2018 New Zealand Family Trip

There's nothing quite like enforced time in a small space to remind you of your children's strengths.  Jess is our songbird, with an amazing memory for all the songs on our playlists. When the going gets tough, Jess gets singing - and when it gets really rough, she gets the boys singing as well. Andy is our most self contained traveller. He keeps himself to himself and usually has his nose in his Kindle or phone, unless somebody spots a potential new bird ... then the camera comes out ready for action. Lachie is so brave. He is not a happy traveller, and has been sick a couple of times but never complains when it's time to get back in the car. He spends more time staring at the view than the other children, so I think he's actually seeing more of New Zealand than the other two.

What is it that makes islands so special? Perhaps they let us feel as though we can truly step outside our routines to try something new; spaces for experimentation and risk taking. Islands are encapsulated and delineated. They are testing grounds, prisons, sanctuaries, playgrounds. They are proof of travel. Arriving at Inlet View at Dusk Stewart Island , an island below the South Island of New Zealand, has tickled my imagination since I first heard of a merino wool clothing company being located there. I always felt that visiting it would be an adventure. In my imagination, the adversity was the biting cold Antarctic winds and rugged accommodation. In reality, the challenges were my aching calves and sea sickness. The walk to Golden Bay with so many stairs! Breakfasts at Inlet View We stayed at Inlet View , on the recommendation of a friend, and relished the chance to play house on an island. The views of Paterson's Inlet were stunning, however the height required ...

Rain-forests thrust life and death under our noses, with sounds, sights, smells mingling moistly in a glorious cacophony of colours. Death and decay are embraced, not mourned. Leaves rot, naked logs sink into the forest floor, bare branches lurch from dizzy heights to the ground. To stand tall in the rain forest, shed your juvenile leaves and branches. Seek the sun. Don't mourn your cast offs; they are already being subsumed by and nourishing those who need them. Love your neighbours and relish the dance together, weaving a forest fabric. Know that there are strengths in community and diversity.  Relish each joyful moment and seize every opportunity, for tomorrow there may be a rat. Just one rat can change everything. Is our future built on a cycle of death and decay, or will a disruptive predator change everything?

Today we made it over to Ulva Island. It was a relatively short and sweet trip, but we still managed to cover most of the island trails. Lachie was a bit concerned about motion sickness on the ferry, but the inlet was smooth and the ferry was enchanting.  We took the first ferry over in the morning, and headed off down the paths at a reasonable pace to get some distance from the crowds (there were a good dozen of us on the ferry!). The big drawcard for us on Ulva island was the birdlife, and the photographers were snapping away within minutes of heading into the bush.  We saw our first Wekas at Boulder Beach. They were fearless and keen to explore our bags once we put them down. Within minutes, Jess and Lachie had taken off shoes and socks ready for paddling. Mike, Jess and Lachie ended up in swimsuits. Jess and Mike took the plunge into the freezing water, which was apparently quite refreshing. The children were adamant that they wanted to catch the e...

 We found a community fundraiser selling bacon wrapped green lipped mussels so started our walk with a quick snack while the children hung out on the playground and Half Moon Bay beach.  The walk around Half Moon Bay from Oban was nice and flat, but we needed to walk on the road. There aren't many cars on Stewart Island, but the roads are narrow so we were very mindful of passing traffic mixing with carefree children.   We left the road to head over the saddle to Ringaringa beach. It was a steep climb up through quite Australian feeling bush and with a relatively dry path.  As soon as we were heading down the other side the plant life became much lusher.  After a walk along Ringaringa beach, with plenty of stops for bird photography, we found a scramble route up to the path back to Golden Bay.  There was a fair amount of scrambling to get up from the beach, and at the top of the climb I think there were the remnants of an old kitchen ga...