Vanuatu and Melanesia 2012

Before boarding the fine ship The World to go on the Melanesian Expedition, I decided to spend a week in New Zealand catching up with family and friends. My flight was taking me via Auckland, NZ, so it seemed like the logical thing to do. And there was also the ‘little’ matter of our new-ish niece that I hadn’t met yet!

I left home on March 25th and flew straight to Wellington where I arrived on the 27th. My dear friend Leah had arrived at WLG airport about half an hour earlier and was waiting for me. We spent a lovely 36 hours together and stayed in the gorgeous retro Ohtel on Oriental Parade.

In the afternoon of the next day Leah flew back to Christchurch and I took up residence with ‘HAT’: Hamish, Annie and, most importantly, Tabitha, our cute little niece. It was very nice to be able to spend some time with them. They live in a very nice part of Wellington and from their place it was a lovely 30 minute walk to the center of town. In those few days I caught up with Tony & Margaret and Nick & Jude (aunts & uncles-in-law) and another good friend Jude.

Before flying from Wellington to Napier on March 31st, HAT took me to visit Weta Cave, which I appreciated immensely.

I stayed 3 nights with Tim & Jane in Taradale. Whilst there we went for dinner to Mark & Joh (all in-laws), Tim took me on a lovely bike ride, Jane showed me more of Napier, together we went to the pub and watched rugby, and had dinner with friends.

On April 3rd I was all checked in at Napier airport to fly to the Bay of Islands to board The World, when I received a very urgent message (both from The World and Alison) not to fly up, since, due to very adverse weather, it was impossible to board the ship. Ok… so I quickly ran down and had my bags pulled just before they were about to be loaded on the plane. A text to Joh, and a little later she picked me up from the airport and I stayed with them in Havelock North for an extra 2 days. Caught up with Margaret & Alastair.

On to Auckland on the 5th, where the next day I went to see the ‘Degas to Dali’ exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery in the morning and, in the afternoon, cousin Tom took me for a nice pub lunch to Hallertau Brewpub and Restaurant and beach-hopping afterwards.

That evening I checked into the AKL Airport Novotel, ready to fly to Noumea, New Caledonia, the next morning.

I was secretly happy to have spent those last few days in NZ, on solid ground, as opposed to being on a ship in very rough seas for 4 days!