Holiday photo gallery of New Zelaand life

Ouch. Al with his head injury from a recent rollerblading accident. Looks like he will be wearing a helmet when he heads out on his rollerblades next time.


Gabe having fun during a scenic rest stop.  Then, it was time to get back in the car.




Em and Mo were enjoying the girl time together.



Watch out for the big drop off.

More photos of family day at dam dropping

Photo Gallery of Dam Dropping

Beach time at shipwreck and fishing

Family photos of canyon climbing

Here Mo goes down the canyon. She was climbing like a pro with the family cheering her on. It was a fun filled day of action packed activity for our family. Gabe was rearing to go first down the canyon stream with no fear. Looks like we are getting hooked on ecotouring, ala New Zealand extreme adventures.

Look out below! Mo was snaking her way down the canyon stream with Alec at the lower level. Al was up above watching her tackle the descent thru the mountain stream and rocky ledges.


Capturing the moment with Al and Alec. He was surprised that his parents and younger siblings could keep up. New Zealand is full of extreme adventures for those that are young or young at heart.


After the day long experience, we were tramping our way out thru the back country bush. What an exhilarating time together. Oh, those family adventures in New Zealand!

Eco-tour of the New Zealand Canyon

Here were more photos from our second time of rappelling. Our neighbor, Tran, was our adventure guide for our family. We had previously planned a two day summit of Mount Taranki with Tran. However, the mountain top was closed to climbers because of snow conditions at the top. After a family conference, we decided to head out with Tran for a back country rappelling adventure. Tran promised an incredible action packed day. It was a great day of our family bonding in New Zealand.

The boys were getting excited for the second day of rappelling. Earlier in the week, we had spent 4 hours descending spider like down into the black abyss at St. Benedict's cavern. On this day trip, Alec was leading the way into the back country. The guys were getting fired up. There was no turning back as we were in the middle nowhere. It was about an 1 1/2 hr drive, north of our home in Oakura.

Al was snaking his way down the mountain stream thru the canyon. This was the only way down as the country side was full of dense bush. There were no other climbers during our day long journey. Usually, Alec climbed down first and he held the ropes at the bottom. Tran was at the upper level where he helped the climbers get into position for the downward climb.


Here was Al living the good life! He worked his way down the canyon and thru the beautiful waterfall. The mountain stream was crystal clear and freezing cold. Our wet suits and all the physical activity kept us warm during the day long climb.

The girls chillin out before the next climb down. It had been a perfect day for our family with lots of adrenaline filled activity and time together. We were having the time of our life together. Just luvin' the adventure as a family in the incredible country of New Zealand.

Rappelling in Waitomo Caves

Alec and Emily flew into Auckland ahead of schedule on Dec. 23, 2009. They breezed thru NZ customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing Departments to hit the ground running. We are a happy bunch of Americans who have spent our holiday having an action packed adventure. One memorable day was spent in Waitomo with cave exploring. I really cannot believed I signed us up for rappelling at the caves with the glowworms. After, some some extra encouragement. I dropped 60 feet into the cave. Then it was onward into another 60 foot drop. The zip line was a piece of cake after the rappelling. By the end of the day, I could keep up with the best of them. Of course Alec, Em, and Gabe were luvin' it all.

A Kiwi Christmas on the beach and in the bush

Alec and Mo sharing the moment at the Oakura beach. We had a traditional Kiwi Christmas dinner and then headed down to the Tasman sea.


Alec tackling the waves with the boogie boad on Christmas Day at the beach



Alec and Em getting ready for the day adventure of rappelling in the NZ canyons. What a rush.




The three kids having a blast while the five us spent the day rappelling in the gorgeous canyons. Everyone was shocked when I agreed to go along on the second day of reppelling in the canyons after surviving the previous day at Waitomo.

Rappelling down the canyons in the NZ mountains

Emily rappelling down the NZ canyon like a pro.


Gabe has no fear and eagerly reppelled down the cliffs and canyons.
We spent the day with our neighbor, Tran, as our guide. We followed the river down the mountain side on a four hour journey.


Gabe is enjoying the moment in the fresh mountain stream before his turn as we worked our way down the mountain side.

Alec with the surf board asfter a day of lessons with our friendly Kiwi neighbor. Gabe was right there in the mix of things as he was not going to let ALec show him up on the surf board.

Ho Ho Ho from Taranaki

What does Christmas mean in Oakura for us:


M--Mount Taranaki climb to the top (weather permitting) when Alec and Em get here on Dec. 23, 2009


E--Eggs from free range chickens and lots of gluten free food for Alan


R--Rudolf the red nosed reindeer song and other favorite songs from the States on the New Plymouth radio station


R--Running outside on the beach with Al in the spring season of New Zealand and not digging out from the Dec. 2009 blizzard back home in Cedar Rapids, IA


Y--YIPPEE cuz Gabe has graduated from year 8 at Oakura primary school on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009 and he will be in high school next Feb. at New Plymouth Boy's High School




C--Counting down the days till Al is on vacation from the hospital next Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 and the Christmas celebration of baby Jesus


H--Happy times with the Base Hospital Staff at the unit Christmas Party and new friends of Oakura at Butler's Reef


R--Reading books with the ladies from the Oakura Bookclub for Mo


I--Into surfing lessons, swimming in the Tasman Sea, kayaking, tennis, barbeques, and family adventures for the holiday


S--Sweet dreams of Fiji for 10 days at Shagri-La Resort and a private ocean side villa in Jan. 2010 at the world's best soft coral coast (although we heard that 2 people were killed there today by Typhoon Mick).


T--Telephone calls in the early am (one day ahead in NZ time zone)via Skype to all those dearly loved family and friends we miss


M--Merry times in New Zealand with Gabe and 8 years students at dam dropping from boogie boards and kayaks over the 30 ft. high dam (Yes, I survived to tell the story)


A--Arrival of our much missed Alec and Emily whom we abandoned back in USA but did not forget


S--Success at completing our written diving test and waiting for calm sea for open water dives with Kevin, our New Zealand dive instructor

Here I am having a blast at dam dropping