Two weekends and two trips into the bush. The first was with schoolmates Cam and Andy with another friend. We drove up to Taranaki on the Saturday of the Queens Birthday weekend starting the Pouakai Circuit late in the afternoon. Braving blizzard conditions the next day we it through guzzling prodigious amounts of morrocan couscous and red wine sitting around a crackling potbelly fire. Monday dawned with clear skis, a foot of fresh snow and unimpeded views of magnifient Mt Taranaki. After a number of snowball ambushes, rounds of curling (on a real frozen lake) and a surprisingly longish walk back from Pouakai Hut we made it back to the car at North Egmont.

This weekend we drove to Paraparauma to catch the ferry out to Kapiti Island. The boat departed at 9am making the short hop over to Rangatira in no time. We spotted Takahe, Hihi, Tieke (Saddleback) and maybe some Kaka. There are so many birds there and it is hard to belive the island once had over 22,000 possums on it! I thought it was a great day trip, very educational and a good showcase for DOC’s restorative efforts. No snowballs though.