Well it was a whirl wind trip back home to Nelson. One week of hanging out with the family and giving Mandy her dose of kiwiana (general term used to include all things typical of New Zealnd). It’s all been go, an action packed kiwi experience and it didn’t involve a green bus full of drunken rooting tourists (don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a bus load of drunken rooting tourists).

Mandy, myself and sister Jarnia did an overnight tramp (trek) into Lake Rotoiti, which was awesome, Jarnia and I relived our childhood and Mandy got to experience New Zealand’s native bush. The rain didn’t hinder our spirits but rather added to the Lord of the Rings middle earth feel with the mist hanging around the mountains. The battering rain on the tin roof of the hut made us appreciate the wood smoked heat being pumped out by the huts fire.

We finished the tramp by jumping in the lake, and oh my god it was cold, I’m still peeing ice cubes! I suppose we should have expected it to be cold considering there was a sprinkling of snow on the surrounding mountains.

After coming back from Lake Rotoiti we were off for an old fashioned family road trip. Mum and dad up front and the kids in the back seat, only difference being, we didn’t have to stop for me to spew and we weren’t complaining about the driving, but rather savouring the beautiful green landscape unfolding before our eyes.

Golden bay was the stage for Mandy’s kiwi experience road trip. The main actors in the kiwi experience play were: sheep, a venison pie, a good ‘ol kiwi farm bach (holiday house), seals, hokey pokey ice cream, an All Blacks rugby game, greenstone and paua shell jewery, and numerous local beers and wine etc. The Golden Bay landscape of rolling green farm land falling away into rugged coast line being consumed by the crashing waves was the perfect setting.

Before we knew it, it was time to pack up and head back up to Auckland for our flight to Argentina.