You Really Got a Hold On Me, Part 3 of NZ Trip

   New Zealand was truly amazing. We couldn't get over how uncrowded it was. Less than four million people (although 40 million sheep.) The guidebooks all warned that January was the busy season, but to us, it was quite empty. 
   This next event was something Andy booked while we were still in California, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. It was certainly the activity the girls had been looking forward to the most: horseback riding.
   We'd originally planned to do it on Saturday, but the way our schedule worked out, we needed to switch to Sunday. Turns out that it was fortuitous. The ranch had a large group on Saturday, but just us on Sunday, so we had a private 1.5 hour ride.

 Tessa, one of the owners, picked out nice gentle horses to suit us. Then they saddled up the horses and we headed off for a ride.

View from the horses didn't suck

Alanna's horse getting ready to nip the butt of Alexi's horse

Whoa horsey!

I want to buy a horse!

   After the horse ride, we continued along the "famous" 309 road, which crosses the Coromandel peninsula. Our destination was Waterworks, a "quirky" water-themed park. It was nothing like what you think of when you think water park. No wave pools or water slides. Instead, just crazy inventions and fun things to play on and explore. 

Water wheel made with recycled items

Look ma, I can fly!

The park had two flying foxes, aka zip lines. They were waaaaay fun!

Old-fashioned swimming hole

Three-person swing

   Andy pretty much wants to re-create many of the Waterworks inventions in our backyard someday. There's a video here that shows some of the other gadgets if you're interested.
   Another highlight was our visit to Cathedral Cove, also on the Coromandel peninsula. 

   Miraculously, the girls made it back to the parking lot under their own power i.e., we didn't have to carry them! We were concerned because after the walk there, and lots of water play and swimming, we knew they'd be tired. So Andy and I adopted the divide/conquer/distract approach. We paired up with a child and discussed their next birthday party the whole way back. 
   We felt the long walk without *any* whinging (whining) deserved a treat, so it was ice cream for everyone. Andy headed over to the snack bar, which was manned by a guy from Montana, working in NZ for the summer!
   For our last night, we headed to a serviced campground near Auckland. It made for a relaxed morning where we had plenty of time to get organized, repack, and return the campervan before heading to the airport.

 

   With three flights across the Pacific under their belts, the girls are pros at long-haul flights. When I told them the flight back to Melbourne across the Tasman sea was just four hours, they said "oh, just a short trip." 
   We did make a stop at the duty-free to get some cheap(er) tequila. There's a reason we don't ever make margaritas in Australia! And at the airport in Melbourne, we made a stop to have our shoes cleaned free of charge. Yep, that's what AQIS (Australia Quarantine and Inspection Service) does when you admit that you were on a farm in New Zealand for a horseback ride. 

Back home after a month away

   After living with six people in a small house for a few weeks, then living with four people in a camper van, we couldn't believe how huge our house felt when we walked in the door. After a month of traveling, it was good to be home. And yes, this does feel like our home now. What a difference a year makes!