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Date: May 2025
Position: Musket Cove, Fiji
Captain Bonzo here with an update from Ari B! For those of you who don’t know me, I am the Captain of Ari B, a multitalented stuffed dog, that speaks 5 languages, has sailed half way round the world and barks orders. I also write the newsletters for Alex and Carla.
We’ve been a bit quiet over the last few months.
Some of you will already know that last October Carla’s sister, Louise, received a cancer diagnosis that knocked us all for six. We spent several weeks in the UK supporting Carla’s family and then with Louise as settled as could be expected into her treatment and on a curative care program we flew back to New Zealand in January.
We had previously bought a camper car from our dear friends Graham & Joan on Karma, and it came fully fitted out including a tailgate tent, solar, fridge, chairs, table etc. etc. So we set off to explore New Zealand for 2½ months. Words cannot describe the beauty of this country, so we will let our photos do the talking.
Thankfully Louise is responding really well to her treatment and is scheduled for an operation at the end of May so Carla will fly back to the UK and Alex will stay in Fiji looking after Ari.
In other news, you may remember that we sailed to the Marshall Islands last cyclone season. Well we wrote an article for the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) annual publication Flying Fish detailing our trip and were surprised, humbled and delighted to receive the Water Music Award 2024. The OCC was founded in 1954 and exists to encourage long-distance adventurous sailing in small boats. To become a member you must have completed a 1000nm ocean passage.
We hope you enjoy the photos of our journey through Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Ari B out
Vuda Marina, Viti Levu, Fiji
Ari B tucked away in her cyclone pit
Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Puriri Bay, Whangaruru, North Island - A trial run of our new (very old) car
Matilda & Diesel want to come with us!
NORTH ISLAND, AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND)
The Forgotton Highway, Bushlands Campsite, Fossil Canyon and the Republic of Whangamomona
SOUTH ISLAND, AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND)
From Picton down the Kaikoura coast on the east side to Banks Peninsula near Christchurch
Inland to Rakaia Gorge and a walk at Washpen Falls
Lake Tekapo then onto Twizel which we used as our base to hike around Aoraki (Mount Cook) National Park
South to Purakaunui Bay campsite in the Catlins
Back north to Clyde and an epic bike ride on the Lake Dunstan Trail from Cromwell to Clyde
Wine tasting and hiking around Arrowtown and The Remarkables ski area
A degustation lunch with wine flight at the famous Amisfield Vineyard near Arrowtown
Amisfield Vineyard - Sea Snacks
Amisfield Vineyard - Zuccini
Amisfield Vineyard - Truffle Brioche and Blue Cod, Whitebait. Two of those pebbles are truffle butter!
Amisfield Vineyard - Red deer, Crayfish
Amisfield Vineyard - Dessert, Rhubarb Tart and Kawakawa
Alex on an offroad motorbike trip near Queenstown. He did the same trip 25 years ago and they said if he comes again in another 25 years it's a freebie!
Crown Range scenic lookout on route from Queenstown to Wanaka
Lake Hawea and a hike to the Sawyer Burn Hut
A day trip over the Haast Pass to Jackson Bay on the West Coast
The Outlet Camp - Our base in Wanaka
A day hike to Isthmus Peak with views over Lake Wanaka and Lake Hatea
A day hike to Lindis Peak
The West Coast - Fox Glacier and Hokitika, famous for greenstone or jade. Alex bought Carla a pounamu from Aden, a greenstone carver who has made pieces for Obama, Princess Kate and Lewis Hamilton (Jagosi Jade Ltd).
North from Hokitika to Pancake Rocks - guess what the cafe is famous for
Alex blesses the pounami he bought for Carla in the Buller Gorge on route to Abel Tasman and Golden Bay
A day hike at the northern end of the Abel Tasman Trail
Collingwood, Golden Bay. Carla fishes whilst Alex goes hiking
Wine tasting at Cloudy Bay and Jackson Estate in Marlborough
A thai green curry with mussels foraged at Whites Bay Camping Area north of Blenheim in Marlborough
More wine tasting at Clos Henri and Fromm vineyards followed by a delicious lunch at Allan Scott Bistro
The Marlborough Sounds and the ferry back to the North Island
NORTH ISLAND - AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND)
Te Mata Views campsite at Havelock, Hawkes Bay. The best equipped campsite on our whole trip with beautiful kitchens, lodges, fireplaces, swimming pool, jacuzzis and free apples from the orchard
Hawkes Bay - Wine tasting by bike...check out Carla's bike :-)
Hawkes Bay - Lunch at Black Barn Vineyard. We started by sharing Raw Fish, then shared Scampi. For mains we had Pork Belly and Steamed Fish.
Hawkes Bay - a hike in the Te Mata Hills and a lovely dinner at 'Chez Alex'
Hawkes Bay - more wine tasting at Pask vineyard and Mission vineyard
Hawkes Bay - A final lunch at Craggy Range vineyard. We had the Chef's table so we could watch them preparing our dishes
Anglers Lodge in Coromandel. We made friends with Jim who took us fishing for snapper on his boat. Another fab campsite that we actually stayed at 25 years ago!
Whangarei - Christine's home is our home from home in Aotearoa and we enjoyed an amazing pinot noir wine tasting, lots of walks with the woofs Diesel and Matilda, and Christine's amazing cooking.
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