Relaxing in Raglan...

 Raglan is a beautiful wee surf town - a great place to chill out for a couple of nights. The footbridge connects the camping ground with the main street. 

 Fish 'n Chips from the Raglan wharf is a must! Lucky for me, Mel, Toby and the kids made the trip all the way from Auckland to visit for the day - the first thing on the agenda was fish 'n chips from this place. 

 Finn trying out the new boogie board!

 Eli hauling 'Boaty McBoat Face'

 Success!

 Where can I go next?!

 When you're at the beach...gotta dig a hole!

A few days later, Mel sent me this. I love how none of us are holding on!

SH39 Waitomo - Raglan

 Loving these sunrises in the King Country! First 70km of this ride was awesome; last 18km on SH23 into Raglan very hilly - one of those rides where you sculled a can of coke at the end!

Finally views of Mt Taranaki!

I biked around the surf highway 45 for 3 days, which circles around Mt Taranaki and didn't catch a glimpse of the mountain as it was so cloudy and rainy. Biking out of New Plymouth towards Awakino, it was a beautiful day and managed to get some great shots of Mt Taranaki on the way and at my camping ground!

Rest day in New Plymouth!

New Plymouth; home to this 48 metre wind wand sculpture. It stands vertical in still air, but bends in the wind!

Other fun fact for you: each of the rocks below was placed individually by a digger thing. Can you imagine how long that must have taken?!

Family friends, Mary Lou & Grant; Mum studied in Dunedin with Mary Lou - last saw these guys when I was 10. Yay for reconnecting!

The 'surf highway' - Whanganui - New Plymouth

 This is a cool cafe in Okato (about 25km south of New Plymouth). It's door and roof was made of cut up suitcases; very clever!

 Home to the Patea Māori Club and one of New Zealand's most famous songs...Poi E.

 The camping ground is just beyond the trees by the beach. It's great to see the movies in Opunake; $10 each, they run a few times a week and by volunteers. Filled with mismatched chairs, couches and rugs it's a comfy treat when you've been biking for a while!

 A creative seat in Opunake situated at the top of the hill to watch the waves...

This is generally what Taranaki looks like. Beautiful, green, rolling dairy farms, lots of inquisitive cows...rain and cloud! (Could be in Southland!)

This picture is for Asher...

Guess what this is? (Hint...I was at The Rugby Museum in Palmerston North)