Signs of Spring:

Not sure what these are but I love them

Koru - an unfurling Silver Fern - and also appropriately, the All Blacks symbol

Feeding lambies, alongside 300 other families - perhaps won't try this again next Spring

Tulip Festival at the Botanical Gardens

Half a day in the city:  

Ride up the Cable Car

Silly Pollyana

"Retro Coffee Bean Girl"

Airforce Aerobatics over the Harbour today!! 

Fan of the Flying Fox

Best Friends: They even sit together in their individual time outs

Well, I would say we are world cup ready! I suppose for me personally, it wouldn't matter what event it was, anything that unites people in joyous celebration is good enough for my allegiance!

Dental visit is in order

Molecular Gastronomy at one of the many farmers markets I love here

Samoan parade out front of our house! We were wondering who was making the racket but thought better to tell them off when we concurred that Samoans are big, big people

Dual allegiance! 

Yay for Canada's upset over Tonga! 

South African festival for Team SA 

One of the many fanzones

Impromptu Fijian pride

The Rugby World Cup has commenced!! The All Blacks had their first win over Tonga the other night and the country is vibrating!! NZ has been preparing for this event for 4 years and all kiwis have their hopes pinned on an All Black victory. The opening ceremonies were SPECTACULAR. The kids and I watched them on TV as they were broadcast from Auckland and they were certainly of Olympic proportions! 20 countries are playing throughout NZ (Canada D day on October 2nd against ABs) and cities are buzzing with festivities and events. Grayson is in heaven with the Kapa Haka being performed left right and centre and we certainly have a full calendar over the next month.

I thought the daily mail in the UK summed the opening night up best:
RWC Pictures here

We enjoyed fireworks at our community festival last night - I didn't bring my camera - why do I do this? Ah well, here are some clips from THE most magnificent performance I have ever been to - World of Wearable Art - My favourite costume of the night:



and the overall winner:

Spring has arrived…? Lovely weekend in beachside bach at Castlepoint on the East Coast. Cpt.Cook sailed by in 1770 and aptly named the bay after the castle resembling rock jutting out of the bay. Pictures below :)

Snowcapped Tararua Range 

Morning coffee

Lambies everywhere! 

Gorgeous community

Token picture of the photographer

Father's Day (in NZ) dinner

Jelly-legs at this point - don't look down

Ice Cream season is now open

Seagull Whisperer

Waihi Gorge - jelly-legs again

Nerves of steel this one!