I know—it’s been a while. My last post was in June 2022, and so much has happened since then… most of it off the water, so you probably don’t want the full recap. But if you’re still reading, here’s a mid-year “Christmas letter” of sorts from the Vawters in New Zealand: Cameron is thriving as …
Settling In … NZ
We've moved into a cute little cottage in the town of Renwick which boasts two tractor dealerships, two pubs, a small grocery store, and a great little cafe....With all the demands of life on land, Cameron and I have decided it is most wise to sell....
A Kiwi Christmas
Kiwis take the Christmas Holidays very seriously. Everything shuts down and people often head to the beach, to a camping spot, or a bach (a Kiwi term for a holiday house). All of our activities – orchestra, horse riding, karate, etc. stopped for the summer/Christmas holidays so it was the perfect time for us to …
News from Nelson Part 2
So now that we’ve told Banyan’s story of refurbishments, repairs, and romps through the mooring field at night, it’s time to give the update on us. Nelson is by far our favorite spot in New Zealand. It’s pretty tough to choose a favorite. There are so many beautiful places with so much to offer, but …
News from Nelson Part 1
My heart began to sink down to my toes when Cameron got really quiet and serious, saying “okay.. okay.. okay..” The girls and I were all gathered around holding our breath. Banyan had been out in the harbor on a mooring.. but it seems the mooring had broken below the waterline.
Winter in Marlborough
With the VISA under our belt, it feels a bit easier to plan ahead, and with a full year to look forward to we are ready to make some decisions. We've completed our circumnavigation of the South Island (YAY), and we've sailed around most of the North Island (just that pesky southeastern coast to tackle), so we aren't feeling the pull to explore new places. We've decided to settle in and take advantage of some of the things that landlubbers take for granted.
Christchurch to Marlborough
When last we posted, we were enjoying the South Island town of Oamaru, situated a bit more than halfway down the east coast. It was hard to leave good friends and fun times, but with winter on the way, it was time to move up in the world (at least in terms of latitude). So, …
New Zealand’s Fiordland & Stewart Island – A Technical Guide
For those hearty souls considering a voyage to New Zealand's Fiordland and Stewart Island, I’ve summarized the nitty-gritty details and compiled up-to-date information from our time there during the summer of 2021.
Sailing Stewart Island – Video
Watch our exploration of one of New Zealand's more remote Islands. We loved Stewart. It was wild and beautiful with lots of hiking and fishing. Enjoy!
Oamaru, Oamaru, Oamaru
We have spent the last two weeks enjoying numerous meals and excellent conversation. Dagmar, Chris's wife, has pulled out all the stops; we've had many meals with other locals and are starting to feel part of the town. The girls have played loads of games and even went for a swim in the harbor (brrrr - tremendous peer pressure from Kiwi kids was involved). We've also had fun hunting ducks and rabbits.