Author Archives: bethoffreshair

Kennedy Bay, Coromandel Peninsula Our “home” keeps changing and it’s amazing how quickly we feel comfortable in certain places. When we mentioned we were heading to the Coromandel Peninsula, the response has been a resounding head nod and twinkle in the eye. They speak as though it is a place where dreams come true, whereContinue reading “ooh, kennedy bay.”

We hiked up Mount Maunganui and were left speechless and hungry for a Korean pancake. I’ll let these pictures speak for themselves.  

At Mount Mellicks in Mount Maunganui (holy alliteration!), happy hour meant you ordered any beverage and got to spin the wheel full of awesome options like free drink, free bowl of fries, 20-50% off, and better luck next time. Kasey ordered a drink, we chanted “free, free, free!!” and it landed on FREE. We cheeredContinue reading “so good!”

Our host, James, wanted to build a swing set for his darling kids. We started the construction of this 20 feet high, 460 pound wooden swing set in a shed a quarter of a mile from where he wanted it to go. It took a solid four days, working five hours a day. We hadContinue reading ““It won’t kill you.””

Katikati is a very cool town tucked in between two even cooler beaches, Waihi and Maunganui. We have been planting fruit, veges (this is how they abbrev “vegetables”), weeding, and building a huge swing set. Here are a few photos thus far:  Cliffhanger:  Building the swing set with our host, James, could be it’s ownContinue reading “danger.”

We’re at our next job at the Bay of Plenty in Katikati. Hobbiton is across the mountain and the rolling hills are beautiful. James, Victoria, Caspar (7), and Felix (4) seem lovely. As were the asparagus risotto and the warm bed. We were putting together a world map puzzle and I said, “where would youContinue reading “felix and pakistan on halloween.”

Our huts are on a gravel road 12 km from the nearest town, yet an entrance to the famous Goldie Bush Walk is on the same gravel road we’re staying on. There are waterfalls, views of West Coast beaches for miles and miles, and cool native trees. Every day over breakfast we talk about whatContinue reading “congo river rapids.”

I am leaning against a dirty wall while sitting on a dirty mattress that is too big for the bottom bunk, so it slides off with my every move. Muddy jeans from falling into the river are hanging from the top bunk and serve as the only hindrance to my Tasman Sea view from theContinue reading “the day after the adventure I haven’t posted about yet.”

Martin and Bridget have a buddy who is a production manager for comedy shows in the area and he gets them complimentary tickets. They had four to see Rob Schneider and mentioned the night before the show that their kids didn’t want to go and they could try to get one more and take us.Continue reading “chilly bins.”

Sorry I don’t have much time…but here are a few photos as of late. It’s been wonderful (though windy) and we leave Muriwai Surf School on Thursday and head to the Bay of Plenty (where we should have “plenty” of internet)