New Years Eve already! !

Can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be than tripping around blissful NZ with ma peeps. 😻

Tony off for an early run (round Lake Matheson) just on sunrise today (5.50). Kids and I up early too - another lucky morning with the sunshine, meant to have been cloudy since yesterday according to the forecast.

Pretty excited about our planned morning to do a heli tour up to see glacier and land on the snow (kids highlight - mine too!). After a speedy hot spaghetti on toast we were on the road for our tour - changed companies at the last minute due to a few different things going on. After paying and submitting our weights we were lead out the back of the building to an air field. Lucky Rox and I got put in the front seat - a weight distribution thing. I’ve only been in a helicopter once before (our 5 yr anniversary- flew to Waiheke!) but it was a mix of thrill and fear (the best combo!) \240for me as we lifted away the feeling in your gut as you take off! \240Amazing how quicklywe were quite high. So much incredible view to take initneas hardbti know where to look first and keep a good balance between appreciating the moment but recording moments too for this keepsake and it just somehow expands the magic of the moment!

Landing on the flat (6000ft) above the glacier was incredible. Soft but crunchy and dee push snow quickly wet our shoes through. Least of my worries. \240The kids quickly defaulted to snowball fights and then obligatory family and snow angel snaps! The flight down was equally exhilarating seeing a different perspective and really understanding \240how much the glacier has melted & retreated. A huge waterfall gushed volumes of water - all the snow and glacial melts. \240Before we knew it we were back all excited and chatting about our own personal perspectives of it. Lucky lucky kids - felt very blessed to be able to do that and have great weather. Weather was clouding as we landed.

Onto Fox next and a morning walk around beautiful and famously reflective Lake Matheson - famous for its southern alps reflections. Best to view that feature dawn and dusk but we still thoroughly enjoyed our walk. So many beautifully lush ferns and many different types of moss. Kids enjoyed seeing a big eel at a juncture and we had pleasant banter with a family from Auckland.

Back in the car for a larger drive to Wanaka now. So excited to be somewhere for 2 nights! We stopped by a park for lunch (wraps) in Haast. Haast amazed us with 2 things - being so tiny and it’s talking toilet 🚽😂.

Kids had big naps - Tony & I stopped for appreciation looks at Thunder Falls and then at The Blue Pool - a run through the bush to be met by the most amazing deep blue water I’ve ever seen. We couldn’t not swim- so off we stripped down to our undies and lived for the moment. Wim Hof breathing came in handy for some psychological edge🥶. To say it was freezing is an understatement 9 degrees all year round filled by glacial waters - we had such \240a blast experiencing that together though, my adventure buddy hubby ❤️

Never get sick of gazing into the majestic Lake Wanaka big wide blue hypnotic, a lovely prelude to arriving into Wanaka. Popped into the very new NW in Three Parks, looks like a brand new subdivision and supermarket is one of the earliest builds there, will no doubt populate very quickly not unlike the Lake Hayes area in Queenstown near airport. Some nice stock ups for New Years and checked into Wanaka Top 10. Lovely leafy quiet park \240around 2km out of central Wanaka. Kids were out in the trampoline immediately! Excited to know we are here for 2 nights and not rush anywhere- relaxxx. Put everything back on its place, turned on the tunes cheese crackers & bubbles and made dinners. Quick sausage pasta for the kids and for us a yummy spiced bbq lamb on bbq vej and some choc nut icecreams for afters. A quiet see in of New Years watching the Wanaka lakefront fireworks- stunning and different display. Kisses and cuddles & happy good nights xo

Kids’ Daily Questions:

1. What’s your favourite thing you did today?

2. What thing did you love seeing?

3. What was your fave food today?

RASUL

• Sitting next to the pilot on our heli ride to FJ glacier.

• The fireworks on Wanaka lakefront from 2020 turning into 2021
• Sausage pasta for dinner

ROCCO

• Snowball fight up 6000ft!
• The moss & eel at Lake Matheson
• The snow ! (But not the yellow stuff 😂)

PRIYA:

Landing on the snow at FJ and double bouncing on the trampoline at Wanaka Top 10.

• The snow on our heli ride! !
• The pasta (no surprises there)