Green Monkey Adventures

I am a Grandfather

2012-02-08T17:05:00.001+13:00

If you have not caught up with the news I have a grandson, Reyes William Knox, born on 7^th Feb 2012, he weighed 3.4kg and arrived in a hour and 4 mins.

Mother and son are both doing well.

First day in the house

2012-02-04T19:31:00.002+13:00

The cleaning and getting things sorted out, biggest pain so far is the internet connection with slingshot, they messed it up to start with, then it was meant to happen on the 3rd and guess what we are still waiting .. and the TV cannot get digital service so that means freeview does not work, O well its a long weekend so lets relax till Tuesday. Other than all that all good

Move day

2012-02-03T11:48:00.001+13:00

The four years of living in the caravan have come to a end, today at 5pm we take ownership of the house in Levin and move in. The last few years have been lots of fun but its now time to be close to the family and be around for the birth of our first grandchild, which we are looking foreward to.

Last few days here in Paraparaumu

2012-01-23T15:29:00.001+13:00

Will soon pack up the caravan and move to Levin and then into the house ..

On the beach today

2012-01-20T17:25:00.001+13:00

One pufferfish

Wellington railway station

2012-01-18T15:04:00.001+13:00

Spent the day in the city, maybe last time for a while

What a terrible summers day

2012-01-13T19:51:00.000+13:00

Rain, Hail and Wind

Clouds from Te Horo Beach

2012-01-08T17:36:00.002+13:00

With a view of Kapiti Island off Paraparaumu Beach, still a great place ..

Back to Paraparaumu

2012-01-04T20:44:00.002+13:00

To house sit for about 3 weeks, I think this will be the last time we will be living in this area for some time.

Boxing Day Sales

2011-12-29T17:27:00.001+13:00

Managed to get everything we need for the new house and a good price by using the boxing day sales, it all stored and waiting on till we move in next year

Staying Around

2011-12-22T19:25:00.004+13:00

We we be staying around the area for a while, have brought a house in Levin, close to Paraparaumu and easy driving to Wellington.. It has a big drive on which to park the caravan so we will use it as a base for future travels.

It will be quite for a while

2011-12-03T12:48:00.001+13:00

With us being back in the North Island and up at Te Horo not much will happen till I guess around Feb 2012, so updates may be few till then ..
We are still around so if up our way do contact us and drop by ..

Comming back

2011-11-27T12:28:00.001+13:00

On the ferry back to wellington

Arrived Blenheim

2011-11-23T19:42:00.000+13:00

Very windy travelling up the coast will stay for a few days

Around Kaikoura

2011-11-21T17:32:00.002+13:00

But no whales ..

Kaikoura with mountains and one of the locals ..

South Bay with a whale tour boat and whalers bay where in the
old days they processed caught whales ..

Off to whale country

2011-11-19T08:28:00.000+13:00

Next stop is Kaikoura for a few days, maybe we might see a whale ??

Heading to Parnassus

2011-11-18T09:06:00.000+13:00

Another stopover on way back

On the move again

2011-11-15T12:03:00.000+13:00

We have left chch and will spend few days at amberlery beach

Last time in Christchirch

2011-11-13T11:30:00.001+13:00

Coffee by arts centre still not usable after quake

Barrhill, whats left of the village

2011-11-12T12:19:00.002+13:00

Established back in 1870 and the banks of the Rakaia river and sold up in 1900, this is all that's left today

The Church, its still used

The school and school house

Inside the Red Zone

2011-11-05T20:11:00.006+13:00

Even with the few photos you see here you only get a snapshot of the damage the city has suffered.

The route the tour took around the red zone

Grand Chancellor is to be demolished, its on a lean !

The old MOW building, I used to work here

Whats left of the Cathedral

A Closer look at those Sumner Cliffs

2011-11-03T18:21:00.003+13:00

Houses just hanging on the edge, not a good place to be

Sumner cliffs

2011-11-03T11:49:00.001+13:00

And houses on the edge after Christchurch feb quake

Christchurch CBD restart

2011-11-01T10:19:00.001+13:00

The city is comming back

I like Clydesdale's

2011-10-29T19:51:00.003+13:00

Clydesdale's from the Erewhon Station, why back behind Ashburton at
the top of the Rangitata river

Grand Parade

2011-10-29T17:35:00.002+13:00

Ashburton A&P show, the Grand Parade

Back at Ashburton A and P show

2011-10-29T09:48:00.000+13:00

Little River

2011-10-27T14:17:00.000+13:00

Old railway station

Akoroa

2011-10-27T11:25:00.001+13:00

Off to Akoroa

2011-10-27T09:01:00.000+13:00

For the day

Outside Looking In

2011-10-21T13:54:00.005+13:00

Views around the Christchurch CBD Red Zone, where you are still not allowed to go ..
Still very sad to see the city like this..

There where buildings here

Sign says it all

Trapped in Time

Looking towards the square

Tickets booked

2011-10-21T09:09:00.001+13:00

Back to the norrh island first week of December

Tulips

2011-10-20T10:21:00.000+13:00

Christchurch botanical gardens

Arrived at Christchurch

2011-10-11T18:09:00.002+13:00

Easy trip down , parked up just outside the city will be here for about a month will sorting out some genealogy stuff and catching up with family and friends before moving on again

Arrived at Hamner Springs

2011-10-08T13:44:00.001+13:00

Rain, hail,sleet and snow through the Lewis and dull overcast here not nice

Travelling the country in a caravan

Where is the Train !!

2011-10-07T18:43:00.003+13:00

The rail tunnel and bridge at Kawatiri, constructed as part of the railway to Nelson that was never completed

The bridge and looking into the tunnel

In the middle and looking back through the tunnel

Where is the bridge at the other end

Source of the Buller River

2011-10-06T20:14:00.001+13:00

Starts here at Lake Rotoiti, goes pass us here at Murchison and finishes at Westport

Starts here and under the bridge

And over some rapids and away

Looking back upstream to the bridge

Lake Rotoiti Nelson Lakes National Park

2011-10-06T19:18:00.002+13:00

A great day out at the lake

View over the lake and there are fish out there (somewhere)

View from West Bay and someone out trying his canoe with electric motor

Walking around the lake through the beach forest

Made it to Murchison

2011-10-05T15:19:00.001+13:00

All good will stay here for 3 days

travelling the country
www.k-island.com

Californian Quail

2011-10-01T15:56:00.004+13:00

Funny birds, they run fast and are very talkative ..

Summer is here and a Seal Pup

2011-09-30T15:03:00.003+13:00

Maybe the last from Kaiteriteri and great spring day again, the tour boat coming from Nelson and a coffee cruise to Split Apple Rock ...

A wildlife , jellyfish and a cute NZ Fur seal pup taking over the footpath over
the bridge (its a protected animal so you just give it space)

Banded Dotterl

2011-09-27T19:00:00.003+13:00

Out around at Marahau with nesting Banded Dotterl ..

Very hard to find the nest, you have to be careful not to intrude

Its easy to walk down the beach and not see them

We came across two nesting pairs, great to see them (only just)

Time to move

2011-09-23T11:47:00.000+12:00

The awning is down its time to move on so leaving here 4 Oct heading south to Christchurch
Travelling the country in a caravan

And then there where none

2011-09-20T08:32:00.001+12:00

lt looks like the last 2 plover chicks have gone something got them overnight very sad but thats nature

Travelling the country in a caravan

And then there where two

2011-09-19T13:11:00.001+12:00

Found one dead plover chick today and still looking for the orher two
Travelling the country in a caravan

Back to the Riwaka Resurgence

2011-09-18T13:51:00.002+12:00

Had to have another look before we left

The start of the Riwaka river as it comes out from the cave

makes it way down over the rocks and pools

A very special place, to be looked after

Nothing to do with the river but found this bee hive, just to remind me where my
breakfast honey comes from

Hiding and Whitebait

2011-09-16T18:16:00.003+12:00

The whitebait are out and about trying not to get caught, these did not make it

The plover chick hiding in the grass, not wanting to be found my me, I had to be very careful not
to stand on it

Still Three

2011-09-13T13:24:00.002+12:00

That's Spur Winged Plover Chicks

One hard working parent and adventures chick

They are all over the place and having fun ..

Spring

2011-09-09T13:39:00.000+12:00

Blossom
Travelling the country in a caravan

Spur Winged Plover Chicks

2011-09-07T17:53:00.005+12:00

They have arrived, well at least 3 of them little balls of fluff and very hard to see in the grass ..

Parent on the nest and as I get closer it leaves and I see the chicks

Three of them and one egg yet to hatch

Really cute little chicks and well camouflaged in the grass

Fishing - Gannet verses Fishing Trawler

2011-09-01T20:50:00.001+12:00

And who is the best ..

the gannet, starting up high and the streamline dive ..

the splash as it goes in and out again, but no fish !!

bouncing over the water as it gains height and takes off
A hard day fishing ..

The Walk to Flora Hut - Mt Arthur

2011-08-30T20:34:00.004+12:00

A easy walk to Flora hut, passed through old mountain beach forest, lots of bird song, in all a great time

Mt Arthur , is somewhere out there

Little stream

Old mountain beach trees, lots of moss and lichen ..

Flora hut

The car park warden, a very friendly weka (note the bend beak)

Mt Arthur area

2011-08-30T11:16:00.001+12:00

Walk today
Travelling the country in a caravan

Plover Nesting #1

2011-08-23T12:29:00.003+12:00

The sign of spring, we have a plovers nesting in an open ground just by the caravan, I am told that this is a regular thing, so I assume the same pair have have used this spot before ..

Not to impressed when I turned up with the camera so took off and left me with nice pictures of the nest and eggs !!!
I will be watching and updating on the progress, waiting for the chicks to arrive

Parachutes Sky Diving

2011-08-21T17:43:00.003+12:00

Over the weekend here at Motueka there was a gathering of those people who like to jump from perfectly good airplanes

Mind you the view would have been great if you opened your eyes

And safe on the ground ..whew !!!

Lots of Activity in the Camp

2011-08-19T15:25:00.002+12:00

Trees being logged ..

Arch at Dummy Bay

2011-08-14T12:55:00.001+12:00

got there at low tide

Walk to Harwood Hole

2011-08-10T17:48:00.005+12:00

On the way to the area you pass by Canaan Downs, one of the sites where the Lord of the Rings movie was filmed.

Walking through mountain beach forest, keeping a look out for the Robins

Passed snow and a little frozen lake

More snow

Climbing over a karst landscape with limestone formations and sinkholes

And arriving at Harewood's Hole at 183 meters deep

I did not go any closer as the rocks where wet, slippery and covered with ice and snow

Out to Gorge Creek for a great view, once again don't get close to the edge

A great walk and well worth doing

South Island Robin

2011-08-09T17:23:00.003+12:00

Went to Harwood Hole on Takaka Hill (The Marble Mountain) and came across DOC people catching "South Island Robins" for relocation to a predator proof island off the coast of the Abel Tasman National Park

Little bags with the Robins waiting to be processed

Being checked, measured and data recorded

Male robin not impressed with what has happened to him

Cape Farewell, Wharariki Beach and Fossil Point

2011-08-04T13:55:00.004+12:00

Cape Farewell, northern most point of the South Island

and the one seal enjoying the surf

Heading out to Wharariki Beach, took the wrong turn and ended up with lots of sheep

Got to the beach and found all of these arched rocks and islands

If it had been at low tide we could have walked back along the beach
a fantastic place

Fossil Point beach, the start of Farewell Spit

the split is a closed area (nature reserve) so you can only go
further as part of guided tours

and sunset over Farewell Spit

Back after a great day

2011-08-04T08:32:00.001+12:00

Got to the bottom of Farewell Spit (Fossil Point) as well as Wharariki Beach, what a great place with the rock archs took lots of pics so keep a look out for them

Cape Farewell

2011-08-03T14:17:00.000+12:00

Northern most part of south islan

travelling the country
www.k-island.com

Collingwood

2011-08-03T10:04:00.000+12:00

On way to farewell spit

travelling the country
www.k-island.com

Fat Boy

2011-08-01T20:38:00.002+12:00

Kereru (New Zealand Pigeon)
Big fat bird with a small head, heavy flight with slow
whooshing wingbeats, crashing clumsily through
the branches ..

1st August

2011-08-01T10:37:00.000+12:00

And what a great day in Nelson

Sent from my Nokia phone

NZMCA Winterovers at Bethany Park Kaiteriteri

2011-07-31T16:42:00.005+12:00

A collection of motorhomes (big and small), caravans and 5th-wheelers parked up at Bethany Park in Kaiteriteri.
Having a great time living here with such a great climate and fantastic views down at the beach and close to the Abel Tasman National Park.

How to relax ...

Suzies Birthday BBQ Winterovers at Bethany Park Kaiteriteri

2011-07-30T15:43:00.019+12:00

Birthday Girl ...

Out with the Birds

2011-07-29T11:57:00.005+12:00

Walk around the Motueka Sand Spit at the Raumanenic Reserve and found the following birds
Even with the big 500mm lens a little bit of coping had to be done as to get a good look at them

Spoonbill, love that beak ...

Pied Oyster-catcher and some Kingfishers and Cormorant

Banded Dotteril (NZ native) a very small bird which gets lost in the rocks

Grey Heron and Pied Stilt

A closer look at the light dusting of snow

2011-07-25T13:55:00.002+12:00

Not much but according to the locals first time for 25 years that there has been snow here ??

We have snow

2011-07-25T09:27:00.001+12:00

Just a dusting on the hills behind us

A slow weekend ....

2011-07-24T14:51:00.002+12:00

Even for the oyster catchers

Riwaka Resurgence

2011-07-16T19:33:00.004+12:00

The water comes down through the rocks and into the cave system
and out to become the Riwaka river

As it comes out of the rock face

and into the crystal pool

and continues down the river,

Out in Tasman Bay

2011-07-15T10:18:00.002+12:00

A Oil drilling ship and support vessel ..

I wonder what they are here for ??

Support boat

Drilling boat

Nelson from On High

2011-07-14T21:00:00.002+12:00

On the hills over looking ..

Haulashore Island (good place for pirates)

Down into the port area with(from the left) -
Fifeshire Rock, Haulashore Island and the Boulder Bank with is about
14km in length. To get ships into the port the bank was blasted to provide
a channel

Look way over to Kaiteriteri and Abel Tasman National Park

Tahuna Camp Ground and on into Richmond area

and Tahuna Beach

In Nelson

2011-07-14T12:11:00.000+12:00

rain just starting again after a fine morning

travelling the country
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Rain and Thunder

2011-07-09T13:12:00.001+12:00

I guess we are inside for the day :-(

Here Lies the Janie Seddon

2011-07-05T20:12:00.002+12:00

A abandoned and rusting hulk, home for seagulls in the Motueka harbour

Mid Winter Swim

2011-07-03T17:43:00.003+12:00

Just lots of hardy people as the temperature was down at -2 this morning

First in and the rest follow

Hardy kids and people getting out fast

This is the way to go
And just to say I did not go in ...

Lunch at the Boathouse

2011-06-30T13:17:00.000+12:00

Girls leaving so we will be by ourselves again

travelling the country
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Walk to Tinline Bay

2011-06-29T19:26:00.003+12:00

A little walk into Abel Tasman National Park

A Coastal walk about 30 minutes ..

A arch and a nice little beach

Made friends with a fantail and meat a pied oystercatcher

Abel Tasman National Park

2011-06-28T15:44:00.004+12:00

A great trip up and down the coastline of Abel Tasman National Parks

The boat we traveled on and people out there with kayaks

Islands and the rocky coast

Big boulders and Split Apple Rock

Fantastic beaches with not a person on them

Views to die for and some wild life (seal colony)
We had a great time..

Boat Trip Abel Tasman National Park

2011-06-28T09:22:00.001+12:00

Great trip yesterday, will add some photos when I process them

Out and About in Takaka

2011-06-26T21:41:00.004+12:00

View from Takaka Hill looking over Tasman Bay

Here we are a Pupu Springs, the water is very clear
It is a sacred site for the Maori

And there was a Kotuku in the trees

Road Tunnel at Tarakohe, if you look really close (left photo) you will see the climber
way at the top

Tata bay

2011-06-26T13:58:00.000+12:00

travelling the country
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Way to Wet

2011-06-18T15:27:00.001+12:00

Nothing but rain, the camping ground is under water, we are OK so far very wet under the awning

Split Apple Rock

2011-06-17T14:58:00.003+12:00

Just up the road is this rather large "apple looking" rock !!

Split down the middle, home for cormorants, and sitting in this beautiful bay

Looking both ways up and down the bay ..
Next time I go there I will have to make it low tide and one
might be able to get to the rock ..

Its a Wet Queens Birthday Weekend

2011-06-04T14:35:00.003+12:00

So here are some flowers from the camping ground to cheer us all up
They are a tree Dahlia according to Gill

I guess looking at them is better than looking at the rain ...

Out and About Today

2011-06-03T13:50:00.004+12:00

Views from walking around today ..

Kaiteriteri Bay with the water taxi ready to depart for heading up
to the bays in the Able Tasman National Park

Little Kaiteriteri Beach , Dummy and Stephens Bay

Rock Arch at Dummy Bay and looking way up towards Able Tasman National
Park

View for Winter

2011-05-27T20:10:00.002+12:00

Looking up and down Kaiteriteri Beach

Do you not wish you where here ...

In a storm

2011-05-26T18:25:00.000+12:00

Thunder, lighting and torrendtial rain at present
Tvs out due to rainfade

travelling the country
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Made it to Kaiteriteri

2011-05-24T15:43:00.002+12:00

And getting the caravan setup, took ages for to get TV setup could not find the satellite, I hate when I have to spend ages doing this !!!!!! Awning will go up tomorrow or next fine day ..

The Ripeoff cost of Mobile Broadband

2011-05-23T20:49:00.004+12:00

One of the down sides of living in the caravan and moving from place to place here in New Zealand is the lack of decent mobile broadband and what is available is overpriced and and slow. Moving to Kaiterieri meant we had to go looking for a internet connection and really there are only two providers, Vodafone and Telecom. Vodafone where out as they did not have 3G coverage so that left Telecom, so there cheapest 3G prepay option was a t-stick for $99 (3.6Mpbs, average of 1.5Mpbs) and $61.06 for 2GB a month so cal this FAST internet is a joke !!!!!
Had to get it otherwise no internet !!!!!

On the Move Again

2011-05-22T19:32:00.003+12:00

The awning is down and we are ready to move to Kaiterieri on Tuesday ...

Nelsons Historic Houses

2011-05-20T16:15:00.002+12:00

A couple of the big original houses in the area ..

and fantastic grounds to go with them

Birds and Boats

2011-05-17T15:47:00.006+12:00

Down on Tahuna Beach with ships in Tasman Bay and Pied Oyster Catchers, first time I have seen that many on the beach

It just keeps on raining

2011-05-15T12:04:00.001+12:00

and blowing a gale overnight , with any luck its left us and heading north ...

More from Tahuna Beach Holiday Park

2011-05-08T20:40:00.015+12:00

Its a big place over 800 sites, but very empty at this time of year, over Christmas I am told its
flat out

Lots of cabins and motels, I would not enjoy cleaning here..

There are lots of caravans and motor homes left on site, saves towing them when you come on holiday

Permanent sites about 100, interesting to see so many people living here

Views to Tahuna Beach and estuary, very nice to walk the area at low tide

Vintage Austin Motor Vehicles

2011-05-08T16:39:00.010+12:00

A Austin owners rally here at the camp, lots of funny little British cars, hard to imagine driving around in one of these ..

I like this end one think its a "Riley"

Round and About at Tahuna Beach Motor Camp

2011-05-06T18:46:00.004+12:00

Just a few taken outside the caravan looking at who's here, the view changes daily on depending who arrives

Here are all setup

There are lots of permanents about 100 sites

Caravan all wrapped up for winter, will be moved off site to the storage area

Its Quite

2011-05-03T16:16:00.000+12:00

Not much happening at present, its dull and overcast today so cannot get out for a walk.
Does not seem like much work here, but still looking ...
Most exciting thing today is tracking down the ants that have taken up residence in the caravan and working out how to evict them :-)