ClanWilliamss Blog on RealTravel

Christchurch journal: Spring is in the air...

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 23:20:13 GMT

Cathy has hijacked the blogg after a far too lengthy discussion regarding its new set-up.

I am getting a little insight into the William's new life which, fights and tantrums aside, has changed considerably.

Jessica's culinary expertise has been warming my palate for these past few months and our wee family dinner chats are going down a treat.

Evan has been doing quite a bit of driving in order for me to find my bearings and get to know the breathtaking area which surrounds Christchurch. Most of the pictures which I have included are from the Bank's Peninsula (on the other ...

Christchurch journal: New House!

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 04:31:49 GMT

Some much promised photos that we wanted to share. This is the end of week 2 in our new house. We feel that we can finally relax and just enjoy everyday life with no big plans (particularly of moving!!) for the next wee while. We have been on the go since last April and we were quite tired.

This house feels just right, and we have settled in like we have always have been here. We'ver had visits from neighbours with muffins and more importantly wine....There are twin girls right next door the same age as Megan and they happen to be the Aunty and Uncle of one of Luca's best friends at ...

New Zealand journal: 2007 Christchurch

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 04:18:21 GMT

The year's photos and stories.

Dunedin journal: Trip to Dunedin

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 16:52:57 GMT

We had arranged to go to Dunedin this past weekend to keep Evan company while he played in the national championships with the Manawatu Pipeband that he has joined. They did not play out of respect for their pipe major's dad who passed away last weekend. We decided to go to Dunedin in any case as Evan wanted to meet up with his friend Paul who now lives in Sydney but had travelled over for the contest.

We stopped on the way on the beach at the Mouraki Boulders just as the sun was coming up. The sea is amazingly clean, pretty deserted and with long streches of white sand.

We were ...

Christchurch journal: New House, New job, New Life, New Zealand (sorry...)

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 02:40:42 GMT

We have been telling you all what is going on so I wont write too much. I just wanted to send you these photos so you could maybe vaguely get an idea of what we are up to and where we are.

The World journal: Settling In- down from the clouds!

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 02:36:30 GMT

We will continue to use this website to keep you all updated on our news. Very lazy but I think realistic.

Auckland journal: Auckland

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:39:51 GMT

It took as longer than expected to arrive in Auckland and we arrived at Belinda and Dirk’s house after lunch. I was so excited I was an even worse navigator than normal. I saw them from the top of the hill as we were driving down and I couldn’t believe how much the Alyssa and Liam have changed since we saw them last. They are such nice kids and Megan and Luca have had a ball emptying the toy boxes and playing with them. We have had an amazing Christmas, with Belinda’s parents Wilf and Jan, and Dirk’s parents Anne and Hermann, his brother Paul and his wife Debs and their son Matthew. Belinda ...

Bay of Islands journal: Bay Of Islands

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:03:19 GMT

We crossed over from West coast to East towards Paihia and Waitangi, where the famous Treaty of Waitangi was signed. It was basically a treaty signed by the Maori which allowed the British to buy land which the Maori wished to sell in exchange for protection. (!!!!!!!!). It is a hugely complicated matter but it is true that part of the problem was the fact that many parts of the treaty were lost in translation. On the other hand it is simple in the sense that as expected the British did not keep their end of the bargain and they ended up with most of the land (some by suspect means). It is in ...

Northland journal: Northland

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 01:21:27 GMT

Talking about setting roots……

We drove past Auckland towards Northland. This whole area on the western side is pretty much rolling hills and farmland, with pockets of native woods. We stopped first at the Kauri Museum. This lovely museum is dedicated to the Kauri Tree, a gigantic species of tree Native to New Zealand, which is only rivaled in size by the Sequoias (or giant Redwoods) of California. These did, not so long ago cover the areas which I earlier described as farmland, but were basically almost all chopped down except for an area known as the Kauri Forest Reserve. The museum is ...

Coromandel Peninsula journal: Coromandel Peninsula

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:18:46 GMT

We went to the place Megan had memorized from some leaflets she had seen in Scotland, Cathedral Cove, Mercury Bay. The eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula is full of secluded white sandy beaches, turquoise waters contrasted with the red flowers of the Pohutakawa Trees which grow all over the area, it makes for some amazing contrasting colours.

Evan rented some snorkeling equipment and swam out at Gemstone Bay, part of a Marine Reserve that surrounds that whole area. I tried it out, but the breathing is very strange and as soon as I saw the darker waters beyond the rocks I started ...

Rotorua journal: Rotorua

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 23:56:21 GMT

I find myself having to look over the map to retrace our steps and actually remember in what order we did things, but that could have nothing to do with the amount of amazing things we have done and seen, and everything to do my appalling memory!

From Taupo, where we spent 3 days, we drove north to a place called the Hidden Valley, on the shores of a beautiful lake whose name completely escapes me. (See what I mean!). A short 5 minute crossing on a boat takes you to a place known as Orakei Korako. It is an amazing spot, full of again, steaming Geysers, smelly mud pools, and a cute little ...

Lake Taupo journal: Lake Taupo

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:04:48 GMT

On Sunday we drove about 250kms to the shores of Lake Taupo, pretty much bang in the centre of the North Island. We arrived really late to a lovely campsite where the kids have spent the day swimming and making friends, and enjoying themselves.

Today I have a chronic case of Cabin Fever and I am going round like a bear with a sore paw. Hopefully everyone will ignore me and not pick a fight! (I am in the mood for one…oh the dark clouds are looming ever closer…tomorrow is another day. I am off to bed, it’s the only sensible thing to do.)

Well, needless to say sometimes all you need ...

Taranaki journal: Taranaki

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:01:57 GMT

Today we are in Hawera, in Taranaki, spending a couple of nights with Evan’s friend Andy. We had a lovely bbq last night, braving the wind and the downpours (more your typical Scottish one!) and got an early night as both Andy and Evan had an early start to make it to a pipe-band competition in Palmerston North. The kids and I had big intentions of driving along the coast but the winds are so strong that I am not brave enough to attempt driving our top-heavy campervan. Evan spent the afternoon yesterday snaking around the SH45 in the wind, so a quiet day it is!. Yes…I know it’s a bit pathetic!

Tongariro National Park journal: Tongariro National Park

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 12:53:04 GMT

Next we drove up the Kapiti Coast towards Tongariro National Park. The road follows the ocean for a while and then turns inland past rolling green hills and farmland, becoming flatter as you drive north. When you finally see the snowy peaks of the volcanoes sticking out into the sky, you are aware of something really powerful. It really isn’t surprising that this was such a sacred area for the Maori people. The 3 peaks stretch north pointing to the direction of the faultline which created them. The whole area was the first in New Zealand to be given the status of National Park in 1887 when a ...

Blenheim journal: Blenheim

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 12:49:56 GMT

This past week we’ve had a brilliant time. We went to Blenheim, just south of Picton and tasted some delicious white wines from the Marlborough Region, famous for its Sauvignon Blanc, and would have had many glasses more if we weren’t driving! We also had some yummy green-lipped mussells from Havelock near Picton.

We explored Picton and did a little walk up one of the hills on the side of the harbour after eating a huge bowl of green lipped mussels. We missed the path going down and ended up walking much longer than we thought much to everyone’s disgust (it was very hot and mid ...

Wellington journal: Wellington

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 12:42:53 GMT

We crossed over from Picton to the North Island on the Ferry (enormous beast that swayed nicely across the waves of the Cook Strait) to Wellington. It was pretty grey on the first day, but when we woke up early the next day (YES! You heard right, early! although we have been setting the alarm clock and doing about 20 snooze button presses!), we were rewarded with lovely sunshine and we headed into the city to explore. We spent most of the day at the amazing Museum of New Zealand, or Te Papa. So much to see and so interesting and well laid out that we didn’t get to see nearly all of it but the ...

New Zealand journal: Campervan Trip around NZ

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:40:13 GMT

3 Williams, 1 Bazzarelli, 2 Islands, 1 month in 1 nice cozy campervan!

Abel Tasman National Park journal: Abel Tasman N.P.

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:35:55 GMT

We arrived yesterday at Kaiteriteri, a gorgeous bay on the fringes of the Able Tasman National Park, emerald green waters ….I guess the photo speaks for itself. Megan and Luca loved it here. Megan especially is a real sea baby.

Today we took a Sea Taxi, since there are no roads that lead into most of the park, and got dropped off at a beautiful beach, from where we started an amazing 3 hour hike along the mountains and the sea to another bay where we would be picked up. It wasn’t a hard walk, but it was certainly fairly long for the kids, but they had an amazing time. Megan only ...

West Coast journal: West Coast

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:34:27 GMT

Once you reach the western side the vegetation changes completely, arid rolling landscape gives way to lush dense forest. The mountains act as a barrier for the clouds and so all the rain falls on the western side, hence a temperate rainforest. I have never made it to southern Chile but I am quite sure it vaguely resembles this. As far as mountain passes goes it was very gentle and not too hard to drive, although I am saying this from a passenger point of view. Very few people about and even less traffic. I am glad we came at this time of the year before the tourist season really gets ...

Hanmer Springs journal: Hanmer Springs

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:33:37 GMT

We crossed to the west coast via the Lewis Pass, over the fertile Canterbury plains and across the mountains. We stopped at a little town called Hanmer Springs and spent ages in the natural warm pools. The kids were particularly impressed with the stinky sulphur ones (“eggy smell” as Luca described it)! We felt like new after that and slept like babies at the side of a river somewhere.

Marlborough journal: Marlborough and Picton

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:33:03 GMT

That makes me want to note that a lot of the landscapes I’ve seen in NZ is similar to that in Scotland only bigger and hence more dramatic. We finally came upon a lovely little campsite by the waters edge and have had a good meal and some nice hot showers – off to bed ;-)

Jeez – December already – I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to work – I think I’ll actually be glad to start work again when the time comes (8th Jan has been the date set – I decided to join HP and I’m really excited to be working for an innovative and respected company). Anyway – today we drove around the ...

Nelson journal: Nelson

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:27:43 GMT

Had a lie-in today which was nice – it’s amazing how the simple things in life are more appreciated when you’re camping (yummy – warm toast with boysenberry jam and hot coffee!). We then headed in to Nelson – the main town at the top of the South Island. We had seen a plug from Billy Connolly for a museum in Nelson on his NZ tour TV documentary so we decided to check it out – its called the World of Wearable Art (WOW) and its coupled with the Museum of Collectable Cars (a rather odd couple at that). Anyway – both sections were brilliant – some real beauties in the car section with good ...

Christchurch journal: First Steps

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:09:51 GMT

We arrived in New Zealand on the 4th of November, very jetlagged but soooo excited. Luca woke up at 2am (after sleeping for only 3 hours) asking for his lunch!!!. We stayed in Ohoka, 25 minutes north of Christchurch, in an Olive Farm for the first 3 weeks. Dave and Jackie were amazing to us and their advice was invaluable!

We spent those 3 weeks driving around and getting a feel for the place. The city itself is lovely. It has some gorgeous Botanic Gardens in the middle, where the river Avon runs through, you can go canoeing or punting. The kids had a great time splashing on some outdoor ...

Benoni journal: Luca's Birthday

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 13:59:31 GMT

We had a great 3 weeks in South Africa, enjoying the sun and catching up on some quiet time, which we really needed. Megan and Luca had a ball swimming and being spoilt by auntie Lynesey. Luca had his 5th birthday party there and it was lovely to share it with Evan’s family. We also went to the wedding of Craig and Robyn – some friends of Evan’s from university which was in a lovely setting in the Cradle of Humankind heritage site.