Latest posts from #lifestream
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#adventure
,#jeep
Mud tyres aren’t for sand
While we were bombing around in the sand dunes, the main takeaway is that my chunky mud tyres look great, but are just not practical for the sand. Who knew? With the help of our awesome new tour guide who is significantly more experienced than me, we explored all through the dunes, onto the beach looking across to Whakaari and Moutohora islands, and conquered a couple of hill climbs. -
Reflecting on 7 months
We’ve been in our new home since June. For the first time, I’m sitting outside, watching birds dart around in the trees, listening to the incessant chirping of the cicadas, and reflecting. Over those 7 months, there’s been huge upheaval in our lives - new baby!, leaving my job!, new year at school for the little one - and I’ve hardly stopped. I’m going to need to start the next challenge in a few weeks, and I want to savour the time I’ve got. -
The £18 backpack
Back in 2016, in another life on a different continent, for just £18 from Amazon!!, I bought this backpack. Since then, it’s taken me to: Venice 🇮🇹 Florence Czech Republic Back to the UK again Venice (again! 💜) Sydney and Canberra Allllll over New Zealand 🏡 And it’s been my daily driver going to the office for the past 5 years. Part of me thinks it’s time for a replacement, but part of me thinks it’s indestructible. -
Welcome to the world, little Evie
It feels like we’ve been waiting forever, and then all of a sudden, she’s arrived and taken our breath away. -
Mud tyres & the Hunua Ranges
I got the Jeep serviced last week and it turns out my old tyres were worn down. It also turned out that the cost of replacing them with 20 inch wheels and really big tyres is absolutely astronomical. So instead of doing that, I decided to go with the interim of just big chunky mud tyres. And that meant, I needed to get some bloody mud on them. I had to drive to Auckland to pick up a cot for the bubba anyway, and so I thought to myself, ‘if you’re going to drive 6 hours, why not drive 10 and get a mission out of it? -
#adventure
,#drone
,#jeep
Easter Jeeping at the Centre of the North Island
This Easter break, a host of things all came together at once. I needed a day free of responsibilities, Jodi didn’t mind if I had a day free of responsibilities, and I found a place to get some mud on the tyres which didn’t involve an overnight stay halfway across the country. Victory. Journey to the Centre of the North Island Researching good places to take your 4WD off road, two places come up over and over again. -
#adventure
Lake Tarawera and the hot springs
My family is visiting New Zealand for the first time, and one of the things I’ve been most excited to share with them is how much I love getting out on the boat. There’s a very specific type stillness that is my favourite sound and feeling in the world, when you can feel time slip over you and the world feels still. I’ve only found it in three places - in Venice 🇮🇹, at the top of a mountain, and in the middle of a lake. -
#adventure
,#drone
Waihi & the secret beach
We took a family trip to Waihi beach on the weekend. The last time we attempted this with the little one, he was super ratty and really wasn’t feeling it - we had to turn back! This time, with mud under his gum boots and us carrying all of his stuff for him, he nailed it 💪 From the main Waihi beach, it’s about an hour’s walk (with a 4 year old! -
#adventure
,#drone
,#boat
The summer of adventure begins
It’s my summer of adventure, and it has kicked off with - if you’ll pardon the pun - a splash. After being fairly stuck indoors last year, I’ve made a promise to myself to make sure I get outside as often as possible! With that in mind, today we took the boat and the jet ski out to the clearest water out of all the Rotorua lakes, the always-stunning Lake Rotomā, and had a little play in that crystal clear water. -
#drone
,#gear
And now for something completely different..
Christmas has come early for me and I got myself a new toy. I’ve wanted to play around with one of these for ages, but the battery life, size and volume has always put me off. But a moment of insanity tipped me over the edge. I can now add the DJI Mini 3 Pro to my list of gear, and add video editing to my list of half-baked skills! -
#adventure
The Log Cabin in Waihi
After a crazy few months at work, we finally managed a well-deserved escape from life and into the woods. We’ve stayed at the Log Cabin in Waihi lots of times before, but it’s always an amazing getaway. There’s nothing like the woods, the rain and a good whiskey to feel a part of your soul come back 🥃 Baaaaabe. Maaaaaaaaarc. Baaaaaaaabe! Somehow, there’s only a couple of weeks before Christmas. -
#adventure
,#jeep
Gravel roads around Pirongia
After literally minutes of planning, I went off on an adventure today to clear my mind. I decided to head from Tauranga through Pirongia, around the south side of the mountain, and then on towards Kawhia. From there, I headed north through Makomako and completely overshot Bridal Veil Falls - I’ll have to get back there soon. Definitely my favourite shot of the day! Still heading north I passed Raglan and turned back east towards Waitetuna, via Old Mountain Road. -
#gear
My gear so far
To start out, I’m using: Canon EOS 750D Canon 18-135mm lens Okko 67mm polariser iPhone 14 Pro Max Jeep Gladiator 2021 Sport S 💜 I do my editing in Lightroom, but for my next mission, I’ll be moving to Darktable. I’m pretty sure Margot is my only audience, but she’s a big fan! -
#memories
,#photostream
All sorts of adventures
A bunch of photos from the all over the shop. -
#adventure
,#jeep
Jeep stuff
Finally, after a year of having the Gladiator, I finally got the chance to take it off and do some Jeep stuff! We drove down to Motu Road, just past Ōpōtiki, and took off into the bush. Then off up the gravel road. We’re no longer a pavement princess!
