New Zealand cider tasting - The results!

Sampling the food and drink of a region has to be one of my favourite ways to immerse in a culture :) 

We tasted seven New Zealand ciders and one Swedish one because I hadn't seen it before. :)

The final order: 

1st: Thomas and Rose - Watermelon and Cucumber (10)

2nd: Thomas and Rose - Cider with Nashi pear and passionfruit (9)

3rd: Wild side - Cider with wildberries. (8)

4th: Rekorderlig - Non-NZ - Elderflower and lime (7)

5th: Harvest - Original (6)

6th: Wild side - Strawberry and lime (5)

7th: Harvest - Lemon (4)

8th: Good George brewing - Doris plum cider (2)

Gisborne Brewery NZ

Harvest Original Crisp

Sweet 6/10

Crisp, Fresh, Liquid apples

This first cider we tasted was Harvest and came in two varieties in the 4square in Tairua: the straight apple cider and then apple with lemon. The lemon one ranked pretty low on my cider score recieving a score of only 4/10 and coming 6th out of eight ciders. The pure apple one was pretty nice and ranked mid table.

Gisborne Brewery NZ

Harvest Lemon Crisp

Sickly 4/10

Sweet and like a bitter lemonade.

Wild Side 

Cider with Wildberries

Sweet and very-berry. Non-sickly. 8/10

Thomas&Rose Fine fruit ciders

Blend number 4

Apple cider with watermelon and cucumber 

Sweet, light 10/10

Unusual and delicious. Refreshing with a good taste of cider. Like a light watermelon pimms. An excellent drink I could repeat many times ;)

Thomas&Rose Fine fruit ciders

Blend no 5 - Apple cider with nashi pear & passionfruit

Fragrant, mild and delicious 9/10

Really delicious :) Incredibly fragrant. Sweet and lush and not overbearing.

Rekorderlig - Non-NZ

Elderflower and lime

Delicious and thirst-quenching. 7/10

Is there an elderflower cider that isn't good? I haven't found one and Rekorderlig is an excellent cider maker so this was looking very promising from the start and it did not fail to deliver. I enjoyed this to the last drop :)

Wild side

Strawberry and lime

Sickly but pleasant and paletable for a short time. 5/10

Strawberry and lime has become a classic combo so it has to be done well because it has good competition. Going sicklier in my opinion is not the way forward. This combo needs a lighter, fresher touch to it. 

Good George brewing

Doris cider

Unpalatable and I didn't finish it 2/10

This was a large bottle as you can seen in the first pic and I had high hopes for this unusual specimen but I was very disappointment. I'm sure what the fruit tastes like but I have been told it's nice so why this was the medicinal tasting chemically liquid, Inhave no idea. I'm not a fan and I didn't finish my drink. I think we left the bottle in the fridge in the end. 

Sun - Hahei beach and omg wild fricking dolphins!

Sunday 7th of February

Today we are off to the beach! I wake up warm and excited and I think I might be one of the first up, so I creep about getting myself some breakfast and go sit outside to take in the amazing view. 

I bath myself in insect repellant... 

... I am very much that type of traveller - the one you giggle at for being over the top in terms of lotions and potions and then you come to when you need my bite-ease ;) 

After a short while the others get up and join me and we chat and eat delicious fruits for breakfast with tea and the kind of view that people marry into money for ;)

We start getting ready and the map comes out so the beach selection process can begin. It sounds like there are soooo many amazing beaches. I doubt people get board here during the summer :) 

Abby has suggested taking some fun photos on the balcony with props from the batch. I'm game and head outside in my new orange and purple swim shorties. 

Gotta 'love' this place...

The weather hadn't looked so good in the early forecast but it looks like things may have changed for the better :) Fingers crossed! 

We finish getting ready and jump in the car next to which a little group of small  ground dwelling birds have clustered but they scatter before I can take an adequate photo. New Zealand wildlife is very entertaining :) 

We arrive at Hahei beach and it is simply stunning! Soft, warm golden sand caresses the coastline and is lapped by the shallow boarder with the sea. A consistent cooling wind blows along the coast making the intense sunshine deceptively tolerable. I reapply sunscreen many times. 

We did the ironic thing of deciding to sit near shade but not actually in the shade. Smart huh?!

We set up our pitch and one of the first things that grabbed my attention was said by Alice

"Erm... Where has the beach ball gone?"

We had brought an inflatable beach ball with us from the batch and immidiatley lost it on arrival as it had been whipped off by the wind. We started looking around and we see a nice looking couple carrying a beach ball up the coast. They headed towards us. Ah ha! ;) The man hands us back our ball and we thank him. We then let the ball down so we don't have to worry about it ;)

Abby takes a picture of the dry start :) 

I brought my modified hat. The strap I added meant this trip I kept my hat despite the wind... Spoiler alert - I no longer have this hat! Keep following the blog folks to find out how I lose both this one and my lovely white one - This trip is currently at -3 hats! I need to find a source of free hats to have any chance at recovering this. :( Life lesson - never buy more than one hat because then you won't lose more that one hat! Imagine if I'd bought three! Arg! Anyway let me leave my hat rant for another time and back to our lovely day at the beach! :) 

Me and Abby attempt to write a birthday message on the beach which results in Abby getting stung on the foot by bumble bee buried in the sang! (We later name her resulting red, black, blue and swollen foot 'Corora' after the Maori for penguin... because a penguin is black, white, red on the inside and blue because they are cold. 

I go for a walk along the beach and discover this little creature: 

Here we are, the lovely ladies with the bright sun making me squinty because my glasses are on my head. 

Beach yoga sounds like a good plan!

Alice and I pose for picture and the suddenly we hear someone say 'Dolphins!' and we jump up and look out to sea and there they were....Wild dolphins! We run into the sea! 

We watch the wild dolphins as they swim by and then waited to see if they would come back. Emma and I are super excited. Eventually they do swim back out and I try to join them. I probably get within 30metres. :) 

We splash about for a while, diving into the waves and then head back to the shore to play a strange Vietnamese game. 

After some dedicated attempts at keeping a series of wired-up disks and feathers in the air. We then finish up and head back to the car. 

We head back via the store and pick up stuff for fajitas and natural fruit ice cream! Nom!!! 

After showers and getting changed the other ciders are tasted :D and dinner is prepared by Alice, LJ and Abby while Emma and I discussed life :) .

We eat a yummy fajita dinner and chat with wine and cider until late and we all wanna crash out from excess sun, sea and booze. 

P.S. The sun is frickin' hot hot hot hot UV-blazing here! Re-apply often and all over so you're not comparing burns like we all were! :( 

The Coromandels: A girls road trip!

Today we are off to the Coromandels. I don't know what to expect but I have been told it's beachy, beautiful and we need to pack light. 

I do some washing and start to pack. Alice vetos more than one bikini. 

"Only one Peta, we're packing light!"

I later discover the other girls have multiple bikinis! Damn it! #firstworldbikiniproblems. ;)

After packing some bags, re-packing, adding more, upsizing cases, debating what to talk, discussion about men we are almost ready.... a quick run to the bank for some cash and to a cafe for a morning very green smoothie, and we are ready to roll and are picked up at 11am by Emma, LJ and Abby. 

These three ladies are nothing less than awesome, each with their own fascinating outlook and stories. It is a pleasure to be in the car with them from the first to the last moment :) 

The girl chat is already underway in the car and Alice and I join in. :) 

Why can't men decide what they want? 

What type of men are the best to go for? 

How long is reasonable between text messaging? 

It is hilarious as it is universal. There is something cathartic about hearing that you are not alone in you experiences and struggles and the sense of excitement and comradery is palpable.

It is LJs birthday on Tuesday and that is the motivation behind this trip. She is bubbly, excited and full of fun energy. Emma, LJs roommate is driving. She is a smilie and hilariously funny lady with excellent comic timing that has the car in fits of laughter. She is also a very smooth driver and, although I am not normally very comfortable with others driving, I find I am very relaxed chilling in the back seat with Alice and Abby. 

I have not yet mentioned Abby. Abby is a very well travelled lady and aims to work on every continent of the world (except Antarctica because... Well because it's Antarctica!). All in all we have a car of real travellers of which indefinitely feel the least experienced. 

All these women exude an impressive fearlessness in the face of new places and experiences. They are all living abroad and for most this is not their first additional working country. Dubai, Vietnam... The places just get dropped into conversation as if they were referring to Swindon or Leeds. I wonder where this fearlessness originates from. Did their parents instill this? Is it innate to them and within their dna? Is it accrued from being more informed or less? Whatever lays behind this trait, it is impressive and inspiring. 

Back to the journey... It is a super fun and beautiful car ride to and through the Comorandels on the upper most east part of the North Island of New Zealand.

The journey takes a few hours before we arrive at a little place called Tairua where our holiday villa, or 'batch!' as they call it here, is up a number of steep hills resulting in some minor bumper scraping 'eeek!' moments transitioning to the steep inclines with a car full of excited women and their luggage. 

The 'batch' is really awesome and designed to provide everything the holiday maker may need. The views are also incredible. 

We decide to go out for lunch and grab supplies for our weekend. The town of Taiura is small but has all the necessities. We find a lovely little Italian place and stop for lunch, we all chose pizza (three of us gluten free pizza - Hurry! I am not alone!)

We order our food and sit down at a table outside. A big group of Spanish women have come in behind us and are looking at us and chattering in spanish. We question what they might be saying and Abby, who speaks Spanish informs us that they are bitching about the fact that we took our time and all paid separately. We debate saying something back me then decide to leave it and just enjoy our pizza and company 😊 It's good to have other languages under your belt and I think I will step up the Spanish lessons when I get back to England. :) 

We go shopping in a shop called 4square which is akin to a tesco metro, for those readers in the UK, and has most things you could need. We decide on risotto for dinner, it's easy and delicious.... Nom! 

I see a lot of New Zealand ciders and suggest a cider tasting which seems to go down well and I select a number of the choicest bottles from the fridge section. :) 

The cart is filled with delicious New Zealand food and drinks and we are ready to return with our gathering :) 

"1 litre of New Zealand happiness!" ;) 

We arrive back to the batch and begin the cider tasting. I will do a separate post for the results of this but it seems our conclusions were very much matched by everyone else as our favourites were sold out just a day later.

Bottle number one with the girls! After we had tasted 4 or bottle the beach becomes an increasingly desirable idea and after almost no discussion we select one of swimwear outfits (or just put it on in my limited case ;) and jump in the car. We could see the beach from our batch and so we were very eager to try it out, particularly Emma who in her own words "can't see the sea without jumping in it." I think it's wise she chose an inland job :) 

Emma awesomely driving us to the beach.

Peta (aka me), Alice and Abby ready for the beach! 

The journey to he beach was a short one, but ironically sufficiently long for he cloud colour to change and the heavens to open. We got out of the car and into light but still very real rain. Alice was intending to potter on the beach and so became the protector of all material goods while myself and the other SPF 50 and bikini clad women debated our options as a man in full wet weather gear and fishing equipment walked by us eyeing us with a look of confusion and semi sympathy.

We needed to make a decision so I said "Here's the thing! If we don't get in the water, later on we are going to wish...."

I didn't get a chance to finish before LJ was off into the sea. 

"Well that didn't take much convincing!" I smile and say to Alice as now all the girls were headed towards the lapping waves and I was trying to undo my sarong knot. 

I run into the sea to join the others and it is fun and not cold and we splash about to our amusement and the fishermans confusion. 

We emerge from the sea victorious. Fearless in the face of a little light rain! We 'dry off' in the rain with our towels and return to the car passing a confused looking couple who we briefly chat to:

"You should head in for a dip, it's lovely!" They chuckle and we get back in the car and head back to he batch where we get clean, dry and ready for dinner.

Risotto

Somehow, and I am not sure how, I ended up dictating the risotto assembly. I think alcohol my have influenced this and we five women assemble round the electric pan chatting as Abby prepares and chops, LJ adds things to the pan and I cook ("pokey pokey with wooden stick") and drink more delicious cider.

After a while it is suggested that Alice stirs the risotto for a bit. She does and this is Alice stirring the Risotto. Those that have previously made - and burned - a risotto will understand that it needs a really good deep stir and so Emma was itching to get into the risotto stirring driving seat. The bacon, mushrooms, Parmesan and courgettes were added near the end and it was served up. 

It was a triumph of five tipsy and totally awesome rainy sea swimming ladies! 

It was so delicious we all had to take photos. Here is a photo of Abby taking a photo. :) 

Bon appetit ladies!

Pudding consists of what we have luckily and unsurprisingly found to be some of our favourite things. Namely, chocolate and ice cream :) 

After the big delicious meal, great drink, sunshine, travels, swimming and some of the best company in the world we are all exhausted and retire for a good nights sleep and more adventures in the morning :) 

Girl talk back in Auckland

Life ay? I've been away from Auckland for about 10days and it feels like a lifetime. I sit and wait for skybus with my backpack, heavy with excessive souvenirs and gifts. Why did I think collecting rock samples was a good idea? I've not even labelled them - school kid scientist error. 

My bus into town is relaxing but not reviving and I arrive at the Ferry terminal with no intention of walking, rock laden, for half an hour up the hills to Alice's flat. I summon an uber, something which still feels like magic and pay $7 for a ride up into Parnell. The driver navigates from his phone map, making a number of lane mistakes and I wonder if he is actually licensed ;)

I arrived and it's nice to see Alice. We have a catch up on all that has happened in our respective lives.... There is a lot! Things change so fast even in just a week. We attempt to set the world to rights and as we expect, fail ;) We get some rest ready for our weekend trip to the Coromandels and the fun and excitement to come.

Back to the north island! #sad #excited #NZrocks #hashtagsdontreallyworklikethis

I slept soooo much better in my nice room. This made it much easier to get up early, showered and ready to start my journey back up to Auckland. I quickly booked the ferry last night (I'm a bit of a last minute traveller on this trip) and so I just need to get myself up and over to Picton by 12:30 and it's a roughly two hour journey so I set off at 9:30 to give myself plenty of time.

I'm going to miss the south island and also my lovely little red car and I really enjoy this final journey together. I stop to get coffee and some delicious breakfast at a pretty little marina :) 

I can't get the wifi working so I give up and enjoy myself by closing my eyes and feeling the sunshine. Then I chat to the people at the table next to me from Scotland: "We sort of live here but not in the winter...", "oh no!" the other one chips in... A lot of Brits sure know how to play the world weather.

45minues more and I am dropping in my lovely little red car. I don't look back.... Never look back! ;) 

Time to check in for the prettiest ferry ride I have ever taken.

Unfortunately this hat has not been modified so I stuff the hat in my jacket when I go outside so I don't lose another one.

The ferry leaves from a town called Picton and it's actually a very nice harbour town and nothing at all like Dover which to me looks like a dump. I like Picton and I'm happy to be there! 

We even check in luggage, I haven't done this before for a ferry but then I've never walked on either. I take a seat and wait to board. There is a stag do waiting to get on board too and I am not fast enough to get a photo (not that I tried) of the stag being somewhat forced to moon the other passengers.... Ahhh boys will idiots.... I mean boys will be boys... I mean men will be... 

... Never mind. We board the ferry. Now I'm excited! I blooming love a good boat trip. 

The scenery is beautiful and it just changes from one picturesque view to another! :) 

To another...

This is our journey... And it says we could see seals and whales... Spoiler alert! We don't ;) 

Here are all the birds we could see and we do :) 

I head inside and try and find a good spot to chill for the 4hour journey. I find an excellent but very warm spot up very high on the boat. 

I resolve the warmth problem with a cold drinkie! ;) Now that I don't have a car, why not? :D

Google maps keeps me informed as to where I am. 

So pretty! 

And now we are in Wellington, New Zealand's capital city! I think how it's a shame I won't really see any of it as I am off to get the airport.

I figure an uber will be my cheapest bet for the airport and that's how I meet Fawzan my uber driver. I even get to watch his car on route to me. 

He tells me all about Wellington as he really knows the area well, having lived there all his life. He points out the parliament building and where they created the creatures for Lord of the rings. "You'll see some of the models at the airport!". "Great!" I reply, feeling like I have stumbled onto a taxi+tour guide :D 

Fawzan offers to drive over the hill rather than through the tunnel so I see the city from the top of the hill. "That's mount Victoria lookout up there where you can get 360degree views of the city. Do you want to go, I don't think the price will be very different." I think this is a great idea and up we go. It really is very beautiful and every time I compliment the city Fawzan beams... It's clear he is a very proud New Zealander :) "Best country in the world." he says and I smile. It's lovely to see people happy with where they live :) 

We pull up at the lookout and he points up to a set of steps. "It's better up there! I can sit here and wait!" He sits on the bench and looks out over the city. I climb up to the top and am rewarded by the view he promised. It's beautiful :) I can see the harbour, the mountains, the city and the airport. I would happily spend more time up here but Fawzan is being kind and I'm being charged per km so I don't want to keep him waiting too long :)

Wellie selfie! 

Fawzan tells me how just last week two orca whales swam into the harbour and he sat and watched them. "It is a lovely city." 

"Is it an expensive place to live?" I ask and Fawzan says that it is and points out the really posh areas. I say that it reminded me of San Francisco and tells me that Wellington is built on a fault line like San Francisco, and that they are due another quake soon. Eeek! He said they had a small one a few years ago and he was at home and got his family to get down under a table. 

We pull up at the airport and Fawzan smiles and says "I hope you are going away with good memories of Wellington!". I say that I am and I thank him for being so kind.  

Fawzan drives away and my uber app pings and I see my fare was right at the cheapest end of the estimate. A bargain! :) I give him a great review on the uber app. 

My flight is delayed. This is ok really as Incan have some food: I head up to the nearest food counter and everything looks good. "Do you have anything but gluten free?" is met with "of course..." I love this place and shortly after the chap has taken my first name and is preparing me some food. "I will call you when it's ready!" He says and then I sit at the table right beside the counter. He must not have noticed as he still shouts my name out and jumps when I stand up immediately in front of him. He laughs and hand me a tray with my food presented beautifully. 

It is delicious and I finish it with plenty of time to take photos of the Lord of the rings creatures that Fawzan told me about: 

My precious!!! 

I am heading to the gate now and I see this advert for the flag decision :) what do you think? 

After a bit of delay we head to board the plane and the sky looks amazing so I pause to take a picture. One of the ground crew comes over and says "you shouldn't really take photos", "sorry, shouldn't delete it?", "nah don't worry, I bet it's really nice! Have a good flight."

New Zealanders are so nice!

I'll see you again South Island I am certain :)