Tahiti. Click picture below to access the gallery and trip report…

Karangahake Rivers, being Ohinemuri and Waitawheta Rivers after sustained rained. Click picture below to access gallery…

28th and 29th July 2018 – Two walks around the lower Paeroa / Waitawheta Area. Click photos below to access each gallery.

Bluff Steam Kauri Loop Waitawheta…

Old Wires Track + Waipaheke Motorbike Track…

 

22nd July 2018 – Day Trip out towards the Dargaville direction to Hike up Mount Tutamoe Track and Hukatere Reserve (Both scheduled to be closed). Click picture below to access gallery…

Another spur of the moment (Snap decision) walk on Saturday 14th July 2018, this time around Te Arai and Mangawhai. Click Picture below to access gallery…

Quick Drop in visit to Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens en route back to Auckland. Click Photo below to access the gallery…

They recommend about 1 and half hours to walk around. Could easily spend 3 hours there if you include Don’s loop at a leisurely pace. Hills are moderate (Easy for a seasoned hiker, may be challenging for though for the less fit)

Walk with the Auckland Hiking Group Meetup to Waipu, click photo below to access gallery…

Weather was pretty Rainy through much of it, with fine breaks.

Short little walks around Clevedon and later on, a stroll around Eden Gardens. Click Picture below to access the gallery…

 

A little walk around Pasifika Festival today, Small album of pictures posted to NUI.NZ.

With a surprise (to me) appearance of Jacinda Ardern along with Phil Goff (Mayor of Auckland).

Came earlier in the morning to avoid the crowds and the Afternoon Rain. Pacific Nations represented included, Hawaii, Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Tahiti, Niue and of course Aotearoa. Full details on the ATEED website.

T’was handed info pack while walking past some stalls at Pasifika. A possible Career change from being a Computer nerd to a Corrections Officer? Not unheard of I suppose… It at least made me intrigued to look at what Corrections do.

In a lot of the “Just The Job” videos on Youtube… Lots of focus on rehabilitation, thought there was an acknowledgement that many offenders will “play the game”, get released only to return to prison again at a later date.

Currently Looking at the pay scale, If I ever was to take a front line position with Corrections, it would undoubtedly result in fairly sizeable drop in my pay.

Spur of the moment trip to visit a few places around King Country and Waitomo (Click Photo below to access gallery) staying at Grandad’s Cottage situated around the Taumarunui area both nights.

I have a confession to make, I do not understand present day Economics or financial markets.

To be honest, all I personally see is perhaps the biggest global asset bubble to ever grace the face of this planet. Many assets across the board appear to be valued well in-excess of their intrinsic value and have seemingly been like this for a lot longer than would ordinary be in a so called a bubbly situation.

Continue reading “Confession time” →

Explore of Motuora Island today with the North Shore Tramping Club. Lead by Imogen with Karen who took us there in the official Yellow bus. Photos posted to NUI.NZ, Click Image below to access the gallery…

Will add some more details in the next few days. (Right now I’m feeling really really sleepy, Apologies!)

4th to 5th of November 2017 – Weekend in Palmy. Click image below to access the gallery on NUI.NZ…

Took yet another Jetstar flight, this time down to Palmerston North.

Locations visited (includes links to Official external websites)…

• Sledge Track, Toe Toe loop and Platinum Mines, [PDF Brochure here]
• Tawa Loop (Loops off of Manawatu Gorge Walk)
• Caccia Birch House (Open Days)

 

Short walks this afternoon to Mount Taupiri and Pukemokemoke, click picture below to access the photo gallery at NUI.NZ.

The Taupiri Mountain Bushwalk was approved for by Maori Elder, Turnate Mahuta, and cared for by Local residents along with the Taupiri Young Farmers Club. Pukemokemoke Reserve is under the care of the David Johnstone Pukemokemoke Bush Trust in conjuction with Friends of the Pukemokemoke.

Both Bush Walks (to the summits and return) are about 1-2 hours each.

Elevation gain for Taupiri Mountain is approximately 270 while the elevation gain for Pukemokemoke is approximately 150.

Detail indepth description about the Pukemokemoke reserve is available on MotoWalk Pukemokmoke page

Quick little shots Miscellaneous shots from Cornwall park after having attended the Flight Centre Travel Expo.  Was hoping to see some blossoms, but it didn’t quite eventuate as planned. It was also the middle of the day where most people would be visiting the park so didn’t quite get any descent photo opportunities that weren’t essentially just crowds of people…

Continue reading “Cornwall Park” →