Doubtless Bay is touted as the ‘ultimate absolute beachfront’ destination in Northland. It was autumn, and past swimming for me – but it is still a beautiful time to walk and explore, and the weather was crisp and clear.
Carrington Resort is one of NZ’s luxury destinations – now with the Heritage Hotel chain it is set on the magical Karikari Peninsula. Its lovely low level traditional buildings are clustered on a knoll overlooking the golf course. We were welcomed warmly by Marara in reception and soon found we could borrow a golf cart and drive out to the beach – which of course we did. Read more
I can not believe I have been home in Waipu for over a month, the time has flown. What a fabulous time to be here in Northland New Zealand - it is balmy clear weather, the sea is warm and inviting, the beach is still mostly empty, there are waves to frolic in, the dog still swims and catches waves with me and Waipu is still one of the best little places in the world. Read more
It is so nice to be somewhere warm in winter, I guess that is why thousands of people from Canada flock to Florida in the winter.
It is 77deg, warm and mild with very little wind, the sea is like a millpond. Despite the warmth I have not seen one person in swimming – the locals just don’t think it is warm enough – kiwis would all be in – this is as hot as it gets for many of us! Read more
I have just had to defrag my computer, and think it is a pretty good description of what has happened for and to me during my travels – I have been defragged.
My understanding of what defragging is on a PC, (or rebuilding the desktop with an Apple Mac) is that under normal working conditions we create a lot of ‘mess’ on a computer – files are disordered, temporary files are created, we jump from one thing to another, leaving a messy trail behind. Read more
My friends Mary Hunt and Diane Neu gladly delivered me to Union Station in Washington – it was an excuse to take their adopted daughter Min to see the big trains, the model trains and the Christmas trees and decorations in this magnificent edifice. I also managed to get a picture with the President Elect! Read more
My friend Nigel asked me if there was anything special I wanted to do in Cornwall. Mostly I was happy to visit his favourite haunts, but The Eden Project was definately on my short list of must dos.
The Eden Project certainly did not disappoint – what a stunning idea, and even more stunning implementation. What imagination, what courage, above all what fun.
You could spend days here, but we happily spent four hours – wandering the outside gardens, sweating our way through the tropical dome, and then through the milder, but still very warm mediterranean dome, and then to the amazing educational centre. Read more
Cornwall is such a magic place – it feels separate, wild and untamed, I can see why my friends Nigel and Janice live here. Nigel had a list of must dos which we worked our way through.
- exploring small harbours like Charlestown
- walking small parts of the coastal walkway which surrounds Cornwall – Janice regularly takes herself off to walk parts of it.
A train ride to Cornwall took me through rolling English countryside, villages tucked in the folds of hills, with the occasional large country house. It’s autumn, so the bare branches of trees dot the landscape, and sparse hedges line the lanes, enabling the weak winter sun to leak through to the ground in places. After Exeter there were seaside villages and boats sitting on the mud.
I am off to Falmouth to stay with my old building friend Nigel Murray and his partner Janice. Nigel has lots of excursions planned, so it seems I have another travel guide – great – I love to see places, but I am not so good at deciding where and what to see. In fact I prefer it when my visit is coloured by the passions of a local friend – what they enjoy doing rather than what the tourist book says.
Pendennis CastleOn our way home from Brighton, my friend Catherine detoured us through Hartfield and the Ashdown Forest in Sussex which is where AA Milne wrote his memorable children’s stories. We stopped at Pooh Corner in the village to buy a small furry creature and a map of the Hundred Acre Wood.
We decided on a walk to the very same bridge that inspired the game of Pooh Sticks, and of course a game of Pooh Sticks. I won, well actually it was a draw because I cheated – but it was a fun walk, though a little muddy at this time of year. Well worth a visit. More about The Hundred Acre Wood
One of the nice things about running a website like Women Travel the World, is the great people you meet in the travel business. We had based ourselves in Brighton at the lovely Pink House, but up just up the road was another women owned guest house which is also listed on Women Travel the World. Jane and Anne invited us over to visit, so we meandered out way along the coast, detoured to magnificent Beachy Head for a very cold but pleasant walk, and found ourselves at Eastbourne.
Jane and Anne had bought The Langtons as they had wanted a change and a new lifestyle. Read more
