Today we drove to Kaikoura, a beautiful beach town on the east coast. Andy and I went kayaking to see the fur seals. As you can see in the pictures below we were up close and personal. It was great fun to watch them groom themselves and swim right up to us.
We are staying at the Old Mill B & B and they had bikes for us to use in the wine fields.
This was the view from the ferry as we came into Picton.
We left Rotorua this morning on our way to Wellington. We stopped by Huka Falls...quite amazing. In Wellington we took the cable car to the top of the mountain where we walked through the botanical gardens. It is a beautiful city...much like Hong Kong. We leave from here to take the ferry to the South Island.
This is a geyser that goes off at 10:15 every morning with a little help from some soap that the ranger puts in. Evidently it breaks the surface tension and allows it to start. It would erupt without it but this way it goes on schedule.
It looks very much like Yellowstone in areas.
In the afternoon we went for a hike in the "California Redwood Forest" that was planted in 1901.
Today the Frazier's and we landed in Auckland, New Zealand. We picked up a car and drove to Rotorua. We visited the old bath house that is now a Museum. Very interesting tour and the flowers in town are beautiful.
This was also Sophie's six month birthday as we celebrated her baptism on Sunday. Grandparents Steve and Randa were there along with Uncle Jim and cousin Mackenzie.
This was the dress that Karin and Audrey was also wore for theirs.
We started a tradition in the Fiore family by taking Scott houseboating when he was 6 months old and it has continued with Cole, Audrey, Mackenzie and now with Sophie. The flags on the boat are for each houseboat trip at Lake Powell starting in 1975. Steve and Randa where with us as well.
Steve, Andy, Audrey and Reilly enjoyed kayaking in the afternoon.
A traditional hike was made to Rainbow Bridge.
