Islands and islands

Living on a large island as I do, and growing up in a nation comprising three main islands it is just part of life to see nearby off shore islands. Not that I even visited any while in New Zealand - some of them are on my list for "maybe" this year - Kapiti, Somes (Matiu). I lived in Auckland for almost two years and never made it to Waiheke, so maybe that should go on the list too.

Australia has many more islands to explore and a lot of them are on that list too - Rottnest, Daydream, Hayman, Hamilton, Fraser... But I have at least visited Australia's island State. Tasmania, rich in history and unspoilt forests, rivers and beaches.

Since leaving landlocked Victoria we've been enjoying the fresh sea breezes and visits to the beaches. Sometimes only for fish and chips and sunset watching, because why not. But there are many off shore islands in Moreton Bay some which can only be explored if you have a boat (or a friend with a boat). The largest though have regular ferry services.

We spent a day or part of a day at Stradbroke Island in January. Lauren had a weekend away and we met up on the last day to go exploring. We didn't realise the bus service was quite as rudimentary as it was, so we are planning a revisit and taking the car. 

 This is an Australasian Bittern, they are a secretive species and apparently not often seen. (we saw two) Their initial reaction when seen in the open is to adopt their infamous freeze stance. They are so good at this at first I thought it was a sculpture.

We finished our day back on the mainland, with fish and chips near the lighthouse and watched the sunset, all the while planning another trip across the water.

#52Stories, Week 48, Let the planning begin !

In 1978 I got my first passport.

That September I went to Fiji with my friend Jo. We had both been working for a year or so since leaving school. Jo’s parents had been to Fiji before and had a network of friends there.

I travelled up to Hamilton from Wellington (did I fly ? I cant remember) and stayed at Jo’s. Next morning her sister in law Jane took us to Auckland to catch our plane. Our first night we stayed with the sisters at a convent. Interesting people – nuns.

The next morning we waited at the convent gate with our baggage for a bus and made our way from Nadi to Suva. We stayed in Suva for a few days – maybe a week ? with friends of Jo’s parents.

While we were there we met some other people and when it came time for us to head back to Nadi they gave us a ride – instead of bussing again. We spent a couple of nights on the Coral Coast and then about 3 or 4 more in Nadi. Lots of lazing about the pool, a day trip to Beachcomber and Treasure Islands, cruising the waters in a glass bottomed boat looking at the coral and brightly coloured fish.

It was loads of fun !

When I saw Jo just before we moved from Auckland this year, we were talking about that holiday and decided we are going back. For our next big milestone birthdays.

Rather than 40 years since the first time, it will 41 years instead.

Let the planning begin.