The Hanmer holiday home at 7 Devon Street

Friday, and finally we were on the road! A quick dinner stop in Murchison for homemade bacon ‘n egg pie and and at last, we were winding our way in to Hanmer.

The holiday home at 7 Devon Street is $160 a night and sleeps 8. When there’s a big group of you, there’s nothing better than a holiday home. Fully furnished (just take your own linen and towels) and you have all the comforts of home. This one has three bedrooms, is fully fenced and allows kids and dogs. A bonus being able to take Jess, who had a wonderful time on holiday, chewing sticks, eating, sleeping and occasionally chasing a ball (and saved us $100 at the kennels).

It has all the required baby/child paraphernalia including highchair (Georgie), portacot (Morgan) and a see-saw (Naty). Even stair safety gates. And plenty of videos for the kids (with a TV in their bedroom) as well as books and games and SkyTV (great for the older kids – the 20 year olds!).

Naty loved the see-saw!

The magic cupboard!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A spacious two storey Fraemohs home with that lovely log house feel, very alpine and typically Hanmer. None too clean, but I’ve come to expect that from holiday homes. I’m sure they are always cleaner when we leave. With a holiday home you clean on departure, check out is 11am to allow for this or we could pay an extra $80 to have it done for us.

There are two bedrooms upstairs. Nana & Gramps in one and Mummy, Daddy, Morgan, Georgie and Naty in the other (an absolutely huge room). This bedroom has a wonderful treat for kids, a cupboard that runs the width of the room in the A-frame and has two mattresses. A magical sleeping space where Naty did sleep one night, and an imaginative play area which they loved. Downstairs was the 3rd bedroom for Danielle & Nathan.

Mummy and the kids arrived Saturday lunchtime. Daddy was biking the Rainbow from St Arnaud to Hanmer. The car trip was uneventful until Mummy arrived into Hanmer and Georgie was sick. What followed was a whirwind of several hours as we changed Georgie, cleaned the car seat and her clothes, dealt with a hungry crying Morgan along with an excited Naty who was telling us a dozen stories all at once. Followed by lunch.

Then we waited for Daddy. And waited. And waited. Finally, 9 hours after starting the track he arrived, tired and hungry but safe.

Check out the range of holiday houses at Hanmer Holiday Homes

 

Please note: the images of my grandchildren on this blog are copyright and may not be copied and/or used for any purpose.

Gramps bought Naty & Georgia special suitcases for their Hanmer trip!

 

Hanmer hot pools

Tonight Boyd and I spent three hours soaking in the Hot Pools. Ahhhh, total bliss, and so relaxing!

The complex has changed a lot since I first visited as a child. There’s now 3 hexagonal pools and 3 large round spa pools, one with a hydrotherapy pool with massaging waterfalls, as well as several more intimate rock pools.

The kids’ area has been upgraded with a drain type slide, there’s still the hydroslide and the freshwater pool has been moved and enlarged. There’s a really neat lazy river that flows around a circular pool. You can ride it on boogie boards or just let it take you around. Danielle and Nathan arrived and we had a blast floating around together.

The last pool we went in was one of three sulphur pools, very hot at 41 degrees and smelly, but it makes your skin feel so nice. A quick dip into one of the large pools and it was closing time.

We are heading home tomorrow. It’s been a really relaxing three days, spending time with family.

Photo credit – Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa

 

Hanmer, here we come!

Packing to head to Hanmer Springs for the weekend, a little surprise in the food box!

Why on earth do cats love boxes so much!?

We almost had a cat disaster before we left. Danielle went to the vets to get a copy of Tobi’s vaccination certificate to give to the cattery. Seems they didn’t have one. That could have something to do with the fact she went to Halifax Vets to pick it up when he was actually vacc’d at Stoke Vets. Hmmm.

To cut a long story short, because she didn’t have a vacc cert he couldn’t go into the cattery so the SPCA took him back for the weekend. ‘Basil Basil!’ they all screamed in delight as he was delivered. Poor cat’s gonna be confused over what his real name is! And the SPCA Manager said we might not get him back on Monday when we return lol

I’m really looking forward to a long weekend in Hanmer with Boyd, the kids and the grandkids. It’ll be a relaxing (and well deserved) break as things have been so busy. Just gonna chill …

Read my other posts about Hanmer including the Hot Pools and the Holiday Home.

 

Andrea Bocelli concert

September 11, not a very auspicous date to be flying I thought as I headed off to the airport to catch my plane to Auckland.

I was meeting Mum at Auckland Airport and we were going to see Andrea Bocelli in concert that night.  I’d bought the tickets months ago, as a special present for Mum’s 70th.

I scored a window seat with noone sitting next to me!  Awesome! I put my bag under the seat in front and spread out.  I even got the iPad out and did some blogging!

I arrived an hour and a half before Mum, so had time for a coffee and sandwich and a catch up on work.  Auckland Airport give you half an hour of free WiFi, so I used half an hour on the iPhone and then another half an hour on the iPad LOL

We used Cheap Cabs to get around Auckland and found them very good, on time with courteous drivers.   They are 45% cheaper than other taxis, and can be pre-booked online. Airport to City was just $45 and return even cheaper at $35! I gave the driver a tip, he was such a good conversationalist, and it was his first day on the job!

We checked in at the Waldorf on St Martins.  The apartment was really nice, fairly small but well laid out complete with kitchen, lounge, dining and 2 bedrooms. We were on the 8th floor with a balcony.  I would definitely stay here again.

A catch up over coffee, then we got flashed up and we were off to Vector Arena.  The excitement was mounting now!  We headed to the Tuning Fork for dinner and were pleasantly surprised to see they had the Andrea Bocelli buffet (complete with music) in the Heineken Room at just $28.50 each!  We even had bubbly to celebrate!

We walked across to Vector Arena to get seated.  Row SS was right at the TOP!  Our seats were on the aisle and we had an amazing view! There were 7,500 people all eagerly waiting to hear Andrea Bocelli sing.

And finally the concert began.  Opera conductor Eugen Kohn started up the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra.  There was huge applause when Maestro Boceli was led onto the stage.  For the first half he sung alternated by the Orchestra playing.  His voice was amazing, it just went right through you, especially with favourites such as Ave Maria, Mamma and Vieni sul Mar.  Cuban soprano Maria Aleida sung alongside Andrea for the operatic duets.

During the second half, Andrea brought Delta Goodrem on and I thought the roof was going to come down on Vector Arena!  There were even wolf whistles (probably due to the gorgeous backless gown she was wearing!).  I was totally unprepared, when she started singing, her voice is amazing, such depth and agility!  A perfect rendition of Love, Thy Will Be Done, and she even sung a few songs in Italian including Canto Della Terra.  WOW!

The real treat was when Delta and Andrea sung Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis.  And then again as they sung When I Fall In Love and the piece de resistance Time to Say Goodbye.  The applause was deafening!

There were a few encores, but sadly the concert had to come to an end.

Back to the Waldorf to a very comfy bed and a great night’s sleep before heading back to Auckland Airport the next morning.  As Mum is a Koru Club member I was able to go in as her guest.  The Auckland Koru Lounge is great, spacious and quiet with free WiFi and good food and coffee (also alcohol, but not for me at lunchtime!).

Farewell Auckland, on the way back to my beloved Nelson!