Otepatotu

Spring is well and truly here and the mercury soared past 20 today so we packed the boys in the car and set off. After an hour of near-vomit-inducing driving on winding, twisty hill-top roads we turned into the car park of the Otepatotu reserve.

Akaroa Harbour from the Summit Road

 

 
 


After a quick picnic lunch in the sun we climbed a short steep track to a lookout with glorious views out over Akaroa harbour.

 

The last of the winter snow clings to the distant Alps

Then we climbed further up to the summit of Laverick's Peak with more stunning views. Although a little hazy we could clearly see all the way to the snow-capped Kaikouras, a few hours to the north.

Weeping moss hanging down from the trees in the 'goblin forest' part of the walk. The rough translation for Otepatotu is 'place of the fairies'

Okains Bay

 

After descending back down to the car park we drove round the Summit Road and down the hill to Akaroa to play on the beach before fish and chips for tea.

On the way down to Akaroa

Playing on the beach at Akaroa

Lantern Festival

The same weekend as our bike ride there was the annual Lantern Festival. Held for the last two years in Hagley Park as the usual site of Victoria Square has been out of action since the quakes, it's a really colourful and popular festival, if a bit of a late night for the boys.

 

The Year of the Snake

 

 

Some hippos in the river

 

 

Bike Ride

As we sit here as autumn draws in and we think about starting the fire for the first time this year, it's about time I updated with a few things we have done this summer. It's been great weather all summer (unless you're a farmer, in which case the correct term is drought!) so we've been able to get out and about lots.

We went for a ride around Mcleans Island bike track, a 10K track just outside Christchurch.

Ewan eager to get started

 Big brother all set to lead the way

 Finlay happy to take a back seat

 

 And a war wound to show off!

 

Adrenalin Forest

Now that we're in the upside down hemisphere Cameron's birthday is in the middle of the summer holidays. So his birthday, while very good, was a fairly quiet affair. Now that the boys are back at school we got a few of his friends together and took them to Adrenalin Forest, just outside Christchurch where there are various courses that wind through the trees via wires, ladders and flying foxes.
Cameron and Gabriel all harnessed up and ready to go

 Across the first wire, starting off low

 Cameron and Max safely  make it to the next platform

 No nerves as the height increases...

 

Cameron's 10th Birthday

A few weeks ago Cameron turned 10 (10!!. How the hell did that happen!!). We went to friends in Loburn, north of Christchurch, who have a lifestyle block out in the country. It was another scorching hot day so after playing in the garden for a while we drove to a local swimming hole to cool off. Then back to their house for cake.
Cameron starts the day with presents

 Ewan makes friends with Bailey

 Finlay cools off with some ice water

....while the other boys use the sprinkler

 Then off to the clear waters of the swimming hole

 Ewan takes a dip

....and so does Cameron...

 Back for cake

 Three very tired boys on the way home!

Summer at the beach

The last few weeks have been hot, very hot. Thankfully nowhere near the 40C+ they are getting in Australia but pleasantly in the high 20s most days. So we've taken the boys to the beach a couple of times recently. Cameron is really enjoying surfing on the waves on his board (albeit very small waves so far!)

First we spent an afternoon at Sumner beach
Finlay heads for the water with his board

 Then straight back out again!

Cameron enjoys the surf

 Ewan warms up after an afternoon in the sea

A couple of days later we went to Taylor's Mistake, a small beach in the next bay over the hill from Sumner.

 The boys see how it's meant to be done

On the way back we stopped of for hot chocolate at Scarborough just as the wind started to get up. Made for some great surf for the experts to play in.