Yearly recap: 2020 Happy New Year!

2020 has been a year of high and lows however, most importantly it has taught us to slow down and truly appreciate what we have. As always, I wanted to share a little round up of the year that was. We also use this time of year to do some family photos. This year we headed down to one of our favourite spots here in the Wairarapa, Morrisons Bush which is on the banks of the Ruamahanga river and surrounded by native Manuka trees. It's the perfect spot to sit and relax if you're looking for some peace and tranquillity in the outdoors. It also makes the perfect backdrop for family photos. During Summer you can find us here, swimming, or having a picnic and it’s a great spot to camp too.

Hawke's Bay family getaway

Ever since our first glamping experience we’ve been hooked! Now when booking holidays or getaways we seem to be basing them around glamping sites that we want to stay at. We've been eyeing up Mangaone Cliffs for a while and a few weeks ago Jake surprised me for my birthday and booked it! If you've been following us for a while you will know we are more about experiences than gifts. 

Wairarapa Eats

You guys asked for it! Check out the short reviews of the cafes and restaurants below and decide where to eat out today! Highchairs? Changing facilities? Who does fluffies? The Wairarapa is filled with gorgeous places to eat - from bistros and vineyards to artisan bakeries. Here is a list of our favourite Wairarapa eats. Jake and I are big foodies and we are always looking for family friendly places. Whether you're popping out for a coffee or off for a family meal, finding a place that caters for small kids will help make life more enjoyable for everyone. Of course we are always trying new places and love supporting local so you can expect this blog post to grow over time. 

J&J in Rotorua

We've done a lot of travel around the world! During our travels one thing we always said was how lucky we are to call New Zealand home. There's nowhere like it and there is a reason why it's on so many travellers bucket list! One of my fondest memories as a child was spending weekends and holidays exploring New Zealand. Rotorua was one of our family's regular destinations. 

Due to covid-19 there's no better time to explore this place we call home. We’ve even made a new section on the blog and you can find all our family friendly things to do here in New Zealand along with all our Wairarapa adventures. 

We have always been big on experiences rather than presents and for Arlo’s second birthday we decided to pack up the car and head to Rotorua for a family holiday! Rotorua is widely recognised as the cultural capital of New Zealand and the adventure capital of the North Island. With incredible geothermal activity, it’s unlike anywhere else you’ve ever visited and is a must-see destination on any New Zealand trip. 

Wairarapa ~ Greytown Aventures

Want to know a little secret? If you asked me when we moved to Wairarapa if I thought we’d still be here now, my answer would have been, hell no! I was pretty much dragged kicking and screaming but calmed myself by thinking this was going to be just a pit stop for us, and a move to boost Jake's career. If you ask me now, I don't know if this will be our “forever home” but I can't imagine us living anywhere else…We have fallen in love with the Wairarapa, especially Greytown!

Greytown is a little hidden secret and it is one of New Zealand's prettiest towns right up there with Arrowtown and Martinborough! It's very picturesque with its Victorian buildings and tree lined streets. If you find yourself in this pretty town, and you're looking for a great little spot where you can drink wine, eat delicious food, and indulge in some people watching, I know just the spot!