This has been a busy but fun week. Doctor’s office visits with missionaries, the usual phone calls/texts/emails, lunch with the sister training leaders in my area, and dinner with some elders in my area.
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| Sisters Kehoe and Crooks at a Korean restaurant for lunch |
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| Dinner with Elders Fukofuka and Ismaya and their friend, Ryan, at a Japanese restaurant |
To make the week even better, Jim and Jenna arrived on Friday early morning. I had a Zone Conference that day and a post-surgery follow-up doctor’s appointment with a missionary on Friday so Jim and Jenna toured city center Auckland.
After my responsibilities were completed, we drove north to begin our Northland adventures. I have many pictures and will post links that will give you better descriptions of the places and things we saw than I could give. However, just let me say that the sights were amazing. We stayed Friday night in Whangarei.
Saturday morning after a bagel breakfast, we drove to Whangarei Falls and had a nice walk and seeing the sights around the falls. You may read about the falls.
After the falls we visited Kiwi North where we were able to watch live kiwi birds. They are kept in a natural enclosed habitat. They are sensitive to light and sounds so were were in a darkened hallway with windows where we could observe the kiwis, a male and a female, as they came out of the burrows. We had to wait quite some time to see them. We only got a glimpse one time and a little better view another time but it was worth the wait to see them. We couldn’t take pictures of the live kiwi because it was too dark and the lights of the phone would keep them in their burrows.
Read about Kiwi North.
Read about the kiwi bird.
From there we drove to Kawiti Caves where we were guided into the caves by a friendly and entertaining Maori guide whose family owns the property and caves. We learned about the history of the caves and were able to view the wonders of the glow worms. It was truly amazing! No cameras/pics allowed inside the caves. Read about the caves and the inhabitants.
Our next destination was 90 Mile Beach near Kaitaia. Our goal was to watch the sun set over the Tasman Sea. Couldn’t have been more spectacular.
We stayed in Kaitaia and I went to church there Sunday morning. After church we headed to Cape Reigna which is the northwesternmost tip of the North Island of New Zealand.
Once again we were not disappointed!
Sunday evening we found ourselves in the Bay of Islands where we stayed in Paihia for the night.
Monday morning we went to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Museum. We had a guided tour of the grounds and learned much Maori history and culture from our guide. We learned of the significance of the treaty signed there and watched a cultural performance.
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| Maori war canoe |
Guide explaining the treaty
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| Maori Meeting House and cultural performance |
Interior of the Meeting House
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| Fish and chips lunch on way back to Takapuna |
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| Colorful chickens at a scenic overlook |
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| Looking down into the Bay of Islands from the mountain top |
We returned to Takapuna Monday afternoon so that Jim and Jenna could do laundry and prepare for their departure early Tuesday morning to South Island where they will spend a couple of days before going to Australia.
I have learned so much this weekend in Northland and saw indescribable beauties of the land. I know that I have told you in past blog posts that I know I am blessed beyond measure. Having Jim and Jenna here, traveling with them, being with the missionaries and recognizing God’s hand in every aspect of my life is truly a blessing.
I love my Savior and I love you my family and friends.
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| Anyone know what this pod-like thing is growing on the palm tree? |
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