Hey! We're going to Fiji tomorrow... Just wanted to catch up before heading out of NZ. We have absolutely loved this country! Excited to get to Fiji to relax in the sun and get certified scuba. Only 3 weeks until we are in the states. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in CA and AZ and can't believe we will be home in Chicago in 5 weeks. Love you all and thanks for taking this amazing  journey with us! Love you!Publish Post

These are the Karekare black sand beaches.  Not only was Xena: The Warrior Princess filmed here, and the Oscar winning "The Piano", but Eddie Vetter almost died in the monster rip of the surf while visiting.  I'm not sure if he wrote "Black" because of this, but one can dream.
Kelly hitting one of her first golf balls in 17 years.  The form is nearly perfect... nearly. 
The Bridal Veil Falls near Raglan
Auckland from a distance
Our residence for the night
The Running of the Sheep, a very big deal in Te Kuiti.  This was hilarious... it was the big event of the year, supposed to be 2,000 sheep pounding the streets like The Running of the Bulls.  However, most of the sheep found an escape route leaving a mere 250 to run the streets for our enjoyment. 

These are the dolphins at the Bay of Islands in the very north of NZ

The "Hole in the Rock"    Aptly named if you ask me.
Two idiots

These are the Hot Sand Beaches.  If you are a geology buff, ask me some ?'s about this one.  If not, just know that hot water rises through the sand every day, both 2 hours before and after low tide and it is damn hot!
I took a picture of this guy's ass.  So sue me
This is gonna be a bumpy ride





WE LIVE !!!!!!!!!

This one is fun because this is the big picture in those people's experience, but I was excited and therefore make up the background of their photo.  I'm not sorry!

Kelly loves the taste of fresh mountain river water... especially in her nostrils

Mt. Doom, from a whole other side. This is the view from the Tongariro National Park, one of our recent Great Walks  
The Emerald Pools, aptly named as well. One of the highlight of the walk
The Red Crater