Holiday homes in New Zealand are referred to as a "bach" but this was NO simple bach ----- This was a true beach house equipped with an incredible kitchen perfect for counter gatherings and chats that could last for hours, a perfect master bedroom, comfortable lounge, perfect bathroom, and a dormitory room upstairs built for the 7 dwarfs with 7 single beds covered with exquisite handmade quilts and colorful sheets. I felt like Snow White as I choose my bed and could almost hear the chant of the 7 dwarfs as they clambered into their beds. It was so cool!!
Carolyn, Steve and Katie are generous kiwis and their beach house is a gathering place for friends and family. We were treated with a traditional kiwi dinner of lamb roast, roasted potatoes and kumara, carrots and asparagus and topped with pavlova, a very special dessert made with a merange covered with whipped cream and home grown strawberries ----- I'll just say "Yummmmmmmmmm"
Carolyn placing the bottom part of the pavlova into the oven for its slow bake.
Steve and Carolyn the hostesses with the mostess!
Oh Yeah ---- Happy Hour began at 4:00 with nibbles and drinks and games or in this case puzzle time!
Big Bay Beach is a mere 5 minutes from the beach house.
After dinner Carolyn walked on the deck and saw a huge fire at the Holiday Park up the hill. This picture doesn't do it justice but does capture the fireworks that were also going off. The bottom fire was a huge bonfire. This was a Guy Fawkes Celebration which is really celebrated on Nov. 5th but extends through the whole week. This is also called Bonfire and Fireworks Night as people celebrate the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 in the UK. Guy Fawkes tried to place explosives beneath the HOuse of Lords to kill King James 1 but was not successful. This holiday was exported to New Zealand and has become bonfire and fireworks night. David, Steve, and Katie went up to check it out since from the deck the bonfire looked out of control but all was cool --- just a crazy happy crowd celebrating...
As our relaxing weekend was coming to an end we stopped at the Manukau Heads Lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula. We were able to go into the lighthouse, climb the stairs, and walk along the balcony on top ---- so cool.
View of the infamous Manukau Bar which is the grave of NZ greatest maritime tragedy when the HMS Orpheus ran aground on the tidal sandbar in 1863. 189 lives were lost.
Manukau Heads Lighthouse
The new lighthouse keeper!
Back to the rolling hills before heading back to Auckland!
A toast to the Harris family for sharing their paradise with us!
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