Mapua Chalets

Our family thoroughly enjoyed exploring these caves. We loved the feeling of stepping back in time and wondering at the limestones features of stalactities and stalagmites. Our tour guide was great and really captivated the childrens interest.

Ngarua Cave was discovered by bushmen clearing the hillside of scrub, after a bushfire had destroyed the surrounding bush. The early settlers visited the cave by horse coach. As visitors destroyed and removed stalactites and wrote their names on the formations, the cave was locked up for several years. The latest development of the cave is a second entrance, allowing one way tours through the cave.

In awe of it all.

Having a feel of the rock in the touch zone

In the cave several remains of the famous birds of New Zealand were found. A complete skeleton of a Moa is on display.

But the limestone recrystallised which changed its grain and colour. The rock is about 450 Million years old. The

marble is quarried near Ngarua Cave and was used to build several buildings in New Zealand: Parliament Buldings, the Beehive in Wellington and the Nelson Cathedral.

stalactites and stalagmites

Andy, Ben and Hannah were really fortunate to go up for a flight over the Kahurangi this time.  They loved it.  They flew past MT Aurthur down to the Karamea on the West Coast before flying back to Motueka.

All Aboard!

Ben and Hannah getting on to the plane.

West coast

Flight to Karamea

The Dancing girls

Hannah and her friends Rebecca, Millie and Emily all performed a hip hop dance at the Mapua Easter Fair.

They were brilliant.  I have to say a BIG THANK YOU to their teacher Emily Tate who runs Dance Inc. at Mapua Hills Community Church.

The start of the performance

The final Pose!

The Fair seemed to be bigger and better this year.  Live bands playing music, children dancing, crafty stalls, plants stalls, great food, and some amazing bargins.  Ben and Hannah had a fantastic time, but our wallet felt very empty at the end of the day!!  They went on the swing ride, the ferris wheel, bumper cars, trampoline (with harnesses) They loved it.

Hannah on the trampolines

Ben on the trampoline

On the go-karts

Ben and Daniel in the Boxing ring

On the wheel

On the wheel

The swing

A short but steep walk from Nelson is the Centre of New Zealand.  Tressa and I had a lovely saturday morning last week.  We walked up to the view point overlooking Nelson.  It was higher than I was expecting and so the view was great.  I would definitely recommend it.

Tressa admiring the view

A view from the top

Centre of New Zealand

We loved this walk as a family.  It was a bit scarey at times with a steep drop on one side , but Ben and Hannah managed it fine.  They loved the swing bridge to cross the river on the way up.  In fact that was their highlight of the walk.

Hannah braving the swing bridge

When we got to the top all the children wanted to do was to dive in and swim under the falls.  It took all our powers of persuation to convince the children that it would safer to take a swim further down stream where the current was not as strong!!  My kids are mad!!!

Under the falls - well as close as we would let them!!

Taking a swim in a safer swimming hole!!

We had to try the famous chocolate shop in Collingwood.  We were  not disappointed !!

Chocolate Shop in Collingwood

The pink cottage is so cute and so is the inside of the shop.  Its exactly what you would expect if you step back into

Outside the Chocolate shop, Collingwood

time.

The kids are already talking about when we go to Collingwood again can we get some more!!

We finished a perfect day when some horseriders very kindly offered the kids a quick walk in Collingwood Domain. They loved it

Horse riding on the Collingwood Domain.

Hannah was so fortunate to have a taster trip on a horse near  Puponga beach. She loved it and we cant wait to do a family trip in the area.  Stunning

Hannah horse riding in Puponga, Golden Bay

Meanwhile the kids found the best surprise ever inside a wacky letter box

What would you expect to find in a letter box??

This get away was fantastic.  We practically had the beach to ourselves which made it perfect for cooking damper on the campfire.  Along with freshly caught rig.  TASTY!

Hannah preparing for the campfire

The sunset was stunning , the pinks and orange colours painted across the sky.

Campfire to cook the damper

In the evening we watched the light house on fair well spit and stared at the stars.

Ben on Pakawau Beach

Breakfast on the beach the next morning – yum!

Ben and Hannah enjoying a cup of tea with breakfast

We spent the afternoon enjoying cups of coffee and wonderful nachos in the cafe. The children enjoyed looking through the telescope and reading about all the whales saved after being beached on fairwell spit

Looking through the telescope